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.

December 6, 2024

SITTING BULL RUN

By Pat J Daly
Rating:
3.7 / 5.0

Pat J. Daly’s SITTING BULL RUN vividly evokes both its parochial American setting and the emotional mechanics of cross-country running.

IR Approved
December 6, 2024

HERE LYETH

By Johanna Frank
Rating:
4.0 / 5.0

With its vividly drawn characters and compelling blend of earthly drama and metaphysical intrigue, HERE LYETH by Johanna Frank is a compulsively readable entry in...

December 6, 2024

MIT OUT SOUND

By Rick Lenz
Rating:
3.5 / 5.0

Readers of MIT OUT SOUND by Rick Lenz will enjoy its author’s insider knowledge of Hollywood.

Rating:
3.0 / 5.0

Suzanne Giesemann’s THE AWAKENED WAY—Making the Shift to a Divinely Guided Life provides some valuable, easy-to-understand instructions for meditative practice, even if its underlying cosmological...

December 4, 2024

DIVINE IN ESSENCE: Stories

By Yarrow Paisley
Rating:
3.8 / 5.0

Yarrow Paisley's DIVINE IN ESSENCE: Stories is not for those who like their fiction tidy and clear-cut. Rather, it is a collection for readers willing...

IR Approved
Rating:
4.5 / 5.0

In this wide-ranging and fascinating book, BACKBONE: Surviving the Road Less Quantified; Toward a Deeper Understanding of Qualitative Research, David M. Schneer skillfully combines a...

December 4, 2024

THE SILVER SQUAD: Rebels With Wrinkles

By Marty Essen
Rating:
3.5 / 5.0

Marty Essen’s THE SILVER SQUAD: Rebels With Wrinkles is buoyed up on warm-hearted charm and overall absurdity.

December 2, 2024

DELAWARE FROM FREEWAYS TO E-WAYS

By Dave Tabler
Rating:
3.0 / 5.0

Dave Tabler’s DELAWARE FROM FREEWAYS TO E-WAYS is full of vibrant imagery and interesting history, though a lack of clear structure sometimes impedes both learning...

IR Approved
December 2, 2024

OUR GLOBAL CRISIS

By Brian D McLean
Rating:
4.5 / 5.0

OUR GLOBAL CRISIS is a comprehensive and fascinating study of the state of the planet. Author Brian D. McLean skillfully uses historical examples to highlight...

December 2, 2024

WAIRAKA POINT: The Paradox of Truth

By Trevor Watkin
Rating:
2.9 / 5.0

WAIRAKA POINT: The Paradox of Truth by Trevor Watkin covers an extraordinary amount of ground, including romantic drama, travelogue, and low-key thriller, but suffers from...

IR Approved
Rating:
4.5 / 5.0

A joy to read aloud, Aishah Hight's CAKE, LEMONADE, AND SPRINKLES is a perfect read for parents and educators looking to spark conversations about identity,...

November 29, 2024

DODGING CUPCAKES

By Laura Pashley
Rating:
3.5 / 5.0

Laura Pashley’s DODGING CUPCAKES heartily tackles serious and relatable elements of being the new kid at school.

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