book reviews get paid

6 of the Best Ways to Get Paid to Read Books

Arvyn Cerézo

Arvyn Cerézo is an arts and culture writer/reporter with bylines in Book Riot , Publishers Weekly , South China Morning Post , PhilSTAR Life , the Asian Review of Books , and other publications. You can find them on arvyncerezo.com and @ArvynCerezo on Twitter.

View All posts by Arvyn Cerézo

It’s true that reading books is beneficial in so many ways, including improving our mental health . But there’s an unpopular benefit that reading books can also provide: money. Indeed, reading can become an income stream, turning passion into profit. Ever wondered how to get paid to read books?

While there are several, broad avenues to do that — such as getting a job in the publishing industry , becoming a book editor or proofreader , narrating an audiobook , developing ebooks for a living, or becoming an audiobook proof listener — I’d narrow in on the easiest route, something that could be done right away: book reviewing.

I’m a writer and journalist regularly reviewing books for Publishers Weekly , and I’ve been doing this for four years now. Although the pay isn’t that great, it helps me hone my writing and reviewing skills. It also helps me build connections within the publishing industry. But a gig such as this might as well be a full-time job itself; reading a book for review purposes is a different thing from reviewing a book for leisure. There’s a lot of things to consider, and it might not seem that enjoyable at it appears.

But if you’re interested to become a book reviewer and get paid to read books along the way, I have a list of six ways for you to try below. The list includes writing for traditional magazines and publications that are proven to pay freelancers after a published review. Maybe after trying these gigs out, you might get interested in working in publishing. So, to test the waters, a book reviewing side hustle might be ideal.

Here’s how to get paid to read books through reviewing gigs:

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Writing Book Reviews for Publishers Weekly

PW , the industry magazine, pays $25 per review that runs about 180–200 words. You can choose how many books you can review in a month. In my case, I recently switched to one book per three weeks because of my schedule. But before, I used to do two books a month. In addition to that, you can decline a book if you don’t feel like it, but I’m not sure if it’s the case with every editor.

There are also opportunities for other kinds of writing, such as a Q&A and an author profile, which you can pitch to your editor.

Publishers Weekly accepts reviewer applications occasionally. All you have to do is send a CV and a sample review à la PW . They don’t assign a byline, however.

Writing Book Reviews for Kirkus Reviews

This magazine also accepts applications for freelance reviewers . However, it won’t be for traditionally published books, unlike with PW . Instead, reviewers would be working on self-published books for the indie section of the magazine called Kirkus Indie.

The review runs about 350 words and is due two weeks after the book is assigned. They pay $50, but it could go upwards to $75 if they see some great writing. For picture books, they pay $40 for a review of 250 words. As with PW , they don’t give a byline.

“Reviewing for Kirkus Indie was fun. I got sent a steady stream of books to recommend, usually 1–2 per month,” shares Sarah S. Davis, former Kirkus Indie reviewer and a Book Riot contributor. “I did have an opportunity when I first started to list what genres were my preferred genres to recommend. You don’t get to choose which book you get, but they will often give you a sub-genre or category that you connect well with. For example, for me that was books about health, psychology, and spirituality. My friend who reviewed for Kirkus, however, ‘specialized’ in geotechnical thrillers.”

To be considered, submit a sample review in the style of Kirkus.

Reviewing for Booklist

Booklist is a magazine catered toward librarians. They also occasionally publish reviews in their print and online versions. Just like the magazines aforementioned, Booklist is also constantly looking for reviewers.

For a word count of 150–175, the pay is a meager $15. If you reject a book, you get $5. Nonetheless, the best thing here is that the reviews are signed. That means you get to have a byline attached to the review, whether in print or online. In some instances, however, the payment could be delayed because the review is scheduled for a later issue. But once it gets published, you get to be paid.

Here’s how to apply as a Booklist reviewer . Once accepted, you’d become an apprentice reviewer.

Writing Audiobook Reviews for AudioFile Magazine

AudioFile is a magazine that regularly reviews audiobooks. If you’re an avid audiobook listener and feel like recommending best new titles, then this is for you.

AudioFile assigns a couple audiobooks in a month, and you have to write a review of about a hundred words. They pay $10 apiece, which is disbursed twice a year. Because of this payment scheme, it would take a long while to receive the payment. Still, you have the freedom to choose the genre of audiobook you want to review, such as young adult, fantasy, classics, literary fiction, etc. In the review that appears in print and online versions, you get to have initials as your byline, but you don’t get to have your name printed in full.

Reviewing an audiobook, however, is an altogether different realm. Make sure to read the magazine to get familiarized with the style.

Writing Book Reviews for Online Book Club

This is a forum that publishes book reviews, and they always accept reviewers. Since it’s a forum — not a magazine or a publication — you get to choose what appears as your byline. Pay varies per book, but it usually ranges from $5–60 per review according to their website.

“Reviewing books for the Online Book Club was a good experience because I got to read books and give my opinion about them, which I enjoyed,” says Yolimari Garcia, a former reviewer. “You can choose which books you want to review from a list. However, you can only pick the books with higher payments if you have a high reviewer score. I reached the highest level, which was six. A level-six reviewer is allowed to be an editor, which I was too.”

According to Garcia, the reviewers receive feedback from the editors, who also assign ratings based on the Review Team Guidelines. The objective is for the high-quality reviews to receive a high score and those with low quality to receive a low score. Some reviews cannot be published because it is clear that the writer did not read the book or adhere to the rules, according to Garcia.

“You can review as many books from the list as you can in a month as long as you follow the Review Team Guidelines and meet the deadlines…The payment is lower if you are a low-level reviewer and higher if you are a high-level reviewer,” she adds. As with other publications that publish book reviews, Garcia says that “don’t expect to make a salary” and “see it as a hobby, a side gig, or a medium for gaining experience writing professional book reviews .”

Here’s how to apply as a reviewer for Online Book Club .

Pitching Directly to Magazines and Publications

This is the recommended option if you’ve already gained an experience writing professional book reviews or if you have a stellar writing portfolio. Many publications allow unsolicited pitches to editors; The New York Times , The Guardian , and other major outlets may accept such pitches.

The rate is significantly higher, reaching as high as $800 for a 1,000-word review . However, since this is the high-paying path, it’s also the most difficult one. It takes a lot of effort to craft the perfect pitch to an editor, and sending the pitch doesn’t even guarantee an assignment. It might depend on the quality of the pitch, the publication’s editorial calendar, the strength of the writing portfolio, relevance of the book, etc. To get paid to read books in this manner, one must already be an established literary critic. Think of it as the be-all and end-all of reviewing.

For more tips on how to pitch an article to a major publication, here’s a guide .

There are several ways to get paid to read books, but book reviewing seems to be the easiest path. Because of the nature of this gig, though, you might want to supplement it with other book-related jobs. Here are audiobook narrator jobs for beginners and other jobs for book lovers !

Get Paid to Review Books: 5 Book Review Jobs Sites That Pay Reviewers

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Writing book reviews is one of the best ways to get paid to read books online.

As a book reviewer, you’re tasked with reading and reviewing books, which in return can earn you a paycheck.

This blog post will show you five of the top-paying book review sites where you can submit your pitches and get hired for book review jobs.

To review books effectively, having a good education is important. EduBirdie can help you improve your skills and knowledge, making you better at reviewing books.

Book review jobs sites that pay reviewers

So, if you want to get paid to review books online , here is a list of five websites that you can explore to find book review jobs:

1) The US Review of Books

The US Review of Books has fair terms for reviewers, and the pay is usually between $25 and $75. To be accepted you’ll need to submit your resume, samples, and references. You’ll also be asked to do a sample review.

The site doesn’t have tough guidelines, the reviews can be half summary, half commentary. Most of the reviews requested will be around 300 words and you can expect to earn $25 for each. For longer reviews that are around $600 the pay can be as high as $75

The first review you will do will be treated as an application and you are compensated nonetheless, whether you’re hired eventually or not.

The pay might not seem much especially when you factor in the hours it will take you to read a book. However, if you are a faster reader, you can easily lock in $250-$750 doing 10 reviews a month.

Another added benefit of writing reviews for The US Review of Books is that you will be listed in its directory of reviewers that you can use as social proof and also get a backlink to your site.

The site pays via PayPal. US Review of Books encourages readers and authors alike to visit their website.

2) Kirkus Reviews

Kirkus Reviews isn’t transparent with their rates but some people claim that it’s usually $50 per review.

The media company has been in existence since 1933, so it is a legitimate company. That said, the reviews from Glassdoor seem to suggest that the editors will ask you to change your review if it’s negative, thus interfering with your work ethics as a book reviewer.

The reviews are around 350 words long with 2 weeks turnaround time. If you still want to apply, simply head over to this page and contact an editor.

3) OnlineBookClub

Though a popular book review website, many people do not recommend OnlineBookClub because of its tough and demanding guidelines with extremely low pay.

While they claim to pay up to $60 per review, most reviewers earn their lowest rates, which is actually $5 per review.

Reviews are easily rejected and can affect your review score. When you join, your score will be below 35, meaning that you will be bagging home $0 per review as they only begin to pay beyond the 35-point mark.

There are no clear guidelines on improving your score apart from the fact that you will have to engage in a forum and give shoutouts on social media. The editors aren’t as responsive either.

4) Booklist Publications

Booklist Publications is a book review website whose pay is not as appealing. Booklist pays $15 per review and only upon publication. This means that even if your review is accepted, you might have to wait a while

For published reviews, you will get one line credit and you can also be listed as a reviewer on their directory page.

To get started, you will need to fill in an application form answering basic questions and if you are fit the team will get back to you.

5) Women’s Review of Books

Women’s Review of Books is a publication of Wellesley Centers for Women, a part of Wellesley College, and reportedly pays $100 per review.

The publication specifically reviews books about women or written by women.

They expect their reviewers to have journalistic, academic, or strong book review backgrounds.

So if you believe that you can develop thought-provoking reviews you can start pitching your idea to them.

They pay on a review basis. To get started, send in a review pitch proposal about the book you want to review, its publication date, and your angle to the editors. You can find contact details on this page.

You will be paid upon review publication and you also get 12 months of subscription to their monthly issues.

You can also find more writing guidelines in this document . Make sure you adhere to them when writing the reviews.

Ready to begin your book reviewer job?

Book reviewing is a lucrative yet demanding career.

However, if it’s something you love doing and have a passion for writing, then book reviewing can be another source of income for you.

If this isn’t the case, I would advise you to look for other ways to earn money online such as freelance services, info products, or affiliate marketing.

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I am a published author of 8 books, all traditionally published. I am look for work as a book reviewee

12 Legit Ways to Get Paid to Read Books

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Some of the best side hustle ideas are the ones that combine making money with a favorite hobby or passion. For avid readers, a side gig that pays you to read books could sound like a dream come true.

But can you actually get paid to read books? Surprisingly, you can and there are multiple ways to earn a side income from your love of books. Professional reader jobs do exist, and they can offer a way to make money from your favorite reading spot.

If you’d like to get paid to read books online, here are some of the best ways for book lovers to make money.

Sites That Pay You to Write Book Reviews

One way to get paid to read books is by writing book reviews. Book review sites ask readers to share their opinions in a detailed review and offer payment in the form of cash or free books.

Here are some of the most popular review sites to make money reading books.

