What We’re Looking for
At The Common, we’re primarily interested in publishing reviews of books that feature a strong sense of place and have been released by a small, independent press within the last three months.
Because the way we do book reviews is currently changing, we don’t yet have examples of what we’re looking for on our website, but a good review should aim to give the reader a sense of what the book is about, as well as your opinion of it. Don’t be afraid of criticism! We want your honest thoughts, but we’re also searching for a level of respect and commitment to the book. Whether you want to convince us to read the book or not, we should leave with a better understanding of what it sets out to do and why you think it does or doesn’t achieve that.
Reviews should either be around 800 words (for a $150 honorarium) or 1500 words (for a $300 honorarium). We will not review self-published books.
How to Pitch a Review or Book
You may use this form to pitch a review, or to propose a book for possible review. While we can’t reply to every pitch we receive, we’ll let you know if we’re interested!
If you have any questions, please contact bookreviews@thecommononline.org.
Book Reviews