In June, Media Source, the parent company of the review magazines Library Journal, School Library Journal, and The Horn Book, as well as the evergreen book boxes of Junior Library Guild, launched its first new publication in 75 years: Open Shelf Reviews. The paid service gives independent authors and small presses access to a community of professional reviewers, most with backgrounds in education and libraries.
The manager of this new online presence is Kimberly Fakih, who spent recent years as executive editor at SLJ and was previously senior editor at Kirkus Reviews and contributing editor of reviews at Publishers Weekly.
"This skill set follows me around," Fakih said. "Or perhaps I chase it! I've always had an affection for matchmaking: getting books into the hands of readers." For her, this is the first time fees have been involved. Authors and small presses pay for their reviews, whether positive, negative, or mixed. Reviews of picture books, delivered within six weeks, start at $399.
"We had to make sure the business was sustainable through paid reviews, but we also knew it was a way to level the playing field," Fakih explained. "Every author is passionate about their book, crafted over months or years. Now authors can ensure that an experienced professional reads their words."
The aim is to offer constructive feedback to authors no matter where they are in the process: before publication, just after publication, or as a way to revive a published title that may not have been reviewed the first time around. By clearly labeling the service, Fakih said, Open Shelf Reviews meets a growing market need while reinforcing the trust, established by its sister publications, that is at the core of review work.
"Libraries cannot purchase books without demonstrating that the titles have been reviewed by one, two--even three sources," Fakih noted. Given the number of book bans across school districts, a review can be crucial for a title that might otherwise not be purchased.
More books are being published than ever before. Bowker counted more than four million new titles in the United States in 2025, more than 3.5 million of them self-published. "It's not just librarians; booksellers, too, are telling us they need more reviews," Fakih said. "And we hope that means more attention for the small or niche titles that would otherwise be lost on enormous online shopping sites. Every book deserves the opportunity to be evaluated on its own merits. That's the match we're here to make."
Fakih has seen the business from all sides. She has published half a dozen books (most recently Little Miseries, in 2023) and edited books at major publishing houses. "I know what it's like to wait nervously for a review. And I would have loved to have had just a smidge more control over the process--good, bad, or otherwise."
The package authors sign up for includes a professional editorial review, reader and market readiness ratings, constructive editorial feedback, and a top market takeaway. "A professional review isn't about proving a book belongs. It's about helping the right readers find it," Fakih said. "Authors can pull quotes for a cover, use the language when they pitch booksellers and librarians, and put it wherever it helps. If you're self-publishing, you're likely siloed from the process all of us in publishing know. We want to educate those authors--and help them celebrate."