How to get book reviews for free → The Lezen Blog

For every author, the moment of publication is a mix of exhilaration and terror. You’ve birthed your creation into the world, but now it sits silently on Amazon, lost in a sea of millions. The single most powerful factor to break that silence? Reviews. Not just any reviews, but a steady stream of genuine, thoughtful feedback from real readers.

The quest for free book reviews often leads authors down dark alleys of Facebook groups filled with reciprocal review schemes (against platform rules) or sketchy “review services” that promise the moon for a price. These tactics are not only ethically dubious but can get your book penalized or banned.

This guide is your blueprint for building a legitimate, sustainable review strategy that respects the ecosystem, values readers, and builds a foundation for long-term success. It requires work, humility, and a shift from “taking” to “giving,” but the results—real readers, real feedback, real credibility—are priceless.

Part 1: The Foundational Mindset – Why Free Reviews Matter More

Before you ask for a single review, understand their value:

Social Proof: They are the digital word-of-mouth. A book with 0 reviews is a major red flag for browsers. Even a few reviews dramatically increases the chance of a sale.
Algorithm Fuel: On Amazon, Goodreads, and other platforms, engagement (including reviews) boosts visibility in search results and “also bought” recommendations.
Credibility & Constructive Feedback: Honest reviews tell you what’s working and what’s not, making you a better writer for your next book.

The Golden Rule: You are not entitled to reviews. A review is a gift of a reader’s time and thought. Your job is to make it easy and rewarding for them to give that gift.

Part 2: The Pre-Launch Arsenal – Building Your Review Team (3-6 Months Before Launch)

Your most powerful review-getting tool is preparation. Start this process long before your book goes live.

1. Build Your ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) Team.

This is your elite, pre-release review squad. Their mission: to read your book before publication and post their honest review on launch day or within the first week.

Who to Recruit:
- Your Mailing List: This is why you need an email list. These are your fans. Offer them the exclusive chance to be an “early reader.”
- Beta Readers: The engaged readers who gave you feedback on early drafts. They are invested.
- Social Media Followers: Identify your most engaged followers on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook.
- Genre-Specific Bloggers & Bookstagrammers: Start researching them now (more on this below).
How to Manage It: Use a free service like BookFunnel or StoryOrigin to deliver digital ARCs (ePub, Mobi, PDF) professionally, collect reviewer information, and send automated reminders. It looks professional and saves you endless admin.

2. Cultivate Relationships, Not Transactions.

This is the most overlooked and most important step.

Engage Authentically on Goodreads and BookTok/Bookstagram: Don’t just show up to promote. Join groups in your genre, participate in discussions, comment on other people’s reviews, and add books to your “to-read” shelf. Be a reader first, an author second.
Start a Blog or Newsletter About Your Niche: Writing about the craft of historical fiction? The science behind your sci-fi premise? Become a resource. This attracts readers genuinely interested in your topic, who will be more likely to care about your book.

Part 3: The Launch & Post-Launch Strategy – Systematic, Ethical Outreach

Your book is live. The ARC team has delivered the “Day One” reviews. Now, you need to build momentum.

The Direct Ask (Done Right).

It is perfectly acceptable to ask for a review, but how and when you ask is everything.

The Perfect Placement: The Back Matter of Your Book. After “The End,” include a gentle, grateful request.
- Wrong: “PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW ON AMAZON!”
- Right: “Thank you for spending your time with these characters. If you enjoyed the story, I would be deeply grateful if you could share your thoughts with other readers on Amazon or Goodreads. Even a sentence or two makes a tremendous difference for an author.”
In Your Email Newsletter: After launch, send a “thank you for your support” email to your list. Include direct, easy-click links to the review pages on Amazon, Apple Books, and Goodreads. Make it a one-click process.

Leverage Genre-Specific Bloggers & Book Influencers.

This is work, but it yields high-quality reviews and exposure.

The Research: Use Google searches like “[Your Genre] book blog,” “book reviewer,” or explore the #Bookstagram and #BookTok hashtags on social media. Look for reviewers who have posted within the last month (active).
The Pitch (Personalized is Non-Negotiable):
- Address them by name.
- Mention a specific review they wrote that you enjoyed or that matches your book’s vibe. “I saw your thoughtful review of [Similar Book] and, given your taste, I thought my novel [Your Book] might be a good fit.”
- Include a short, compelling blurb, the genre, word count, and a clear offer of a FREE digital review copy.
- Accept “No” Gracefully. If they’re not interested, thank them for their time. Never argue.
Tools: Websites like BookSirens and Booksprout offer platforms to connect with reviewers for a small fee, handling the distribution for you. This can be a worthwhile investment to streamline the process.

Engage with Existing Reviews (The Right Way).

On Goodreads: You can “like” a review. That’s it. It’s a safe way to show appreciation. Never, ever argue with a critical review. It makes you look unprofessional and will deter other reviewers.
On Amazon: Do not respond to reviews directly as the author, especially to negative ones. Amazon’s guidelines are strict, and it can backfire spectacularly.

Run a Goodreads Giveaway.

While you give away physical books (a cost), the reviews are free. A Goodreads Giveaway gets your book on thousands of “to-read” shelves, creating buzz. Winners are often avid readers who are more likely to leave a review. Opt for more winners of paperback copies over one winner of many copies.

Part 4: The Forbidden Zones – What NOT to Do

Your integrity and your book’s longevity are at stake. Avoid these black-hat tactics:

Review Swaps / Reciprocal Reviews: Trading reviews with other authors is explicitly against Amazon’s Terms of Service. They can detect patterns and will remove all reviews involved, potentially suspending your account.
Asking Friends & Family to Leave Reviews: If Amazon detects reviews from people connected to you (same address, IP, payment method), they will be deleted. If they don’t live in your house and are genuine readers of your genre, it’s a grey area—but proceed with extreme caution.
Buying Reviews: Aside from being fraudulent, these reviews are often generic (“A great book!”) and easily spotted by savvy readers and algorithms. The risk of permanent banning is high.
Posting on “Review Exchange” Facebook Groups: These are minefields of reciprocal review requests that Amazon is actively monitoring and purging.

Part 5: The Long Game – Turning Readers into Reviewers

The ultimate goal is to create a virtuous cycle where your book naturally attracts reviews.

Write the Next Book: The single best way to get more reviews for your first book is to publish a second. Readers who discover and love your new release will often go back and review your earlier work. A series is especially powerful for this.
Be Present and Grateful: Share snippets of positive reviews (without identifying the reviewer) on social media to show you value feedback. Thank your readers collectively.
Create a Reader-Centric Community: Foster a space (a private Facebook group, a fun newsletter) where your readers can connect with you and each other. They will naturally champion your work.

Conclusion: Patience, Professionalism, and Perspective

Getting free, genuine book reviews is a marathon, not a sprint. It is a direct function of three things:

The Quality of Your Book: No strategy can save a poorly written or unedited book. This is the foundation.
The Size and Engagement of Your Network: Build your platform before you need it.
Your Willingness to Do the Work: The systematic, respectful outreach to bloggers, the careful nurturing of an ARC team, the authentic engagement with the reading community.

Shift your mindset from getting reviews to earning feedback. Focus on finding your ideal readers, serving them with a great story, and making it effortless for them to share their experience. The reviews will follow—not as a manipulated metric, but as the authentic echo of a story that resonated. That is the only kind of buzz that truly lasts. Now, take a deep breath, and start building relationships, one reader at a time.