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Editorial Reviews vs. Reader Reviews: What Each Does for a Book
Trade and editorial reviews and everyday reader reviews do different jobs. Here is how each one helps a book, who reads them, and how authors can use both.
What is the difference between editorial and reader reviews?
Editorial reviews are produced by professional outlets and written by trained reviewers, often before a book’s release. Reader reviews come from individuals who have purchased or borrowed the book, appearing on retail sites and reading communities. Both matter, but they reach different audiences and do different jobs.
Editorial reviews
Trade outlets such as Kirkus Reviews, Publishers Weekly, Booklist, Library Journal and School Library Journal review books for librarians, booksellers and other industry readers. Foreword Reviews focuses on independent and university presses and also offers a paid review program for independent authors, as do other services, with paid reviews clearly labeled.
What they do:
- Influence library buying. Librarians rely on trade reviews when ordering.
- Provide quotes. A strong line from a respected outlet can go on the cover and product page.
- Lend credibility to media pitches, award submissions, and bookstore outreach.
Limits: most readers browsing online never see them unless the quotes are featured, and a lukewarm editorial review does not have to be used.
Reader reviews
Customer reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, and other stores are what most shoppers see.
What they do:
- Drive conversion. Volume and average rating shape whether shoppers click buy.
- Describe fit. Readers mention tropes, pacing and content that help similar readers decide.
- Build momentum as the book remains available.
Limits: they accumulate slowly, can be uneven in quality, and retailers police them strictly.
How to use both
- Plan editorial reviews early. Trade outlets usually want galleys several months before publication. Check each outlet's submission rules.
- Use the best quote everywhere. Put it in the product description's editorial reviews section, on the cover if strong, and in press kits.
- Build reader reviews through ARCs and author newsletters, adhering to each retailer’s policies. For details, see the guide on ARC campaigns that get reviews on launch day.
- Compare services before paying. See the comparison of Kirkus and Readers' Favorite.
- Read reviews for patterns, not for comfort. Recurring comments are guidance for future books.
Which matters more?
It depends on the market. A picture book aimed at schools and libraries leans on trade reviews. A romance series sold mostly on Kindle leans on reader reviews. Most books benefit from a mix, with editorial praise opening doors and reader reviews keeping sales moving.