Where Do the Reviews Come From?

At BookReverb, our mission is to help authors and publishers gain authentic exposure by connecting books with everyday readers. Unlike many other review-generation platforms, we take deliberate steps to ensure that our reader pool is made up of real readers — not other publishers, not authors, and not people with conflicting interests.

We do not allow publishers to participate on the reader side of the platform. This is by design: it preserves the quality and integrity of the experience for both you and the reader. It means your book is being read and discussed by individuals with no ulterior motives — not by someone looking to reverse-engineer your content or leave strategic feedback.

What Readers Are Promised

• You are being paid to read — not to review.
• Readers are not required to leave a review.
• They are paid whether or not they leave one.
• To confirm they completed the read, readers choose one of two options:
  • Upload a one-page book report (minimum 750 words in .docx format)
  • Submit a link to an Amazon review, if they choose to write one

Amazon Compliance

We strictly follow Amazon’s policies on compensated reviews, which prohibit:

• Offering compensation for a review
• Requiring a review in exchange for payment
• Attempting to influence the content of a review

Amazon’s Exception (which we follow): “It’s OK to review a free or discounted book (advanced reader copy) that you received from an author or publisher. However, they can’t require a review in exchange or try to influence the review.”

BookReverb operates entirely within this rule. We never require a review. Readers are never told what to write. Both forms of read confirmation — a book report or a review link — are accepted equally.

For full details, view Amazon’s official policy: Amazon Community Guidelines on Compensated Reviews.

How Readers Enter the Program

• Readers usually find us through social media campaigns advertising an opportunity to get paid to read books. The messaging is intentional — we never say “get paid to review.”
• They are offered their first book, which is unpaid and clearly labeled as such. This is part of our onboarding process to establish clear expectations and accountability.
• After claiming the book, the reader receives access to a PDF copy and a 5-day reading window.
• A countdown timer tracks their progress.
• When a reader selects a book, the publisher's funds are held from their available balance to cover the assignment.
• If the reader fails to submit proof of reading by the deadline, the assignment is automatically canceled and the held funds are returned to the publisher's available balance.

Reading & Submission Process

• Readers confirm completion of the assignment by submitting either:
  • A book report (750+ words, .docx format), or
  • A link to an Amazon review (only if they choose to leave one)
• Readers may also include private notes for the author to report typos, formatting issues, or confusing sections — this is optional and not related to reviews.
• After submission, a BookReverb admin reviews the reader’s materials.
• If something is missing or doesn’t meet requirements, it’s returned to the reader for revision.
• Once accepted, the reader is cleared to claim another book.

Platform Safeguards

• Readers can only have 2 active books at a time.
• They are limited to 5 books in any 7-day period.
• These limits help prevent unnatural review activity and protect authors and readers alike.
• Once a reader’s submission is accepted, their funds are added to their balance and can be withdrawn via Stripe.

How BookReverb Works for Publishers

• Each book is listed in the reader library with a bid amount — the amount you offer to pay for a completed assignment.
• Books with higher bids appear more prominently to readers.
• BookReverb takes a small commission from each assignment — no hidden fees or upsells.
• You remain in full control of your book’s visibility and budget.

Why We Keep Readers and Publishers Separate

What makes BookReverb different is that our reader pool is made up of genuine readers — not authors or publishers. This separation is intentional and essential. It ensures:

• You’re not getting feedback from competitors.
• Your content is protected from being copied or repurposed.
• The feedback is authentic, not manufactured or strategic.

We do not disclose the name of the reader platform, and we do not allow publishers to join the reader side. This helps keep the ecosystem clean and effective for everyone.

Summary

• Readers are paid to read, not to review.
• Reviews are optional and never incentivized.
• Publishers only pay when the reader completes the assignment.
• Our system uses real readers — not other authors or publishers.
• Visibility is determined by your bid, and funds are returned if a book is not completed.
• Amazon guidelines are followed carefully to keep your listing safe and compliant.

Want help setting up your first listing or have questions about how it works? Our team is happy to assist.