How to Get More Book Reviews on Amazon
Importance of Amazon Reviews for Authors
Authentic reviews are the lifeblood of book sales on Amazon. They boost your discoverability, signal quality to new readers, and open doors to additional promotion opportunities once you reach key thresholds.
Why Amazon Reviews Matter for Authors
Reviews influence purchase decisions. Most Amazon customers consult reviews before buying, using them as social proof of quality. Featuring positive snippets in social media ads and newsletters creates a feedback loop that drives more reviews and sales.
Reviews boost your book’s visibility on Amazon. Reviews feed into Amazon’s ranking algorithm, improving placement in search results and recommendation widgets. Reviews containing genre-relevant keywords help your book surface in niche searches.
Reviews build author credibility. A growing review count signals expertise and trustworthiness, increasing conversion rates from page views to purchases.
How Many Reviews Does a Book Need on Amazon?
It takes 15+ reviews to unlock eligibility for Amazon ads and certain internal promotional tools.
Once you’re in 20–50 review territory, you’ve established reader trust and credibility.
Having 50+ reviews opens doors to major marketing channels for fiction authors like BookBub promotions.
Having at least one 5-star review from a Top-100 reviewer (Hall-of-Fame reviewer) can trigger a noticeable bump in rankings and sales.
Getting Amazon reviews is essential to your book marketing efforts.
How to Get More Reviews for Your Book on Amazon
Generating authentic, high-quality reviews on Amazon takes time and a strategic approach.
Below is a step-by-step roadmap to help you build momentum, expand your readership, and boost your visibility on the world’s largest book retailer.
These tips are geared mainly toward self-published “indie” authors who’ve published ebooks through Amazon KDP, although any author—fiction or nonfiction—will find value in this article.
Don’t have much time? Skip to the bottom for a summary.
Include a Review Call to Action in Your Book
Years ago, I recall hearing on a podcast that authors who ask for reviews are three times as likely to get them vs. authors who don’t.
At your book’s close, in an author’s note or after the last chapter, ask readers to leave an Amazon review if they enjoyed the book.
To increase the odds of the reader seeing it, put this request as early as you can in the back of the book.
Keep the tone friendly and gratitude-filled—people respond better to a genuine ask than a hard sell.
If your book is published on platforms other than Amazon, you should not (and may not be allowed to) request a review on Amazon or include a link to Amazon in that request.
Engage Your Platform and Communities (Newsletter, Social Media)
Email your newsletter subscribers with a personal request and a direct link to your Amazon page. Emphasize how reviews help you continue delivering quality books.
Post on social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) with a brief “thank you” video or graphic asking for reviews.
Cross-promote in related author newsletters or podcasts, tapping into audiences who enjoy your genre.
Join niche Facebook groups, LinkedIn communities, Discord channels, and relevant subreddits; share insights on Threads or X, TikTok, or Instagram; and invite feedback and reviews.
Remember to provide value—so members view you as more than just an author seeking favors. Do not merely post a photo of your cover every day or simply announce that your book is available.
Run Reader Giveaways and Contests
Run a Goodreads giveaway to generate buzz and collect emails for future launches.
Promote your book with a Goodreads Giveaway today and let it run for several weeks or more.
Everyone who wins the giveaway is prompted to leave a review. Those who don’t win have the book added to their Goodreads to-read bookshelves.
Insider tip: During Giveaways month (usually starts in mid-August), you can purchase a giveaway at a significant savings.
On social media, hold a small contest.
Run small contests on Instagram or TikTok. Ask entrants to share a screenshot of your book page to their Stories and tag you, and you randomly pick winners.
Participants who win often leave reviews out of appreciation.
Run KDP Select Free Promotions
When enrolled in KDP Select, run a 1–5-day free promotion every 90 days. Learn more about Free Book Promotions here.
You can offer your book for free for up to 5 days every 90-day enrollment period.
During this promo, anyone (including friends and family) can download it for free.
You don’t earn royalties during the free period.
Promote the free days heavily via your newsletter, social media, and free-book sites (fiction) and professional forums (nonfiction).
Free downloads often translate into rapid reviews.