1. The US Review of Books

Pay rate: Varies per review

The US Review of Books hires experienced reviewers who want to earn money reading books online. With this company, book review opportunities are posted and assigned based on your experience, skillset, and reading interests.

If you want to write for the US Review of Books, you’ll need to apply first. The site asks for a resume and samples of your writing. You’ll also need at least two professional references if you want to be considered. They prefer reviews that are short, succinct, and professionally written, so make sure the samples you’re sending meet those criteria.

The US Review of Books pays for completed book reviews monthly, with checks sent out on the 5th day of each month.

Related: How to Get Paid to Write Reviews

2. Kirkus Media

Kirkus Media is one of the most established and well-known book review companies around. This company looks for book reviewers who are fluent in English and/or Spanish to review indie book titles.

Reviews are typically around 350 words each and have a two-week turnaround time. If you’d like to apply, you’ll need to email their review editor with a resume, some writing samples, and a rundown of what you specialize in as a book reviewer.

Before you can get paid to read books online with Kirkus Media, it helps if you have some experience as they do require a resume and some writing samples. If you also have editing experience, that may be worth mentioning as Kirkus occasionally hires editors.

3. Online Book Club

Pay rate: $5 to $60 per review

Online Book Club pays less than $100 per review, but it’s a good side hustle idea to consider if you want to earn a little extra money for your time spent reading.

You can apply to become a book reviewer through the Online Book Club website . It’s quick and easy to create an account and start reviewing books.

One thing to note, however, is that your first review isn’t paid; instead, you get a free copy of the book you’re reviewing. After that first one is completed, you can start getting paid to read and review books. And review copies of any subsequent books are also free.

4. Women’s Review of Books

Pay rate: Not specified

If you want to get paid to read books written by women or that center on women’s themes or issues, Women’s Review of Books is worth checking out. You can pitch ideas for book reviews directly to the editor.

The Women’s Review of Books generally prefers experienced reviewers, journalists, or readers with an academic background. But if you’re a good writer, consider applying anyway. You might be accepted as an online book reviewer based on the quality of your review writing samples.

5. Publisher’s Weekly

Publisher’s Weekly is a news magazine dedicated to the book publishing industry. In addition to the latest updates and trends, they also publish book reviews written by freelance writers and book reviewers.

The pay isn’t specified, but this could be a great option if you want to make money reading books and you prefer a variety in the genres you read. Publisher’s Weekly publishes book reviews on everything from sci-fi to romance, nonfiction, and horror.

You can check their online listings to see if any professional reader jobs are available. When you’re ready to apply, you’ll need a resume and a couple of well-written book review samples.

6. WordsRated

Pay Rate: $200 per completed book

Not quite a book review per se, WordsRated is a non-commercial research company that studies book and reading trends, and shares that data with the public.

Similarly, however, you’ll be asked to read popular books — usually New York Time best-sellers — and record notes about the characters, their demographics, how frequently they make appearances, and the like.

It’s actually rather mundane, easy work, but the pay is amongst the best of any review company: $200 per completed book.

7. Become an audiobook narrator.

Audiobooks have grown in popularity thanks to companies like Audible. If you have a good speaking voice and a talent for acting, you could get paid to read books out loud as a narrator.

This is a side hustle you can do at home, which is good if you need a flexible way to make money. It requires minimal equipment; all you’ll need is a microphone and a way to record your voice. You might even go into a studio to record the book if that’s available.

If you’re interested in finding audiobook narrator jobs, you can try sites like ACX or Voices.com. Upwork is another place to look for paid audiobook narration jobs.

8. Start a book review blog, YouTube channel, or podcast.

If you want to get paid to read books and write reviews but you don’t want to work with a book review company, you could monetize your reading skills with a blog, YouTube channel, or podcast.

There are a variety of ways to make money with a book review blog, including:

Earning money from book referral affiliate sales
Selling digital printables such as a reading tracker or book journal
Partnering with authors or publishing companies to write sponsored posts
Hosting ads on your site

Starting a blog is something just about anyone can do, even if you don’t have stellar technical skills. If you’re interested in this but aren’t sure what to do to set up a blog, check out our step-by-step guide .

If writing isn’t your strength or you want to try a different medium, you can set up a YouTube channel or podcast to review books. Those can be monetized through affiliate partnerships with sites like Bookshop.org, sponsorships, and ads. You might even offer a premium paid subscription to your podcast.

9. Become a freelance book review writer.

If you have decent writing skills, you can turn that into a side hustle as a freelance book review writer.

Freelance book review writers work with different companies and brands. For example, you might write reviews or content for sites like BuzzFeed Books, Book Riot, or BookBub in addition to your own blog. And as a freelancer, you’re not an employee making this different from working as a professional reader.

Writing book reviews on a freelance basis can be a good way to make money reading books if you want something flexible that fits around your schedule.

Related: How to Become a Freelance Writer

10. Become a book proofreader or editor.

Before books are published, they go through multiple rounds of edits and proofreading. Editors review the content of a book and make revisions to help improve the flow, clarity, and organization of ideas. Proofreaders review what’s written to check for spelling errors, grammar errors, punctuation mistakes, and capitalization errors.

If you don’t have any professional editing or proofreading experience, those are skills you can learn. Taking an online course, for example, can help you learn the basics of how to make money proofreading . You can also try testing out your services on sites like Fiverr before trying to turn proofreading or editing into a side hustle or full-time job.

11. Become a freelance beta reader.

Beta readers get paid to read books when they’re in the finished manuscript stage and awaiting final publication. A beta reader’s job is to read the manuscript and offer a critique from a reader’s point of view. That critique can then be used to polish the final manuscript so the book can eventually be published.

Becoming a freelance beta reader requires an eye for detail and fluency in the language of the books you’re asked to read.

If you’re interested in finding freelance beta reader jobs, you can try a site like Upwork or Fiverr or search an online job board like Indeed.

12. Learn a new skill and implement it.

If you want to get paid to read books online, you could always come up with your own creative way to do it. For example, translating books is one option if you’re fluent in another language.

You could offer your services as an eBook formatter if you’re willing to learn the different online publishing platforms. You might even offer cover design, book marketing services, or author coaching services.

There’s an endless amount of possibilities you can offer if you want to get paid to read books.

Do What You Love and Monetize Your Reading Hobby

Having a hobby is great but having a hobby that makes you money is even better. If you love to read, finding ways to get paid to do it is a great side hustle idea. And you can always try different ideas to see which one works best.

Starting a book review blog, for example, could be lucrative over the long-term if you’re able to monetize it. But in the meantime, you could earn some quick cash writing book reviews or picking up freelance proofreading jobs online.

The more open you are to experimenting, the more possibilities there are for getting paid to read.

This Company Pays $200 per Book You Read

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Last Updated on June 3, 2024 by Daniella

Did you know that you can actually get paid to read books? Yes, you absolutely can. It doesn’t matter the genre or book length – there is a book out there that you can make money with.

Wordsrated found that the average American reads 12.6 books a year. If you read within that average, or even more than that, you could be making some serious cash. But don’t get it wrong, you won’t get rich off of reading books but it is a great way to make some extra cash or start a career in the book world.

There are plenty of ways to get paid to read books, including:

Writing book reviews
Editing books
Narrating audio books
Getting into publishing
Creating illustrations for books
Creating your own content about the books you love

Book-related jobs can also be your gateway to building high income skills and earning more money. If you’re on the lookout for the perfect side gig, many of these gigs can also be done on the side of a full-time job and as remote side hustles .

Table of Contents

17 Fun & Legit Ways To Get Paid To Read Books

From book reviews to book-related jobs, there are tons of ways that you can make money reading books. Below are 17 different ways.

Use These Websites to Get Paid to Review Books Online

Getting paid to review books doesn’t mean that you only have to write positive reviews. These sites want genuine, honest book reviews from people that actually read the book.

You don’t have to commit to writing thousands of words for a book review either. These aren’t book reports – they’re reviews. Some sites only want 200 words while others may want 300-500 words or more.

Keep in mind that the rates and how each site pays out their reviewers may differ from site-to-site.

1. Online Book Club

A tablet and books on a desk with bookshelf in background.

Online Book Club is a free online community for book lovers that has been around for over 10 years. They also pay cash for book reviews.

I spoke to Erin Shanendoah who regularly reviews books for Online Book Club and this is what she has to say about her experience:

At the start, you may only get $5 or so per book. As you build up your reputation with them and meet certain metrics, you get access to higher-paying books. I currently get between $15-$30 per book I review . I am not at the highest tier. I believe those who have been with the site longer may get paid more. Most of the books are Kindle or some electronic format, though occasionally you by the physical book and submit a receipt for reimbursement. All genres are available. I tend to read fantasy, poetry, memoir, etc. I don’t read romance, historical fiction, crime dramas (for the most part), but all of those are available. I link to all the books I’ve reviewed for them on my blog. One of the big rules is that the reviews must be original and cannot be republished elsewhere, only linked to. – Erin Shanendoah, erinshanendoah.com

Average Pay: $5 – $30 per book review

Related post: 15 Side Hustle Apps to Make Extra Money

2. Women’s Review of Books

The Women’s Review of Books reviews books written by and about women. To be considered for reviewing assignments, you have to first apply by sending in your resume, cover letter and any samples of published reviews you’ve done in the past.

If you don’t have any past published reviews to include, I suggest including write-ups of any reviews of books you’ve recently read. You can also include any writing samples you might have online.

They are looking for reviewers who:

Write lively and thought-provoking pieces
Your writing should appeal to a broad range of audiences
Can meet a deadline

Average Pay: $0.14 per word

3. Writerful Books

Writerful Books is always on the lookout for book reviewers.

They are an author services company that provides services like beta reading and book reviewing. The best thing about this gig though is you can review any book you want for them.

To apply, you’ll have to be able to provide previous book review samples. If you don’t have these I encourage you to draft any of the recent books you’ve read both for practice and submission.

Refer to this job listing for more information.

Average pay: $10 to $50 per review

4. The U.S. Review of Books

The U.S. Review of Books hires freelance writers to write book reviews for them.

In order to apply you must:

Contact the editor with a resume
Include sample work
Include 2 professional references
Email them using this link

They also accept guest bloggers for their online publication (these are the types of articles they normally publish ). If you are interested in this as well, email their editor your article of 300 – 500 words using the same email link above.

Average Pay: Not published on their site

5. getAbstract

getAbstract summarizes nonfiction books into 10-minute bites so if you’re a nonfiction book lover, this is the perfect site to start with.

Currently, they are hiring science and technology writers to summarize magazine articles and books.

In order to write reviews for them you must:

Go to their careers page to apply
If selected, you are paid on a freelance basis

Average Price: Freelance basis

6. Booklist Online

Booklist is “the American Library Association’s prepublication review journal for public and school librarians”. They publish approximately a whopping 8,000 book reviews per year to help librarians with selection, collection, development, categorization, and reader’s advisory.

They follow a “recommend only” policy which means everything that they review is to be recommended for purchase by libraries.

Guidelines of a Booklist review include:

No longer than 175 words
Identify the audience
Suggest plot without giving too much away
Read more guidelines here

Freelance opportunities are limited as most feature articles are assigned by editors.

Average Pay: Up to $15 per review

Related post: Teach English Online: 10 Companies That Will Pay You to Teach and Work From Anywhere

7. Reedsy Discovery

On Reedsy Discovery, you don’t get paid by the site or a freelance basis but via tips from the readers reading your reviews.

