Resources
From Category: Reviews and Criticism
[Spoiler Alert]
[Spoiler Alert] is the online book club of The American Scholar, a well-respected magazine of literary criticism and essays. "We're a forum for swapping book recommendations, meeting editors and authors, and connecting with other readers across the country, culminating in regular livestreamed discussions about our book of the month." Read the forum guidelines and submit a request to join their private Facebook group.
25 Books by Indigenous Authors You Should Be Reading
Kaitlin Curtice is a poet and spirituality writer, and an enrolled member of the Potawatomi Citizen Band Nation. Her book Glory Happening: Finding the Divine in Everyday Places was published in 2017 by Paraclete Press. In this article on her blog, she recommends contemporary books of poetry, fiction, spirituality, and children's literature by indigenous authors. "If you want to break cycles of colonization and assimilation, you must take the time to learn from Indigenous experiences, through our own words." Visit her website here.
A Very Basic Primer for Reviewing Favorite Books Online
Carolyn Howard-Johnson is the author of the How to Do It Frugally series of books on marketing and editing for indie authors. Her blog The New Book Review reprints positive reviews submitted by authors and reviewers. In this blog post, she explains the basics of writing a helpful review on Amazon, Goodreads, or similar sites to promote your favorite books by other authors.
Apogee Journal
Founded in 2011 by writers of color and international students in Columbia University's graduate writing program, Apogee is an independently published online journal of literature and art that encourages the thoughtful exploration of identity and its intersections, including but not limited to: race, gender, sexuality, class, and ability. Editors say, "The word 'apogee' denotes the point in an object’s orbit that is farthest from the center. Our approach to both art and political activism operates with the same motivation to center underrepresented artistic voices from the political margins." Apogee features poetry, fiction, essays, and artwork. Their companion journal, Perigee, publishes book reviews and author interviews.
Black and White Gets Read
Kind of a Hurricane Press publishes this webzine devoted to reviews of poetry books and chapbooks.
Bloom
Bloom is a website that showcases authors whose first book was published at age 40 or older. Contemporary authors can contact the site to request a feature. There are also articles on late-blooming greats of the past. Editors say, "Bloom's mission and intention are not to critique or detract from the success of young writers; our interest is in contributing to the conversation about literary life and creative process, offering up a diverse range of paths as models. Our hope is to present some counter-balance to the disproportionate attention paid to precocity by exploring and presenting stories of slower, zig-zag, later-life, development...Bloom seeks to challenge any narrow or uniform ideas about what constitutes literary success or authenticity."
Book Series Recaps
Book Series Recaps helps fans catch up on details they have forgotten, in preparation for reading the next book in a series. The site also features spoiler-free book reviews, fan art, discussions, and book quotes. Authors they follow include Leigh Bardugo, Holly Black, Roshani Chokshi, Sarah J. Maas, and Toni Adeyemi. Focus is on YA and fantasy.
Bookmarks & Inkblots
Bookmarks & Inkblots is a book review column started by poet Konstantin Rega, an editor of Virginia Living magazine. This feature highlights Southern authors of poetry, fiction, and nonfiction.
Boston Area Small Press and Poetry Scene
Doug Holder of Ibbetson Street Press curates this blog of poetry news and reviews, focusing on the Boston area.
Brittle Paper: An African Literary Experience
Launched in 2010, Brittle Paper aims to promote and discuss the best in contemporary African literature. They publish original fiction and poetry, literary news and commentary, book reviews, and craft articles. They also compile a list of notable African books published each year. Among the useful resources on this site, we recommend Kenyan author and Cornell University professor Mukoma Wa Ngugi's article "Writing Your Other: A Concise Guide for White Writers".
Carousel
Established in 1983, Carousel is a Canadian literary and arts journal that is now published exclusively online. Sign up for their email list to be notified when their poetry and fiction reading periods open. Carousel's #USEReview feature is open year-round, seeking literary reviews that are written in an innovative or genre-bending style. They are especially interested in reviews of hybrid literature, graphic novels, or experimental poetry and prose. Reviewers receive a small payment.
Constant Critic
Sophisticated poetry reviews sponsored by Fence magazine. Any site that appreciates Gabriel Gudding's A Defense of Poetry gets our approval. Sign up for the mailing list to be notified of new reviews.
Contemporary Irish Literature Resource Network
The Contemporary Irish Literature Resource Network brings together Irish writers and academics to increase critical study of new Irish literature. Their blog features reviews of notable new books.
Contemporary Poetry Review
Literary news, reviews and interviews help you take the pulse of the art without getting bogged down in jargon or ideology. Good links to work in other journals as well, such as this article on Classical Arabic Poetry.
Disability in Kidlit
Disability in Kidlit is a multi-author website dedicated to discussing and improving the portrayal of disability in middle grade and young adult literature. They publish critical essays, reviews, and interviews. Their goals are to help readers, editors, and libraries find books with accurate and respectful treatment of disability, and to educate writers and editors about problematic portrayals. All contributors and editors identify as disabled.
