Our commitment to readers & authors
Content Policy
Effective May 2025 · Reviewed annually
Book Launch exists to connect readers with books worth their time. We curate titles across a wide range of genres and perspectives — and we take that responsibility seriously.
We review every submission individually. There is no automated approval process. The final decision on whether a book is listed rests entirely with the Book Launch editorial team, and we reserve the right to decline or remove any title without obligation to provide a reason.
- Hate speech or discrimination — content that attacks, demeans, or dehumanises individuals or groups on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, nationality, or any other protected characteristic.
- Explicit sexual content — graphic depictions of sexual acts. This includes erotica and adult fiction regardless of how it is categorised by the publisher.
- Extreme violence or gore — gratuitous depictions of violence, torture, or suffering presented for shock value rather than narrative purpose.
- Conspiracy theories or deliberate misinformation — content that knowingly misrepresents established facts, promotes demonstrably false health claims, or is designed to deceive readers.
- Political propaganda — content whose primary purpose is to advance a partisan political agenda, campaign material, or content designed to manipulate electoral outcomes.
- Content inappropriate for or targeting minors — any material of a sexual or violent nature directed at or featuring children and young people.
- Plagiarised or substantially AI-generated works — books that reproduce another author's work without attribution, or that have been generated by artificial intelligence tools without meaningful human authorship, creative input, and editorial responsibility.
These categories are not exhaustive. Book Launch may decline to list a title for reasons not explicitly covered here, at our sole discretion.
Book Launch is a curated directory, not an open marketplace. We assess each submission on its individual merits. A book will not be refused simply because it holds a controversial, unpopular, or heterodox viewpoint — vigorous debate and challenge to consensus thinking are part of what makes books valuable.
- We distinguish between challenging ideas and harmful content. A book may question mainstream medical, scientific, or political positions and still be listed if it does so in good faith.
- We consider whether a title meets a basic standard of intellectual honesty — citing sources, acknowledging counterarguments, and being transparent about the author's perspective.
- Genre fiction, memoir, and creative non-fiction are evaluated with appropriate latitude for narrative and artistic intent.
- Listing on Book Launch does not constitute endorsement of a book's views by the editorial team.
We reserve the right to remove any previously listed title at any time. Reasons may include:
- New information comes to light about the book's content or authorship.
- The book is found to violate any prohibition listed in this policy.
- A credible complaint is received and upheld following review.
- The publisher or author requests removal.
If you believe a title currently listed on Book Launch violates this Content Policy, please contact us with the book title and a brief description of your concern. We take all reports seriously and aim to respond within five business days.
We do not remove books solely on the basis of disagreement with their views — a complaint must identify a specific violation of this policy.