Here’s how it works:

Sign up as a reviewer on Reedsy to get exclusive access to read self-published books before anyone else
Build up a brand as a reviewer on Reedsy to liaise with authors who contact you directly for a review
Go through the application process
Once accepted you can start reading and reviewing
Readers will usually send $1, $3, or $5 as a token of appreciation

Average pay: Tips

8. BookBrowse

BookBrowse accepts applications for book reviewers that only have sample reviews to submit with their application. However, they do not specify if these samples have to be published or not.

BookBrowse reviews both fiction and non-fiction books, they pay monthly and are U.S. Based.

A good review for them includes:

Good quality

9. Kirkus Media

Kirkus Media Reviews is currently hiring for book reviewers on a freelance/project basis. You can work from anywhere and must be an experienced book reviewer of English and/or Spanish-language titles.

Some further requirements include:

Reviews are 350 words
Reviews are due 2 weeks after the book is assigned

To apply, submit your resume, writing samples, and a list of genres you specialize in, to Kirkus Indie Editor David Rapp at [email protected] .

10. eBookFairs

eBookFairs is a website that helps authors grow their platform and one way they do this is by hiring paid book reviewers to read their books.

Reviews must be 200 words long.
Reviews must be completed in under 45 days.
You must post about the book on social media, GoodReads, or a book review site.

Apply to be a paid book reviewer with eBookFairs here.

Average Pay: $10 or more per review

How to Get Paid to Read Books With These Online Jobs and Side Hustles

There are several book-related jobs and many which are entirely online that you can do from home or anywhere in the world. From freelancing on the side to finding full-time work from home jobs, these book related gigs will give you some great ideas to start with.

11. Audiobook Narration

I love listening to audiobooks when I am cleaning, working, or running. Who knew that you could get paid to be an audiobook narrator? Especially with the rise of Audible, the demand for audiobook narrators is climbing.

To get started narrating, you will need some equipment like a mic, pop screen , headphones, recording and editing software, a quiet space and a computer. You can find work on sites like ACX and Voices that offer opportunities to narrators and audiobook producers to work with published authors.

Depending on the rates you charge , you could expect to make anywhere between $100 per hour to as much as $300 per hour. You can also join groups and unions for benefits and the protection of your pay. Those who belong to the entertainment union SAG-AFTRA make a minimum of $225 per hour.

Average Pay: $100 – $225 per hour

How to get started: Search for “audiobook narration” courses on Coursera .

12. Freelance Read Manuscripts/Beta Reader

Just like a freelance writer, you can also be a freelance reader and get paid to read anything from online articles to books and unpublished manuscripts.

Many literary management agencies receive such a large amount of manuscripts that they could never possibly get to all of them. So they hire a lot of the reading from the “slush pile” out to freelance readers .

Literary agents pay anywhere from $25 to $100 an hour to their freelance readers.

But what are the duties of this oddly cool job? These are actually pretty straightforward and similar to giving a book report. You read through the manuscript and compile a 2-3 page report about your opinion of it. Then you are to give a recommendation on whether the agency should represent it or pass on it.

You also will give a basic description of all the main characters, plot points and analysis of any hidden messages and symbolism.

Average Pay: $25 – $100 per hour

How to get started: Read this free guide .

Related post: How to Get Started Freelance Writing

13. Editor/Proofreader

I think “Book Editor” and I think of some high-status job at a well-known publisher. But nope, there are all type of “Editors”. Many editors could also be considered virtual assistants (or VAs) and work on a freelance basis.

Nick Loper of Side Hustle Nation was once an ebook freelance editor for ebooks mostly on Kindle and Amazon. He actually got his first few clients through Fiverr .

I started my freelance editing business as a little side project experiment, and actually got my first customers through Fiverr. My original gig was $5 for 500 words, but since most books are much longer, it added up to some pretty healthy orders. My biggest was over $1000. It probably worked out to $25-35 an hour. I niched down from the very beginning, saying I only edited non-fiction, and within that category preferred business and self-help — categories I felt I could add the most value . Eventually I got clients from word of mouth in a few self publishing Facebook groups and even as a preferred vendor with a popular self publishing course. – Nick Loper, Side Hustle Nation

Sites that list remote gigs for editors:

BestWriting
WritersAccess

Alternatively, proofreading is different from editing in the sense that it is the last step in the editing process. You can become a proofreader for books, ebooks, manuscripts, blog articles, and any sort of written work there is.

Average Pay: $30 per hour (from ZipRecruiter )

How to get started: Check out free courses on Coursera for editing and this free course for proofreading.

14. Copyediting

A person copyediting a book to get paid to read books

At first glance, copyediting may not seem that different than editing. Actually, they are very different .

Editors are usually subject matter experts and strive to improve the flow, structure, and logic of a piece. Copyeditors focus more on a sentence-by-sentence basis of the content (or copy of the book) rather than the content as a whole.

Some editing can involve also copyediting. It just depends on who your editor is and what their services entail. Copyediting mainly involves grammar, spelling and punctuation correction, ensuring proper sentence structure, removing wordiness and redundancy, and formatting.

Proofreaders are often copyeditors as well and can work entirely remote as part-time and full time. I recommend this 76-minute FREE online workshop that introduces how to create a profitable proofreading/copyediting online business.

Average Pay: $25 – $35 per hour with top earners making $79,000 year according to ZipRecruiter

How to get started: Check out free courses on Coursera for copyediting.

Related post: 11 Legit Online Jobs For College Students ($15/Hour or More)

15. Publisher

If you’ve done most of the above for the majority of your working life, you already know books inside and out. You know how to make them beautiful and most importantly, how to sell the crap out of them. Then the next logical step is publishing, am I right?

The sky is the limit on this one. You could either self publish your own work or start putting together some contacts and a small business plan to start your own publishing business.

The potential success of publishing companies depends on a variety of factors.

According to BizFluent, publishers make around $130,000 a year but not every publisher makes the same amount of money. It all depends on your specific business model, how many books you are publishing and the success of those books and authors.

I personally love this guide for starting your own publishing business by Kindlepreneur.

Average Pay: $130,000 per year

How to get started: Search for “publisher” or “publishing” courses on Coursera .

16. Book Illustrator

When you’re a bibliophile who can’t stop drawing, why aren’t you a book illustrator yet? You can potentially find book illustration gigs on freelance marketplaces like Fiverr and Upwork to apply to.

Other sites to find illustration work:

To increase your chances of getting gigs, create a portfolio to show off your best work. Use personal projects until you’re able to supply more examples from experience. What do I mean by that? Duh! Get out your favorite books that have no illustrations and sit down to draw some imagery for your favorite scenes.

Average Pay: $20 – $45 per hour (from ZipRecruiter )

How to get started: Search for “illustration” courses on Coursera .

17. Book Translator

If you’re multi-lingual and love reading books, you could make money translating books. You could also combine this with proofreading and editing books in other languages. When books are being translated there could be many spelling and grammar errors due to the fact that there aren’t a lot of direc

Sites to find book translation work:

Average Pay: $28 per hour (from ZipRecruiter )

How to get started: Search for “translation” courses on Coursera .

Where to Find Remote Jobs for Bookworms

There are a variety of remote job boards that list available work from home and remote jobs. You have your normal ones like Indeed, Glassdoor, and Linkedin.

Then there are ones that are specifically perfect for book lovers :

FlexJobs – FlexJobs specialty is remote-jobs, hence the “Flex” part of the name. And with remote jobs , a lot of them can include editing, proofreading, narration, etc.
BookJobs – A centralized place for job seekers to find and research available positions throughout the publishing industry.
Publishers Weekly – Their job zone includes a range of jobs from copyediting, design, editorial, marketing, publicity, operations and more.
BestWriting – An all-in-one writing marketplace with a job board that posts writing and editing opportunities.
Fiverr – A platform for freelancers to market their skills for freelance reading, editing, copyediting, and more.
Upwork – Similar to Fiverr where you can create a freelancer profile and market your skills to those looking to hire.

Related: How to Get a Remote Job: The Ultimate Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

How can i make money reading books.

You can make money by getting a job that entails a lot of reading, sign up to be a book reviewer, or start a blog about books where you write articles about the books you’ve read, including reviews and other blog content.

Are there jobs that pay you to read books?

Yes there are several jobs that pay you to read books like:

Book editor or copyeditor
Audiobook narrator
Book illustrator

How much do book readers get paid?

Book readers can get paid anywhere from $10 per book review to as much as over $200 an hour for a book related job like an audiobook narrator.

How can I write a good book review?

Describe the plot, your readers want to know what the book is about.
Find your voice and voice your opinion.
Your review must be well written and entertaining (meaning someone would actually enjoy reading it).
Pick out the most important aspects of the book.
Keep it short. The absolute maximum number of words out of all the sites listed is 500 words (Women’s Review and U.S. Review) so they should be straight to the point.
You must meet the deadlines.
Keep it professional – you are getting paid for your work after all.

Can I get paid to read books out loud?

You can absolutely get paid to read books out loud. Some jobs that pay for this service are:

Podcast host
Reading to students online

Related: 20 Side Hustles For College Students (Make $16 an Hour or More)

Wrapping It Up & Actionable Tips

If you want to start getting paid for your reading, first identify what sort of jobs you want to do. Is it reading with feedback, narrating, editing, copyediting, etc that interest you? Or do you want to be involved on a larger scale like with publishing?

Or do you want to take a less formal approach and only review the books that you love reading? Maybe want to try your hand at freelancing?

After you identify how you want to monetize your reading hobby , start researching as much as possible about how you can start getting gigs and getting paid. Then it’s all about taking action from there.

Without any action, you will be just another bibliophile like the rest of us.

Which isn’t a bad thing.

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More ways to make money with your creative energy:

8 Ways to Get Paid for Your Recipes
How to Make Money as an Artist
How to Get Paid to Watch Anime
How to Start a Printable Side Hustle
43 Passionate Hobbies That Make Money: For Everyone
10 Ways To Make Money Blogging

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Daniella is the creator and author of iliketodabble.com. When their wife Alexandra and them aren’t globetrotting or playing with their 7+ animals, they are dabbling and working towards a future of financial freedom.

9 thoughts on “17 Ways to Get Paid to Read Books (Up to $225/hr)”

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I had no idea some of these options were out there. Time to spruce up my resume! 😀

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So many interesting ways to monetize your reading habit that I’ve never considered! Thanks for posting!

Hope you were able to find some good ideas!

Awesome post! Thanks for all of the resources you provided. I love reading books and will have to check these out! Much appreciated.

I am glad you enjoyed it!

How To Get Paid To Read Books (Plus 5 Legit Companies That Pay for Reviews)

Turn the dream into reality!

If you’ve ever dreamed of a world where someone would pay you to read books, we’ve got good news! There are multiple ways to get paid to read books, whether you make a career out of it or just do it to pick up some extra cash. In fact, these options can be the perfect choice for teachers looking to change careers or those who need to make a little money on the side . Here’s how to live the dream.

Can you really get paid to read books?

Short answer: Yes, you can! Longer answer: You can make money, but you may not be able to make a living. If you’re looking to get paid to read books as a career, you’ll probably need to pursue jobs in publishing, which can be hard to come by. Expect to earn a related degree and work your way up from the very bottom. Penguin Random House has much more information about how to get into publishing here.

