# BlueInk Review

> Professional reviews for self-published authors written by NYT and Washington Post critics, distributed to 71,000 librarians and booksellers via Ingram.

Source: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/book-reviews/blueink-review
Website: https://www.blueinkreview.com
Category: Book Reviews (https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/book-reviews)
Pricing: paid — $445–$545/per-review
AI-powered: no
Tags: editorial-reviews, professional, library-sales, booklist, ingram, self-published
Last verified: 2026-05-13
Best For: Self-published authors seeking a respected independent editorial review with library and trade reach
Genre Focus: all-genres
Review Type: Editorial, Professional
Reviews Posted To: Ingram, Amazon, B&N, Booklist
Turnaround Days: 49

BlueInk Review delivers 250–300 word professional critiques written exclusively by vetted critics — reviewers with bylines at the New York Times, Washington Post, and Chicago Tribune. The service targets self-published authors specifically, acting as a gateway to distribution channels that typically require traditional publishing credentials.

## What You Get

- **Professional review:** 250–300 words covering craft, plot, characters, and audience fit — written anonymously to protect reviewer impartiality
- **Ingram database listing:** Every review posts to Ingram's databases, accessed by 70,000+ librarians and booksellers who use this feed to make purchasing decisions
- **Booklist consideration:** Select reviews appear in Booklist, the American Library Association's magazine reaching 60,000+ librarians — a channel normally closed to self-published titles
- **Amazon and B&N editorial sections:** Reviews qualify for placement in the editorial review sections of both platforms, signaling professional criticism rather than reader feedback
- **Website archival:** Reviews remain on BlueInk's site for at minimum five years with active promotional consideration in their weekly newsletter and social channels
- **Children's book syndication:** All children's book reviews are additionally syndicated to the Children's Literature Comprehensive Database

## Who It's For

- **Authors targeting library sales:** The Ingram distribution is the primary value proposition — libraries buy through Ingram and use Booklist to discover titles
- **Authors building trade credibility:** Professional bylines from mainstream publications are a marketing asset for press kits, author bios, and back cover copy
- **Authors pursuing bookstore placement:** Booksellers using Ingram's databases see BlueInk reviews alongside traditional trade reviews

**Pricing:** Standard Review $445 (7–9 weeks); Fast Track $545 (4–6 weeks). IBPA members save $75 on either tier. Digital submissions carry a $19.95 printing fee — reviewers work from physical copies. A two-review bundle with Foreword Clarion Review is available for $799.

## Strengths

- **Honest reviews:** Reviewers sign an agreement to read the complete book and provide unbiased assessments — negative reviews exist and the author cannot opt out after submission
- **Library market reach:** 70,000+ librarians and booksellers access the Ingram feed; documented cases of 100+ library paperback acquisitions from a single BlueInk/Booklist placement exist
- **Booklist bridge:** Select reviews appear in a publication that normally refuses self-published submissions — a meaningful credibility signal in the library trade

## Limitations

- **No suppression option:** Unlike BookLife, authors cannot decline to publish a negative review — the review goes live regardless of sentiment
- **No reviewer input:** Critics are assigned without author input; occasional genre mismatches between reviewer expertise and book subject are a known issue
- **Ebook-first authors see limited ROI:** The Ingram/Booklist distribution is designed for print sales; authors without a library or bookstore sales strategy are unlikely to recover the $445 cost

## Alternatives

Foreword Clarion Review ($499) offers comparable library distribution, and the two-review $799 bundle is worth considering if both services fit the budget. BookLife by Publishers Weekly ($399) is the other major editorial service with comparable prestige, though it emphasizes bookseller and reader reach over library acquisition.