Reviewers play a key role in the scientific publication process, by supporting journal editors in making decisions about which manuscripts to publish and by supporting manuscript authors in improving their work. This document, prepared by an ad hoc committee of journal editors and PER community members, grew out of informal conversations that brought our attention to the negative impact that particular reviews have had on community members. These conversations precipitated the creation of a survey that invited PER community members to share their experiences of the PER journal review process. Here, we summarize the survey results and issue recommendations on the basis of our interpretations. The focus of this document is on respectful reviewing; it does not comprehensively address reviewing practices writ large. The audience is meant to be reviewers for physics education research journals.