It’s much easier to get paid to read books if you’re willing to do some smaller jobs instead. Many companies will pay you to write book reviews, though only small amounts at first. Plus, there are other gigs, like audiobook narrator or book translator, which you might be able to pick up on an as-needed basis.

One note: Many people dream of becoming librarians because they can’t imagine anything better than spending their days surrounded by books. And while there are many rewards to becoming a librarian, getting paid to read isn’t usually one of them. This varies, of course, depending on your position. But in general, how much time does the average librarian spend reading on the job?

“The answer is zero,” shares one former librarian. “Unless you count reading spine labels as you’re shelving.” So if you’re looking to make money just for reading, take a look at one of the jobs below instead.

What types of jobs are available for avid readers?

A red pen lying on a type-written sheet showing some corrections made by an editor.

Lorenzo Cafaro via Pixabay

Whether you’re looking for a career or a side gig, here’s what you’ll want to know about some of the most common reading jobs.

Book Reviewer

Pay range: $5–$50 per review for beginners

This is one of the easiest ways to get paid to read books. There are a variety of companies that will pay you for your thoughtful reviews, though the per-job pay isn’t amazing. If you’re a prolific reader, though, this can be a nice way to pick up some extra money regularly. Check out our list of companies that pay for reviews below.

If you’re an accomplished reviewer, you might consider pitching your reviews to bigger outlets, like newspapers, magazines, or websites. You could receive hundreds of dollars for your reviews—if they’re published. Learn how to pitch an article to a magazine here.

Publishing Acquisitions Editor

Pay range: $47,000–$85,000 per year

Not all jobs in publishing actually require a lot of reading, but acquisitions editors definitely spend their days turning pages. Their main job is to read manuscripts from authors (solicited or unsolicited) and make recommendations about which of them to publish. These jobs aren’t necessarily glamorous, but they’re a bookworm’s dream. And as you might imagine, they can be very hard to land. Find out more about becoming an acquisitions editor here.

Publishing Copy Editor/Proofreader

Pay range: $41,000–$96,000 per year

If you’ve got an eye for detail, these could be the jobs for you. Copy editors work with a book while it’s still in progress, reviewing for consistency, errors, continuity, factuality, and legal liability. They help authors make changes as needed throughout the editing process.

Proofreaders review a final copy of a manuscript before it goes to press. A proofreader compares the edited manuscript with the proof copy, word for word. They catch any last spelling, grammar, or punctuation errors, and fix any awkward word or page breaks. Discover the differences between copy editors and proofreaders here .

Audiobook Narrator

Pay range: $10–$500 per finished hour

Audiobooks are very popular, and those with strong voice-acting skills can make good money by recording them. Some narrators even do their own recording, editing, and more. For fiction books, the process often involves multiple narrators, with a regular audition process. You may work at home if you have the right equipment, or you may need to come into a recording studio.

Note that audiobook narrators are usually paid per “finished hour,” which refers to the length of the audio files you record. For an 18-hour audiobook, you may spend double that or more in preparation, rehearsal, and recording, so figure your salary accordingly. Want to get started working in audiobook narration? Look into ACX, Audible’s audiobook creation marketplace.

Literary Translator

Pay range: $22,000–$100,000 per year

Many books are translated into multiple languages and sold around the globe. If you’ve got strong world language skills, you could make money by translating those books for publishers or authors.

This job involves more than just word-for-word translation, since many words and phrases don’t have direct cognates. Translators have to use their knowledge of language to ensure the translated book retains the same tone as the original, making it a real art form. See tips on becoming a literary translator here.

Companies That Pay You to Read and Review Books

Woman typing on her laptop and holding a book.

Karolina Grabowska via Pexels

You won’t make a bundle writing book reviews for any of these companies, but it can be a steady way to earn some much-needed extra cash. Some require experience and an application process, while others are easier to get in on. Here are the details.

Pay rate: Not specified

BookBrowse asks that applicants have some experience in writing the types of reviews they’re looking for. Their website says reviewers write about one review a month for “a byline and modest payment.” See if BookBrowse is a good fit for you here.

Pay rate: $15 per review (~150 words)

Libraries depend on publications like Booklist to help them choose new additions to their shelves. The pay is low, but the reviews are also quite short and you’ll receive a byline credit. Learn more about writing for Booklist here.

Kirkus Reviews

Pay rate: $50 per review (~350 words)

Kirkus hires reviewers for Kirkus Indie, the book review magazine’s section dedicated to self-published authors. If you’re interested, find out more here.

Online Book Club

Pay rate: $5–$60 per review

For the first review, OnlineBookClub.org gives you the book for free. After that, you’re eligible for paid opportunities (which also include free books). Learn how the process works and apply to be a reviewer here.

Publishers Weekly

Pay rate: $25 per review (~200 words)

This publishing powerhouse looks for reviewers who can handle books across a wide array of subjects, from cookbooks to psychology, romance to sci-fi. Submit an application via their website to be considered for review gigs.

Do you know of other ways to get paid to read books? Come share your thoughts and ask for advice in the WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook .

Plus, 38 companies that hire former teachers in 2023 ..

If you'd love to get paid to read books all day long, check out these careers and side jobs in publishing and adjacent industries.

Woman giving a piano lesson to a young student. Text reads Best Side Jobs for Teachers

55 Flexible and Lucrative Side Jobs for Teachers Who Want To Make Extra Money

Because we can all use some extra cash now and then. Continue Reading

The 18 best ways to make money by reading, from submitting book reviews for cash to narrating audiobooks

Zulie Rane earns six figures as a freelance content creator.
She always wanted to earn money from reading books, but said the best way to do that doesn't exist.
Rane said one of the funnest ways to make money by reading books is to create a social media page.

When I was younger, it was always my dream to become a professional reader. I wanted my entire day job to be reading books, thinking critically about what was good, what was bad, and what I would change, and then sharing my thoughts with other people. I really expected this to be a full-time job.

Unfortunately, there's no book-reading degree. You can't get a nine-to-five job as a professional book reader. (At least not yet.) But it is possible to make money by reading books online and offline. I've got 18 ways listed right here. Some of these are pretty typical, and some of these are a little more unconventional, but all of these will result in you earning money from reading books.

I've separated these into four different categories of ways to make money from reading books: social media, jobs, review sites, and others.

Make money reading books for social media

One of the most standard and fun ways to make money by reading books is to create a social media profile where you gain a reputation for reading books, having interesting thoughts, and influencing others to read or not read particular books.

All you need to get started is a way to post. You don't even need to buy books at first – use a library card or a Hoopla account to read books for free.

Here are a few of the best ways to make money by reading books using social media.

1. Post your video thoughts on BookTok (and BookTube, and BookStagram)

TikTok gets a bad rap, but it's actually boosting literacy rates in America. I personally have read plenty of BookTok books that I loved, including The Hating Game, anything by Emily Henry, and The Song of Achilles, to name a few.

The good news is that BookTok is one of the best ways to make money by reading books.

Here's how it works. This process is similar to any of the video-format book reviews.

First, create an account. Make it clear that it's about book reviews. Explain what genre of books you like.

Then, start reviewing books. This requires a bit of thought - how can you make your videos stand out? How can you gain a reputation as a thoughtful, trustworthy Bookfluencer?

After that, join the creator fund whenever you're eligible. In 2021, Cait Jacobs went on the record to state that TikTok's creator fund only nets you 2 to 4 cents per 1,000 views, so you'd need between 25,000 to 50,000 views to earn just a dollar.

However, sponsorships are also a lucrative and potential source of income.

Create the video once, then cross-post it on all three video channels to get the most bang for your buck. It may take some time, but you can earn money by reading books this way.

2. Write your review on a blog to earn money by reading books

What better way to make money by reading than penning an homage to the book with the written word? Blogs are a great way to make money by reading books. It's a less demanding schedule than video content, so you can post once or twice a week as you read and review books, and slowly gain an audience that way.

Whack ads on that bad boy and you're good to go. It may take a while to start gaining traction, but if you truly love books, you're reading them anyway, just post your reviews on your own website instead of (or in addition to) Goodreads.

3. Post about books on Medium

Medium has a royalty payment scheme. The way it works is when a paying Medium member reads your post, you earn a small portion of their monthly membership fee. More views = more money.

Post your book reviews on a publication like Books Are Our Superpower and make money by reading books that way.

This is a really great way to do it because it's simple. You don't need to do any SEO to get money from ad views. You don't even need to host your own website. Just post your thoughts, get 100 followers, and start making money by reading books and posting your thoughts.

4. Podcast it, baby

Podcasts work similarly to BookTok or Bookstagram to make money by reading books, except instead of recording both voice and face, it's just your voice.

Grab a cohost or DIY. Share your latest thoughts on the books you read. Earn money through sponsorships.

Right now, most podcasts don't earn money through anything by ads, but if your podcast grows bigger, you can leverage your audience to get Patreon support, sell bonus content, or get some kind of exclusive deal with a podcasting company.

5. Use affiliate links

Affiliate links kind of pervade all these methods, but they're big enough that I'm giving them their own category as one of the best ways to make money by reading books.

Here's how you can make money reading books by using affiliate links.

First, join an affiliate program like Bookshop.org (my personal fave).

Then, read a book.

Find the book on Bookshop.org.

Make a recommendation to a friend, on your blog, podcast, social media post, or newsletter.

When someone buys that book thanks to your recommendation, you earn 10% of the sale.

That's it! It's highly scalable – you can make a few bucks right away with just a single sale, and then as your platform grows, you'll earn more and more.

Freelance or jobs

What if you don't want to get a whole new social media profile? What if you want to be paid today, not in three months when the first ad revenue trickles in, or your first sponsor comes through?

Consider a career pivot or a side hustle. Freelance gigs or actual jobs are some of the best ways to make money by reading books. Pros: money right away. Cons: not as much control over the books you read.

Here are your options. I've included both full-time, 9-5 career options as well as more casual pay-as-you-go gigs to make money by reading books.

6. Narrate audiobooks

Who amongst us has never heard the dulcet tones of an audiobook reader? Nobody. (My personal fave? Moira Quirk's rendition of Gideon the Ninth .)

7. Indulge your grammar nerd and become an editor

This is both a career option and a freelance option. Depending on how much education you have, you can either apply for full-time editing jobs or just post your gig on a platform like Upwork or Fiverr.

(I've talked about whether Fiverr is good for beginners here if you want to read more.)

Editing can be both grammatical pickups, but also more structural or developmental editing. This is a great way to get paid to read books because it'll actually strengthen your craft, too.

8. Become a literary agent

This is a career option. It's a very romantic way to make money by reading books if you ask me. It's your job to pick out the finest, overlooked manuscripts, read them, and make them shine. Behind every single one of your favorite books is a literary agent who believed in it long before you did.

If you don't have the right qualifications, I recommend you start with an internship. Start networking heavily, because your job is knowing the right people. Understand the publishing process inside and out. Then get paid for reading books, even if they're unpublished.

TCK Publishing has a good guide on how to get started.

9. Translate books

Know more than one language? Amazing news – you can get paid to read books in English, Spanish, or any other language and translating them. I love reading books in Spanish, German, and English, so I'm very grateful to the translators who help share works in other languages with me.

Alternatively, you can also proofread books in another language. Places like FlexJobs , Fiverr , Upwork , Babelcube , and Ulatus are good places to look for these kinds of jobs.

This can be a career or just a gig, depending on your passion for the job.

