Whether this is your first book or your fifth, choosing who to publish with is a big decision, and it helps to know exactly what you are being asked to do at each step. This article explains our free book review: what it is, what you send, and what happens afterwards.
What a free book review is
You submit your manuscript through the free book review form. A member of the team reads it and sends you our feedback on where the book stands and what it needs next. We also tell you whether we think we are a good fit for your book. The review is free, and you are under no obligation to do anything afterwards.
What to send
The whole manuscript if it is finished, or at least the first three chapters if it is still in progress, as one Word (.doc or .docx) or PDF file of up to 15 MB. You do not need to polish it first. If your book does not have chapters, such as a picture book or a poetry collection, or your file is larger than 15 MB, send us an enquiry and we will tell you what to send.
What our decision can be
- We accept the book. We would like to work with you, and we send a recommended publishing roadmap with our feedback.
- We accept it with conditions. We would like to work with you, but we think something needs to happen first or alongside. We explain the conditions clearly.
- We decline the book. We do not think we are the right fit at this stage, and we say so plainly. The feedback is yours to keep and to use however it helps your book.
Going deeper
For a detailed read with comments through the manuscript, an Alpha Reader Review is available as a separate service.
What happens after the review
The review is the first of four stages, and the only one that is free:
- Submit your manuscript for the free book review.
- Review our feedback and approve your roadmap. If we are a good fit, the roadmap sets out the services we suggest, in what order, and why. Nothing goes ahead until you approve it.
- Review and sign the service agreement. It sets out what each service includes, the fees and payment dates, and what you will be asked to approve. Work begins once you have signed.
- Review the finished work and launch. When you are happy with the finished book, we launch it through your own distribution accounts, and retailers pay your royalties directly to you.
Before you send anything
It is sensible to know how a service handles your work. You can read how we handle what you send in our NDA and privacy notice, and ask us anything first through the enquiry form.
How it differs from editing
A review does not change your manuscript. It tells you where it stands. Editing, whether developmental, copy-editing or proofreading, changes the text. See developmental editing explained for the deepest of those stages, or which kind of edit does my book need?
Want to know where your book stands?
Submit your manuscript for a free book review: the whole book, or at least the first three chapters. We'll read it and send you our feedback. There's no obligation.