How do I get book reviews before launch?
Plan, draft, edit and pitch the same book in one project.
Start free in the Market studio- Pre-launch reviews come from advance review copies (ARCs).
- ARCs go out weeks before release to allow reading time.
- Targets include reviewers, bloggers, and engaged readers.
- Editorial reviews and reader reviews serve different roles.
- You ask for honest reviews, never buy or require positive ones.
Get book reviews before launch by distributing advance review copies (ARCs) — digital or print — to a curated list of likely reviewers weeks ahead of release: book bloggers and reviewers in your genre, an ARC team of engaged readers, and, for editorial reviews, relevant outlets or services. Make reviewing easy (clear files, links, a gentle deadline near release day) and follow up courteously. Always ask for honest reviews; never pay for or require positive ones. The goal is a base of credible reviews live at or soon after launch.
Chapter i·Why it matters
Books launch stronger with reviews already in place — they provide social proof, support retailer algorithms and promo-site eligibility, and reassure new readers. Getting them requires lead time and a deliberate ARC process, since reviewers need weeks to read and post. Understanding how to build a reviewer list, distribute ARCs, and follow up professionally — while keeping reviews honest and unpaid — helps authors launch with credibility instead of an empty reviews section that makes a new book look untested.
Chapter ii·What to include
- A curated reviewer and ARC-reader list.
- ARCs distributed weeks ahead.
- Easy files, links, and a gentle deadline.
- Courteous follow-up near release.
- A request for honest, unpaid reviews.
- A mix of editorial and reader reviews.
Chapter iii·Example
Six weeks before launch, an author sends digital ARCs to her ARC team and a handful of genre book bloggers, with clear files and a request for honest reviews by release day. She follows up gently a week before. By launch, a dozen credible reviews are live — social proof that reassures new readers and supports her promotions.
In WriteLoom
A launch plan, not a launch day
WriteLoom's Market studio tracks your ARC list and review outreach, so launch reviews come together on schedule.
Not ready for a workspace yet? Get the free six-part series on winning the writing game: finishing drafts, editing in the right order, querying with real math, and launching on a runway.
Chapter iv·Related questions