10. Proofread books

This can be a full-time career, but more commonly it's a side hustle. I think it's one of the best ways to make money reading books because, by the time a proofreader comes aboard, the book is typically more polished and ready for publishing. Editors have to deal with the raw material, but proofreaders are just looking for small errors.

You need a critical eye and an active grammar checker in your head at all times, but it's possible to make money reading books this way.

11. Design book covers

This one's a curveball! Do you have good design instincts? Maybe you're even a graphic designer? Then this is one of the best ways to make money by reading books for you.

You'll get to read books, think about how you'd convey the main vibe, design a book cover, and get paid.

You can go in both directions here – either go freelance or apply for in-house jobs as a book cover designer. Either will result in a great way to make money by reading books.

Again, this is later on in the process so you'll get to read an almost ready-for-publish book. I also consider this to be a big deal for the author. Your cover will be one of the most influential factors in the book's success.

Submit reviews

Onto method three: submitting reviews for cash. This is probably the simplest method since it involves just three steps: you read a book, you pen your thoughts, and you submit to one of the five platforms I'm about to suggest to you. Boom, you've made money by reading books. This is probably the fastest way to get paid $200 to read books.

You probably already know typical places like Kirkus Reviews pay for reading books, so here are five more unheard-of five platforms I think are best to make money by reading books.

12. Booklist

Can you write 150 to 175 words about why you liked or didn't like a book? You need to be able to describe the plot and suggest an ideal audience. If so, Booklist may be for you. Here are some examples.

These pay $15 each. You don't need a library degree, just a familiarity with books and libraries to apply.

13. The US Review of Books

This is more of a freelance position that you can tackle later on in your career as a paid book reader. You'll need to contact the editor with a resume, sample work, and at least two professional references.

They ask that your review be 250-300 words long, with a summary as well as additional insights from the book. Check out examples here . The reviews are paid, but they don't say exactly how much.

Reedsy operates a little differently. Rather than paying you for reviews, you get paid for reading books when you earn a tip. Basically, you write a review, post it on the site, and wait. If a reader loves your review, they may tip you $1, $3, or $5.

15. Bookbrowse

Bookbrowse is another great place to submit reviews. They promise a "modest payment," and normally assign one review per month to their reviewers. They also ask that you come armed to your application having read some sample reviews and with a few quality samples of at least 300 words yourself.

16. Online Book Club

For your first review, you won't actually earn any cash – you'll just be sent a free book. Not so bad, right?

But after your first sample book, you'll be eligible for paid book review opportunities. You can earn anywhere between $5 to $60 per book review.

You don't have to apply – just enter your email address and sign up. I was able to sign up and nab a free book within about a minute. After that, you have to confirm the download within an hour and submit a review within 14 days.

Miscellaneous ways of making money by reading books

These two are still great, but they didn't fit neatly into the other categories of the best ways to make money by reading books. Hence, they get their own category.

17. Create a paid book club

For this one, you just need friends (or a social circle). Pick a book, create some buzz, request a small payment for organizing, and set up a book club.

I pay $5/month for membership to my local book club, and I consider it money well spent. Once a month, I get an evening with pals, talking about a book. I didn't have to organize it at all. The organizer, Alice, earns between $25-75 a month depending on how many folks come.

This won't make you rich, but it is a great way to make money reading books because you'll get to read books you actually love and are excited to read. Plus, you get to hang out with friends.

18. Join apps that pay you to read

Booksta claims to let you "get paid to read." Sounds promising! This was the only "read and earn money" app I could find.

The way it works is you read a book, take a quiz on Booksta, and then earn Booksta coins based on your score.

Booksta coins are valued at $5/coin. There's some confusion on the site about whether the coin is actually transferable to real USD, or whether it's simply a guess for what that coin will be worth once it's all "on a Blockchain platform as a currency."

I'm leery whenever I see the word "Blockchain," but don't let my suspicions hold you back!

The best way to make money by reading books doesn't exist yet

In my dreams, there is a future utopia. In that future, I read the books I want comfortably, and earn a living wage by doing so. However, we are not yet in that utopia. Today, the main best ways to make money by reading books are:

Posting content on social media

Getting freelance gigs editing, designing, or proofreading

Submitting reviews to paid platforms

A few other rogue options like starting a paid book club or trying out novelty apps

Maybe one day my utopia will exist. Until then, I hope this article helps you find the best ways to make money by reading books.

Zulie Rane is a freelance content creator who writes and blogs.

Main content

Best Paid Book Review Sites for Authors

Reviews are the lifeblood of your book’s success. Getting them is vital throughout your author journey, starting from before until long after you launch your piece of writing. Paid services are, of course, well aware of this fact. There are so many to choose from, so if you’re wondering what the best paid book review sites are, keep reading!

Dozens and dozens of companies are happy to take your money in exchange for the promise of landing you some good reviews.

With the many book review sites out there, you might be wondering which one should you choose.

Not All Paid Book Review Sites Are The Same

You can easily find plenty of companies out there that promises reviews in exchange for dollars. But, as much as you’d want them to be, not all of them will turn out effective. In fact, you may come across some that aren’t even legit.

Rather than take you through all the options available, I’ll share the tried-and-tested ones we use to help get your search narrowed down.

Here at Book Launchers, we use:

BookSirens, and
Booksprout for our authors.

Now, you might be thinking, “ A review is a review. So why so many different sites for the same thing?”

Well, if you haven’t noticed, paid book review sites aren’t all the same. Your book category, overall strategy, goals, and who you’re targeting are essential aspects to consider before going with a review company.

Still, every review site has the same ultimate goal: increase your exposure, find new readers for your book, and bump up those review counts.

Not all sites can make sense for every author. The best course of action would be to pick those that best suit your unique needs.

Here are the four best paid book review sites you can rely on for non-fiction authors, each with its distinctive features.

#1 goodreads.

Goodreads is the most popular review site in the publishing industry today. It remains the top on-line community for book lovers and authors alike.

Amazon runs it, so it boasts some perks for authors with books in the Amazon database.

Right through the site, you can claim your profile and earn a badge that verifies your identity. You’ll also be able to access a wealth of statistical information on your books listed on KDP.

So, how do you know if Goodreads is the way to go? Well, if you want your book to go viral and gain as much exposure as possible, Goodreads could be your ticket.

Here, the strategy is to get people to add your book to their virtual bookshelves, and of course, leave some reviews on it.

This way, your book gets raised visibility. Other users can now see it in their friends’ feeds, giving it a much better chance to be added to their reading list.

Think of it as like playing a giant book-fueled game of telephone with 80 million people.

Speaking of games, did you know that we have an entire YouTube channel dedicated to guiding authors like you to create an excellent self-publishing game plan. Check it out, and if you like what you see, let’s see how fast you can smash that subscribe button.

Back to our topic, you can also run a giveaway on Goodreads, a surefire way to get book reviews. It’s something we do regularly for our clients.

All active giveaways are listed on the giveaway section of the website. Your fans can link to it and encourage their friends to enter the giveaway.

Here’s a video dedicated entirely to helping you get all the goods you can get on Goodreads.

#2 NetGalley

Next up on the paid book review site list is NetGalley. NetGalley is a service that delivers digital Advanced Reader Copies, better known as ARCs.

This service provides ARCs of your book to professional readers. We’re talking about reviewers, media, journalists, bloggers, librarians, booksellers, podcast hosts, and many others.

These professional readers use NetGalley to access digital copies of your book, making it an effective marketing tool not just for your book but for your entire brand as an author.

It allows your work to be made available to people who want to read it in their professional capacity.

A NetGalley promotion offers your ARC three months to be highlighted in their database’s recently added and read now sections. The promo also lets you showcase your book to the sections specific to your title’s categories.

By opting for this promo, all users will see your book listed on the NetGalley website.

There’s a lot more to NetGalley when it comes to figuring out if it’s the right one for you.

To help you out, we have a video that goes into all the details of this review site. We also dive deep into costs because it can be pretty expensive and may not be worth it for all books. Stick to the end of this video to make sure if this review site is for you.

The following two on this list are similar to NetGalley. These two book review sites also deliver your ARC copy to both readers and reviewers. But, they focus more on getting your ARC securely to reviewers, bloggers, and your book army.

#3 BookSirens

BookSirens boasts over 10,000 readers across various genres with an average review rate of 75%, making it an attractive site to get book reviews.

The high average review rate is because their users are vetted and accepted as serious book reviewers. Before users can get approval to join BookSirens, they must have posted at least 20 starred ratings on Goodreads.

How this works is that you first need to send your book to the BookSirens team for evaluation. They will then confirm if it is a quality book – something that they want to offer to their users. Once approved, they will add your book to its appropriate category where users can discover it, download the ARC, and start reading.

A remarkable feature of BookSirens, which leads to their 75% success rate, is that readers can only download one ARC at a time. They can’t download a new ARC until they finish reading and reviewing their active one.

This feature is pretty cool for authors because your advanced reader is much less likely to ghost you without leaving a review. And they’re entirely focused on one book at a time.

BookSirens will also give you a direct link that you can send to your book army. So, those folks can hop on over there and securely download their ARC for free.

You also have the option of choosing whether your reviews are posted on Goodreads, Amazon, or both. Now if you’re wondering about getting book reviews from your book army (And how to keep them from being removed) – check out this article .

#4 Booksprout

Booksprout is another option to consider if your main priority is a prelaunch review push.

Similar to BookSirens, Booksprout is a review site that automates the delivery of your ARC to over 40,000 users.

Their average review rate is around 79%. Even your book army will find it challenging to beat that.

Before you get all excited, we’ve been testing this one for some time, and we’re getting mixed results.

Self-Publish and Succeed , well after launch, got four reviews from a single Booksprout listing. Yet, the other books we tested did not bring any results.

Right now, we’re playing with it to figure out whether it’s a timing issue, a topic, or something else.

We’ve experienced the same thing with BookSirens. My book wasn’t even accepted by them for their reviewers. So, I only used BookSirens for ARCs, but some authors from our client base have gotten good reviews.

BookSirens Vs. Booksprout

So what’s the difference between the two paid review sites? Which one is better for you? Let’s discuss the main differences between BookSirens and Booksprout:

Booksprout focuses on getting reviews by a specific date, while BookSirens focuses on getting a particular number of reviews.
On BookSirens, you can post your book and have the reviews roll in for as long as your little heart desires. But on Booksprout, your reviewers have a time limit to read and write their review.
Booksprout also limits the number of reviewer downloads depending on your subscription level. The more money you spend on their service, the more downloads you can do.
BookSirens is a fee-per-book service, letting you choose the number of downloads from as little as 5 to as many as 250.

On the plus side, you can request Booksprout reviews posted on up to eight different sites rather than just Goodreads or Amazon. They include options like Kobo, Apple Books, Google Books, and even BookBub.

Whether you go with BookSirens, Booksprout, or both, these two book review sites are easy to use. They’re effective if you need a little help building up your audience.

If this is your first book or your book army looks a little sparse on the prelaunch battlefield, one of these two review sites, or maybe both, could be your answer.

Now that you know some of the best sites that can help you get book reviews in bulk, maybe it’s time to get in touch with us. See what we can do to help you take off even further, even months post-launch.

Here at Book Launchers we help authors like you in every stage of the self-publishing process. Whether you write the book yourself or with our help, we’re with you every step of the way.

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Blog – Posted on Wednesday, Mar 27

How to become a book reviewer in 12 steps.

