IndieReader

IndieReader has offered professional editorial reviews for indie, hybrid, and small-press authors since 2009. Founded by publicist Amy Edelman, it positions as the most affordable entry point among premium review services — at $299 standard versus $445–$450 at BlueInk Review or Kirkus Indie.

What You Get#

• Minimum 350 words: Longer than the 250–300 words typical of Kirkus or BlueInk, with a fractional star rating (e.g., 4.3 stars)
• IR Approved status: Books rated 4+ stars earn "IR Approved" designation and inclusion in a monthly "Best Of" roundup emailed to 10,000+ subscribers
• Author suppression: Negative reviews are not published without permission — you decide whether the review goes live
• Distribution: Reviews are posted on IndieReader's site; authors then add the text to the Amazon and Barnes & Noble editorial sections. The professional editorial review does NOT automatically appear on Goodreads.

Pricing#

• Standard review: $299 | 7–9 weeks
• Rush review: $399 | 4–6 weeks
• Pre-publication discount: $50 off if your book is 5+ weeks from release ($249 effective minimum)
• IBPA member discount: 15% off

Who It's For#

• Budget-conscious authors: IndieReader is $146–$151 less than Kirkus Indie or BlueInk Review for comparable editorial credibility
• Amazon and B&N focused authors: Reviews can be manually added to editorial sections on both platforms
• Authors who want a safety net: The suppression option means a poor review stays private at no additional cost

Strengths#

• Price: Most affordable premium editorial review service in this tier
• Review length: 350+ word minimum beats the 250-word reviews typical elsewhere
• Discovery Awards: Annual awards ($150 entry fee) with prizes including a literary agent submission to Dystel, Goderich & Bourret and film producer consideration (Ram Bergman); Reedsy sponsors the event

Limitations#

• No automatic Goodreads placement: The editorial review doesn't appear as a customer review on Goodreads — you add the text manually to Amazon and B&N editorial sections
• Community quality concerns: Kboards members have documented shallow reviews and genre misclassifications; no robust Trustpilot presence for independent verification (myprosandcons.com aggregate: 3.0/5)
• No library distribution: BlueInk reviews reach Ingram and Baker & Taylor; IndieReader editorial reviews do not feed library acquisition databases

Alternatives#

BlueInk Review ($445 standard) provides systematic library distribution to Ingram and Baker & Taylor — a meaningful advantage for authors targeting library placement. Kirkus Indie ($450+) carries greater industry prestige with librarians and booksellers despite the higher cost.

Note on Reader Reviews: IndieReader also sells a separate reader review product ($147–$490) that posts verified customer reviews to Amazon and Goodreads. This is a distinct service from the editorial review, carries Amazon and Goodreads Terms of Service risk, and should be evaluated separately before purchasing.