The Book Review Query

Navigating Book Queries: A Note to Authors & Review Seekers

As Lori's Book Loft has grown to encompass authors and stories from over 50 countries, I’ve found myself receiving an increasing number of inquiries about advanced reading copies (ARCs) from both publishers and authors/agents worldwide. Since I also read a lot of indie authors, many of these queries are for debut novels, which I’m always excited to consider.

That said, it might not come as a surprise that I’m turning away more books now than I care to admit. This is always a difficult decision, as I know I’m passing up many incredible stories. But I want to share this to encourage authors—especially those just starting out—that a rejection should never discourage you from writing or from sharing your work. Keep going. Your story matters.

For authors looking to secure a review, here are some things that make the process easier for me:

The Anatomy of a Good Query

1. Salutation – A simple greeting goes a long way!
2. Introduction – Let me know why you're reaching out to Lori’s Book Loft specifically. Why do you think your book is a good fit for my blog?
3. Synopsis of Your Book – A concise yet engaging description of your book. Keep it brief but captivating.
4. Publisher, ISBN & Publication Date – This gives me all the basic info I need to track your book.
5. Formats Available – Specify the formats available (e.g., paperback, hardcover, ebook). This helps me understand how I can read your book.
6. Your Bio – A short paragraph about you as the author. It adds a personal touch and lets me get to know you a little better.
7. Links – Include links to the publisher’s website, your personal website, and any social media you feel is relevant. If you have a YouTube book trailer, this is a great place to add it.
8. Signature – Always sign off with your name.

If you’ve sent a query following these steps and haven’t received a response, please keep in mind that book reviewers, especially those with larger followings, receive hundreds (sometimes thousands) of queries daily. I may simply not have had a chance to review your book yet—I'm often deep in the middle of reading.

If you don’t hear back, don’t take it personally. It could just mean that now isn’t the right time for your book to be reviewed. Consider tweaking your approach and trying again later. Persistence is key!

A Word on My Reviews

To my readers: When I sit down to write a review, I aim to focus on what stood out to me personally about the book. I don’t worry about crafting a “perfect” review—my goal is to be sincere and honest. My reviews are often personal reflections, and while I know they may not always resonate with everyone, I believe in writing what I genuinely feel about the book.

Thank you for supporting my journey as a book blogger, and to all the authors out there—keep writing and sharing your work. The right reader is out there, and sometimes it just takes a little time to connect. 

Most of my audience knows Feedspot notified me that Lori's Book Loft made the Top 100 Book Review Blogs from thousands of top Book Review blogs in their index using their search and social metrics.  I also recently got word that Lori's Book Loft is now on RankedBlogs.com's list of top book review blogs. This is thanks to you who read this blog! 

To those that have written asking, do I talk about books - the answer is yes, to my family and close friends I gush in detail about the books I've read.