What’s a Sponsored Review and why would you want one?
We receive more than 1500 books each month from hundreds of publishers and of these books, we review about 300. So on average, each book has a 20% chance of being reviewed. The number of books being submitted has only been growing, making this problem worse each month.
A Sponsored Review guarantees that we’ll review your book in the timeframe ordered, as opposed to sending your book in for general consideration (in which case, it most likely will not be selected for review). You will get approval of your review before it is published, and if you choose not to publish it, we will give you a free ad on our websites for 30 days.
Book reviews are, ideally, something you should be lining up a few months prior to your book’s publication date. We provide blurbs for book covers and/or marketing purposes, as well as full reviews. But it’s never too late to order a book review, even if your book came out several months or years ago. Reviews can be used to reboot slow book sales.
You may select reviews between our premium websites or basic websites. Mix & match!
Multiple review orders need to be for the same ISBN.
(If you want to order a review from Kids’ BookBuzz, contact us.)
1 REVIEW
2 REVIEWS
3 REVIEWS
4 REVIEWS
Expedited Turnaround
4- to 6-weeks
1 REVIEW
2 REVIEWS
3 REVIEWS
4 REVIEWS
Blurb
Blurbs are beneficial in one’s marketing efforts, such as press kits or press releases. If you’re on a limited budget or need something with a very quick turnaround (14 days), this is a great option.
BOOK UNDER 500 PAGES
BOOK OVER 500 PAGES
1 REVIEW
2 REVIEWS
3 REVIEWS
4 REVIEWS
Expedited Turnaround
4- to 6-weeks
1 REVIEW
2 REVIEWS
3 REVIEWS
4 REVIEWS
Blurb
Blurbs are beneficial in one’s marketing efforts, such as press kits or press releases. If you’re on a limited budget or need something with a very quick turnaround (14 days), this is a great option.
BOOK UNDER 500 PAGES
BOOK OVER 500 PAGES
West Coast Blast
Get 5 West Coast Reviews at One Time
And a Free Written Interview
Note that after the payment screen, a form will open, which allows you to provide us with your book information, and upload your book file (if applicable)
Standard West Coast Blast
Reviews Due in 6-8 WeeksExpedited West Coast Blast
Reviews Due in 3-5 WeeksInterview
4- to 6-week turnaround
Choose which of our book review brand websites you wish it to appear on.
Note that after the payment screen, a form will open, which allows you to provide us with your book information, upload your book file (if applicable), and let us know which brand(s) you’d like your interview to come from.
1 INTERVIEW
Extended Review
8- to 10-week turnaround
1,500 words
Note that after the payment screen, a form will open, which allows you to provide us with your book information, upload your book file (if applicable), and let us know which brand(s) you’d like your review to come from.
1 EXTENDED REVIEW
Frequently Asked Questions
If I order multiple reviews, will each be written by a different reviewer?
If you order more than one review to appear on the websites of your choice, each will be done by different reviewers. You’ll have an opportunity to approve both, one, or none of the reviews, trading it/them for a website ad.
What formats do you accept?
- Advanced Reader Copies (ARCs)
- Manuscripts
- BLADs
- eBooks (all formats, including PDF)
- Printed books
What if I don't like my review?
We do our best to place your book with an appropriate reviewer, which is why we ask for a book description, book cover, and anything else you’d like our pool of more than 120 reviewers to know when selecting a book to review. We are not in the business of providing vanity reviews. Should you purchase a Sponsored Review from us, you’ll be getting an honest opinion of your book and an appropriate star rating (1-5).
Can I submit both a printed book and an eBook?
You may send us both an eBook and printed book as an option for our reviewers to choose; however, with whichever package you end up purchasing, we’ll review ONE type of format. We will list out on your review the book’s format, price, and page count. If you decide, before the review is uploaded to the website of your choice, to change the book’s information (e.g., format, price, or page count), just let us know. If you wish to change any of this information — even the book cover — after it has been uploaded, we can do that, but there will be a $25 fee.
What's your opinion? Should I send in an eBook or printed book?
We get this question all the time. And it’s a really good one! We have a diverse pool of more than 120 adult book reviewers and around 80 children reviewers for Kids’ BookBuzz. Some prefer eBooks, while others like to stick with the printed books. Some live outside of the U.S., and only can review eBooks. So, it really is up to you on which format you want to send for review. Or send us both formats.
Are the Sponsored Reviews identified any differently than your regular reviews?
No, we don’t identify a Sponsored Review any differently than non-Sponsored reviews.
What authors are saying about us…
“City Book Review offers the absolute best promotional opportunities for both traditionally and independently published authors. They’ve built a stable of seasoned professional reviewers whose shrewed and sensitive coverage across a myriad of genres is second to none, rivaling the best Sunday book pages and other major web-based book sites. As authors, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to find outlets that cover books in such an insightful and credible fashion that’s certain to serve our cause, no matter the career stage we’re at. I’ve come back to them again and again and have every intention of continuing to do so with future titles.”
—Jon Land, author
“If book reviews are gold, then expert reviews from trusted sources are platinum. I proudly count my review from San Francisco Book Review in the platinum category. It has pride of place next to other notable editorial reviews on my website and I’ve been able to use several great pull quotes in my advertising. Add this to the stellar communication from the staff and you can see why this author is impressed.” -Terri Lee, author of Paper Castles