How to get ARCs and Read Books for Free! | Reedsy Discovery

blog: published on Tuesday December 7th

How to get ARCs and Read Books for Free!

Looking for a way to fund your passion for reading? Or maybe you’ve got a Bookstagram or book review blog that you want to take to the next level? Let us introduce you to the wonderful world of ARCs. Advanced Reader Copies, or ARCs for short, are copies of unpublished books offered free of charge in exchange for honest reviews.

yes, you read that right: free books! Offering readers arcs benefits authors and publishers because it generates material for marketing campaigns and helps build buzz before a book is released. For readers, this not only has the obvious benefit of free (!) books, but can also help grow review platforms, ranging from classic book review blogs to booktok.

You are reading: How to get arc books

“understood. So where do I find these free books? don’t worry, dear reader. In this post, we’ll reveal some well-kept secrets of the publishing industry and tell you how you can get your hands on some great bows.

side note: arcs and beta copies are not the same thing. beta copies are unfinished versions of a manuscript that are sent to readers in exchange for comments and possible edits. arcs, on the other hand, are the final version: the authors aren’t looking for suggestions, just honest reviews.

network gallery

many publishers offer bows on netgalley; here, readers and reviewers can access books for free before they are published in exchange for leaving a review on the site. some books have a “read now” option, while more exclusive ones require you to submit a request.

netgalley primarily offers earcs, so it’s as simple as downloading the book, sitting back in your favorite reading chair, and starting to write your review. That said, be careful not to accept more book reviews than you have time for; Especially on netgalley, not submitting a review will hurt your credibility. (fun fact: in the publishing world, a “galley” isn’t a medieval rowboat; it’s actually short for “galley proof,” referring to the metal printing trays used on printing presses!) today, it has become almost synonymous with bows).

To get the most out of the reviewer experience on sites like this, be sure to link your account with any other platform you actively post reviews on so people know where else they can read your reviews and access your content. It’s also worth taking your time to craft a good reviewer bio, as that’s where editors will look first when requesting bows. Be sure to include where you usually post your reviews, how many followers you have, and your favorite genres.

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Other legitimate third-party sites where you can find arches include:

  • edelweiss: works similarly to netgalley, where you can apply to read and review arcs.
  • amazon first reads: if you have amazon prime, each month you can read one book early until your launch.
  • rockstar book tours: virtual ‘book tours’ where book bloggers can apply to write guest post reviews of free arcs on the host site.
  • tlc book tours: book bloggers can apply to review an arc on their own website
  • hidden gem books: sign up for mailing list to receive emails with books available for review.
  • librarything early reviewers: authors and publishers announce available arcs and reviewers can apply to read them.
  • shelf awareness: email newsletters that they often advertise the bows available for review.

cane discovery

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Another great place to find bows is Reedsy Discovery, Reedsy’s book review platform, where you can read and write reviews of the best new independent books. Generating reviews can be especially difficult for independent authors – by becoming a book reviewer on reedsy discovery, you’re helping authors have the best book launch possible, and getting the best new indie arcs while you’re at it! p>

Hundreds of authors submit their books as bows for reedsy discovery. If you want access to read and review the hundreds of books in the submission pool before they’re published, all you need to do is apply to be a Discovery Reviewer. your review will be published the day of the author launch and will be exposed to thousands of enthusiastic readers in your genre!

Not only will you get free access to new books, but you’ll also be able to grow your audience and become an influencer on books in the genre of your choice. Your profile can also complement an existing blog or bookstagram, and when readers enjoy your work, they can send you $1, $3, or $5.

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If you’re looking for help structuring your book reviews, check out our free book review templates!

good reads

Many avid readers and reviewers will be quite familiar with the goodreads book recommendation site, but did you know you can also use it to get your hands on more bows?

Through reading and review groups, authors can post that they are seeking reviewers for their latest release. all you have to do is sign up for a book you want to read, wait for the author or moderator to send you a copy, and post your review on your goodreads profile.

You can also use posting groups if you’re actively looking for books to review and accepting review requests. This lets authors know that they can message you directly if they’re looking for more new arc readers for their books.

here are a few more legitimate goodread groups to get you started:

  • read 4 reviews
  • free books for book lovers
  • authors arc
  • authors & reviewers
  • making connections
  • advance copies for review & book giveaways
  • goodreads reviewer group

social networks

If you’re not already following book reviewers or publishing professionals on social media, you’re missing out on a whole world of opportunities. Twitter and Instagram are two of the fastest and most effective ways to get your name and face out there and start building connections with authors, editors, and other reviewers!

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You can post reviews directly to your profile or, if you have a book review blog, you can post links to your reviews when you post them. be sure to tag the editors and authors as well (usually only if it’s a positive review)! Once you’ve established your presence as a reviewer, you can try messaging authors and editors directly to ask about review opportunities; it might seem too casual at first, but most of the time they’ll be happy to chat with you there.

popular hashtags to watch out for:

  • #arcreaders
  • #arcreaderswanted
  • #arcreadersneeded
  • #advancedreadercopies

Bookstagrammers and self-published authors will also occasionally share opportunities through their accounts if they need arc readers, or you can sign up for their newsletters where they’ll likely advertise when they’re looking for arc readers. Finding arcs this way means you’ll not only get a free book, but you’ll also be supporting authors perhaps early in their careers – you can proudly watch the progress of their journey and see how they grow as an author.

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direct through editors

If you can’t find anything on the review sites that interests you, you can try contacting the editors and authors directly via email. you may already have a specific book in mind, or you can research upcoming releases from specific publishers.

When submitting your requests, be sure to include “arc request” or “review copy request” and the title of the book in the subject line of the email. In the body of the email, show that you’ve done some research on the book and the author and explain why it would be a good fit to review; include some links to your own blog and make sure you have recent reviews in the same genre. It’s no good applying to review the next big sci-fi hit if you’ve only covered period romances so far.

influencer programs

Some of the larger publishing houses also have dedicated influencer review programs where reviewers who have already built up a following can apply to receive regular bows. they are more likely to be physical copies so you can make the most of them on social media! here are some to get you started:

  • random house influencer program: based in the usa. us, min 5k followers, title specific emails to #ownvoice reviewers.
  • macmillan influencer & reviewer program: takes into account the number of followers and genres, and is added to a database to share with internal editors and marketing teams.
  • viking, penguin books, & Penguin Classics Influencer Review Requests – US Based US, min 1500 followers, priority for bipoc reviewers.
  • great core influencer publishing program – looks more at content than follower count, also offers eBooks on netgalley.

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Still can’t get enough books? check out our list of the 115 best books of all time or 21 places to find free books online!

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