Review policy
Here at Buttons Books, we accept review requests for several sub-genres of romance novels as well as other genres of fiction. You’ll find Young Adult, New Adult, Urban Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Erotica, Contemporary, Paranormal romances and anything else that catches our fancy.
If you’re an author or publisher and would like to submit a book for review, please email us at contact@buttonsbooks.com. We review independent authors and presses, as well as traditionally published works.
posted
Our reviews are posted on our blog, GoodReads, and TheStoryGraph app.
honest reviews
When requesting a review, please include the title, length and description of the novel in question, along with the release date and any other pertinent information. Please be advised, however, that we’ll be honest, and just because you submitted your book does not mean you’ll get a glowing review. If we think your book sucks, we’re going to tell the world. Just kidding. Well, not really.
Also, please be aware that submitting a book does not guarantee a review. We try to read and review all the books we receive, but sometimes life happens. Our reviewers choose which books they review, based on their personal interests, time and schedule.
grading system
Breakdown of our Review Grading System
5 out of 5 (10): Hell Yeah! One of my favorites, definitely! Get to the store and buy it NOW, or you’ll be sorry.
4.5 out of 5 (9): Excellent! Maybe one little problem, but that’s it. Get to the store and buy it, you won’t be sorry.
4 out of 5 (8): Great! a couple of problems but nothing major. Go buy it, you’ll probably enjoy it.
3.5 out of 5 (7): This book was pretty good, but nothing groundbreaking, decently good read. You might want to buy it, but don’t hurt yourself getting to the store.
3 out of 5 (6): Okay, more good than bad, decent about of bad though. If you’re in the mood for something mindless, pick it up.
2.5 out of 5 (5): Meh, very 50/50, every good has a bad. Buy it or not, I don’t care.
2 out of 5 (4): Poor, a decent number of good things, but more bad. I won’t be reading it again, and I don’t suggest you buy it.
1.5 out of 5 (3): Bad, a few good things, but ugh… Don’t buy it. If you see it in the store, back away. Back away slowly.
1 out of 5 (2): Horrible, maybe one good thing, maybe… Do yourselves a favor and stay far, far away from this one. If you see it in the store, run as fast as you can in the opposite direction.
0.5 out of 5 (1): Abysmal, needs serious work, shouldn’t have been released. I couldn’t find one thing about it that I liked. Not one. Do yourselves a favor and stay far, far away from this one. If you see it in the store, run as fast as you can in the opposite direction.
0 out of 5 (0): WTF
rubric
This is a list of things to consider when rating each category, this is not an extensive list, & not everything is always applicable to each book. But when it is applicable I these are guidelines.
characters
Do their motives make sense for them? Do they act their age? Do you feel for them / are they compelling to read about? Are they distinguishable from each other? have their own voices? Do you understand them? Are they nuanced characters vs flat characters? How are the side characters, not just protagonists, could you describe the characters to a friend?
plot
Does it make sense or are there plot holes, plot conveniences? How is the pacing, done well or uneven. How is the foreshadowing? Are there hidden easter eggs throughout the story? Was it satisfying for the story itself. Was it unique? If there are plot twists, are they done well? Is the plot too predictable, is It engaging?
writing
Do their motives make sense for them? Do they act their age? Do you feel for them / are they compelling to read about? Are they distinguishable from each other? have their own voices? Do you understand them? Are they nuanced characters vs flat characters? How are the side characters, not just protagonists, could you describe the characters to a friend?
world building / setting
Does the atmosphere work? Do you feel immersed into the story? Is it vivid? Can you picture the setting? Does the magic system make sense, do you understand how it works? If there are rules, do they work or do they contradict themselves, were these rules broken at any point? Do timelines make sense? Unique? Interesting? Too similar to other things?