Your book is already being discussed there.
Goodreads lists books whether or not their authors turn up. The only question is whether the page a reader finds was built by you or generated without you.
Four things
that make the page yours.
- 01
The Author Program, claimed
Which turns a generated listing into a profile you control: biography, photograph, links, and the ability to reply where replying is appropriate.
- 02
A correct bibliography
Every edition of every title, gathered under one work. Editions split even more readily here than on a retailer, and each split fragments the ratings.
- 03
Metadata that matches the book
Description, genre shelves, series order, publication date. Wrong shelves put your book in front of readers who will not like it, which is worse than no readers at all.
- 04
A route back to you
Your website and your list, linked from the profile, so a reader who liked the book has somewhere to go that is not a shop.
What Goodreads
is actually for.
Goodreads is not a shop and it is a mistake to treat it as one. It is where committed readers keep their lists, and the behaviour that matters there is somebody adding your book to Want to Read. That is a decision made months before a purchase, by exactly the reader who buys books deliberately rather than by accident.
It is also where reviews are most visible and least filtered. Ratings there run harsher than on a retailer and readers know it, which is why they carry weight.
The rule about reviews
Do not argue with them. Not once, not politely, not with a correction. An author replying to a critical review is a whole genre of internet incident, and it has ended more independent books than any bad review ever has. We will set the profile up, and we will tell you the same thing on the call.
And what nobody can do
Nobody can get you reviews there. There is no legitimate mechanism, ours or anybody else's. Reviews come from readers, or from an advance copy programme where readers choose whether to write one — which is a different service with different rules.
The one place
reviews can be asked for.
Advance copies, to readers who choose whether to review. Nobody is paid and nothing is promised, which is exactly what keeps a book from being pulled.
What our authors say
On platforms we do not own and cannot edit — which is the same reason a Goodreads rating is worth having and impossible to buy safely.
- Grand Publishers especially David Alonsa were brilliant
Grand Publishers especially David Alonsa extremely helpful and talked me through everything. He was also very patient with me.l would certainly recommend you all and have already done so
Gail Simmons - Book publishing and promotion
Jason and David and the team have worked hard to get my second book into the public eye, and have made some really good social media pictures and promotions. "The CPO & The Wren" is now selling on both sides of the Atlantic. Geoffrey Spinks
Mr Geoff Spinks - I can't tell you how amazing it has…
I can't tell you how amazing it has been working with Grand Publishing. From the very beginning, the experience has been outstanding. When I first reached out, I wasn't even sure if I wanted to publish a project I had been working on for quite some time. Jerry gave me a call and patiently walked me through the entire process. He answered all of my questions and genuinely motivated me to move forward with publishing my book. I was then introduced to David Alonso, who became my project manager. He has been fantastic throughout the journey, keeping me updated every step of the way, answering any questions I had, and making the whole process smooth and stress-free. As a first-time author, I couldn't have asked for a better experience. If you're hesitant about publishing, I'd encourage you to speak with the team. If you don't come away from that conversation feeling confident, then I'll have to call myself a liar! Thank you, Grand Publishing, and especially Jerry and David, for making this such a positive and memorable experience.
Booker Odena - Outstanding Service from Grand Publishers
I had a very positive experience working with Grand Publishers. As a new author, I really needed guidance throughout the process, from editing to preparation for publication. David and Jerry, who were incredibly helpful, professional, and supportive, made a significant difference. They took the time to explain each stage clearly and did an amazing job with the marketing, illustrations, and overall development of my book. Their dedication to making the final result as strong as possible was exceptional. I would highly recommend Grand Publishers, especially David and Jerry, who were fantastic to work with.
Juliet - My book, In my happy place.
Some while ago I submitted a raw manuscript to Grand Publishers. Honestly, at first I was cautious about their enthusiasm, in fact I thought it a sales ploy. How wrong I was! The project has been managed by David Alanza, with input from Arthur J Wayne the marketing director. At every stage I have been afforded full control of the artistic direction and have now got a highly polished book that I could never have produced. I'm now in the launch phase and the marketing so far is beyond my wildest dreams. I know that there's much more to come, but wanted to highly recommend anyone with a book that they believe in to listen to and trust Grand. To verify everything I've said, please search Vernon Smith I my happy place and see for yourself.
Vernon Smith - Helpful and professional
Helpful and professional
Elikem Debrah
Goodreads
questions.
No, and neither can anybody else honestly. Reviews come from readers. What can be done is getting the book into the hands of readers who might write one, which is what an advance copy programme is for.
Almost never. Ratings are allowed on unreleased books and are rarely removed. The answer is genuine readers over time, not a takedown request.
Sometimes. They are paid, they reach a lot of shelf-adds, and the ratings that follow are not always kind, because giveaway readers did not choose your book. We will give you a straight view for your genre rather than a policy.
Less than for fiction, honestly. The audience there skews to fiction readers. For most non-fiction the profile is worth having and the effort is better spent on your listing and your own platform.
Is your book already listed?
It usually is. Send us the title and we will tell you what state the page is in.