Indie book reviews

Now
Reviewing
Audiobooks!

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
March 28, 2026

THE REAL ONES (A Chasing Victory Novel)

By J Rose Black
Rating:
4.0 / 5.0

J Rose Black's THE REAL ONES is a swoon-worthy novel that will satisfy enthusiasts of contemporary romance looking for a fast-paced read.

IR Approved
March 28, 2026

SACRED SEVENTH

By Peter Bell
Rating:
4.2 / 5.0

Written by Peter Bell, SACRED SEVENTH delivers a compact yet thoughtful moral thriller that's grounded in character and consequence. The novella's ethical depth and emotional...

IR Approved
March 28, 2026

THE SECRET OF SPIRIT LAKE

By Jane Haltmaier
Rating:
4.3 / 5.0

Written by Jane Haltmaier, THE SECRET OF SPIRIT LAKE is an impressive debut that should appeal to YA readers.

March 27, 2026

GOODBYE DEMONS

By JJ Harrigan
Rating:
3.2 / 5.0

Although J.J. Harrigan's GOODBYE DEMONS benefits from realistic depictions of the Iranian hostage crisis, the protagonist's naïveté works against likeability.

March 27, 2026

ROAD TO GLORY

By J.E. Brady
Rating:
3.7 / 5.0

The tension between a son set on doing things his way and his father's expectations is emotively captured in James Brady's coming-of-age ROAD TO GLORY.

March 27, 2026

TO RECLAIM A LIFE

By Nelson Erlick
Rating:
3.9 / 5.0

Tactfully written and affecting, Nelson Erlick's TO RECLAIM A LIFE is a heartbreaking account of one man's attempt to imbue his life with meaning in...

Rating:
3.8 / 5.0

Faults of style aside, Mr. Elex Icon's FROGS & FOG: A Murkmire Mystery is a well-structured whodunit by which avid fans of the mystery genre...

March 26, 2026

SCOUNDRELS & COCKTAILS

By Joe Newell
Rating:
3.9 / 5.0

Joe Newell’s SCOUNDRELS & COCKTAILS offers an entertaining, voice-driven crime narrative whose witty protagonist and colorful barroom world outweigh occasional pacing and structural issues.

IR Approved
Rating:
4.0 / 5.0

Though it’s only the middle of a larger story, Sarah V. Barnes’s A CLAN CHIEF’S DAUGHTER: She Who Rides Horses (Book Two) still captivates with...

IR Approved
March 26, 2026

STAY THIRSTY: A Serial Entrepreneur’s Tale of Success & Failure

By Mark Haertzen with Mike E. Brown
Rating:
4.5 / 5.0

Delivering practical insight and emotional candor in equal measure, Mark Haertzen’s & Mike E. Brown's STAY THIRSTY: A Serial Entrepreneur's Tale of Success & Failure...

IR Approved
March 26, 2026

SARCAUN: The Journey

By Simone Voltaire
Rating:
4.5 / 5.0

With strong character growth, imaginative world-building, and a heartfelt emotional arc, Simone Voltaire’s SARCAUN: The Journey is an engaging fantasy adventure that successfully blends coming-of-age...

March 25, 2026

QARSOON (Space Unbound Book 4)

By DAVID C. JEFFREY
Rating:
3.5 / 5.0

Though bogged down by occasional exposition and an unsatisfying resolution, David C. Jeffrey's QARSOON: Space Unbound Book 4 is still propulsive, populated by unique sci-fi...

Get A PROFESSIONAL REVIEW FOR YOUR BOOK!