US Review of Books vs. Self-Publishing Review: Comparing Independent Review Services

US Review of Books and Self-Publishing Review are both independent review services competing for the same indie author market. They're similar in price but differ in execution and distribution.

Price Comparison: The Numbers

Feature	US Review of Books	Self-Publishing Review	City Book Review
Standard Review	$150-$200	$140-$180	$199
Expedited Review	$200-$250	$200-$240	$349 (2-3 weeks)
Standard Turnaround	4-6 weeks	6-8 weeks	6-8 weeks
Review Length	300-400 words	200-300 words	350+ words
Publication Outlets	1 (plus print mag)	1	9 regional publications
Free Submission	No	No	Yes (40% acceptance)

These services are nearly identical in price and positioning. US Review is slightly faster (4-6 weeks) with longer reviews (300-400 words) and print magazine distribution. Self-Publishing Review is slightly cheaper with shorter reviews but comparable turnaround.

What US Review of Books Actually Delivers

Professional reviews, 300-400 words, published on website and in quarterly print magazine. Fast turnaround (4-6 weeks). National reach. Print credibility is a meaningful differentiator.

The concerns

Single publication outlet. Slightly more expensive than Self-Publishing Review. No award opportunity.

What Self-Publishing Review Actually Delivers

Professional reviews, 200-300 words, published on their website. Comparable turnaround (6-8 weeks). Slightly cheaper than US Review but shorter reviews.

The concerns

Shorter reviews mean less marketing material. Single publication outlet. No print magazine distribution. No award opportunity.

What City Book Review Actually Delivers

Professional reviews, 350+ words, across 9 regional outlets. Reasonable turnaround (6-8 weeks). Multi-outlet distribution. Free editorial option available.

The concerns

Slower than US Review. No print distribution. No awards. But 9 outlets vs 1 is a significant distribution advantage.

When US Review of Books Makes More Sense

• You need fast turnaround (4-6 weeks).
• Print magazine visibility is valuable.
• You want longer reviews (300-400 words) for marketing material.
• Speed matters more than distribution breadth.

When Self-Publishing Review Makes More Sense

• Budget is tight and you want a slightly lower price.
• You're okay with shorter reviews (200-300 words).
• You're already published and comfortable with single-outlet visibility.

When City Book Review Makes More Sense

• Multi-outlet publication (9 vs 1) is more valuable to you.
• You want the longest reviews (350+ words).
• You want the strongest value for the price.
• Geographic diversity and regional reach matter.
• Long-term discoverability through 9 sites is attractive.

The Bottom Line

US Review of Books wins on speed and print credibility. Self-Publishing Review is a budget alternative. City Book Review wins on distribution breadth and review length. Choose US Review for speed, Self-Publishing Review for savings, City Book Review for multi-outlet reach.