APA Citation Style (7th Edition)

Reference list entries for reviews follow the same format as the content within a particular source, with the addition of a description within square brackets. For example, a book review in a journal follows the same format as an article in a journal, except that it also includes information about the book being reviewed.

This page lists examples on how to cite book reviews. For examples of more types of reviews (films, TV shows, video games, etc.), see the APA Publication Manual, pp. 334-335.

Reviewer's Last Name, First Initial(s). (Year of Publication). [Review of the book Book Title, by Book Author's First Initial(s). Last Name]. Journal Title, Volume Number(Issue Number), first page-last page. https://doi number if given

Reference example:

Bittner, R. (2020). [Review of the book Jo: An Adaptation of Little Women (Sort Of), by K. Gros]. CM: Canadian Review of Materials, 27(5), 14.

In-text citation, parenthetical: (Bittner, 2020)
In-text citation, narrative: Bittner (2020)

Reviewer's Last Name, First Initial(s). (Publication Date). Title of Review [Review of the book Title of Book, by Book Author's First Initial(s). Last Name]. Title of Website. URL

Reference example:

Al-Shawaf, R. (2021, October 21). How Muslims Shaped the Americas, and How the Americas Shaped Muslims [Review of the book Praying to the West: How Muslims Shaped the Americas, by O. Mouallem]. The National Book Review.  https://www.thenationalbookreview.com/features/2021/10/21/review-how-muslims-shaped-the-americas-and-how-the-americas-shaped-muslims

In-text citation, parenthetical: (Al-Shawaf, 2021)
In-text citation, narrative: Al-Shawaf (2021)

Use square brackets to describe (in your own words) works other than books, articles and other academic literature.

For audiovisual media, you must provide a description in square brackets following the title.

Examples: [Painting], [Film], [PowerPoint slides], [Tweet], [Status update], etc.

(See APA Style, and section 9.21 of the APA Publication Manual, 7th ed.)