How to Get ARCs for Free
30 Proven Techniques
Advanced reading copies (a.k.a. ARCs or galleys) are copies of books distributed by publishers and authors to generate hype and acquire early honest reviews. For readers like you, ARCs are a great source of free books for review in your favorite genres and an exciting way to discover promising authors before the rest of the world.
With the rise of self publishing and smaller niche publishers, there are more advance reader copies available than ever before. But with so many options, navigating this new and exciting world of ARCs can be cumbersome. That is why we have teamed up with book bloggers and readers of influence to generate a curated list of simple ways you can get ARC books today.
Below, we show how to get free books from publishers, how to get advance reader copies on Facebook, Goodreads, and X (Twitter), how to get advance reader copies of books from virtual book tour groups, and how to get free physical books.
Small Publisher
Quirk Books publishes only 25 books in a year. If you want to get publishers to send you books, you may want to start here as they are small and accessible. Their books come under varied genres and carry eccentric titles like Race Me In A Lobster Sui...
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Small Publisher
Bethany House is a small publisher that deals in Christian fiction and nonfiction. They publish books by best selling authors like Mary Connealy and Jen Turano. Bethany House has a book review program which features titles in limited quantities. More...
Small Publisher
Moody Publishers’ catalog consists of Christian literature, with select titles available for review through the Moody Publishers Blogger Review Program. A non-profit publishing house, they release books that delve into spirituality and self-awareness...
Facebook Group
Founded in 2017 by author Jessica Pierce, YA Book Stop connects YA authors with reviewers. It is a straightforward way to get free books for reviews. Authors post their book and readers respond if they are interested. As the name suggests, the group ...
Increase Your Chances of Getting ARCs
- Publishers, especially the big 5, love readers who have a following in the literary community. One way to build a following is by starting a book blog. We have interviewed some prominent book bloggers on how to start a book blog, so you can learn from the best.
- You don't need to be book blogging to get review copies of books. A consistent track record of writing book reviews on sites like Amazon and Goodreads goes a long way on its own. We have built a free tool called ReaderRank which analyzes your past reviews and social reach and builds a reviewer profile for you. You can then share this as part of your ARC requests.
- If you are new to book reviewing or just want a faster and simpler way to get books, we hear you! We encourage you to read books from our ARC book catalog. It is free :)
Small Publisher
Tyndale primarily publishes Christian books. They had a review network up until early 2019, but now have a loyalty program where readers receive points for various activities. Tyndale bloggers can still request ARCs from them through their media cent...
If you love Twitter, you are in luck. Many authors use Twitter to connect with potential readers and provide book ARCs. You can use hashtags like #BooksForTrade and #ARCSForTrade to find opportunities. A certain amount of precaution should be taken o...
Small Publisher
FIREreads is the YA imprint of SourceBooks, the “largest woman-owned trade publisher in North America.” FIREreads sends out physical ARCs and eARCs; a great way to get free books sent to your house. They have a selective review program and typically ...
Big Publisher
Simon & Schuster is among the leading publishers of the world having imprints such as Gallery, Pocket, and Scribner. If you want to get ARCs from publishers, then they are a good place to try. Started in 1924 by Richard Simon and Max Schuster, the pu...
Goodreads Group
We cannot talk about how to get advanced reader copies without mentioning Making Connections. An extensive and well-organized Goodreads group, Making Connections encourages continuous interaction between writers and readers. They boast “over 1000 boo...
Big Publisher
Harper Collins has been publishing books for more than 200 years and presently operates in 17 countries. They are a potentially great way to get free books sent to your house regardless of your geography. Their catalog is a mix of different genres an...
Big Publisher
Macmillan is an award-winning publishing house with a catalog that features prominent books like Holes by Louis Sachar and When Zachary Beaver Came To Town by Kimberly Willis Holt. They are potentially great way to get free novels by mail. Since they...
Book Blog Tour
Rock Star Book Tours has been organizing virtual book tours for over half a decade and has over 1000 tours under its belt. Like other book tours, you must have have your own book blog to apply and get advanced reading copies of books. Not everyone is...
Small Publisher
Partnering with small publishers like Curiosity Quills Press is a smart way to get free books to review. They deal in science, paranormal and speculative fiction and primary send out review copies to readers through NetGalley or direct requests.
Book Formats
eBook and Physical
Primary Genres
Science Fiction, Paranormal, and Speculative Fiction
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Small Publisher
An up-and-coming independent publishing house headed by best selling authors Yelena Casale and Tina Moss, City Owl Press features romance and speculative fiction books. They have a program for readers who want to get books before they are released. C...
Book Blog Tour
TLC Book Tours is run by Trisha and Lisa, two voracious readers and reviewers in their own right. In addition to getting free books in exchange for reviews, bloggers taking part have the opportunity to interact with authors through interviews and giv...