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IndieReader’s reviewers are tough, but fair
Our Reviewers won’t judge your book as compared to other self-published titles, but against other books, period. Our ratings are based on the following criteria, although reviewers are able to award partial stars (i.e. a 1.3 or a 4.7), rather than rounding up or down to a whole or half number.
1/5
Really bad
Work on it.
2/5
Mediocre
1-2 bright spots.
3/5
Good
Worth reading.
4/5
Very Good
1-2 spots that need work
5/5
Excellent!
Must-read.
* IndieReader receives compensation for most of the books it reviews, along with copies of those books.
Rating:
3.5 / 5.0
Though rather lacking in any great drama, Peter Briscoe’s BETWEEN MEMORY AND OBLIVION: A Novel focuses on the philosophical in a way that should reward...
IR Approved
Rating:
4.8 / 5.0
Jennifer Huston Schaeffer's memoir MOMMY'S BOY: How My Doggie Soulmate's Love Rescued Me is a poignant exploration of the transformative power of human-animal bonds. It...
IR Approved
June 4, 2025
BEING BROKEN: Tales and Essays of Survival and Death from Narcissistic Parental Abuse
By Geoffrey R. JonasRating:
4.3 / 5.0
Though at times a difficult read, Geoffrey R. Jonas's BEING BROKEN: Tales and Essays of Survival and Death from Narcissistic Parental Abuse offers profound and...
IR Approved
Rating:
4.4 / 5.0
Michael Pronko's A GUIDE TO JAZZ IN JAPAN is a fascinating exploration of how one country embraced a particular genre. Along with carefully considered cultural...
IR Approved
Rating:
4.0 / 5.0
Though the overall setup is fairly conventional, Elias Axel’s PROMISING YOUNG MAN is a charming, empathetic portrait of neurodivergent youth.
June 2, 2025
UNFILTERED AND UNAPOLOGETIC: A Woman’s Guide to Live, Love, and Lead with Boldness
By Judy McCutcheonRating:
3.9 / 5.0
Judy McCutcheon’s UNFILTERED AND UNAPOLOGETIC: A Woman's Guide to Live, Love, and Lead with Boldness shines in its heartfelt encouragement and emotional resonance.
Rating:
3.4 / 5.0
William A. Sikes’s THE END OF MEANING: Cultural Change in America Since 1945 presents interesting and thought-provoking ideas, though it reaches too far in its...
Rating:
3.2 / 5.0
Kirsten Mickelwait’s THE ASHTRAYS ARE FULL AND THE GLASSES ARE EMPTY is replete with historical and picturesque detail.
IR Approved
Rating:
4.8 / 5.0
Rich and layered world building, a unique elemental magic system, and a tightly paced plot make Angelina Jeanette Kelly's THE SOURCE OF STORMS an engrossing...
Rating:
3.8 / 5.0
Though it feels overly simplistic at times, Alan Lessik’s MAKE THE DARK NIGHT SHINE remains a captivating vision of humanity in the interbellum period.
IR Approved
Rating:
4.0 / 5.0
Aside from the deep particulars of its content, Andy Crocker’s THE UNCONDITIONALS succeeds on a strong pedagogical structure and a clearly envisioned audience.
IR Approved
Rating:
4.0 / 5.0
Annissa Deshpande’s THE CHANGE UP is a fun, flippant, and lesson-laced portrayal of how private equity firms and corporate groupthink ruin a business.