SWBC: How to be a good Star Wars book reviewer
Tips, tricks, and answers to your FAQs about reading and critiquing Star Wars books and comics.
On reviewing Star Wars books
As an entertainment journalist for the last decade, I often get questions from aspiring writers and journalism students about how I got into this field. Specifically, they want to know how I get paid to do the fun stuff and how I get invited to media events at the theme parks.
As a semi-professional book reviewer for the last several years, I have been asked similar questions, but mainly: how do you get review copies of books? This is especially prevalent with Star Wars books, as they are largely the focus of my social platforms and this newsletter.
While I typically give a condensed answer, I wanted to take the time to answer some frequently asked questions about Star Wars book reviewing here, where I have plenty of space to write thoughtful, context-filled responses and offer some tips for getting started.
Note: This post is inspired by Meg Dowell’s recent Now This Is Lit newsletter, where she crafted an etiquette guide for reviewing Star Wars books. It’s full of dos and don’ts, as well as her perspectives on the best way to get review copies and offer constructive critiques. Meg is also just a great friend, editor, and fellow book nerd, so we share a lot of the same sentiments.
How can I get review copies of books?
Review copies or advanced reader copies of books are marketing materials. Their purpose is to promote a book. So, the people who get them are journalists, content creators, other authors, and oftentimes booksellers or other industry professionals.
Journalists and content creators most often get free copies of books because they’ve built a platform or beat that a publisher then utilizes to promote an upcoming book. I fit into both categories. I am both a professional journalist who writes stories and reviews for professional news outlets and a content creator who shares my work and my passion for books on social media.
Not all journalists are content creators, and not all content creators are journalists. But it is possible to be both. And being one or the other or both doesn’t give a person any more sway when it comes to getting review copies of books.
As an experienced journalist with professional training, I came into the book reviewing beat with some advantages. But for the average person wanting to get into Star Wars book reviewing and getting advanced copies, my advice is this: have patience, be consistent, and just start reviewing.
The great thing about Star Wars books is that there are, literally, hundreds of them, and people talk about all of them all the time. It doesn’t matter how old or new they are. It doesn’t matter if they’re Legends or new canon or comics or kids books.
Just start reviewing and posting on whatever platform you’re most comfortable with. I have to, of course, give a shout-out to the Star Wars Book Community on Instagram and Discord. If you love posting pretty pictures of Star Wars books like we do, follow #StarWarsBookCommunity.
One big tip for anyone interested in reviewing books and getting early copies: Join NetGalley. It’s the main platform for publishers to share digital ARCs with reviewers. And it’s a great way to build up a reputation for being a consistent, dedicated reviewer.
How to not get review copies of books
After being a part of online bookish communities for a couple of years, I have plenty of things to avoid doing if you’re trying to get ARC copies sent your way.
Act entitled: It doesn’t matter how small or large your following is or how many posts you’ve had gone viral, you are not entitled to review copies of books. And publishers are not obligated to give them to you. Publishers are, of course, businesses, and their goal is to make money by getting people (like reviewers) to spread the word about their books. Marketing teams have to be selective with whom they give review copies because the journalists and content creators who do get them have proven they are consistent in talking about books via social media posts and reviews. If you’re just starting out reviewing or posting about Star Wars books on social media, don’t get discouraged if a publisher says no at first, but definitely don’t get mad about it.
Break embargo dates and harass editors or authors: An embargo date means that a piece of content or specific details about a book, show, or movie are not allowed to be covered until after that date.
Whenever I get a review copy of a Star Wars book, there’s an email and eventually a physical press release that contains (in bold) an embargo date. For the upcoming The Eye of Darkness, the email from Penguin Random House stated the embargo date is Nov. 1. That means I cannot share a review or talk about story details until that date.
Unfortunately, embargo dates still get broken, which can turn into spoilers running rampant online well before the book’s release date. If you get an ARC copy of a Star Wars book, take serious note of the embargo date. If you don’t see one, ask for it.
Some other bad behavior I’ve seen relates to a sense of entitlement to attention. It shouldn’t have to be said but do not tag authors in negative reviews, and do not harass them or their editors. It’s completely okay to not like a new Star Wars book. It’s also okay to actively hate it. It’s not okay to tag authors in reviews, posts, or videos where you bash their work.
Use your review to be critical of a new story, but don’t bash it or the author online. If you don’t like a new book, then don’t promote it.
How to be a good Star Wars book reviewer
It seems simple enough, but the key is to actually love Star Wars books and love sharing that passion with other people. It’s also important to still love Star Wars books even if it never becomes more than a hobby or if it takes years to get your first review copy.
It’s never too late to get started. Some of my most popular posts have to do with Star Wars books that were published years ago. No matter how old or new a Star Wars book is, there is someone somewhere on the internet who would love to talk about it with you. And sometimes that’s the authors themselves!
Speaking of, follow authors on social media. Many of them are active every day and will respond to questions or comments and say thank you for promoting their books. Some of them haven’t had a Star Wars book published in years, but I know for sure that they love seeing people talk about their books from years or even decades ago.
If and when you do get a review copy of a Star Wars book, make sure you do a review. That’s the point of the ARC after all. That review can be a written one for a blog or news outlet, or it can be a social media post, it can be on Goodreads or NetGalley, or it can be a YouTube video. It can even be all of the above. But that’s where consistency comes in. You have to review consistently in order to keep getting review copies.
Lastly, have fun. Don’t get discouraged by not getting a review copy you really wanted or by a lack of followers or engagement. Keep doing what you love in the way that works best for you. And enjoy the timeless fantastical storytelling that is Star Wars books.
Oh, and MTFBWY✨
What other questions do you have about reviewing Star Wars books? Ask them in the comments!
ICYMI: Star Wars book news from NYCC
Last weekend at New York Comic Con, the Lucasfilm Publishing panel dropped a Star Destroyer load of new Star Wars book and comic announcements and teased even more of what’s coming in Phase 3 of The High Republic.
The book I’m most excited about is the comic adaptation of Thrawn: Alliances by Timothy Zahn and Jody Houser. Thrawn's (2017) comic edition recently got a reprint, so it was only a matter of time before Alliances was announced. I cannot wait to see Thrawn meet Anakin Skywalker in comic form.
Also announced:
Star Wars: Mace Windu (Marvel) — January 2024
Star Wars: Jango Fett (Marvel) — March 2024
Star Wars Dad Jokes — coming soon from Chronicle Books.
Return of the Jedi: A Visual Archive — March 2024
Hyperspace Stories graphic novels: Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon — coming soon from Dark Horse Comics.
Stellan Gios’ lightsaber — limited edition 5,000 pieces arriving this fall at Disneyland, Disney World, and shopDisney.
What book (or lightsaber) are you most excited about? Let me know in the comments!
Star Wars books and comics out this week
Oct. 17
World of Reading Level 1: Meet the Galactic Heroes
Tales from the Death Star trade paperback
The High Republic Phase 1 hardcover omnibus
Oct. 18
Star Wars #39
Obi-Wan Kenobi #2
Truly do not understand the mindset of thinking you’re so important you have to tag an author to say you think they suck.
Thank you for the insight into this process/passion. It's a shame that so much common sense stuff like ignoring embargoes and tagging authors in negative reviews still happen