Goodreads — Prohibited
- Sock puppet accounts to review your own work
- Review brigading — coordinating group reviews on your own or competitors' books
- Harassment of reviewers who gave negative reviews — Goodreads monitors this
- Author reviews of books in your own genre — flagged as conflict of interest
Goodreads — Safe Practices
- Author profile with professional information and book listings
- Book giveaways through the official Goodreads system
- Reader engagement in genre groups — provide value, not promotion
- Professional responses to reader questions only — never responses to individual reviews
Review Manipulation Signals
Avoid
- Avoid: All 5-star reviews with generic language — detected by platform algorithms
- Avoid: Reviews from accounts with no other review history
- Avoid: Large review volume within 48 hours of launch
BookBub, NetGalley & Reedsy
- Honest disclosure of ARC status in all materials — "I received an advance copy in exchange for an honest review"
- Professional presentation in all communications — these platforms monitor quality of submissions
- No pressure tactics for positive reviews — explicitly request honest feedback only
- Respect reviewer timelines and stated preferences — follow up once, politely, after stated deadline
- Platform-specific submission requirements — read them fully before applying
Safe Language Examples
Always Say
"If you enjoyed it and feel moved to share your thoughts…"
"Your honest feedback is always appreciated."
"Reviews help other readers discover books they might enjoy."