Amazon’s algorithm may reward your book with extra visibility once you hit roughly 50 reviews.
Run a Kindle Countdown Deal
Kindle Countdown Deals (KCD) let KDP Select authors run limited-time, tiered discounts on Kindle ebooks sold on Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk.
Customers see both the regular and the sales prices alongside a visible countdown, which drives excitement.
Restrictions and requirements apply:
Your book must be enrolled in KDP Select for at least 30 days to be eligible—and you can’t change the price for 30 days before and 14 days after the deal ends.
Minimum prices apply.
The deal must last 1 to 7 days.
You can only do one Free Book promotion or Kindle Countdown Deal per 90-day KDP Select term.
Deals must end at least 14 days before KDP Select enrollment expires.Connect with Top Reviewers and Vine Members on Amazon
Research “Vine reviewers” and high-ranked Amazon reviewers in your genre—many publicly list their interests and contact info.
Send a concise, personalized pitch offering a free copy and explaining why your novel aligns with their tastes.
Even a handful of Vine reviews can lend credibility and influence other buyers.
This is free, but reviewers must offer honest feedback only.
Target Other Relevant Reviewers and Influencers
Identify reviewers who specialize in your genre, topic, or industry:
Search top-selling books in your category and scan their review sections.
Note reviewers who consistently give detailed, thoughtful feedback.
Reference Reedsy’s regularly updated list of 200+ book blogs to find genre-matched reviewers.
Identify bloggers, podcasters, and trade publications covering your genre or niche; many include review policies or contact info on their sites.
Reach out with a concise email offering a free copy and explaining why you think they would enjoy your book and their audience would benefit from your book and offer a free review copy.
The best book on how to get book reviews on Amazon is Amazon Reviews for Books: How to Get Book Reviews on Amazon by Dale L. Roberts
Gifting an ebook
You can give away free ebooks on Amazon if you’ve published through Amazon KDP, which is useful for promotions, giveaways, or direct outreach.
Free and pre-order titles are not eligible, and gifting free ebooks is not available to authors and readers in some Amazon marketplaces.
Here are your options:
Single ebook gift: Send one copy to a specific person
Prepaid ebooks (bulk gifting): Buy multiple copies to distribute to a broader audience
How to Give Away Ebooks to Get More Reviews on Amazon
Just go to the ebook’s detail page and click “Buy for Others,” enter the quantity, and go from there.
The single copy gift option is available in the Amazon.com and Amazon.in marketplaces only; the buyer and recipient must be in the same country. You’ll be prompted to enter the recipient’s email and a personal message; they’ll receive a redemption code (US) or a link (IN) to claim the book. In the US, however, recipients can exchange the code for a gift card. A single copy counts as a sale. US authors earn royalties after redemption (there’s a 7-day return policy), India authors earn royalties once their gift is sent; there is no return policy.
For the prepaid ebook bulk gifting option, you can buy multiple copies at once. Amazon provides redemption links that you can share via email, social media, or newsletters. This is available in most Amazon marketplaces except Japan; the buyer and the recipient must be in the same country. Unredeemed copies can be refunded or regifted within 60 days (30 days in India). Authors earn royalties after redemption. Bulk orders count as one sale; it won’t help your sales rank.
Optimize Your Amazon Book Page to Sell More Books
If you optimize your Amazon book page, you may get more sales, which in turn will lead to more reviews.
I work with US nonfiction authors to do exactly this. See my book coaching services page to get started or contact me today.
Here’s what you can do:
Use high-quality cover design and format, as a professional presentation encourages reviews. You may want to redesign your cover(s).
Craft an engaging book description that hooks browsers in the first two lines. Use targeted keywords to improve discoverability. Think advertisement, not synopsis.
Populate “Editorial Reviews” with blurbs from paid review services or established bloggers—these don’t count against Customer Review rules.
Link directly to your Amazon page in every outreach email, blog post, and social update to remove friction.
Get Professional and Editorial Reviews
Invest in reputable nonfiction review services such as Kirkus Indie, Foreword Reviews, or IndieReader to secure third-party blurbs.
