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Indie book reviews

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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
June 4, 2025

MOMMY’S BOY: How My Doggie Soulmate’s Love Rescued Me

By Jennifer Huston Schaeffer
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
Rating:
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
June 2, 2025

A GUIDE TO JAZZ IN JAPAN

By Michael Pronko
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
June 2, 2025

PROMISING YOUNG MAN

By ELIAS AXEL
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.

Rating:
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
May 30, 2025

THE SOURCE OF STORMS

By Angelina Jeanette Kelly
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...

May 28, 2025

MAKE THE DARK NIGHT SHINE

By Alan Lessik
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
May 28, 2025

THE UNCONDITIONALS

By Andy Crocker
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
May 28, 2025

THE CHANGE UP

By Annissa Deshpande
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.

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