How to get ARCs
Also known as "Advanced Reader Copies"
For all of you book lovers out there, I’m sure you’ve heard the term “ARC” in reference to getting a book before it’s out. For those who aren’t as familiar with the term, it stands for “Advanced Reader Copy.” These are sent out by publishers (and sometimes by the authors, themselves, if they are self-publishing) to get early reviews on their books.
Sometimes, ARCs are sent out to other authors or experts within the book’s genre to get sound bites they can use on the covers of the book. You’ve seen them - I know you have. See this one from Adrienne Young after she read Rachel Griffin’s debut novel, The Nature of Witches.
Other times, publishers send out ARCs to booksellers and professional book reviewers (like those for the New York Times, etc.). The point is to get the book in the hands of folks who can help spread the word about a good story. However, there are also ways that the average reader can get their hands on a book before it comes out. Keep on reading to find out!
What is required of an ARC reader?
The short answer is that it depends. But mainly, publishers and authors expect you to read their books in a timely manner (maximum one month) and to provide an honest review through the ARC-signup site. They may also require reviews on other sites including: Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and potentially on your social media accounts and personal websites.
Things to do prior to signing up for ARCs
The following things you need to do prior to signing up for ARCs might be a given, but you should do them, nonetheless.
You should like reading books. Being a book reviewer can sometimes feel like a job so you better like it some aspect because you’re not getting paid for it.
Review books you’ve already read on popular sites like Goodreads, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble. This is a great way to show publishers and authors that you’re already an avid reader and can be relied upon to give a review.
Learn how to write a good review. If you simply give a book 5 stars and say “I couldn’t put this book down!” publishers won’t be that excited to give you an ARC. Instead, give a book 5 stars and say “With each new chapter, I felt like I was discovering a new world that I could dive into. The author gave each character such depth, I felt as if they were one of my best friends. I especially loved when {insert character} held her own against those monsters and then made a saracastic remark at the end - I really understood her personality!” or something like that.
Always have the reader in mind when you review books. Just because you might not enjoy a book doesn’t mean others won’t. Be really mindful when giving a “bad” review and why specifically it was bad. Did you just not like it or was the writing actually terrible?
Try to focus on only a few genres. As with most freelance writing, find your niche.
Start following your favorite authors on social media and Goodreads.
How to get ARCs
Sign up for a NetGalley account
Many publishing houses offer ARCs through the site NetGalley. It’s free to sign up and then read any of the books that you get approved for. When you first log in, make sure to tailor your profile to what you like to read and the genres you prefer. Publishers will look at your profile to see several things:
The accounts that you’ve linked to your profile. This might be your Goodreads profile, a Twitter account, your TikTok profile, or simply your personal website. Wherever you regularly post bookish stuff, you should link to your NetGalley profile.
Your feedback ratio. Try to keep this above 80% since it’s the number that tells a publisher how likely you are to give feedback. This also means you shouldn’t request every single book you see on the NetGalley site in case you get approved for all of them. Take into account which books you are really interested in and how quickly you’d be able to read them. For example, I had a 100% feedback ratio a week ago because I had finished all the books I was sent and gave feedback. But I just got approved for two ARCs which dropped my feedback ratio to 85%. So I won’t request anymore until I’ve finished those two. The more you read and give feedback, the easier it is to keep the feedback ratio above 80%.
NetGalley also primarily only gives out eARCs so you need an eReader or not mind reading it on your laptop. And also don’t expect to get approved right away - especially for those books that are highly coveted. There are some books on the site that you don’t need to get approved for and can download/read right away. This is a good way to start increasing your stats.
Sign up for other ARC sites
There are a few other types of sites that are similar to NetGalley. The nice thing about NetGalley, though, is most publishers send their ARCs through that site so you’re more likely to stumble across a book you really want to read by a favorite author of yours. Here are a few other sites that you can find ARCs:
BookSirens: a relatively new site that both authors and readers can sign up for.
Amazon First Reads: if you have Amazon Prime, you can read one editor’s pick per month before it releases to the public.
Hidden Gems Books: this is a mailing list you can sign up for to see what books are available for review.
Edelweiss: very similar to NetGalley.
Goodreads
Most bookish people I know have heard of Goodreads, but they rarely know that you can also find ARCs here. It takes a little bit of navigating but it can be done! Mostly, you find ARCs through Read and Review groups. There are hundreds of these on the site so you’ll have to do a bit of digging to find the ones that interest you most. Here are some to get you started:
Influencer Programs
If you are a regular reviewer and have a blog that gets a lot of traffic to your site, you can apply to “influencer programs” set up directly at publishers. These programs are for those who review books professionally and/or have developed a solid following for their book reviews. Here are some publishing influencer programs:
Social Media
Ah, everyone’s favorite thing, right? And yet, this is where many authors (both traditionally- and self-published ones) conduct their marketing. This includes sending out a “call” for ARC readers on their account so make sure you follow your favorite authors to see if they’re doing just that. I’ve gotten several ARCs through DMing my favorite authors or joining their private Facebook groups. It’s fairly easy and straightforward and gives you a way to read your favorite authors early!