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Using NextReads Section Tags for Annotations

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Newsletter changes coming soon


Based on your feedback, annotations that are easy to replicate when you swap out books in newsletters are on the way in late summer 2023. Soon you'll see a style that's short, sweet, and still features the context and appeal-rich descriptions you'll only find in NextReads.

Learn more about this and other NextReads changes.


Current annotations





NextReads annotations are formatted into sections that make them easy to skim. Sections can be added or removed easily without rewriting the annotation. NextReads bibliographers use at least 2 sections per book. For reading ease, we also try to keep the length of the annotation in line with the book jacket image.

Note: The New York Times Bestseller and LibraryReads newsletters do not use the section format.


Commonly used NextReads section tags


Plot tags:
  • What it’s about:
    (Tip: If you are adding or replacing a book, but you don’t want to rewrite the annotation, use the “What it’s about” section tag before the publisher-provided annotation.)

  • What it is:
    (Tip: This will have more specific use cases, such as for memoirs, high concept books, or picture books.)

Nonfiction tags:
  • What it’s about: 
    (Tip: If you are adding or replacing a book, but you don’t want to rewrite the annotation, use the “What it’s about” section tag before the publisher-provided annotation.)

  • What it is:
    (Tip: This will have more specific use cases, such as for memoirs, high concept books, or picture books.)

  • Why it's significant: 

  • What sets it apart:
    (Tip: Used most appropriately when you feature quite a few similar books on the same topic – presidential biographies, cookbooks, etc.)

  • Topics of note: 

  • What’s inside:

  • Recipes included:

  • Projects included:

  • Supplemental materials:

Character tags:
  • Starring:

  • Featuring:

  • Introducing:

Data tags:
  • Series alert:

  • Author alert:

  • About the author:

Appeal tags:
  • Why you might like it:

  • Is it for you? or Who it’s for:

  • Want a taste?
    (Tip: Great for poetry or other things you want to excerpt!)

  • Don’t miss:
    (Tip: Perfect for when you want to call out a particular story in a collection, or something else of note, like wordplay, a particularly relevant chapter, etc.)

  • Read it for:

  • Why you should read it:
    (Tip: Use this when “Why you might like it” isn’t appropriate, such as when you’re talking about medical issues, for example.)

  • Reviewers say:

  • Book buzz:
    (Tip: This can apply to media tie-ins, famous mentions, top ten, awards, shortlist, etc. It’s a nice catch-all category.)

Read-alike tags:
  • For fans of:

  • You might also like:

  • Further reading:

  • Look for:
    (Tip: Another tag that is great for media tie-ins, or an upcoming series entry.) 

  • Try this next:


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