Terms & conditions

Using CANREADS or ordering a service means accepting these terms. If you disagree, do not proceed.

These terms cover this website and services such as book reviews, awards entries and author or book features. Read the description of the service you choose before submitting an order. Our privacy policy explains the handling of personal information.

Nothing here removes rights or remedies that applicable law prevents us from excluding.

CANREADS is built with lumedot, with account services provided through api.lumedot.com. Creating a CANREADS account also creates a lumedot account.

By creating an account, you agree to these terms, our privacy policy, and lumedot’s terms and conditions and privacy policy.

Editorial reviews are for completed books or manuscripts, rather than unfinished drafts requiring development or editing. Review pricing depends on word count. Awards entries are separate purchases, and an editorial review is not required to enter the awards.

You must pay all fees for ordered services; refunds are limited to these terms.

Complete the appropriate order and submission steps, supply accurate contact and book details, and send the requested files. An order confirmation provides the next steps. For awards, payment and receipt of the book are needed for the submission to be considered.

Books generated wholly or substantially by AI are ineligible. Limited spelling or grammar assistance is permitted.

By submitting a book or manuscript, you confirm that it is fundamentally author-written and complies with this requirement. CANREADS may decline or disqualify work it reasonably determines does not comply. Check that your work is eligible before purchasing a service or submitting it.

If you choose to fund physical reviewer copies, including purchases or shipping, CANREADS may allocate those fees to reviewer access, distribution and fulfilment at its sole discretion. Physical copies are not guaranteed; digital formats may be used based on reviewer location, availability and cost.

Funding for reviewer copies and distribution becomes non-refundable when review assignments begin. Unused funds may cover related costs, including reviewer compensation, administration and platform operations. CANREADS may adjust delivery formats or logistics while preserving the full scope of review and evaluation services.

Visit awards submissions for the current entry process, or the review order page for an editorial review.

The standard editorial review refund rules are:

• 100% refund when requested before assignment to a reviewer.
• 50% refund when requested after assignment but within two weeks of submission.
• No refund after two weeks.

Disagreement with an assessment, its wording or its conclusions does not create refund eligibility. Requesting a refund may also cancel publication; editorial work already completed is not refundable.

AI-policy violations do not qualify for a refund, regardless of the standard refund timelines or when a violation is discovered, including after payment, assignment or the start of review or evaluation. Awards orders are non-refundable after the relevant submission deadline.

Provide all required manuscript files and materials within a reasonable time after purchase. CANREADS may follow up through the email address or other contact details supplied at checkout. If required materials remain missing and you remain unresponsive for an extended period despite repeated contact attempts, CANREADS may mark the order fulfilled and close the submission administratively.

If a completed review is withheld from publication because of significant quality or readability problems, the published service policy provides a 10% refund. Content declined for serious offensive or discriminatory material is assessed in context; any prorated refund reflects work already completed.

Send requests to info@canreads.ca, identifying the book, order and reason for the request.

Payment supports reading, assessment and writing. It does not purchase praise or influence the reviewer’s conclusions. A review can discuss strengths and weaknesses, and buying one does not promise a recommendation, publication or awards recognition.

Vetted reviewers with relevant reader or industry experience write these independent editorial assessments. The opinions expressed belong to the assigned reviewer.

The CANREADS editorial team edits every review before publication. Editing may address grammar, spelling, clarity, readability, consistency, formatting, pull quote selection and style. Wording may change while preserving the reviewer’s intended meaning and overall assessment.

You may report demonstrable factual errors, incorrect attribution, significant misreadings or editorial changes that materially alter the reviewer’s intended meaning. CANREADS will carefully investigate these concerns and make corrections where appropriate.

Reviews will not be revised solely because an author prefers different wording, wants criticism removed or softened, or disagrees with opinions about interpretation, pacing, characters, dialogue, themes, prose, structure or other literary qualities. Honestly held editorial opinions reasonably supported by the submitted work will not be altered.

Unless you request otherwise before publication, CANREADS may publish reviews on its website and promote them through marketing channels, including social media and newsletters. Published reviews may remain publicly available indefinitely.

Reviews of unpublished manuscripts remain private. If the book is later published, you may submit that edition for a new review at a discounted rate. The earlier manuscript review cannot be published on the CANREADS website or used as an awards entry.

Each awards season has its own eligibility rules, categories, fees and closing date. Read the current awards guidelines before paying, choose the appropriate categories and supply the required book files.

Qualified readers and judges assess awards entries independently of editorial reviewing. Receiving a review has no bearing on how an entry is evaluated. Entry does not promise selection for a shortlist, an award or a promotional opportunity. Judging decisions are final.

Only recognition actually awarded by CANREADS may be presented as an awards result. A positive review quotation does not itself mean a book has won an award.

Submitting a book confirms that you own it or are its authorized representative, and that you have the right to grant CANREADS permission to use the submitted content for reviews and promotional features without infringing another person’s rights.

Submitted material must be lawful.

Ensure that the files and publication details match the work you want assessed. If you are submitting on an author’s behalf, obtain their permission and use contact details through which the submission can be managed.

Questions about the confidentiality or handling of a manuscript can be raised before submission. Our privacy policy explains the handling of submission materials.

All site content, including reviews, images, text, graphics and designs, belongs to CANREADS or its licensors and is protected by applicable intellectual property laws. CANREADS exclusively owns its name, logos, badges, stickers, seals and other branding elements. Authors, publishers and other parties need CANREADS’ prior written permission to reproduce, modify, distribute or create derivative materials using these branding elements.

Buy official branded materials directly from CANREADS; independent production or distribution is prohibited. Unauthorized use may trigger content removal, permission revocation, cancelled services or legal remedies.

Quotation rules are in our separate Excerpt policy.

Where legally permitted, the site and services are supplied “as is” and “as available”, without express or implied warranties, including merchantability, suitability for a particular purpose or non-infringement. Liability excludes indirect, incidental, consequential and punitive losses, including lost data, use, profit, revenue or reputation.

You must indemnify and hold CANREADS, its officers, directors, employees and agents harmless against claims, damage, losses, costs and expenses arising from using the site or services.

Use the website lawfully. Do not interfere with its operation, misuse another person’s information, attempt unauthorized access or submit material you have no right to provide.

Linked services may have separate terms. Check the order details and any conditions shown before completing a transaction, and contact us if the scope of a service is unclear.

Ontario law governs these terms, excluding conflict-of-law rules. CANREADS may modify these terms at any time and will post revisions here. Continued use accepts revisions, subject to applicable law.

For questions about an order, review, permission or these terms, contact info@canreads.ca. Include your order reference when the question relates to a purchased service.