Most book critics have a pretty thankless job. If they give a bad review, they’re often accused of sour grapes (“If they could write, then they wouldn’t be reviewers”) and when their write-ups help a book to take off, they almost never get the credit (“the author’s talent sold the book, not the review”). Yet literary criticism is an essential driver in the book-world — now more than ever in our age of online purchases and algorithmic curation. Which means there’s no time like the present to learn how to become a book reviewer .

In this post, we’ll look at the value of book criticism and show you how to become a book reviewer with our 12-step plan.

Why is book criticism important?

By conservative estimates, over 600,000 books are published each year in the US alone. Even the most voracious reader could only read a tiny fraction of those titles. Without literary criticism, the only thing to determine which books receive exposure would be the marketing teams of Big 5 publishers who would — dollars to donuts — always choose the titles they think will sell the most copies.

In the film Ratatouille , the fearsome food critic Anton Ego has something of an epiphany in the final reel: “There are times when a critic truly risks something, and that is in the discovery and defense of the new.” In many ways, that is the reason why literary journals, newspaper book reviews, online review blogs, and Amazon user reviews exist: all of these play an important role in championing new authors and new ideas.

As we’ll discover in the next section, the book critic’s job is not just to serve as an arbiter of taste, lording their influence over authors. When they’re doing their job right, they’re serving as a shepherd, not just for readers but for writers as well.

Why would you want to become a book reviewer?

Before we get into the topic of what a critic personally gets out of reviewing books, let’s expand a bit on the role they play.

First (and arguably foremost), a critic’s job is to guide readers . They need to present a book to the reader in a way that gives a flavor of what it’s like: they might choose direct quotes, isolate individual sections — whatever it takes to help the reader to form their own impression of the title.

The reviewer should also be well-read, so they can not only provide a personal reaction to the book, but justify that opinion as well. In an age of online ‘reaction videos’ where novices offer their knee-jerk opinions of music, films, and books they’re not familiar with, the critic should ideally provide a more rounded, informed account. They should be able to put a book into context, comparing and contrasting the author’s approach based on what works have come before it.

Some may see this as an elitist approach, but surely we read reviews because we’re interested in what the critic knows — not what they don’t know. Not to mention that authors hoping for reviews will appreciate a well-informed reviewer!

Book reviewers also have an influential platform . Whether they’re writing product reviews for an online retailer or penning 1,200 words for The New York Times , they can use their soapbox to shine a light on new authors. If we want to get lofty about it, you could say that it’s a critic’s responsibility to seek out and champion new talent: give them exposure that they wouldn’t get if we were to leave it to the marketing team at HarperCollins, for example.

In this next section, we’ll show you how you can get involved in the world of literary criticism and become a book reviewer.

How to become a book reviewer in 12 steps

If you're looking to become a professional book reviewer and reach a growing audience, you could do a lot worse than to follow these twelve steps.

Step 1. Read abundantly

If you don’t already read like a maniac , then one might wonder why you’d want to become a book reviewer in the first place. Reading certainly won’t get any more enjoyable when you’re faced with a deadline. Plus, as we mentioned before, one of the best things you can bring to the table as a reviewer is your understanding of the history and landscape of the genre. When you’re reviewing a new horror book set in small-town New England, you should be, at the very least, well-versed in Stephen King books.

While you're at it, read other book reviews as well. You might as well learn from the best!

Step 2. Start reviewing books for free (or for money!)

Guess what? You can become a book reviewer today! You just need to log into your account at an online book retailer and drop a review of a book you’ve enjoyed. You can even write quality commentary with the help of our book review templates .

Okay, this article’s done now. Turns out, we only needed two steps. Roll credits.

All joking aside, reviewing books on retail sites is not a bad place to start. It gives you an opportunity to exercise your reviewing muscles and have your write-ups seen and enjoyed by folks browsing for their next big read. You can get feedback on your review (“20 people found this helpful”) and even contribute to the success of a book you like.

Once you feel confident in your skills (and are ready to take the next step), you can look at some of the online platforms which are always on the lookout for reviewers.

One of the most difficult parts of being a first-time author (especially a self-publishing one) is getting editorial reviews in time for the release of their book. If you look at the product description of a book’s Amazon page, you’ll often see that they include an extract from a review. If it’s a prominent release, the review may be from a national broadsheet; if it’s a smaller release, it may be from a smaller online reviewer. A few services specialize in providing authors with paid editorial reviews, which naturally requires reviewers. Some of the services will even pay them for their reviews (with some significant strings attached).

So which review platforms should you consider?

Some of the best-known review services include Kirkus, The U.S. Review of Books, Online Book Club, and Publisher’s Weekly — all of which offer a small honorarium in exchange for reviews. The review copies of the book are free (ideal!) but almost all of these services will give the reviewer no exposure (not ideal — especially if you’re looking to build your own profile as a reviewer).

The team here at Reedsy recently launched Reedsy Discovery as an alternative to these services. The reviewers on the platform have to submit examples of their writing for quality control, but once accepted, they can access and review a massive pool of upcoming indie books from their chosen genre.

The edge that Discovery offers reviewers is visibility . Each reviewer has a bespoke landing page where all their reviews can be found, along with a bio, headshot, and newsfeed. Readers who like what any given reviewer has written can choose to “follow” them and receive alerts about new reviews. Overall, Reedsy Discovery aims to give critics a platform (and the social networking tools) to build their personal profile and readership, two things that will come in handy as your reviewing career progresses.

To register as a reviewer on Reedsy Discovery, click here .

Between these options, you should have a few places where you can start writing reviews almost immediately! If you'd like to double-check, we recommend taking this quick quiz to find out which review community is the right fit for you:

Which review community should you join?

Find out which review community is best for your style. Takes 30 seconds!

And then, before you take a step into the big leagues, let’s cover some best practices.

Step 3. Always follow guidelines

Following guidelines is a good reviewing habit to develop early on — it will save you from a lot of rejection and rewrites. Sites like Kirkus are notorious for requiring an exact format for each review, while Reedsy Discovery and a few of the other sites allow a bit more freedom.

As you start to work with editorial staff, this ability to stick to guidelines will help you with your reputation as someone whose reviews don’t require an immense amount of feedback and editing — something that time-strapped editors appreciate.

Step 4. Always think of the reader first

In your life as a reviewer, you will almost always have a choice of which books to write about. So if a book has been utterly terrible, you can always choose not to write about it at all. Instead, find another title that might actually deserve getting the push that your review can provide. Look for books that sound intriguing; then if you love it, find a way to convince your readers that they might love it too.

Step 5. Host all your reviews in one place

Any freelance writer (such as a reviewer) these days needs to have a strong online presence. If you’re looking to build your portfolio and profile, you need to keep most of your work in one location .

This might mean starting your own website or maybe a Tumblr page ( maybe ) as an easy, low-cost alternative. Reedsy Discovery effectively gives reviewers a homepage where all their reviews can be found (okay, the last mention of Reedsy Discovery for a while, we promise!).

Essentially, you just want to be able to send anyone a single URL where they can browse through your back-catalog of work. This will come in extra handy if you’re ever applying to a high-profile reviewing (or any other type of writing) job: your whole portfolio will be in one convenient place to impress employers.

Step 6. Become a specialist

It can be hard to sell yourself as a jack of all trades. If you tell an editor that you are the right person to review ‘anything’, chances are they’ll think you’re deluded.

Instead, focus on a few genres that you know intimately. Through your work, you want editors to know you as the go-to person for certain genres — so when a conspiracy thriller or what have you crosses their desk, they’ll know exactly who to assign it to (you).

Once you know your specialty, make sure you’re familiar with trends in that category, and review a lot of titles in those genres. When it comes to pitching to review the next big book in that niche, you’ll be able to point to your past work as why you’re uniquely qualified to take that job.

So now that we’ve built you a reputation, a small following, and a massive body of work, you may want to take the next logical step: writing a review for a paper or a big online outlet. To do this, you’ll need to get yourself on the radar of some editors.

Step 7. Put together a packet of your best reviews

If the editors of a magazine or paper have never heard of you, then your work is going to have to knock their socks off. The prime way to do this is to assemble a packet of your best work . Yes, you should already have your full portfolio in one place — but this will be a “greatest hits” compilation of sorts, so editors can see your maximum potential.

Perhaps choose a mix of recognizable, traditionally published titles and indie books, so they know you have a wide range. Then, as you start getting published in more prestigious publications, begin working those reviews into your pack, and continue the cycle as you write more and more. After all, it’s much easier to get published if you can show that you’ve already been published.

Step 8. Join an association

Being part of a community is an important element of entering any profession. And book reviewing is no different! If you’re based in the US, check out the National Book Critic’s Circle : membership currently costs $50 a year for freelancers and it gives you access to a bunch of great resources and access to its Emerging Critics Fellowship.

Step 9. Find out upcoming releases

Once you know what books are coming up, you can start creating a shortlist of books you want (and are suited) to review.

Step 10. Start small-ish

Even if you’re a freakishly prodigious writer, chances are you won’t be able to make the jump straight to The New York Review of Books . Instead, look for more modest opportunities at smaller local papers, online magazines, and certain literary journals . As you research, make yourself a “hit list” of possible review outlets, figure out which upcoming books might be suited to those outlets, and start pitching.

Step 11. Pitch reviews effectively

First of all, always make sure that you’re contacting the right person at a magazine or newspaper. Don’t send your pitch to the city editor or the sports desk — word will get out that you don’t know how to do basic research.

It’s also good to bear in mind that you’re not pitching the idea of a review: you want to pitch the story your review might tell . The editor might not have considered running a review of the book you’re putting forward, so you have to sell them on the idea: why should they print a review of that book? Is it newsworthy (e.g. does it cover a topic in the current zeitgeist, or that is about to have a major anniversary)? Is it the latest book in a category that’s about to explode?

Once you’ve convinced an editor that the book you’ve proposed is worth reviewing, you’ll also have to make a case for why you should be the one to do it. Of course, you’ll want to link to your review samples to prove that you can write and that you’re well-versed in the genre. This should demonstrate your understanding and passion for that type of book and prove that you’re the ideal candidate.

To see what that might look like, check out this post from writer Erika Dreyfus. She provides an example where she mentioned how her grandfather was a businessman in post-WWI Germany as part of her successful pitch to review a new memoir set in that era.

Also, don’t pitch too late. Magazines will assign reviews weeks (if not months) in advance, so get your pitch in there early.

Step 12. Always follow up politely

Some people call this “hustling,” but in truth, it’s basic common sense. Wherever there is a submissions process, you can bet that there’s some poor soul who has to go through hundreds of emails. Naturally, emails will get lost in the pile and forgotten. If you don’t receive a reply from an outlet after two weeks, drop them a short polite reminder .

And if the answer is “no thank you,” then be gracious. Just because they don’t want you to review this book for them today, doesn’t mean they won’t be interested in something down the line. Who knows: after a few pitches, they might remember you as the “reviewer who’s big on Civil War fiction” and think of you the next time something appropriate turns up. So make a good impression and leave things on a positive note.

Keep plugging away, never stop reading, and always review with an eye to championing new talent and broadening readers’ horizons. You’ll eventually get a lucky break — and when that happens, you’ll be ready to seize the opportunity!

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Get Paid to Read Books: 42 Legit Sites

Do you love reading books? Now you can get paid to read books. Companies are always looking for ways to help market their authors and reviews are one way that anyone can help. Whether you get paid money or in books, you receive compensation in exchange for your review.

