8 Tips for Reviewing Advanced Copies on Amazon and Goodreads
If you’ve beta-read a book, been part of a street team, or just read a great book by an indie author, the best way to help them is to leave a review on Amazon and/or Goodreads. Thank you—readers like you are a godsend.
This process can feel intimidating and frustrating. When and how you post can determine whether your good intentions get seen or are buried by the algorithm.
Here are 8 crucial tips for helping your favorite indie author. Authors, share these tips with your ARC readers. If you want to give me a little credit, it’s appreciated.
1. Prioritize & Know the Rules for Each Platform
Amazon and Goodreads are by far the most-read and most influential sites for launching new books. Even though Amazon owns Goodreads, they have very different rules:
Platform
Timing
Purchase Requirement
Key Rules
Goodreads
Post as soon as the book is listed (pre-pub reviews help build momentum).
None.
You can occasionally mention the author’s social media links.
Amazon
Post on or shortly after the official publication date.
Must have spent $50/year on Amazon to post reviews (Prime/KU subscribers are usually fine).
DO NOT include any external links; the review will be rejected.
Important for readers: Always honor any specific date or platform request given by the author or publisher. More reviews in the first few days post-launch mean greater promotion by the Amazon algorithm. For example, i plan to send a note to ARC readers and early reviewers a week before the publication date so it is on their radar.
2. Check Amazon’s Review Timing Rules
Amazon is strict about timing.
Schedule your review to be posted on or shortly after the book’s official launch date.
The book must be published for you to post a review on Amazon.
Pro Tip for KU Subscribers/ARCs: If you read an ARC but have Kindle Unlimited, you can preorder and download the book on the publication date, flip through all the pages, and then post your review. This gives the author certified page reads and may help your review appear as a “Verified Purchase.”
3. Disclose How You Acquired the Book (Crucial for Compliance)
This is vital for FTC and Amazon compliance (transparency). Always state how you acquired the book:
For an ARC/E-Galley: “I received an advanced reader copy (ARC) of this book in exchange for an honest review.”
For a Direct Purchase: “I purchased this copy directly from the author/publisher. My review is voluntary and honest.”
Note: If you received a free ARC, your review will not have the “Verified Purchase” badge. This is normal, and your disclosure covers it.
4. Focus on the Book’s Final Quality
Your role is to be a reader, not a proofreader.
ARCs might contain minor typos. Ignore minor errors unless they seriously impact the story.
The bulk of your review should focus on the story, characters, plot, and overall reading experience.
5. Write Unique Reviews for Both Sites
Tailor the review slightly for each audience:
Goodreads: Can be more conversational and include comparisons to similar titles.
Amazon: Be concise and focus on how the book delivers on its genre promise (e.g., “A thrilling fantasy read”).
6. Use Star Ratings Consistently
Maintain a consistent star rating between Goodreads and Amazon for the same book to avoid sending mixed signals to readers and algorithms.
7. Avoid Spoilers Unless Clearly Marked
The goal is to help prospective readers decide to buy the book.
If you must discuss a major plot point, use a clear [SPOILER ALERT] tag at the very beginning of the spoiler section.
8. Use Links Sparingly (Goodreads Only)
Goodreads: You may sparingly mention the author’s social media or website.
Amazon: Do NOT include any external links on Amazon. Reviews with external links will be rejected.
Now the shamefully self-promoting part. If you’d like to be part of the ARC reader team for The Deserter, drop me a line. There’s still time before publication day.
Next week, I’ll reveal the cover of my new novel, The Deserter. Until then, I thought you might want to know what people are saying about it… These are smart people, excellent writers, and people who don’t tolerate poor story-telling. If you are unaware of their work, check them out.
“The Deserter evokes classic blood-and-sand adventures like Under Two Flags and Beau Geste. With meticulous research and compelling characters, Turmel has brought the desert saga back to thrilling life.” Frank Thompson- author of The Compleat Beau Geste
“The Deserter evokes classic blood-and-sand adventures like Under Two Flags and Beau Geste. With meticulous research and compelling characters, Turmel has brought the desert saga back to thrilling life.” Cam Torres, author of the Tyler Zahn thrillers
“The Deserter is a great read from beginning to end. Rousing adventure, multifaceted characters, and the near mythical setting of life in the French Foreign Legion add up to a thrilling page turner. If you haven’t read Wayne Turmel’s work, you’re missing out. – Thom Reese, author of the HUNTINGTON ADVENTURES series.
“The Deserter is a thrilling tale of desert adventure in the classic tradition of Beau Geste and the Flawed Blades novels of P.C. Wren. Enlisting in the French Foreign Legion seems like the answer to Gil’s prayers, but he soon learns that safety is a mirage.” Jill Hand, author of the Trapnell thrillers, White Oaks, Black Willows and Red Pines
“I love historical novels, and the best of them meet three requirements. They must be good novels with believable characters and a protagonist I can get inside the head of. They must be historically accurate in small details. And, ideally, they tie to an actual historical event. The Deserter meets all those requirements.” Wally Bock, The Well-Read Author Newsletter
“A two-fisted historical adventure that weaves visceral action, rugged landscapes, and raw emotional depth into a haunting tale of honor, betrayal, and the elusive hope of redemption.” — David Buzan, bestselling author of IN THE LAIR OF LEGENDS
Look for the cover reveal and more good stuff on Wednesday, October 22
After a lot of false starts and hemming and hawing, “The Deserter, a Tale of the Foreign Legion,” will be out January 16, 2026.
Gritty and existential! A British veteran’s stint in the French Foreign Legion turns ugly as he suffers from the brutal cost of good intentions and the indifferent machinery of war.—Cam Torrens, award-winning author of the Tyler Zahn suspense series .
This book marks the return to my historical fiction roots. It’s different than anything you’ve read from me. It’s dark, violent, and decidedly not cute or funny. But it IS a thrilling story of desperation and one man’s desire to overcome his worst impulses.
Here’s the synopsis:
Marseille, 1908.
A Boer War veteran, broken and adrift, seeks discipline and renewed purpose in the unforgiving ranks of the French Foreign Legion. He finds it, but not for long. When a payroll guard is murdered, a treacherous soldier blames him, forcing Gil Vincente to run for his life.
Chasing his nemesis through the rugged mountains of North Africa, Gil must fight to clear his name. But with the Legion on his heels and a ruthless killer on the loose, will he find justice or be forever branded a coward and deserter?
Think Beau Geste, directed by Sam Peckinpah, and you’re on the right track.
If you’d like an early review copy, want to be on my launch team, or just want to know more details as launch day draws near, Get on my mailing list.
