How to Request a Book Review: Email Template and Submission Checklist

You’ve finished your book, found a reviewer whose taste seems like a good match, and opened a blank email. What do you actually say? A useful book review request makes the decision easy: explain what the book is, why it fits that reviewer, and how they can read it. You don’t need a long sales pitch.

Below is a book review request template you can adapt, followed by a submission checklist and a simple way to manage replies. If you’re still deciding which kind of review you need, start with our guide to editorial reviews versus reader reviews.

Before you write: check the reviewer’s submission guidelines

Read the reviewer’s current guidelines before sending anything. Check whether submissions are open, whether they cover your genre, and whether they accept self-published books or advance copies. Look at several recent reviews, too. A site that mainly covers literary fiction may not be the right home for a technical business handbook.

Use the channel they request. If they ask for a form, complete the form instead of emailing the same details to several team members. If they ask for a short pitch first, offer the book rather than attaching a large manuscript without an invitation. Their instructions should take priority over any template.

Book review request email template

Subject: Review request: [Book Title] — [Genre], [Publication Date]

Hello [Reviewer’s Name],

I’m [Author Name], the author of [Book Title], a [genre] book of approximately [word count or page count], [published on / due for publication on] [date].

I thought it might interest you because [one specific, genuine reason it fits the books or topics you cover].

[In two or three sentences, introduce the central premise, intended reader, and what makes the book distinctive. Keep major spoilers out.]

Would you be interested in considering it for an honest review? I can provide [the formats you can actually supply]. [If relevant: My planned launch is on [date]; please let me know whether that fits your availability.]

You can find the book description and cover here: [Book Information Link]. I’m happy to provide any other details your guidelines require. Thank you for considering it.

Best wishes,
[Author Name]
[Author Website]
[Contact Email]

Replace every bracketed field before sending. Keep the personal introduction specific and truthful; a brief reference to a relevant review is more useful than generic praise. Mention a launch date as context, not as a deadline the reviewer has agreed to meet.

What to include in a review submission

• Book title and author name: use the same spelling and subtitle as your cover and book listing.
• Genre and intended audience: help the reviewer decide whether the book fits their readership. Include an age category when it matters, such as middle grade or young adult.
• A short description: explain the premise rather than listing every subplot or chapter. For nonfiction, describe the problem the book addresses and who it is for.
• Publication details: give the release date or say that it is already published. Identify the edition you are supplying.
• Length and available formats: state what you can provide, then follow the reviewer’s preferred format.
• Relevant content notes: briefly flag material the reviewer asks about in their policy, without burying the pitch in plot spoilers.
• Requested materials: have a clear cover image, short author biography, and author photo ready when required. Check that your links open for someone who is not signed into your account.

Send the most polished reading copy you have. If the file is an advance copy with unfinished elements, identify those clearly. Our manuscript formatting guide can help with readability, but the reviewer’s own file requirements come first.

Adapt the request to the kind of review you want

For a book blogger or independent publication: explain the fit with their coverage and ask whether they are interested. An unsolicited request does not reserve a place in their schedule, and a free copy does not guarantee a review.

For an editorial review service: read the submission process and terms before ordering. Check the deliverables, publication location, quotation permissions, and how the service handles books it cannot accept. A fee should not be treated as a promise of praise or a particular rating. Our guide to getting an editorial review covers the selection process in more detail.

For readers: a request for a customer review has a different purpose and should follow the rules of the platform where the reader would post it. See our guide to asking for honest Amazon book reviews before planning that outreach.

Following up without putting pressure on the reviewer

Follow the reviewer’s stated response window and follow-up policy. If they say that no reply means a decline, respect that. Where a follow-up is welcome, keep it short, use the original email thread, and make it easy for them to say no. Repeated messages across email and social media usually make the request harder to manage.

A simple follow-up could read: “Hello [Name], I’m following up on my review request for [Title] sent on [date]. If it fits your current reading plans, I’m happy to provide [format]. If not, thank you for considering it.”

Keep a small tracker with the reviewer’s name, guidelines link, date contacted, response, file sent, and any agreed next step. This helps prevent duplicate pitches and stops a tentative conversation from becoming an assumed booking.

Ready to submit to Book Nerdection?

Visit our editorial book review service page for the current options and submission form. Follow the information requested there so the team has the details it needs to consider your book.

The best request is clear, considerate, and easy to answer. Give the reviewer enough information to judge the fit, send the materials they ask for, and leave room for an honest response.

Once your editorial review arrives, our guide to using editorial reviews in your book marketing shows how to share it on your website, in newsletters, and on social media.