Book Cover and Content Guidelines

Last updated July 3, 2026

Purpose

FriendlyReads welcomes stories across a wide range of genres, themes, and age groups. These guidelines promote a safe, respectful, and enjoyable reading environment while preserving authors’ creative freedom.

Authors are responsible for ensuring that both their book covers and story content comply with these guidelines and are assigned the appropriate FriendlyReads Content Rating.

FriendlyReads reserves the right to require changes to book covers, adjust content ratings, restrict visibility, or remove works that violate these guidelines.

Guiding Principles

FriendlyReads distinguishes between:

· Content that is permitted but age-restricted; and

· Content that is prohibited regardless of age.

A mature story is not considered a policy violation simply because it contains mature themes. Content Ratings determine who may access a story, while the Community Guidelines determine what content is permitted on FriendlyReads.

FriendlyReads supports creative expression while promoting responsible storytelling and protecting younger readers through its age-restriction system.

Part I – Book Cover Guidelines

General Principles

Book covers are publicly visible throughout the platform and should therefore remain suitable for general browsing regardless of the story’s content rating.

A cover should accurately represent the story without being misleading, excessively graphic, or intended primarily to shock or sexually arouse viewers.

Permitted

Book covers may include:

· Characters in appropriate attire.

· Romantic or affectionate poses.

· Fantasy, horror, mystery, action, or suspense imagery.

· Symbolic artwork.

· Mild depictions of weapons relevant to the story.

· Artistic representations of conflict.

· Non-graphic supernatural or dark fantasy elements.

Not Permitted

Book covers shall not contain:

· Full or explicit nudity.

· Visible genitalia.

· Exposed female nipples.

· Explicit sexual acts or positions.

· Explicit BDSM imagery.

· Graphic violence or excessive gore.

· Mutilation or torture imagery.

· Graphic depictions of self-harm or suicide.

· Images intended primarily for sexual arousal.

· Hate symbols intended to promote hatred.

· Illegal or exploitative imagery.

AI-Generated Covers

AI-assisted cover art is permitted provided that:

· AI-assisted book covers are permitted provided that the author or uploader possesses the necessary rights or permissions to use the artwork, complies with the terms of the AI service used, and ensures that the cover does not infringe the intellectual property, trademark, publicity, privacy, or other legal rights of any person or entity.

· The cover complies with all FriendlyReads policies.

Authors remain responsible for ensuring that AI-assisted artwork complies with these guidelines.

Cover Review

FriendlyReads may require a cover to be modified or replaced if it does not comply with these guidelines.

Part II – FriendlyReads Content Ratings

Author Responsibility

Authors are responsible for selecting the FriendlyReads Content Rating that most accurately reflects the overall content of their story.

FriendlyReads may review and adjust ratings where appropriate.

Deliberately assigning a lower rating to increase visibility or readership may result in administrative action.

Age-Based Visibility

FriendlyReads uses an age-restriction system to ensure that readers are shown only stories appropriate to their declared age.

Stories rated above a reader’s declared age are automatically hidden from that reader.

Age restrictions apply throughout the platform, including but not limited to:

· Home page

· Search results

· Book categories

· Featured books

· Promotional sections

· Social page

· Library

FR 4+ (General Audience)

Recommended for readers aged four (4) years and above.

May include:

· Mild fantasy or cartoon violence.

· Friendship and family themes.

· Light suspense.

· Non-explicit romance.

· Positive life lessons.

· Age-appropriate emotional themes.

FR 12+ (Parental Guidance)

Recommended for readers aged twelve (12) years and above.

May include:

· Moderate violence.

· Moderate language.

· Moderate suspense or horror.

· Mild romantic themes.

· Non-explicit sexual references.

· More complex emotional or social themes.

FR 16+ (Mature Teen)

Recommended for readers aged sixteen (16) years and above.

May include:

· Strong language.

· Strong violence without excessive gore.

· Mature romance.

· Implied sexual activity.

· Psychological horror.

· Crime-related themes.

· Alcohol, tobacco, or similar themes.

Sexual content should not be graphically described.

FR 18+ (Adult)

Restricted to readers aged eighteen (18) years and above.

May include:

· Explicit violence.

· Explicit sexual content.

· Graphic horror.

· Strong language.

· Drug use.

· Mature psychological themes.

· Criminal subject matter.

· Other mature themes intended for adult audiences.

Mature content should be presented in a manner that supports the story, character development, or overall narrative, and should not exist primarily for shock value, exploitation, or sexual gratification.

Content Descriptors

In addition to selecting a FriendlyReads Content Rating, authors should identify applicable content descriptors to help readers make informed decisions.

Examples include:

· Violence

· Sexual Content

· Gore

· Horror

· Strong Language

· Drug Use

· Alcohol & Smoking

· Abuse

· Psychological Themes

· Self-Harm References

FriendlyReads may add, remove, or modify content descriptors where appropriate.

Part III – Content Restrictions

The following content is prohibited on FriendlyReads regardless of content rating.

Sexual Exploitation

Stories shall not promote, encourage, or glorify:

· Sexual abuse.

· Child sexual exploitation.

· Incest.

· Bestiality.

· Sexual exploitation of vulnerable persons.

· Non-consensual sexual activity presented as desirable or without meaningful narrative context.

Minors

Stories shall not contain sexually explicit depictions involving minors or characters presented as minors.

Illegal Content

Stories shall not encourage or glorify:

· Human trafficking.

· Terrorism.

· Child abuse.

· Real-world criminal instruction.

· Extreme exploitation.

Hate Content

Stories shall not promote hatred, discrimination, or violence against protected groups.

Self-Harm

Stories involving self-harm or suicide may be published when presented responsibly as part of the narrative.

Content that glorifies, encourages, romanticizes, or instructs self-harm or suicide is prohibited.

Graphic Violence and Gratuitous Content

Violence, horror, and other mature content should contribute meaningfully to the narrative, character development, or thematic purpose of the story.

Content created primarily to depict excessive gore, torture, cruelty, or other gratuitous material without meaningful narrative purpose may be removed.

Misleading or Deceptive Content

Authors shall not:

· Mislabel genres.

· Misrepresent content ratings.

· Use misleading titles or covers.

· Publish plagiarized or infringing works.

· Misrepresent AI-generated or third-party content as their own original work.

Part IV – Rating Review

FriendlyReads may:

· Review reported stories.

· Require adjustment of content ratings.

· Require addition or modification of content descriptors.

· Require a different rating before publication.

· Restrict visibility based on age.

· Request revisions.

· Temporarily remove a work pending review.

Authors may be contacted for clarification where appropriate.

Part V – Enforcement

Where violations occur, FriendlyReads may take one or more of the following actions:

· Provide educational guidance.

· Require revisions.

· Require replacement of a book cover.

· Correct a content rating.

· Add or modify content descriptors.

· Restrict visibility.

· Temporarily remove a story while under review.

· Remove a story from the platform.

· Suspend publishing privileges.

· Suspend or terminate an account for repeated or serious violations.

Enforcement measures shall generally be proportionate to the nature, severity, and frequency of the violation.

Appeals

Authors may request a review of moderation decisions in accordance with the FriendlyReads Appeals Policy.

FriendlyReads will consider the circumstances of each case before making a final determination.

Guiding Philosophy

FriendlyReads believes that stories should have the freedom to explore a wide range of themes—from lighthearted adventures to complex and mature subjects.

Our goal is not to restrict creative expression, but to ensure that stories are appropriately classified, responsibly presented, and made available only to readers for whom they are suitable.

We encourage authors to write boldly, responsibly, and authentically while respecting the diverse ages and experiences of the FriendlyReads community.