Book Review Policy

Thank you for considering Mom Needs a Chapter for your book review! Below you’ll find our guidelines, inspired by seasoned book blogging policies and reviewer communities.

Genres & Formats Accepted

  • We primarily review books in romance, YA romance, romantasy, and women’s fiction.

  • We accept both indie/self-published and small-press titles, as well as published works.

  • Formats accepted: eBook (e.g. EPUB/PDF), physical copy, and ARCs (Advance Reader Copies). Please specify format when requesting.

Submission & Selection Process

  • Filling out the review request form does not guarantee a review.

  • We select books based on fit with our genre focus, reader interest, current backlog, and author preferences.

  • We respond within 2–4 weeks if your book is selected. Unselected submissions may not receive individual replies.

Review Standards & Practices

  • Reviews are always honest and reader-focused, reflecting personal experience with the book.

  • DNF (Did Not Finish) Reviews:

    • I do share DNF (Did Not Finish) reviews for books I select and read independently, if I believe it's important for my audience. These reviews will always be respectful and note why the book wasn’t a fit for me.

    • However, I do not post DNF reviews for books submitted via the review request form. If I am unable to finish a submitted book, I will notify the author or publisher privately, and no public review will be posted.

  • I typically do not publish negative reviews for books submitted via the review request form. If a book doesn’t resonate, I'll often decline to post or may contact the author to discuss options.

  • One title per submission, unless multiple titles are part of a single series request.

Timeline Expectations

  • I aim to post reviews about 1–2 weeks before book publication, if possible. Some platforms do not allow reviews to be posted until the publication date.

  • For ARCs, please submit as early as 3–4 months ahead of publication for scheduling flexibility.

  • If a deadline is requested, I will do my best to accommodate—but cannot guarantee timelines.

Where Reviews Appear

  • Reviews are published on our blog, and may also be shared on Goodreads, Amazon, Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, and potentially Facebook or YouTube.

  • You will be notified by email once the review is live, and tags/links can be provided to support visibility.

Media Permissions

  • For ARC or published submissions, you may provide your book cover, author photo, or other promotional graphic for use.

  • Written authorization or proof of copyright ownership is required before we use any images.

Rating & Disclosure

  • Reviews may include a star rating system, though not always applied—especially for strong personal stories or nuanced cases.

  • We always disclose when a book was received for free or as an ARC/review copy. This does not affect the review outcome.

No Compensation Policy

  • Reviews are provided without charge. Authors do not pay, and reviewers are not compensated.

  • Reviews are not promotional giveaways—they reflect genuine reader experience. Paid or incentivized reviews are not accepted.

How to Submit

To request a review, please complete our Book Review Request form or click “Submit Request” button below.

Once review selection is confirmed, we’ll be in touch with next steps!