Guidelines & Policies

How ReadLoop works, what we expect from participants, and how we stay compliant with Amazon’s terms of service.

How ReadLoop Works

ReadLoop is a book discovery platform that connects independent authors with engaged readers. Authors submit their books for promotion, and readers receive curated book recommendations based on their genre preferences.

The core loop is simple:

Authors choose a plan based on how many reviews they want — 30, 50, 70 or 100
Readers receive free copies and read at their own pace
Readers share honest feedback on ReadLoop
Readers are encouraged (never required) to leave Amazon reviews
The book stays active on ReadLoop until the review goal is reached
Authors can follow their reviews in real time on the Reviews page

Books are distributed via free download from Google Drive and through Amazon links (for purchase or Kindle Unlimited).

Amazon Compliance

ReadLoop is designed to be fully compliant with Amazon’s Community Guidelines and Terms of Service. We take this seriously because it protects both authors and readers.

Our Core Principle: We never incentivize, require, or manipulate reviews. Readers receive free books with no obligation to review. Any reviews left on Amazon are voluntary and based on the reader’s genuine opinion.

What We Do

Provide free copies of books to interested readers
Match readers with books based on genuine genre preferences
Encourage honest feedback — positive or negative
Allow readers to share their experience on Amazon if they choose

What We Never Do

Require readers to leave a review in exchange for a free book
Ask for positive reviews only
Offer compensation, discounts, or rewards for reviews
Coordinate review timing or content
Manipulate bestseller rankings or sales data

Important: Amazon’s guidelines state that reviews must reflect the reviewer’s honest opinion. Reviews should not be influenced by payment, free products given in exchange for reviews, or any other form of compensation. ReadLoop’s model provides free books as a discovery tool — not as payment for reviews.

Guidelines for Authors

As an author on ReadLoop, you agree to the following:

You own the rights to the book you submit, or have permission to distribute it
Your book is complete and properly formatted (no drafts or unfinished manuscripts)
You provide accurate genre, language, and content information
You will not contact readers directly to request or influence reviews
You understand that reader feedback may be honest and critical
Your book stays active on ReadLoop until the review goal for your chosen plan is reached — 30, 50, 70 or 100 reviews

Book Submission Requirements

Cover image (JPG or PNG, minimum 600×900 pixels)
Book file (EPUB or PDF format)
Title, author name, and short description
Genre and language selection
Amazon link (ASIN) if available

Guidelines for Readers

As a reader on ReadLoop, we ask that you:

Only download books you genuinely intend to read
Do not share or redistribute downloaded book files
Provide honest feedback when you finish a book
Respect authors and their work, even if a book isn’t to your taste
If you choose to leave an Amazon review, make it honest and your own

Remember: You are never obligated to leave a review on Amazon. If you do, it should be your honest opinion. A 3-star review that’s thoughtful and genuine is more valuable than a forced 5-star review.

About Reviews

ReadLoop has a two-tier feedback system:

ReadLoop Feedback

After reading a book, we encourage you to share your thoughts on ReadLoop. This feedback goes directly to the author and helps them understand their audience. This is separate from Amazon and has no impact on Amazon rankings.

Amazon Reviews (Optional)

If you enjoyed a book, we encourage you to consider leaving a review on Amazon. This helps the author reach more readers. However:

Reviews are always optional — never required
Only leave a review if you have genuinely read the book
Your review must be your own honest opinion
Do not mention that you received the book for free through ReadLoop
Both positive and critical reviews are equally welcome

Amazon Disclosure: According to Amazon’s current guidelines, you do not need to disclose that you received a free copy if the free copy was not given in exchange for a review. Since ReadLoop never requires reviews, no disclosure is necessary. However, policies can change — always check Amazon’s latest Community Guidelines.

Accepted File Formats

ReadLoop supports the following file formats for book uploads:

EPUB — Preferred format. Works on most e-readers and reading apps
PDF — Universal format. Best for fixed-layout books or non-fiction with images

Cover images should be in JPG or PNG format, minimum 600×900 pixels (2:3 aspect ratio recommended).

Books are stored securely on Google Drive and made available for download to matched readers only.

Privacy & Data

ReadLoop respects the privacy of both authors and readers.

We collect only the information needed to operate the service (name, email, genre preferences)
Reader email addresses are never shared with authors
Author payment information is processed securely through Stripe — we never store card details
Book download data is used only for platform improvement
You can request deletion of your account and data at any time by contacting hello@readloop.net

For questions about our guidelines or policies, contact us at hello@readloop.net.