What if no agent rates my manuscript with a 4- or 5-star rating?

We’re writers too, so we know how painful this will be. But we would MUCH rather tell you from the outset, so that you don’t waste your time/money/hope on meetings with agents who are never going to be a good match for you. And please remember hat this doesn’t mean that no agent out there will be interested in your work – TBR 2026 will be hosting just 22 of them, and there are hundreds more.

If I can’t meet with an agent, is there any other way I can get feedback on my work?

For authors who get no takers, we’re curating a list of truly great editorial consultants that you could hire to help take your manuscript to the next level. We will provide this list by email, and there will be the option for you to meet some of the editors in person at TBR.

I got one 4-star double-match and one 5-star single-match. Which should I choose?

We recommended meeting with both agents if you can swing it, but if not, we recommend meeting the 5-star single-match agent. Oftentimes, writers look past agents who have less experience, don’t have a strong track record yet, etc. But often it’s those very agents who are the hungriest to sign writers and are willing to work the hardest on your behalf. An agent with strong enthusiasm for your work is very valuable, even if you didn’t initially think they were a great match for you (think of them like Mr. Darcy, in Pride and Prejudice, the perfect match hiding there in plain sight). To us, it’s worth a meeting!

Other questions? Please reach out to us at hello@tbr.boston and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can!