Pacific Book Review vs. Hollywood Book Review: Regional Services Compared

Pacific Book Review and Hollywood Book Review are regional publications under the same City Book Review umbrella. This comparison looks at what distinguishes them, and when it makes sense to submit to one over the other (or to both).

The Basics

Feature	Pacific Book Review	Hollywood Book Review	Other CBR Sites
Parent Organization	City Book Review	City Book Review	City Book Review
Geographic Focus	Pacific Northwest	Los Angeles/Entertainment	9 regional variants
Standard Review Cost	$199	$199	$199 (all sites)
Expedited Cost	$349 (limited slots)	$349 (limited slots)	$349 (all sites)
Review Length	350+ words	350+ words	350+ words
Negative Reviews Published	Yes, all published	Yes, all published	Yes, all published
Free Submission Option	Yes (~40% acceptance)	Yes (~40% acceptance)	Yes (~40% acceptance)

What Distinguishes Them

Both are identical services at identical prices. The only meaningful difference is the regional branding and audience.

Pacific Book Review targets readers in the Pacific Northwest. A memoir about hiking in the Cascades or a mystery set in Seattle would be particularly well-placed on Pacific Book Review. The publication carries geographic authority in that region.

Hollywood Book Review targets the Los Angeles entertainment market and readers interested in entertainment-adjacent content. Books about the film industry, music, celebrity culture, or LA-based stories have natural alignment with this audience.

That said, these are editorial distinctions, not structural ones. You don't get "more" by choosing one over the other. You get visibility in a specific regional audience that's relevant to your book's subject matter and market.

When Pacific Makes More Sense

• Your book is set in the Pacific Northwest (Washington, Oregon, Northern California, Alaska, Hawaii).
• Your book targets Pacific Northwest readers specifically (regional guidebooks, local history, etc.).
• You're doing a regional tour in the Pacific Northwest and want local media presence.
• The book's themes or subject matter align with Pacific Northwest audiences (hiking, outdoor adventure, Indigenous stories, environmental narratives).

When Hollywood Makes More Sense

• Your book covers entertainment, film, music, or celebrity culture.
• You're targeting Los Angeles and Southern California readers specifically.
• Your book is set in LA or focuses on Hollywood/entertainment industry stories.
• You're doing a Southern California book tour or promotional events.

Can You Submit to Both?

Technically, yes. Some authors submit to multiple City Book Review regional outlets to build out multi-city presence. The cost would be $398 for both standard reviews, or $698 for both expedited.

However, City Book Review's editorial review process applies to the entire CBR network, not individual sites. Books are submitted once to the general pool, and the team assigns them to the most contextually appropriate regional outlet.

If you're paying for reviews, you can request specific regional publications. Two reviews at $199 each equals $398 for double regional coverage.

The Bottom Line

Pacific and Hollywood are the same service with different regional branding. Choose based on geographic relevance to your book. If both apply, you can submit to both for broader City Book Review coverage. If neither has obvious relevance, choose a different CBR outlet or submit to the general editorial pool.