How to Get Amazon Book Reviews?
Amazon customer reviews can help readers decide whether your book is for them. The best way to earn them is simple: invite people who have actually read the book to share an honest opinion, then let them decide whether and what to post. You cannot promise yourself a rating or a particular number of reviews.
This guide is about customer reviews on Amazon. An independent editorial review from a publication is different. If you are choosing between the two, read our editorial vs. reader reviews guide first.
Why honest customer reviews matter
A reader review offers another person’s experience with your book. It might mention the pacing, characters, writing style, or who would enjoy it. A mix of opinions can be more useful to a prospective reader than a string of generic compliments. Amazon displays reviews on book pages, but no author can count on a set number of reviews to produce a particular search ranking or sales result.
How to invite readers to review your book
Ask people who have finished it
If you have a newsletter or an author community, you can make a neutral request to readers who have already read the book. Keep it short and make clear that every honest opinion is welcome. For example: “If you’ve read my book and would like to share your thoughts, an honest review on the Amazon store you use would mean a lot. Please write what you really thought.” Ask once or sparingly; repeated messages can feel like pressure.
Add a note at the end of the book
A short author note can reach readers at the moment they finish. Thank them for reading and invite an optional, honest review. You can include a link to your book page, but remember that your readers may use different Amazon marketplaces around the world. Check that the link is useful to your audience.
Offer advance copies without strings attached
Advance reader copies can introduce a book to readers before launch. Amazon’s KDP customer review guidance says authors may provide free or discounted copies, provided they do not require a review or try to influence it. Do not make the copy conditional on a review, a positive rating, or proof that a review was posted. If someone chooses to review, their opinion must be their own.
Make the next step easy
When you make a public request, link to the correct book and format. A simple, direct invitation is more useful than a long campaign. Readers can find the reviews section of a book page and select “Write a product review”; Amazon then checks submissions against its guidelines before posting them.
What to avoid
Amazon’s Community Guidelines do not allow customer reviews created, edited, or removed in exchange for compensation. They also restrict reviews from people with a personal or financial connection to the author. In practice, keep these boundaries clear:
- Do not offer money, gift cards, refunds, discounts, or another reward for a customer review. A free or discounted copy of the book is allowed only under the conditions described above.
- Do not ask family, close friends, business associates, or anyone with a conflict of interest to post a customer review.
- Do not arrange review swaps, require a particular star rating, or ask readers to change or remove a negative review.
- Do not pay an editorial reviewer to post their assessment as an Amazon customer review.
You can pay a publication for an independent editorial review where its terms permit it. That does not turn it into a customer review. Our editorial review guide explains how to find a publication that fits your book.
What if a reader’s review does not appear?
Amazon checks customer reviews before they are posted, and that can take a few days. Reviews may also be removed or withheld if they conflict with its guidelines. If a reader contacts you about a missing review, ask them to contact Amazon’s Community team; the author cannot approve or restore it. Amazon explains the process in its customer reviews help page.
Keep expectations realistic
There is no reliable formula linking a review count to a bestseller badge, a search position, or a sales increase. Focus on reaching readers who genuinely like your kind of book and making it easy for them to respond honestly. Review policies can change, so check Amazon’s current guidance before running a new campaign.
A thoughtful request and a good reader experience are a stronger foundation than chasing a number. Give people the choice to review, and let the book speak for itself.
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