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.

IR Approved
Rating:
4.4 / 5.0

Neal Winsomer's CALLING OUT THE SHADOWS: A Father's Stand Against the Current is a memoir that shares a hard-won clarity. Written by a man who...

July 3, 2026

SONGS MY MOTHER TAUGHT ME

By Helen Winslow Black
Rating:
3.9 / 5.0

Helen Winslow Black's SONGS MY MOTHER TAUGHT ME is a powerful novel about the weight women carry as daughters, mothers, and wives.

IR Approved
July 3, 2026

THE LAST PIROUETTE: A Novel in Three Acts

By Janette DeFelice
Rating:
4.9 / 5.0

Janette DeFelice's THE LAST PIROUETTE: A Novel in Three Acts is a triumph that carries the sensual experience of dancing while searching for authenticity. This...

IR Approved
July 3, 2026

AND SO FORTH

By Morris Panych
Rating:
5.0 / 5.0

Morris Panych's AND SO FORTH is a humorous exploration of what makes us human, the roles we take on, and the secrets we keep. This...

IR Approved
July 3, 2026

CHILDREN OF ANGELS

By Faith MacGregor
Rating:
5.0 / 5.0

Faith MacGregor's CHILDREN OF ANGELS seamlessly combines Christian fiction with a variety of mythological and magical systems, prioritizing faith, loyalty, and persistence in times of...

IR Approved
July 2, 2026

SALVATION (Jonah Grady, Book 1)

By Frank Faustino
Rating:
5.0 / 5.0

With nuanced queer representation, a plot that maintains its momentum the whole way through, impeccable world-building, and sharp prose, Frank Faustino's action-packed SALVATION is a...

July 1, 2026

A PH.D’S REVERIE: The Letters

By Charles Francis Guittard
Rating:
3.8 / 5.0

While additional editorial context would have improved accessibility, Charles Francis Guittard’s A PH.D.’S REVERIE: The Letters succeeds as a thoughtful and detailed collection of correspondence...

IR Approved
Rating:
4.5 / 5.0

Dillon W. Buck's THE STONECASTER: A Modern Parable About Intention, Response, and the Ripples We Create is a standout novel that takes readers on a...

IR Approved
June 30, 2026

THINKING THINGS OVER: The Reflections of Two 80-Year-Olds

By Charles Francis Guittard, Nancy Davis Labastida
Rating:
4.0 / 5.0

Full of nostalgia, Charles Francis Guittard and Nancy Davis Labastida’s emotionally rewarding memoir, THINKING THINGS OVER: The Reflections of Two 80-Year-Olds, offers younger generations a...

IR Approved
June 30, 2026

THE WEDNESDAY BOX: A Dark Fable

By Jonathan Kieran
Rating:
4.5 / 5.0

Jonathan Kieran's novel THE WEDNESDAY BOX compellingly showcases the devious actions of evil, the perception of young minds, and the perseverance of a brave, imaginative...

June 29, 2026

LADDERS AND MUSES

By Johnny Flaherty
Rating:
3.3 / 5.0

Johnny Flaherty's LADDERS AND MUSES is an accessible and engaging collection whose strongest poems blend storytelling with personal reflection, though inconsistent design choices and highly...

IR Approved
June 29, 2026

ORPHANS OF THE SEA (Underground, Book 1)

By Charles R. Cooke and Christopher X. Ryan
Rating:
4.0 / 5.0

Charles R. Cooke and Christopher X. Ryan's ORPHANS OF THE SEA (Underground Book 1) is a fresh, thrilling, and action-packed opener to what promises to...

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