Getting reviews is one of the biggest hurdles authors face after publishing, and yet accumulating reviews is also one of the most powerful ways to build visibility and trust on Amazon. Reviews act as social proof, help drive sales, and influence Amazon’s algorithm, but not all methods of getting them are compliant. Amazon has very specific policies that every author needs to understand. In this article, we’ll walk through the main ways to generate reviews: what works, what doesn’t, and how to stay within the rules so your book builds momentum without risking penalties.
At A Glance
| Method | Allowed by Amazon? | Key Takeaway |
|---|---|---|
| Advance Reader Copies | Yes, if disclosed and voluntary | Best low-cost option for early reviews |
| Review Services | Yes, if unbiased and compliant | Efficient way to reach real readers |
| Editorial Reviews | Yes | Adds professional credibility |
| Influencers | Yes, if reviews are unpaid | Great exposure, but manage carefully |
| Purchased Reviews | No | High risk, often backfires |
Advance Reader Book Reviews
One of the most reliable ways to generate reviews is by sharing Advance Reader Copies, aka, ARCs. These pre-publication copies can be distributed to beta readers, your email list, book bloggers, or early supporters.
Amazon allows this practice, provided you don’t pressure readers into leaving a review:
“You may provide free or discounted copies of your books to readers, as long as you do not require a review in exchange or attempt to influence the review.” (Amazon KDP Help)
To stay compliant, you must also remind readers to disclose how they received the copy. Amazon gives examples such as:
“I received an ARC for an objective review.”
Pros: Low-cost, authentic feedback, and early momentum before launch.
Cons: Requires time and coordination, and works best if you already have a network of readers.
Review Services
Professional review services exist to connect authors with readers willing to provide fair and unbiased reviews. This option saves time and ensures you’re not relying solely on friends or personal contacts.
Used correctly, review services are fully allowed by Amazon. The key is that reviews must be honest and independent:
“We don’t allow reviews that are created, edited, or removed in exchange for compensation. Compensation includes cash, discounts, free products, gift cards…” (Amazon Community Guidelines)
That means a legitimate service can provide the book copy, but it cannot guarantee a positive review or offer extra incentives.
Note that we (getbooksreviewed.com) fall under this category as a review service!
Pros: Efficient, broader reach, and structured.
Cons: Costs vary, and quality depends on the service provider.
Editorial Reviews
Editorial reviews are critiques written by professional reviewers, literary organizations, or review outlets such as Kirkus Reviews or Publishers Weekly. Unlike customer reviews, these are added to the “Editorial Reviews” section of your Amazon book listing.
Amazon encourages their use:
“You can add editorial reviews to your detail page from professional reviewers, magazines, newspapers, and blogs.” (Amazon Author Central Help)
These reviews don’t count toward your star rating but provide powerful credibility.
Pros: Professional authority, excellent for marketing materials.
Cons: Often costly, and some review outlets don’t guarantee coverage.
Influencers
Today’s book market is heavily shaped by social media. Platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube have created entire communities dedicated to reading—BookTok being the most famous. Partnering with influencers can expose your book to entirely new audiences.
However, Amazon draws a hard line when it comes to promotional reviews:
“We have a zero-tolerance policy for any review designed to mislead or manipulate customers.” (Amazon on Trusted Reviews)
That means an influencer who buys your book and leaves an honest review is fine. But if you pay them for the review, it’s against the rules. You can still collaborate with influencers for exposure outside of Amazon, such as social media shoutouts, while letting reviews happen naturally.
Pros: Potential for viral reach and visibility.
Cons: Results can be unpredictable, and paid influencer reviews cannot appear on Amazon.
Purchasing Reviews (Not Recommended)
Purchasing or exchanging of reviews is against Amazon policies, and we wanted to include it here as something you ought NEVER do, as it is a common question that comes up at some point.
“We don’t allow reviews that are created, edited, or removed in exchange for compensation. Compensation includes cash, discounts, free products, gift cards, or reciprocal reviews.”
(Amazon Community Guidelines)
Many people run across Get Books Reviewed when they are searching for methods to get more reviews for their books, but it’s important to understand our method is NOT paying for book reviews. This is an important distinction. Instead, with Get Books Reviewed, you become a member of a thriving community of readers and like-minded authors who are interested in reading your genre of book. When a member of our community picks up your books, reads it, and gives an authentic review, this is exactly what Amazon loves to see. A real person reading your book, as opposed to simply buying a review or exchanging them for another review (quid pro quo, or otherwise).
Pros: There are no pros to this method, only risk with no reward.
Cons: Getting caught buying reviews can result in your author account being banned, or even legal action taken against you.
Our Final Recommendations
In short, there are a lot of useful ways to get meaningful and authentic reviews for your book. From advanced reader copies to finding eager lovers of your genre, we think one of the easiest ways will always be to use a legitimate and large readership community. While you can always find these people yourself (i.e. ask on Reddit, amongst friends), Get Books Reviewed certainly makes it easier by having members who are actively looking to review books. And because we have advanced algorithms in place that will ensure no two authors will erroneously review swap, you can rest easy knowing you won’t accidentally break any of Amazon’s strict review policies. Becoming a member is simple, and once you join, you’ll have access to a thriving community and a library full of hidden gems.