If you’re traditionally published, your publisher will submit your book to review services on your behalf but may ask you for recommendations.
Place these paid or invited reviews in the “Editorial Reviews” section on Amazon, where they’re exempt from Customer Review rules.
Editorial endorsements boost credibility and can persuade casual browsers to click “Buy.”
Distribute Advance Reader Copies (ARCs)
Send a free ARC to targeted readers in exchange for an honest review. These reviews can help drive purchases or can be used for Editorial Reviews that can be added to your Amazon book page to serve as social proof. (Not all authors are eligible to distribute ARCs through Amazon KDP—only those enrolled in KDP Select who have completed the ARC Approval Process, which involves submitting a sample of the ARC for review.)
Getting pre-publication buzz can also lead to Goodreads reviews before the publication of your book.
Reviews can also inspire purchases on Amazon, which will then lead to more reviews.
If you’re a fiction author:
Plan to send digital and print ARCs to book bloggers, Bookstagrammers, BookTokers, and genre-specific review sites.
Use platforms like BookSirens, StoryOrigin, or NetGalley to reach readers actively seeking new fiction.
If you’re a nonfiction author:
Prioritize experts, professional associations, and academic contacts who can speak to your book’s authority.
You can use snippets of what they say as Editorial Reviews.
Make it clear you welcome honest feedback—never require a positive rating or a guaranteed posting date.
Use your own email list to distribute ARCs.
Plan to send out 50+ ARCs in both print and digital formats to maximize reach.
As your following grows, it will become easier to do these things; this is advanced stuff, which is why I put it last, so don’t worry if you’re not there yet.
How to Get Amazon Book Reviews—In Sum:
Include a Call to Action in Your Book in Which You Ask People to Review It
Ask Your Readers and Followers to Review Your Book.
Run Reader Giveaways and Contests
Run KDP Select Free Promotions.
Run a Kindle Countdown Deal (KCD)
Connect with Top Reviewers and Vine Members on Amazon
Target Other Reviewers and Influencers
Optimize Your Amazon Book Page to Sell More Books
Get Professional and Editorial Reviews
Distribute ARC Copies
Amazon Reviews Do’s and Don’ts for Authors
You can offer ARCs for an honest review—but you must not require a positive spin or a guarantee that they’ll post a review on Amazon specifically.
You can use the Editorial Reviews section to add paid, blogger, or influencer reviews, which may then inspire more reader sales and, in turn, more reader reviews.
You can’t pay for customer reviews. Amazon will remove paid for or incentivized reviews.
You can’t ask family and friends or swap reviews with other authors. Amazon tracks close relationships and may delete these reviews.
Next Steps for Getting More Book Reviews
Build a small “Street Team” of superfans who receive chapter previews in exchange for early reviews.
Aim for at least 20 honest reviews to hit credibility benchmarks.
Pursue 15+ reviews quickly after launch to qualify for paid Amazon promotions.
Target 50+ reviews to unlock premium marketing opportunities.
Cultivate relationships with top reviewers to amplify algorithmic benefits.
Thank reviewers publicly—retweet, comment, or feature them to nurture long-term loyalty.
Repurpose stellar quotes as social-media graphics and newsletter highlights.
Track which channels yield the most reviews and double down there. Focus your efforts where you get the most results.
By understanding and strategically pursuing reviews on Amazon, you can accelerate your book’s momentum, earn favor with the Amazon algorithm, and convert more browsers into buyers.
Implement at least some of the strategies above and watch your sales, your review count, and your reader engagement soar.
You got this!
More on book marketing strategies and getting reviews for your book:
Scheduling a book coaching call to discuss book marketing strategy—or your next nonfiction book
KDP Select benefits: Kindle Countdown Deals and Free Book Promotions
Amazon Editorial Reviews: How to Add in Author Central, with Tips and Guidelines
How to Sell More Self-Published Books on Amazon: 5 SEO Strategies for Authors
Sell More Self-Published Books on Amazon with Endorsements, Editorial Reviews, & Reader Reviews
What Is a Book Coach?: Writing, Publishing, and Marketing Coaches for Authors
How to Market Books on Amazon and Elsewhere on a Limited Budget