Amazon Review Policy for Authors: What Is Allowed and What Is Not

This is a general, non-legal summary written for authors. Amazon updates its rules from time to time, so always read the current Community Guidelines and your KDP terms.

The core idea

Amazon wants reviews to reflect the real, unbiased opinions of customers. Anything that distorts that is a problem, whether it is money, gifts, pressure or fake accounts.

Generally not allowed

• Paying for reviews, directly or through a service, in money or in any other compensation.
• Offering gifts, discounts or refunds in exchange for a review, or for a positive one.
• Requiring a review as a condition of getting a free book.
• Reviewing your own book or the books of direct competitors.
• Reviews from close family and people with a financial interest in the book.
• Review swaps organised between authors.
• Manipulating ratings, for example asking only happy readers to review.

Generally fine

• Sending free advance copies to readers who may or may not review, with an honest-opinion request.
• Asking readers politely, for example in the back matter or a newsletter, to leave an honest review if they enjoyed the book.
• Promoting your book so that more real readers can find it.
• Engaging in genre communities as a normal participant.

The FTC angle

In the United States, the FTC expects that readers who received a free copy disclose it. Fake or incentivized reviews can lead to serious penalties. We covered the wider context in the review crackdown guide.

How Amazon spots problems

Amazon uses automated detection looking at account links, review timing and patterns, along with reports from customers. Sudden bursts of reviews from unconnected accounts are a classic warning sign. Slow, organic growth looks natural because it is.

What happens when you break the rules

Reviews can be removed, your ability to leave reviews or sell can be limited, and accounts can be closed. Recovering from that is hard, so prevention is worth the effort.

A safe checklist

1. Give books freely, never in exchange for a review.
2. State clearly that reviews are optional and honest opinions are welcome.
3. Do not choose readers based on how they will rate.
4. Keep records of how your ARC program works.
5. Choose services that sell visibility, not reviews. GetBookReviews works this way: authors promote their books, and readers decide for themselves.

More practical ideas: 10 compliant ways to get book reviews. Questions? Visit the help center.