East Jasmine Review
East Jasmine Review is an online literary journal whose mission is to publish writers from diverse and under-represented populations, such as "LGBTQIA, ethnic minorities, women, lower socio-economic status, those who are older or younger, religious minorities, and non-American persons." They accept poetry, fiction, essays, book reviews, and articles on the craft of writing.
Fictionaut
The blog can be read by the general public. To join the social network, you need to request an invite via the link on their website.
Getting a Top Reviewer to Read Your Book
In this blog post, Amazon Top Reviewer "Bassocantor", a/k/a Chris Lawson, gives advice on how to craft a professional, targeted pitch to solicit book reviews.
Good River Review
A publication of Spalding University's Naslund-Mann Graduate School of Writing in Louisville, KY, Good River Review publishes short creative writing in a variety of genres: poetry, fiction, essays, 10-minute stage plays or short film scripts, immersive journalism pieces, and book reviews. A notable feature of this magazine is that they publish writing for children and young adults in these genres alongside work for adults. See website for length limits in each category.
Graphic Policy
Graphic Policy is an online journal featuring news and reviews for comics fans, with an emphasis on mainstream properties. The site includes TV episode recaps, movie reviews, creator interviews, podcasts, and reviews of comics in various genres (manga, indie, webcomics, action/superhero, and more).
How Novelty Ruined the Novel
In this 2017 essay from Current Affairs, Brianna Rennix takes a skeptical look at popular experimental devices in contemporary literary novels. She argues that these tricks have become cliché, interfering with the genre's unique potential to entertain and provoke empathy. For fun, test your MFA syllabus or this week's New York Times Book Review against the Postmodern Novel Bingo card: "Entire chapter is just a list of ironic brand names"; "Tepid marriage ruined by unsatisfying infidelity"; "A lumbering comedic setpiece is suddenly interrupted by horrific violence"; and more.
Independent Book Review
Independent Book Review publicizes small press and self-published books through online reviews and author interviews. They also sell editorial services such as developmental and copyediting, proofreading, and book design. (Winning Writers does not recommend paying for reviews; submit your book for consideration to their free reviews service only.)
Largehearted Boy
Founded in 2002, David Gutkowski's literary blog explores the intersection of books and music. Features include Book Notes, which has authors create a mixtape relating to their latest book; Note Books, where musicians explore their literary side, Soundtracked, where directors and composers discuss their films' soundtracks; and "The Largehearted Boy Cross-Cultural Media Exchange Program," where authors interview musicians (and vice-versa).
LGBTQ Reads
Dahlia Adler, author of several Young Adult and New Adult novels including Under the Lights, writes this book review blog that spotlights queer-themed fiction for teens and adults.
Los Angeles Review of Books
The Los Angeles Review of Books publishes original poetry, fiction, essays, interviews, and literary and arts criticism. Their nonprofit foundation also offers publishing workshops, author events, and a book club. Use the online form on their Contact page to pitch an article.
Midwest Book Review
Established in 1976, the Midwest Book Review is an organization committed to promoting literacy, library usage, and small press publishing. Reviews are posted monthly on their affiliated websites and distributed to libraries, literary websites, databases, and online discussion groups. MBR welcomes small press and self-published authors.
Midwest Book Review’s List of Review Sites
Midwest Book Review is a monthly online publication that reviews self-published, small press, and mainstream books in a variety of genres. Their site includes additional resources for author marketing, such as this vetted list of other review organizations and publications that are open to indie books.
Modern American Poetry
A large, collaborative collection of critical essays. Background and analysis of many of today's most interesting American poems and poets. Submissions welcome. Click here for information.
Neglected Books
The Neglected Books blog spotlights "thousands of books that have been neglected, overlooked, forgotten, or stranded by changing tides in critical or popular taste." Posts include reviews, lists, and brief excerpts. Many of the featured works are literary fiction and poetry from the early and mid-20th century, though older works also make an appearance.
Northern Public Radio Book Series
This book review series is broadcast on WNIJ and WNIU, the public radio station affiliated with Northern Illinois University. The website includes book reviews and audio clips of author readings and interviews.
Pencilhouse
Pencilhouse is a writers' resource site that aims to help writers at all levels improve their craft. You can submit two poems or one short prose piece per month for a free critique (enter early because submissions are capped at 35 per month). Pencilhouse also publishes Zero Readers, a process-oriented literary journal that provides extensive feedback to accepted authors and guides them through the revision process.
Public Books
Founded in 2012, Public Books is an online journal that aims to "unite the best of the university with the openness of the internet." Featuring accessible articles by scholars in a variety of disciplines, from anthropology and history to literature and television, the journal brings academic research to a general audience. They have an extensive book review archive.
Publications That Pay Freelancers for Book Reviews and Interviews
This 2022 blog post from writer and editor Adam Morgan lists 74 journals and websites that pay freelance writers for book reviews and author interviews, with links to their instructions (if available) for how to pitch an article. (Hat tip to Erika Dreifus at The Practicing Writer for this resource.)
