Established in 1998 by Rebecca Brown, Rebecca's Reads is a book review site and publicity service website. When Brown retired from reviewing in 2006, the site remained online but it wasn't until January 2008 that it flourished under new ownership with many new services for authors and readers. Rebecca's Reads considers most type of books in both print and electronic formats. In this interview, Rachel Durfor talks about the site, as well as various aspects of reviewing.Thanks for this interview, Rachel. What makes Rebecca’s Reads stand out among so many other online review sites?
We not only provide book reviews, but we’re also a publicity service site for the reading audience, authors, publishers, publicists and buyers/sellers. In addition to book reviews, we provide other budget-friendly publicity options such as press release writing and distribution, audiobook 
production and distribution, book videos, editing, and book proposals. Also, Rebecca’s Reads has been syndicated and our sites have appeared in Reuters and Chicago Sun-Times.
How should an author contact you about a review request? Do you review e-books as well?
We have a submission form online for authors, publishers or publicists who would like to submit a book for a publicity package.
For a book to be considered for a complimentary review, books can be sent to Rebecca’s Reads, Review Request, 7101 W Hwy 71, Ste 250, Austin, TX 78735
Yes, we do review eBooks. To submit an eBook for a complimentary review, I can be contacted at Rachel@RebeccasReads.com.How many books do you review a month?
Since our reopening in March, we’ve been averaging about 35 book reviews per month, but the numbers are rising all the time!How do you select the books you review? How do you determine which reviews to post on your site?
We have a pending review page on our site. Our reviewers select the books they want to review and email us their choices. We then send them the books ASAP. All reviews are posted, unless they are extremely negative.What is your stand on paid reviews?
We provide different levels of publicity packages to promote books. These include an expedited review, meaning that they will receive a review within two weeks of the reviewer receiving the book, but actually the payment covers the other services included in the package. Do you think it’s okay for reviewers to resell the books they review?
Article comments
1 - Beverly McClure
Hi Mayra and Rebecca.
Thanks for the great interview. I appreciate honesty when someone reviews my books. If there's something they aren't crazy about in it, I don't mind their opinion. But I would be crushed if they made really negative comments. I also realize people have different tastes in what they enjoy reading and won't care for certain types of books. Thanks again for your good thoughts.
Beverly
Author of YA novels Listen to the Ghost, Secrets I Have Kept, and forthcoming Rebel in Blue Jeans.
2 - Beverly McClure
Oh, my! I goofed. That should be Rachel. Sorry, Rachel. I enjoyed your interview. I'm out of it today.
Beverly
3 - A. F. Stewart
A great interview, I agree with your outlook. We fledgling authors need all the help we can get.
4 - Margay
Great interview, Mayra and Rachel! I am just loving this series on reviewers; it's really an eye-opening experience to read what goes on behind the scenes of these review sites.
5 - Sue Lange
Thanks for posting this interview. I would like to point out that although the interviewee says ebooks are eligible for complimentary review at Rebeccas Reads, if you go to their website, you'll see there is a charge of $75 for ebook reviews because they must go through the "expedited" service. That doesn't seem complimentary to me.
Sue Lange
Media Relations, bookviewcafe.com