Why was my review rejected? (common reasons)

If your review came back rejected (or marked “needs revision”), here are the most common reasons and how to fix them.

Top 5 rejection reasons

1. Too generic

The review could apply to any book in the same genre. Phrases like “a great read for anyone interested in personal growth” don’t tell readers anything specific.

Fix: Reference specific moments, ideas, or examples from the book. What did you learn? What chapter stuck with you? What would you tell a friend who asked if they should read it?

2. Under 100 words

Reviews shorter than 100 words don’t have room to be substantive.

Fix: Expand. Add a paragraph on what didn’t quite work for you (almost no book is perfect). Add a paragraph on who you’d recommend it for.

3. Factual errors

The reviewer got something demonstrably wrong about the book — wrong topic, attributed an idea to the wrong author, summarized a chapter that doesn’t exist.

Fix: Re-read the relevant section before resubmitting. The peer-review team flags errors but doesn’t tell you exactly what to fix — the expectation is you’ll re-engage with the book.

4. Attacks the author personally

Reviews that critique the writer rather than the writing — “the author seems angry” or “clearly hasn’t lived enough” — cross a line.

Fix: Stay focused on the book. Disagreement with the author’s ideas is fine; speculation about the author as a person is not.

5. AI-generated voice

Reviews that read like generic LLM output — perfectly polished but without personal voice or specific reactions.

Fix: Write in your own voice. Mention how / why YOU read the book. Mention a specific reaction. Reviews don’t need to be polished — they need to feel real.

What rejection notes look like

The peer-review team writes a brief note like: “Solid points but lacks specific examples — try referencing a specific chapter or quote. Resubmit when ready.” Read the note carefully and address it directly.