Rain Taxi
Rain Taxi is a well-regarded print and online literary journal that "provides a forum for the sharing of ideas about books, particularly those that may be overlooked by mainstream review media or marginalized for presumed strangeness, difficulty, or other othering." They publish book reviews, interviews, and critical essays.
Rattle Poetry Book Reviews
As of 2022, the widely distributed journal Rattle: Poetry for the 21st Century is open to insightful and entertaining reviews of contemporary poetry books for their monthly online column. Reviews should be at least 1,000 words and include actual analysis of the text. Accepted authors will receive $200.
Readerly Privilege and Textual Violence: An Ethics of Engagement
In this 2017 essay from the LA Review of Books blog, widely published poet and critic Kristina Marie Darling advises reviewers how to be mindful of privilege and subjectivity when critiquing a poetry book, particularly one by a less-established author. She warns against inferring psychological or autobiographical details from authors' published work. The essay contends that the best reviews are those that situate the book in its own aesthetic tradition and point the book toward the audience most likely to appreciate it.
Reads Rainbow
Launched in 2018, Reads Rainbow is a blog that highlights new LGBTQ books, comics, TV shows, and movies. Search by genre, queer identity, or ethnicity.
Reedsy’s Best Book Review Blogs of 2017
Reedsy is a networking and resource site for book marketing. This curated list features 174 book review blogs that were active as of 2017, searchable by genre and openness to indie books (self-published and print-on-demand).
Review Outlets Database at Poets & Writers
Poets & Writers Magazine maintains this searchable database of periodicals and websites that publish book reviews. Find out where to send review copies, what genres are accepted, whether self-published books will be reviewed, and more.
Seven Miles of Steel Thistles
Literary scholar and fantasy novelist Katherine Langrish blogs about folklore, fantasy, and ballads from an academic perspective. Topics include C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, Hans Christian Andersen, and contemporary authors such as Terry Pratchett and Ursula K. LeGuin. Her book Seven Miles of Steel Thistles: Reflections on Fairy Tales (Greystones Press, 2016) collects some of the top essays from this site. In addition to providing insight about beloved classics, the site is a good resource for fantasy authors wishing to think critically about problematic tropes in their genre.
Sistah Scifi
Sistah Scifi promotes speculative fiction by black women. Site founder Isis Asare says, "Sistah Scifi is a cauldron of all things afrofuturism; afro-mysticism; Black sci-fi; and voodoo casting spells to uplift literature written by Black women."
Speaking of Marvels
Edited by award-winning poet William Woolfitt, Speaking of Marvels is a blog that features interviews with authors of chapbooks, novellas, singles, and other shorter forms. Past interviewees have included Allison Joseph, Karen An-hwei Lee, Rajiv Mohabir, Carl Phillips, Cecilia Woloch, and many other notables.
Spine Magazine
Spine is an online journal profiling contemporary authors, illustrators, and book designers. In-depth pieces on great cover designs will be useful to self-published authors in packaging their own work.
Story Circle Book Reviews
Story Circle Book Reviews provides a review venue for women author-publishers and for women's work published by independent and university presses. The site's sponsor, Story Circle Network, also offers the Sarton Women's Book Awards for small press and self-published books by and about women, published in the US or Canada.
Sundress Reads
Sundress Publications is a well-regarded small press that runs the Best of the Net award series. Their "Sundress Reads" review series is open year-round to submissions of small press poetry and literary prose books published in the past two years. Editors say, "We hope to champion writers whose work highlights human struggle and challenges misconceptions." Send one PDF by email and one hard copy to Sundress Academy of the Arts.
The Bind
Founded by award-winning poet Rochelle Hurt, The Bind is an online journal that reviews poetry books by women and nonbinary authors. They review chapbooks, full-length collections, hybrid works, and translations. The Bind is interested in intersectional and feminist writing. Read a 2017 interview with Hurt on Trish Hopkinson's blog. Visit their website for guidelines for pitching articles and requesting reviews.
The Blue Mountain Review
Published by the Southern Collective, the Blue Mountain Review is a quarterly journal of arts and culture. They publish interviews with writers, lit mag editors, artists, and musicians, plus original poetry, fiction, and essays. See their website for the current theme for their annual poetry chapbook contest.
The Bookends Review
Founded in 2012 by creative writing and composition professor Jordan Blum, The Bookends Review is an online journal publishing fiction, nonfiction, poetry, author interviews, essays, book reviews, and visual/musical works from around the world.
The Comics Journal
An online publication from comics press Fantagraphics, The Comics Journal features in-depth history, creator interviews, and reviews of comics and graphic narratives.
The Complete Review
Reviews for over 900 books new and old. Concise and opinionated. Good at calling attention to obscure but worthy books. Genres include poetry. We also enjoy their blog, the Literary Saloon.
