About Bookshelfie

 

Welcome to Bookshelfie, the Self-Pub Hub! Founded by Maria Ashford, Julia Harrow and Adam Rowan from Ireland, Bookshelfie aims to support self-published authors by providing a platform where their books can be easily reviewed and discovered by readers—completely free of charge. Born from Adam’s dissatisfaction with existing self-publishing platforms and a desire to uplift independent voices, Bookshelfie ensures a more author-friendly alternative to larger, corporate sites.

Bookshelfie welcomes all types of written works, whether fiction or non-fiction, across any genre. In response to the influx of low-quality, AI-generated books on platforms like Amazon, every submission to Bookshelfie is scrutinised to guarantee it comes from genuine authors. The question of how to get book reviews can be a challenge to many authors, especially when the more well-known platforms charge hundreds for a simple review. Bookshelfie’s initiative allows readers to explore an array of exciting indie titles while giving authors the exposure they deserve, without worrying about lack of quality control. For inquiries or questions, don’t hesitate to fill out the contact form or email us!
 
 

Features of Bookshelfie:

  • Free platform for self-published authors to showcase their work and opportunity to get free book reviews.
  • Strict moderation to filter out low-quality, AI slop books.
  • Open to all genres of fiction and non-fiction. Proud to review and promote exclusively indie authors' books.
  • Supports independent voices and promotes diverse literature from diverse voices.
FAQ – Bookshelfie
  • 1What is your refund policy?
    Paid reviews are entirely optional and exist to help support the operation of Bookshelfie and allow us to continue offering free reviews and resources to independent authors. As editorial work begins shortly after submission, we are unable to offer refunds once an order has been placed. If you're unsure whether a paid review is right for you, we recommend trying our free review service first or reading some of our published reviews to see whether our style is a good fit before purchasing.
  • 2Who can submit a book?
    Authors, publishers and authorised representatives are all welcome to submit books. If submitting on behalf of an author, please ensure you have their permission.
  • 3Can a review be corrected, updated or taken down?
    Yes. If you believe we've made a factual error, please contact us and we'll happily review it and make corrections where appropriate.
  • 4Do you accept AI-generated books?
    We welcome responsible AI-assisted writing, but do not accept books that are primarily AI-generated without substantial human authorship.
  • 5Will I be notified when my review is published?
    We don't currently send automatic notifications. Contact us if you'd like to be notified when your review goes live.
  • 6My review is taking longer than expected. What should I do?
    Please feel free to send us a polite follow-up and we'll provide an update.
  • 7Are your reviews written by real people?
    Yes. Every review published on Bookshelfie is written by a member of our editorial team. If you're considering a paid review, we recommend reading a few of our existing reviews first to confirm you enjoy our style and that it's the type of feedback you're looking for before submitting your book.
  • 8How much do your book tours cost?
    Each reviewer receives a USD $10 book voucher plus a USD $100 administration fee. A tour with ten participants costs USD $200.
  • 9Who runs Bookshelfie?
    Bookshelfie is an independent project run by a small group of friends based in Ireland, for which it is a passion project and not a full-time job. Reviews are written by Maria Ashford and Julia Harrow, while Adam manages the website, submissions and day-to-day operations.
  • 10Why should I trust Bookshelfie?
    Bookshelfie has reviewed hundreds of independently published books, and our aim has always been to provide honest, respectful and constructive feedback with transparency and professionalism. While the overwhelming majority of authors have had a positive experience with us, not every review will be universally well received. Occasionally, an author may choose to share negative comments about us online—whether because of a minor factual error on our part or because they disagree with the negative feedback they received. If we make a genuine mistake, we're always happy to correct it, but at the end of the day we're only human. We encourage authors to read a selection of our published reviews and decide for themselves whether our approach and style are the right fit before submitting.

At Book-shelfie, we review both fiction and non-fiction books using a 5-star rating scale, with scores given in 0.5 star increments for precise evaluation. Here’s what our ratings typically represent

5 stars – An outstanding book that delivers excellence across writing quality, research/storytelling, and general brilliance. For fiction, this means exceptional storytelling and prose. For non-fiction, this means comprehensive research, clear presentation, and valuable insights. These rare gems are must-reads.

4-4.5 stars – Highly accomplished books with compelling strengths and only minor weaknesses. In fiction, this might mean great characters with slight pacing issues. In non-fiction, this could be thorough analysis with occasional dense sections or lack of evidence. Still strongly recommended.

3-3.5 stars – Competent books that provide solid content while having some noticeable flaws. For fiction, perhaps good plot but underdeveloped characters. For non-fiction, good information but possibly lacking depth in key areas. Worth reading for interested readers.

2-2.5 stars – Problematic books where the weaknesses overshadow the strengths. In fiction, this might be poor writing despite an interesting premise. In non-fiction, perhaps outdated research or poorly supported arguments. May still appeal to certain audiences.

5 stars – An outstanding book that delivers excellence across writing quality, research/storytelling, and impact. For fiction, this means exceptional storytelling and prose. For non-fiction, this means comprehensive research, clear presentation, and valuable insights. These rare gems are must-reads.

4-4.5 stars – Highly accomplished books with compelling strengths and only minor weaknesses. In fiction, this might mean great characters with slight pacing issues. In non-fiction, this could be thorough analysis with occasional dense sections. Strongly recommended.

3-3.5 stars – Competent books that provide solid content while having some noticeable flaws. For fiction, perhaps good plot but underdeveloped characters. For non-fiction, good information but possibly lacking depth in key areas. Worth reading for interested readers.

2-2.5 stars – Problematic books where the weaknesses overshadow the strengths. In fiction, this might be poor writing despite an interesting premise. In non-fiction, perhaps outdated research or poorly supported arguments. May still appeal to certain audiences.

1-1.5 stars – Seriously flawed books with major issues throughout. This could mean plot holes and poor writing in fiction, or factual errors and confused arguments in non-fiction. Hard to recommend to any reader. 

0-0.5 stars – Books with critical failures that make them virtually unreadable, regardless of genre. These scores are reserved for the most problematic cases.

At Bookshelfie, we aim to highlight the strengths of each book rather than dwelling on shortcomings. While we seldom publish negative reviews, we always provide constructive feedback—even in our most glowing ones.

 

 

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