Authors need book reviews to sell books, and readers like book reviews that help them make informed buying decisions about what books to read. However, many fake book reviews and reviewers are out there, and when authors hire people to write reviews, not knowing the reviewer will not actually read the book, or when readers buy books based on fake reviews, the result can be displeased readers who might then be angry enough to post their own negative reviews about the book.

As authors, whether we are self-published or published by a publishing firm, small press, or a large publishing house, getting noticed is one of our primary challenges. Some publishers offer marketing support, either as prepaid services or part of the publishing contract. Yet, if you are self-published you are entirely on your own.

We recently reviewed a book and the reviewer pointed out the copious amounts of editing issues in the book. I got a response from the editor of the book.

I’ve been giving updates for the past year on the aspect of Amazon.com removing reviews and banning reviewers from posting. At first it seems it was just review sites like us but then it flowed over to removing reviews from individual reviews unrelated to any site or blog.

The bottom line for the author or publisher to consider is who will provide the best service but more so who will have the books available for impulse buyers.