Legal

Privacy Policy

Effective Date: April 20, 2026 (Last updated: April 21, 2026)

ShelfGlow Privacy Policy

At ShelfGlow, we believe reading should be joyful, safe, and private. We are committed to protecting your personal information while you explore books, request Author Review Copies, submit honest reviews, build your reader or author profile, and connect with the indie author community.

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, share, and protect your information when you use shelfglow.com and our related services (collectively, the "Platform").

1. Information We Collect

Information You Provide Directly:

  • Account information (email, pen name, legal name for payment records if applicable, password)
  • Profile information (bio, website, profile photo, reader preferences for genre and style matching)
  • ARC requests, downloads, and review submissions (review text, rating, and metadata)
  • Flagging actions as an author (when you flag a review as not based on the book's actual subject matter)
  • Communications with us (support inquiries, feedback)

    • Automatically Collected Information:

  • Usage data (pages visited, features used, session duration)
  • Device and browser information (IP address, device type, operating system)
  • Analytics on discovery and engagement (e.g., reader matches by genre/style)

    • Cookies and Similar Technologies:

    We use essential cookies and similar technologies to provide core functionality, remember preferences, analyze usage, and support secure login. You can manage your cookie preferences through your browser settings. We do not use cookies for cross-site targeted advertising.

    2. How We Use Your Information

    We use the information we collect to:

  • Operate and improve the Platform, including Author Review Copy (ARC) distribution, genre/style matching, and personalized discovery
  • Provide authors with meaningful analytics on who is discovering their books
  • Enforce our accountable ARC program (tracking review submission for future eligibility and removing non-reviewers)
  • Moderate reviews: Authors may flag off-topic, spam, or unrelated reviews. We review flagged content and may hide or remove it while preserving legitimate feedback
  • Generate and publish weekly community spotlights ("This Week's Honest ARC Reviews & Recommendations") on our social media accounts, using only consented reviews (anonymized if requested)
  • Communicate with you about your account, ARCs, reviews, and platform updates
  • Ensure platform safety and prevent abuse

    • 3. Lawful Basis for Processing (GDPR Notice for EU/EEA Users)

    For users in the European Union or European Economic Area, our processing of your personal data is based on one or more of the following lawful bases under the GDPR:

  • Performance of a contract (providing the Platform services you requested)
  • Legitimate interests (operating and improving the Platform, preventing abuse, providing author analytics)
  • Your consent (e.g., for featuring your review in social spotlights or certain non-essential cookies)
  • Compliance with legal obligations

    • You have the right to withdraw consent at any time where consent is the basis for processing.

    4. Sharing Your Information

    We do not sell your personal data.

    We may share information in these limited circumstances:

  • With the relevant author when you submit a review for their book (anonymized if you chose that option)
  • In our weekly social media spotlights (anonymized if requested)
  • With trusted service providers (hosting, analytics, email delivery) bound by confidentiality obligations
  • When required by law, court order, or to protect the rights, safety, or property of ShelfGlow, our users, or the public
  • In the context of a business transfer (merger, acquisition, or sale of assets)

    • We do not share identifiable review content with external retail platforms or encourage coordinated review activity.

    5. Review Moderation and Anonymization

    When you submit a review for an Author Review Copy (ARC), you consent to our moderation process. Authors may flag reviews they believe are not based on the book's actual subject matter. Flagged reviews may be hidden from public view, author dashboards, analytics, and social spotlights after platform review.

    You may choose to have your review anonymized. Anonymized reviews will still be visible to the author and may appear in moderated platform features and social spotlights, but without your name or other identifiable information.

    Legitimate criticism of a book's content will not be removed solely for being negative.

    6. Data Retention

    We retain your personal information only as long as necessary for the purposes described in this policy, to enforce ARC accountability, maintain moderation records, or comply with legal obligations. Review-related data may be kept longer for platform integrity.

    7. Data Security

    We implement reasonable technical, administrative, and physical safeguards to protect your information. However, no system is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

    8. Your Rights and Choices

  • Access, correction, or deletion of your personal data
  • Restriction of processing or objection to processing
  • Withdrawal of consent (where applicable)
  • Anonymization of your reviews

    • To exercise these rights, contact us at support@shelfglow.com. We will respond within a reasonable timeframe. Some data (such as moderation records and ARC accountability history) may be retained for legitimate business or legal reasons.

    California residents have additional rights under the CCPA/CPRA. Users in the EU/EEA may benefit from rights under the GDPR.

    9. Children's Privacy

    The Platform is intended for users 18 years and older. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18. If we become aware that we have collected such information, we will take steps to delete it.

    10. International Data Transfers

    ShelfGlow is based in the United States. If you are located in the EU/EEA or another region with different data protection laws, your information may be transferred to and processed in the United States. We take appropriate safeguards where required.

    11. Changes to This Privacy Policy

    We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Material changes will be posted on the Platform with an updated effective date. Your continued use after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

    12. Contact Us

    If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to exercise your rights, please contact us at support@shelfglow.com.

    By using ShelfGlow, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy.

    By continuing to use ShelfGlow, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy.