Indie book reviews

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.

IR Approved
Rating:
4.8 / 5.0

Offering a powerful look at the world around us through the lens of a dystopian sci-fi novel, C.J. Arlow's THE ALGO: Book One of the...

IR Approved
June 8, 2026

TOOFER & THE GIBLET

By Paulette LeBlanc (Author), Dmitry Morozov (Illustrator)
Rating:
5.0 / 5.0

Paulette LeBlanc's heartwarming chapter book with pictures TOOFER & THE GIBLET achieves all its narrative goals by integrating life lessons about complex emotions into short,...

June 7, 2026

OH, WOW! APE, BEAVER, COW: ABC Animal Rhymes

By Terri Powell Illustrated by Anniella Ragaza
Rating:
2.5 / 5.0

Though clearly created with warmth and enthusiasm for playful language, Terri Powell’s OH, WOW! APE, BEAVER, COW: ABC Animal Rhymes struggles with inconsistent rhyming and...

Rating:
3.0 / 5.0

Maia Sutherland's METABOLIC MAYHEM: The Art, Science & Pleasure of Weight Loss & Fabulous Metabolic Health is a well-written and engaging personal story concerning the...

IR Approved
June 7, 2026

THE SYMPTOMS OF LIVING

By Jasmine Erice-Harling
Rating:
4.5 / 5.0

Jasmine Erice-Harling’s THE SYMPTOMS OF LIVING delivers an intense, haunting poetry collection that blends gothic style with candid explorations of trauma, inheritance, and perseverance. Its...

June 6, 2026

MAKING RUSSIAN DOLLS

By Kimberly Anne Conway
Rating:
3.5 / 5.0

Despite some inconsistent characterization and a slightly rocky start, Kimberly Anne Conway’s confident blending of historical events, vibrant cultures, and intrigue turn MAKING RUSSIAN DOLLS...

IR Approved
Rating:
4.0 / 5.0

Wes Lewis’s THE LONG JOURNEY HOME: A Road to Redemption and Acceptance delivers as a vulnerable and introspective memoir that understands healing not as perfection...

IR Approved
June 6, 2026

SHACKLES OF DESTINY

By William Culbertson
Rating:
5.0 / 5.0

SHACKLES OF DESTINY is a riveting must-read. William Culbertson has created a novel that immerses readers in the psychology and social worlds of its characters,...

June 5, 2026

THE LAND OF THE DANCING RABBITS

By Sharon E Yarbrough
Rating:
3.8 / 5.0

Although it makes some narrative sacrifices for the sake of theme, Sharon E. Yarbrough's THE LAND OF THE DANCING RABBITS is a charming and evocative...

IR Approved
June 5, 2026

TWO MINUTES TO EVERYTHING

By H.W. Cumming
Rating:
4.0 / 5.0

H.W. Cumming's TWO MINUTES TO EVERYTHING is for any reader who's ever felt invisible in their own life and needed a book to share that...

IR Approved
Rating:
4.5 / 5.0

In STRATEGY IS ATTITUDE: The Missing Half of Strategy, Ganzorig's profound central message and polished delivery quickly establish what sets his work apart from other...

Rating:
3.0 / 5.0

Ron Kreymborg's ALICE AND LOUISE AND THE NEW DEMOCRACY: A Tale of Two Androids lacks conflict and dilutes what makes its central characters special, leaving...

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