# IndieReader

> Professional editorial reviews for indie, hybrid, and small-press authors since 2009 — 350-word minimum, fractional star rating, and author suppression option, starting at $299.

Source: https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/book-reviews/indiereader
Website: https://indiereader.com/get-a-book-review/
Category: Book Reviews (https://selfpublishingdirectory.com/book-reviews)
Pricing: paid — $249–$399/per-review
AI-powered: no
Tags: editorial-reviews, professional, affordable, amazon-reviews, barnes-noble, star-ratings, suppression-option, discovery-awards
Last verified: 2026-05-13
Best For: Authors who want a $299 editorial review with IR Approved badge for retail buyers and a suppression option
Genre Focus: all-genres
Review Type: Editorial, Professional
Reviews Posted To: Amazon, B&N
Turnaround Days: 63

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.