An Unusual Proposition
One quick favor before we begin: Please read this document all the way through before submitting your book. This is a somewhat unusual arrangement, and I want to make sure we’re both perfectly clear about what I’m offering—and what I’m not. Thanks!
I’ll read your book and write a thoughtful, independent editorial review that you can use in your book marketing, promotional materials, website, social media, or anywhere else that permits editorial review content.
The unusual part?
You don’t pay anything upfront. In fact, you decide what to pay me only after you’ve read the review. No set fee. No awkward negotiation. No wondering whether you got your money’s worth.
Here’s How It Works
1. Send Me Your Book
Email your review request and include:
- A copy of your manuscript in .doc, .docx, .rtf, or .pdf format
- The approximate word count
- Your name or pen name as you’d like it to appear
- The title of your book
- A short description or synopsis
- Whether you want me to publish your review on my website and blog
2. I Read It. I Review It. You Get the Finished Review.
I’ll read your book and write an honest, thoughtful editorial review reflecting my genuine experience with your work.
This is an independent editorial review, not a paid customer review. You are paying for my time, reading, analysis, and writing—not for a particular rating or favorable opinion.
Once I’ve completed your review, I’ll email you a copy of it along with my unique PayPal payment link.
You may then use or quote the review in your marketing and promotional materials wherever such editorial content is permitted. Because individual retailers, websites, and social platforms establish their own rules regarding reviews and promotional content, it is ultimately your responsibility to make sure your intended use complies with the applicable platform’s policies.
There is one important exception.
If, after reading your book, I believe my honest assessment would result in a rating of two stars or fewer, I will not provide a review intended for public use. Instead, as a professional courtesy, I’ll contact you privately by email. I’ll let you know that I don’t feel I can give the book a rating higher than two stars and, where appropriate, briefly explain the primary concerns that led me to that conclusion. To be absolutely clear, I will not provide or publish a formal editorial review.
At that point, the review process ends, and you will not owe me anything.
My goal is to provide honest feedback and help authors promote work I can genuinely recommend—not to publicly damage an author over a book that simply didn’t work for me.
3. You Decide What It Was Worth
After you’ve seen the finished review, you decide what to pay me.
Seriously.
Pay what you believe my time, effort, and review were worth. That’s it. No upfront cost. No predetermined fee. No pressure. Just an unusual little experiment involving books, trust, and my apparently questionable willingness to let strangers determine the monetary value of my labor.
What could possibly go wrong? 🤷♀️
Ready to Submit?
Email me at julie.ann.grayson@gmail.com with the subject line:
Review Request – Your Name – Title of Your Book
Be sure to include ALL of the information listed above in Step 1.
FAQs
Why are you doing this?
Because I genuinely enjoy little social experiments like this one. It also gives me an excuse to read books I might otherwise never discover—which is half the fun. And, frankly, I’m curious to see what happens when people are allowed to decide for themselves what someone’s work is worth.
Aren’t you worried that someone simply won’t pay you?
Of course. I’ve encountered that behavior before, and I’m sure I’ll encounter it again. But I also believe most people are decent and will compensate someone fairly when they believe they’ve received something worthwhile. Consider this equal parts book reviewing and faith in humanity.
Isn’t this the same thing as paying for an Amazon, Goodreads, or BookBub customer review?
No.
I am providing an independent editorial review directly to you. I am not selling customer reviews, star ratings, or guaranteed placement on retail or reader-review platforms.
Once you receive the review, you may use it in promotional and marketing materials wherever editorial reviews or review excerpts are permitted. Because platform policies vary and can change, you are responsible for ensuring that your use of the review complies with the rules of the site or service where you intend to use it.
Can’t you just post the review for me?
I’m sorry, but I cannot—at least not on retail or reader-review platforms such as Amazon, Goodreads, or BookBub. This is because I may receive payment for my time and work, so posting the review myself as a customer or reader review could violate the policies of those platforms—even though you don’t pay me upfront, you don’t control what I write, and the amount you ultimately pay has absolutely no influence on my opinion. I’d rather keep both of us safely on the right side of those rules.
But that doesn’t mean your review disappears into your inbox!
Editorial reviews of three stars or higher will be published on my personal blog at juliewritesbooks.com/blog and on my Substack at juliewritesbooks.substack.com, unless you ask me not to in your initial submission.
You’ll also receive the complete review directly from me to use or quote in your own marketing and promotional materials wherever editorial reviews are permitted.
So while I can’t personally drop your review into Amazon, Goodreads, or BookBub as a customer review, I can give it a public home of its own—and you’ll have a published review you can share with readers.
What are your favorite genres to read?
I love smut—the filthier, the better.
I’m also an enthusiastic reader of horror and, for reasons even I can’t adequately explain, children’s books. My reading tastes contain multitudes.
Does paying more guarantee a better review?
Absolutely not.
First, you don’t pay anything until after the review has been written. Second, you are paying for my time, effort, and thoughtful assessment—not for praise. The amount you choose to pay has no bearing whatsoever on what I write. My review will reflect my genuine experience with your book.
The Fine Print
- You must be located in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, or Australia/New Zealand to participate.
- Your book must be written in English. French is also accepted, so long as the word count doesn’t exceed 1,500 words,
- Manuscripts must be submitted as a .doc, .docx, .rtf, or .pdf file.
- Books should generally be 30,000 words or fewer. Have something longer? You’re welcome to ask. I may accept longer works depending on my availability, the book’s length, and whether the premise grabs me.
- I reserve the right to decline any submission.
- By submitting your work, you are giving your permission for me to publish the resulting editorial review on my blog and Substack. If you are not interested in this, please let me know in your initial email.
- Submission does not guarantee a positive review. It guarantees an honest one.
- Payment never determines or influences my rating or content of a review.
- Two-Star Courtesy Policy: If I believe a book warrants a rating of two stars or fewer, I will contact the author privately rather than write or publish the review. No payment will be expected.
- Payment is accepted through PayPal only.