Fake Reviews on Amazon

[ManOfLaBook.com]

What's your opinion on fake reviews on Amazon. Let's say a book that has 10 five star reviews, all by people who only reviewed that specific book.

 

I know authors get their friends & families to write five star reviews to pump up their books, but to me that's a turnoff.

[Enbrethiliel]

+JMJ+

 

Lexie, I think you took my statement the wrong way. It wasn't actually about ARCs and swag, but about reviews. If readers demand reviews before checking out a new title, then authors must do what they can to meet that demand, from asking their friends to post reviews on Amazon to offering free review copies and giving interviews. 

[Lexie]

ah okay.  I did take it the wrong way (I thought it was more accusatory then it was), I'm sorry!

[Enbrethiliel]

+JMJ+

 

No worries! =)

[Miriam Downey]

There is an agent out there who is paying $10 a pop for a five star review on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. He sends you the book as a pdf. You have three days to read it and then post a five star review. You immediately get $10 from paypal.When I was sent the first one, the book was garbage. There was no way I could give it a 5 star review. Certainly didn't feel right. Since then, I only put a review on Amazon if the publicist asks me to post a review I have already done on my blog.

[Hannah Faye]

That's crazy. This is what makes the reviews untrustworthy. It's actually pretty sad...people stooping to new lows in order to get money off their books. Sad.

[Hannah Faye]

This is so true. Rawsistaz Literary Group reviewed my book. They are a real literary group and they review books for free. The reviews are thorough and complete. It may take them a while to view your books, but they will do it.

[Jerod Killick]

But how would you know?  Unless you knew the author and their friends I suppose.  I am not a fan of having friends or even signing in as another user, to post Amazon reviews.  There are much better ways to get the word out!  Going viral takes hrs. of online work letting people know about your book.  And, we need to be able to accept both negative and positive feedback when it comes our way.

[KJ Kron]

 I have no problem with it - if the reviewer actually read the book.  Authors struggle to get there books out there and want reviews - and if a good friend of mine asked me to write a review, I'd hesitate to write a negative one. It's completely understandable that a spouse would write a positive review - these guys are trying to get exposure.  But if the book is truly bad, people will review it negatively and balance things out before the book gets too popular.

 

Here is what bothers me - I came across a web site where you could PAY for positive reviews.  If you're friends do it, fine.  If you have to pay someone - that just seems wrong. 

[Lale G]

I always find it incredibly amusing when authors bookmark their upcoming books on goodreads with a 5 star rating. :P