Are you ready to turn your passion for reading into money making side gigs ? Check out our long list of how to get paid to read books below.

Table of Contents

How to Make Money Reading Books

Many companies, like those below, compensate book readers for reading and/or reviewing books. Spoiler, there are multiple ways to make money from your passion for books than just to write book review materials or summaries. Check out the requirements and how you get paid below.

1. Kirkus Media

Kirkus is mostly a paid book reviewer company. If you want to get paid to read books there, you must prove your abilities with your resume and writing samples. Each review is approximately 350 words.

2. Reedsy Discovery

Get early access to the newest books before they are published or recently published books and get paid to review them. You can choose books yourself from the pool of available books or read books from authors who ask for you specifically after you establish yourself. Your review becomes a part of the book’s launch and can help both you and the author. Simply complete the application to get started and you’ll earn $1, $3, or $5 per review, as each author determines the pay.

3. Online Book Club

Online Book Club pays $5 to $60 per review and you get the book for free. Provide your email address here , if you’re interested. After your first review, they’ll pay you according to the payment offered for each review.

4. U.S. Review of Books

U.S. Review of Books takes their book reviews seriously. To apply, you must provide your resume, sample work, and two professional references. If accepted, they assign reviews on a first-come-first-serve basis among the qualified reviewers for the particular book. U.S Review pays reviewers monthly.

5. Women’s Review of Books

As the name suggests,Women’s Review of Books is a publication that reviews books written by and about women. They pay well, at $100 per review, but only accept journalists, professionals, and experienced reviewers for the task.

6. Booklist Publications

Booklist Publications is a list of reviews meant for librarians to fill their school libraries with quality books. Booklist accepts freelance book reviews – assigned reviews only and most of them do reviews in-house. The reviews they do outsource have specific requirements . They pay between $12.50 – $15 for reviews, but reviews published in the magazine may be worth more money.

7. Instaread

If you’d rather give a recap of a book than a review, check out Instaread . Summaries should be between 1,000 – 1,500 words, but they pay $100 per review. You must follow their style guide , or check out their app to get a better idea of what they expect.

8. Booklist Online

Booklist is the American Library Association’s book reviews. It supplies reviews of books from all genres as well as magazines. Booklist pays reviewers $15 per review and $5 per rejected review. You must provide examples of your writing and follow Booklist’s other guidelines to be accepted.

9. BookBrowse

BookBrowse is an online magazine of reviews. They hire experienced book reviewers for both fiction and non-fiction books. Reviews include a standard review as well as an in-depth summary of the book. You can see the application process here , which includes submitting two articles of at least 300 words to review for approval.

11. Freelance Writer’s Den

Freelance Writer’s Den is a members’ only job board writers can join to get all types of jobs including writing reviews of books. The cost is $25 a month, but you can quickly earn that back by publishing reviews.

12. Tyndale Blog Network

Tyndale doesn’t pay reviewers in dollars but in points. If you want free books you can exchange your points for that. You get 10 points for every review you publish on Amazon or Barnes and Noble’s site. You may earn up to 50 points in 30 days. Other ways you may earn points include taking surveys, shopping at Tyndale, and referring friends.

13. getAbstract

If you love non-fiction books, you may catch a gig to write reviews for the genres you enjoy. Whether you love to summarize science magazines or speak another language but are native in English too, you’ll find great paying gigs at getAbstract .

14. Writerful Books

If you are among the list of book lovers and have experience in book reviewing, Writerful Books wants you. They accept assessments on any type of books but prefer contemporary and award-winning novels. Writerful provides many resources for you to get your hands on free books to review or advanced copies. The top reviewer receives a $100 Amazon gift card.

Book Reviewer Jobs

Money isn’t the only way reviewers get paid to read books. Receiving books or even clout as a reviewer is sometimes all reviewers need to get their career off the ground.

Check out the list of companies that help you get your book reviewing business going.

15. Book Browse

Book Browse doesn’t pay you for your review, but you keep the book for free. Prior to each book launch Book Browse has 25 Advanced Readers’ Copies, so it’s a first-come-first serve system, but there are 4 to 6 books to choose from each month.

16. Moody Press

You won’t get paid for the books you review here, but you do get to keep the books. All Moody Press books are Christian or biblical, so if this is a niche you enjoy, you may like the free books. Moody requires a review within 60 days of you accepting the book.

17. New Pages

New Pages collects reviews on small press books or literary magazines. They don’t provide you with the books but will accept reviews on any material you’ve read recently that fits the bill. New Pages doesn’t pay you monetarily, but they give you props on their social media page, which if they tag you can help you build your book reviewer brand.

18. Publishers Weekly

Publishers Weekly is a magazine that publishes book review information on both self-published and traditionally published books worldwide. They aren’t currently looking for new reviewers, but they put out a request periodically. If you’re interested, keep checking back on the website .

19. NetGalley

NetGalley is the marketplace for readers and publishers. Users can peruse the catalog of available books to read and review. It’s like the social media for book reviews. The larger the following that you have, the more publishers and authors will choose you to review their books. You don’t get paid, but you do get to read the books for free, which for a book lover is just as good.

20. Bethany House

Bethany House always looks for reviewers to write about Christian fiction and non-fiction books. They look for more than a write-up though, they prefer reviewers that will hype up the books on their social media pages and other platforms. You must complete their application to be considered.

21. Chicago Book Review

If you love writing in-depth reviews about books, Chicago Book Review opportunities include providing you with free books in exchange for your review. The books you review originate in Chicago and come from one of the 125 publishing houses located in the Windy City.

22. Book Jobs

Review books on Amazon (you need a verified account) and you get unlimited free online books via Book Jobs. As long as you review one book every 3 months, your account remains active and you can read as many books as you want.

23. AgentQuery

AgentQuery started as a place for writers to get with agents, but reviewers often have luck connecting with agents too. Sometimes there are direct opportunities listed on the site, but other times, you must do the requesting yourself with individual agents.

24. Publishers Marketplace

Publishers Marketplace brings writers and publishers together. It requires a paid membership, but you can get matched with numerous review opportunities weekly, helping you make your money back quickly . You can cancel your membership at any time.

25. Springer

Springer provides viewers with a free online copy of a desired book. You have six months to read and review the book. If you publish your review online, in a specialty journal, or an international magazine, they’ll send you a physical copy of the book for free.

26. BookBub

Anyone can review books on BookBub. While you don’t get paid, you help others that may be interested in the book or wouldn’t know about the book without your reviews. The reviews also help authors rank higher in the search algorithms so they sell more books.

27. LibraryThing

You can get Advanced Reader Copies of books that haven’t come out yet as well as free copies of books that have come out at LibraryThing . All they ask for in return for the free book is your honest review. Copies are limited, so act fast if there’s a book you want to read.

28. Readers’ Favorite

Readers’ Favorite has books from all walks of life including books from top-name publishers and indie books. They look for more professional content so be prepared to show your abilities to get accepted.

29. Any Subject Books

It is a full-suite self-publishing service. Any Subject Books hires book reviewers on a book-by-book basis to help them review new books. They look for honest and in-depth reviews and give out books to readers according to their preferred genre.

30. Bethany House

Bethany House is a publisher that focuses on publishing books that represent historic Christianity. The company requires that those who review for them own their own blog and be willing to post Bethany House reviews on that blog site. As a reviewer for Bethany House, you must write reviews at least 75 words in length (not including the plot synopsis) and publish the review both on your personal blog and on a retailer website such as Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

31. Lola’s Blog Tours

Lola’s Blog Tours is a book touring company that lets reviewers write about books of all genres from kids to adults in exchange for the free book. You can see the available books on their website, request one, read it, and post the review on your blog or social media.

Creative Ways to Make Money Reading Books

Reading isn’t the only way to make money with books. If you’ve read all the books and want to take it a step further, consider any of the following careers:

30. Proofreader/Editor

Start a freelance business offering your proofreading and editing services to self-published authors or check with local publishing agents to see if they’re hiring proofreaders/editors.

31. Translator

Help authors get their books published in other countries/languages by translating the books in your native language.

32. Publisher

If you know all there is to know about writing, editing, and designing books, work as a publisher. Start a business helping budding writers just like yourself make a name for themselves.

33. Narrator

If you can get into the voices of the characters in a book and read with inflection and feeling, consider narrating audiobooks . This is the ultimate pay to read books job. You read and get paid at the same time.

34. Marketing

Do you love promoting books? If you love making money writing book reviews and want your work to have even more impact, consider marketing the latest book promotions. Self-published authors have the greatest need for individual marketing specialists.

35. Blog or YouTube

If you have a large following, consider marketing for your authors. Alternatively give yourself a chance to make money writing your own book, or start a book publishing business in the form of a blog. Give your real opinion on the book and let your audience know why they too should read the book.

Get Paid to Read Books Out Loud!

Even if you do not love writing book reviews for the books you read, there is something else you can do. Having a good voice, and being able to narrate a story well, can allow you to make some money by reading the books aloud. Below you’ll find some of the best platforms for voiceover work:

36. Brilliance Audio

A large percentage of the audiobooks narrated by Brilliant Audio are audiobooks. The company has good hourly rates within the industry; however, they only accept voice actors who have exceptional skills and abilities. You are welcome to audition if you think you are up for the job, and if successful, you will be hired.

37. The Voices

Interested in becoming a voiceover artist? Check out The Voices. In order to upload your demo you will need to create a basic or premium account on their website.

Your skills will then be matched with the requirements of the clients by the Voice Match engine. After matching, you can directly contact the client through the site. You’ll find great hourly rates on the website in addition to payment security thanks to SurePay.

38. Voice Bunny

When you use Voice Bunny, you will have to register on their website, then complete a voice quality test. Once you’ve been selected, you can browse the numerous opportunities for jobs that match your preferences. The majority of those jobs require high-quality voice acting, as well as quick delivery. On this platform, you have the option to set your own hourly rate too.

You can find many opportunities as a book narrator on Amazon’s Audiobook Creative Exchange or ACX. It is simple to audition as a narrator for a book you have selected.

As soon as you have been selected, you will be paid according to the hourly rate you set. Your audiobooks can also generate royalties from sales!

Get Paid to Read Book Apps

You can earn money through book apps on your phone that will allow you to pay some of your bills while reading books. What could be better than a hobby that pays? You can earn money by reading and using many apps for both Android and iOS users. See for yourself!

40. BookYap

There are few online reviews as honest as those on BookYap. This website also provides useful reviews of both practical and non-fiction books.

The company frequently has job openings for in-house reviewers. If you are an avid reader of these types of books, then you should keep an eye on this website for upcoming opportunities. You will be required to submit a detailed resume, sample book reviews, and writing samples to ensure a greater chance of being selected.

Scribd is a digital library offering proofreading and book reviewing positions frequently. Users can find some of the most truthful reviews of any book on Scribd. After you’ve been chosen, you will be assigned a book to read and rate, and you’ll be expected to give an honest and subjective review of it.

42. Goodreads

There’s a Goodreads mobile app that you can download for free on your smartphone. In-house reviewers and proofreaders can submit reviews of your favorite books. They are often hiring and pay well. In the same way that Bookyap requires your resume, you must also submit writing samples or a sample review of a recently published book.

Can You Get Paid to Read and Review Books?

