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YOU DECIDE: Is This a Book Review Scam?

January 3, 2024

YOU DECIDE: Is This a Book Review Scam?
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Q –

Hi, Angela,

I hope your Holiday was splendid and blessed. Thanks for any help you gave in getting my third mystery out there.

Question: today I received an email addressed to my pseudonym from (someone who owns a book review website). She claims she reviews new books, has been doing this for years, and has increased the sales of new authors. She has a fairly impressive website with lots of books and synopses…including (best selling books).

She has invited me to reply and ask any question about her business. Her English was good. Do you know about her? Is she legit? Or should I reply and ask some questions?

A –

I checked out her website. She definitely charges for reviews. She’s not offering free services.

I doubt she has much reach. If she’s reviewed best sellers, she probably did it for free (didn’t even tell the author or publisher) to make her site look more legitimate.

The fact that she spammed you trying to get business says a lot, too. NEVER do business with spammers. They are desperate and that’s a huge red sign.

To get legitimate reviews to use in your marketing materials, read this:

How To EASILY Get Awesome and Honest Book Reviews That REALLY Carry Weight With Readers!

Do YOU think this was a book review scam? Please share your thoughts in the comments box below! 🙂

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2 Responses to "YOU DECIDE: Is This a Book Review Scam?"

  1. Nancy  January 5, 2024 at 1:46 pm

    As a former librarian, we received copies of Kirkus book Reviews, a pay-for-review publication. I was always surprised at the number of authors (some who were mid-list), who paid several hundred dollars for a review. We seldom ordered books from this publication, nor did the other libraries in the area.

  2. joe sixpak  January 4, 2024 at 6:17 pm

    never pay for a book review
    you will lose more than you might make, if anything