When an author publishes books offered to a worldwide readership via Amazon or any of the other platforms, he/she writes the best description possible with one aim; to attract purchasers. Sales, or page reads, are everything, whether the author simply wants to share a story or make money. It is impossible to control who reads a book and might post a review.

Applying to Readers’ Favorite for a free review or paying for an express review or review package is different. If an author pays for a review or reviews, they are certain to get them. The advice that follows is vital to those authors, and even more so to those asking for a free review, so if that is what you propose to do, read on even though I shall refer only to express reviews.

Reviewers are all different, and the aim of the book description should be to attract the RIGHT reviewer/s. Authors are given an opportunity to add notes: for example, use of strong language, graphic sex, or violence. This is not the time to apologise, or be coy, and there are two reasons for this.

1. Your note acts as warning to anyone who might be offended or upset, so they can choose another book. However fair their rating, and it might be 5 stars, the review won’t be written from the heart, and that is the source of valuable quotable quotes.

2. Some reviewers look on “warnings” as pointers. Imagine a reviewer faced with a choice of twenty to thirty books, most with long descriptions, and he or she likes books with plenty of action, inside the bedroom or on the battlefield, and doesn’t object to strong language. Those are the reviewers that authors need if any or all those points apply.

Now, consider what you might say.

“Some profanity, some sex.” Yes? Some of the characters use everyday profanities where it can be expected in the context of the story or none of them open their mouths without using the F word? There are open-door sex scenes? Are they love scenes or borderline BDSM?

“This book has mature content”? It’s clear and serves as a warning, but it misses the opportunity to attract specific reviewers.

“Mildly violent scenes”. What is considered mild? It depends on the reader’s view, so be clear: “realistically gory battle scenes”, “graphic sexual abuse”, “gruesome murders”. If nothing like that applies, leave the space blank. Reviewers do look at the genre and unless the book is aimed at pre-teens they won’t expect a story where “mild violence” turns out to be a slapped face “a la” a Regency romance.

So, do reviewers read your book description? Of course, but it makes it more likely if it isn’t unreasonably long. Think of Amazon and the few lines a prospective purchaser sees before they must click “more”. Make the reviewers YOU want read on, but don’t batter them with five or six hundred words when two to three hundred is plenty.