FAQ — Shelf Safe Books
What makes a book “Shelf Safe”?
Q: What makes a book “Shelf Safe”?
A: Shelf Safe Books only features clean fiction with no graphic sex, strong profanity, or disturbing violence. Each book is reviewed for family-safe content and flagged if it includes anything readers may want to know ahead of time.
Q: What do your color ratings mean?
A:
🟢 Green – Gentle stories that are light, clean, and family-friendly.
🔵 Blue – Stories with more emotional depth or complexity, but always wholesome.
🟣 Purple – Real-world or mature subjects presented respectfully, with no explicit content.
Q: What are “Heads Ups”?
A: Heads Ups are short, spoiler-aware content notes that help readers avoid unpleasant surprises. These notes flag emotionally heavy or morally sensitive material — especially content parents or cautious readers want to know about in advance.
Common Heads Ups include:
- Death of a pet, child, or parent
- Bullying or abuse
- Spiritual warfare or demonic elements
- References to alcohol, drug use, or smoking
- Mental health topics like anxiety, depression, or suicidal thoughts
- Modern identity themes (LGBTQ+, gender, etc.)
- Mild romantic content or suggestive scenes
- Any language used (even soft swears, always listed word-for-word)
They’re designed to inform, not spoil — so readers can choose with confidence.
Q: Are LGBTQ+ books included?
A: Yes — mainly in the LGBTQ+ category. Any book with LGBTQ+ content, even minor, is clearly flagged so readers can choose accordingly. These titles remain clean and non-explicit.
Q: Do you feature Christian books only?
A: No. Shelf Safe Books includes both general-market and faith-based titles — as long as they meet clean content guidelines. If a book has strong Christian themes outside the Faith category, that’s flagged in the Heads Up.
Q: How do you work with ScholarGPT?
A: I use a custom version of ChatGPT called ScholarGPT to help deep-check every book before it’s listed. I give it strict guidelines — no graphic content, no explicit romance, no heavy profanity, and age-appropriate tone — and it helps verify each book’s rating, add accurate Heads Ups, and suggest target audience notes. I always review the results before publishing, so every list still reflects my own standards and personal curation.
Q: How are books categorized?
A: Each book is organized into clear, reader-friendly genres — Fantasy, Mystery, Romance, Faith Fiction, Middle Grade, and more. When a story naturally blends genres (like a “Faith-Based Fantasy”), it’s labeled that way so readers always know what to expect.
A: Every book listed on Shelf Safe is reviewed to exclude graphic sex, strong language, and disturbing violence. If a book includes mild elements (like a soft swear or background issue), it will be clearly flagged. If a book doesn’t meet the standard, we don’t list it.Q: Are all the books completely clean?
Q: How can I request a book or correction?
A: You can recommend a book or ask for a new Heads Up by using the Contact Page. I personally review every message to keep the site trustworthy and up-to-date.
Q: Do you review book series or just standalones?
A: Both! We label series books clearly and include Heads Ups if later books in a series become darker or less clean. You’ll always know which book is Book 1, and if the content changes across volumes.
A: Each book includes a color rating to help you judge emotional tone — not just age: Purple books are still clean and non-explicit — but may explore deeper topics like grief, injustice, or moral complexity.Q: How do I know which books are right for sensitive or younger readers?
Q: How do I stay updated?
A: Join the free Shelf Safe newsletter — it comes out every two weeks with new clean-read lists, reader favorites, and behind-the-scenes reviews. You can sign up on the Contact page.