Never do a free job for someone, especially since you’re trying to make money online and get paid monthly with your side hustle. Be sure that you’re getting paid for the previous month worth of work, or that you can collect every two weeks from your efforts reading and reviewing books!

You won’t get rich with paid book reviews, but when you’re doing something you’re passionate about, it can feel like you’re getting paid in spades. Whether you want to get paid to read books in money or you just enjoy getting the free books and publicity, there are many ways for you to earn a little something doing a hobby you love.

Related: Check out our list of the best FIRE books !

Samantha Hawrylack is a personal finance expert and full-time entrepreneur with a passion for writing and SEO . She holds a Bachelor’s in Finance and Master’s in Business Administration and previously worked for Vanguard, where she held Series 7 and 63 licenses. Her work has been featured in publications like Grow, MSN, CNBC, Ladders, Rocket Mortgage, Quicken Loans, Clever Girl Finance, Credit Donkey, Crediful, Investing Answers, Well Kept Wallet, AllCards, Mama and Money, and Concreit, among others. She writes in personal finance, real estate, credit, entrepreneurship, credit card, student loan, mortgage, personal loan, insurance, debt management, business, productivity, and career niches.

Tuesday 1st of September 2020

Thank you so much. I can't wait to try this!

Adam Morgan

Writer, editor, culture journalist, critic.

74 Publications That Pay Freelancers for Book Reviews, Interviews, and More

Book reviews aren’t as ubiquitous as they used to be, but as of 2022, at least 74 publications still pay freelance writers for book reviews and author interviews.

To build this exhaustive list as a free community resource, I collaborated with the wonderful Chelsea Leu to create a more detailed version for the National Book Critics Circle , including points of contact and some nonpaying outlets. Visit their page here .

For this abridged version, I’ve just included rates and links to submission guidelines (where available). Rates vary wildly from $15 to more than $1,000, depending on the outlet and the assignment. Another great resource is Who Pays Writers , and here’s an old thread of mine on how to pitch book reviews . Note that while the rates are accurate at publication, editorial budgets change all the time.

If you see any omissions or mistakes in the list below, feel free to contact me at adam[at]adam-stephen-morgan.com, just keep in mind that this version of the list is only for outlets that pay freelancers .

4 Columns – Book reviews ( how to pitch )

The Adroit Journal – Book reviews and interviews ( how to pitch )

Air Mail – Book reviews, interviews, and features

AGNI – Book reviews ($20 per printed-out page, how to pitch )

Asymptote – Book reviews and interviews ( how to pitch )

The Atlanta Journal Constitution – Book reviews (~$250)

The Atlantic – Book features ( how to pitch )

The AV Club – Book reviews and features ($75)

The Baffler – Criticism and essays ($250+, how to pitch )

Black Femme Collective – Book reviews ($150-$300, how to pitch )

BOMB – Book reviews and interviews ($150 for web interviews)

Booklist – Capsule book reviews ($15, how to pitch )

BookMarks – Book review…overviews? ($35-$800, how to pitch )

BookPage – Book reviews and author interviews

Borderlore – Book interviews, features, essays

The Boston Globe – Book reviews ($450)

The Brooklyn Rail – Book reviews and interviews ($75, how to pitch )

The Chicago Reader – Chicago-based book reviews and profiles ( how to pitch )

The Chicago Review of Books – Book reviews, interviews, and features ($25, how to pitch )

The Christian Science Monitor – Book reviews and interviews ($200)

The Cleveland Review of Books – Book reviews ($70-$200, how to pitch )

Electric Literature – Book related essays, interviews, and lists ($100, how to pitch )

Esquire – Book features and interviews (send pitches to assistant editor Adrienne Westenfeld, awestenfeld[at]hearst.com)

Event mag – Book reviews

Foreword Reviews – Book reviews and interviews

Guardian (The) – Book reviews and interviews

Houston Chronicle – Book reviews

Hyphen – Book review and interviews ($25, how to pitch )

I n These Times – Book reviews ($0.25 per word, pitch Sherell Barbee at sherell.inthesetimes[at]gmail.com)

Jewish Currents – Book features and essays

Kirkus Reviews – Capsule book reviews and interviews ($50 for reviews)

LIBER: Feminist Review – Book reviews and features ($100 for reviews, $500 for features, how to pitch )

Literary Hub – Book features and essays ( how to pitch )

London Review of Books – Book reviews, essays, and features ( how to pitch )

Los Angeles Review of Books – Book reviews, interviews, and essays ($50-$100, how to pitch )

Los Angeles Times – Book reviews and features ($400)

Lux – Book essays ($0.50 per word, pitches[at]lux-magazine.com)

The Markaz Review – Book essays ($120)

Millions (The) – Book reviews, interviews, and features ( how to pitch )

Mother Jones – Book features

Nation (The) – Book features ($950-$1250)

New Criterion (The) – Book essays ($100)

New Republic – Book reviews ($500-$2,000 for print, $250-$400 for web)

New York Post – Book features, occasional author interviews ($500-$1,000, pitch Mackenzie Dawson at mdawson[at]nypost.com)

New York Review of Books – Book reviews and essays

New York Times Book Review – Book reviews, interviews, and features

New Yorker (The) – Book reviews and essays ($0.75 per word for web)

Newsday – Book reviews and interviews

NPR – Book reviews ($300 for fiction)

Oprah Daily – Book reviews, interviews, and features ($2 per word)

Observer (The) – Book reviews and interviews (pitch Erin Taylor at etaylor[at]observer.com)

Paris Review (The) – Book essays for The Daily ( how to pitch )

Paste Magazine – Book interviews and features ($100, who to pitch )

Pittsburgh Post Gazette – Book reviews

Ploughshares – Book reviews and interviews ($25, how to pitch )

Publishers Weekly – Capsule book reviews ($25-$50)

Puritan (The) – Book reviews ($100, how to pitch )

Reason – Book reviews ($500)

The Rumpus – Book reviews and interviews (pays small honorarium, how to pitch 1 and 2 )

San Francisco Chronicle – Book reviews ($165)

SFWA – Book reviews ($0.10 per word, how to pitch )

Shondaland – Book interviews and features ( how to pitch )

Slate – Book essays ($300-$500, how to pitch )

St. Louis Post-Dispatch – Book reviews ($85+)

Star Tribune (Minneapolis) – Book reviews ($150)

Tampa Bay Times – Book reviews ($150)

Times Literary Supplement – Book reviews and essays ( how to pitch )

USA Today – Book reviews ($300)

Wall Street Journal – Book reviews ($400-$1,000)

Washington Independent Review of Books – Book reviews ($25, how to pitch )

Washington Post – Book reviews

Words Without Borders – Book reviews and interviews ($100)

Helping you in your Side Hustle journey!

Get Paid to Read Books: 20 Best Sites For Reading Opportunities

Updated: Jul 11

Are you an avid reader? Today, there are several ways to get paid to read books and share your insights.

Here is a quick story for you before we begin the post.

Reading is my passion, too. About a decade back when I was trying to switch careers, I couldn't spend much on books due to my financial situation.

So I devoted my free time to blogging about books obtained from the library and book review platforms like BlogAdda.

To my surprise, I was soon reached out by book clubs and authors to review new books on my personal blog. In return, I received free copies of books that I might not have had the opportunity to read otherwise.

It was such an enjoyable experience getting paid to read books.

If you are a book lover, you can get paid to read books easily. Yes, that is what we are going to explore in this post.

So, let's discover how to get paid to read books!

20 Best Websites To Get Paid To Read Books

Getting paid to read books allows you to indulge in your love of reading while exploring various genres, discovering new authors, and broadening your literary horizons.

Here are the best platforms to get paid to read books:

Reedsy is a versatile platform that connects authors with book reviewers. It helps authors get their work discovered through reviews.

One of the best features of Reedsy is to get paid for reviewing books. It is a great opportunity to explore if you own a book-related blog or a channel.

Through Reedsy's Book Review program , you can get advanced copies of the latest titles to read and share your honest opinions with publishers, authors, and readers alike.

How do you become a book reviewer on Reedsy Discovery?

When you sign up as a book reviewer on Reedsy, you get access to new stories waiting to be discovered. Authors can also contact you directly to read and review their work.

To become a book reviewer on this platform, you just have to create your account and provide information such as:

the number of books you read per year

the genres you review

your preferred format of reviewing - written text/video

your blog/channel information

sample review

How do you get paid to read books on Reedsy Discovery?

At Reedsy, you can monetize your reading habit without any hassle.

Your published reviews will be displayed under your profile. When your readers read your reviews, they have the option to gift you an amount as a token of appreciation for your work.

The tips you earn will be sent to you via Stripe.

You also receive free copies of books before they are launched.

Read the Reedsy Discovery - FAQs to learn more about getting paid to read books on this platform.

By participating in Reedsy's Book Review program, you can get paid to read books while making a meaningful impact on the world of publishing. Don't you agree?

2) Booklist

Booklist is a platform that helps schools and libraries pick the best books for their readers.

Becoming a reviewer at Booklist is one of the best ways to get paid to read books.

This platform is also a part of the American Library Association, so undoubtedly it is legitimate.

How much does Booklist pay for reviews?

On average, you can write around two to three reviews a month.

Booklist pays you $15 per published review. If you reject a title, you get $5 as your reject fee.

Not only that, you also get a free subscription to the Booklist magazine.

How to become a book reviewer at Booklist?

To become a book reviewer at Booklist, you need to fill out an application and mention your areas of interest.

You also need to send samples of your work.

If you have a library degree or related experience, it is considered a huge plus!

3) Online Book Club

Online Book Club is another platform to get paid to read books.

You can sign up on the platform to receive free books in exchange for your honest review. Your review must be of at least 300 words and without any spoilers.

How much does the Online Book Club pay?

You will be given a free book as part of your first review. Your subsequent reviews will be paid on a per-review basis.

As a member of the Online Book Club platform, you can also participate in their free daily sweepstakes and win cash prizes.

Online Book Club processes payment via PayPal.

4) BookBrowse

BookBrowse is a comprehensive book review and recommendation platform for book lovers.

It curates a diverse selection of the latest and most acclaimed titles across a wide range of genres.

You can also get paid to read books on this platform if you are US-based.

To become a book reviewer at BookBrowse , you need to apply by submitting two sample reviews of at least 300 words.

By submitting thoughtful, well-crafted reviews, you can earn a modest payment on this platform.

So, if you are an avid reader looking to earn a little extra while indulging in your literary passions, BookBrowse is certainly worth exploring.

5) The US Review of Books

The US Review of Books is another book review platform to get paid to read books.

How to become a book reviewer at The US Review of Books?

If you are a freelance writer who can craft a thoughtful and insightful review, then you can reach out to them with your resume, sample reviews, and professional references.

Your reviews submitted on this platform must be of at least 250 - 300 words.

How do you get paid to read books at The US Review of Books?

This platform pays its reviewers every month. For the reviews you submit in a month, you get paid the following month via check.

6) New Pages

New Pages is not exactly a 'get paid to read books' program. This website gives opportunities for kids to publish their reviews on what they have enjoyed reading recently.

It accepts short reviews - 200 words maximum.

For those who want to improve their review writing skills, New Pages is a great platform to consider.

So why not let your kids read books and share their opinions on New Pages?

7) EBookFairs

EBookFairs is a platform that organizes virtual book fairs and helps authors reach a wide range of audiences.

It also offers a book review service in which you can sign up and get paid to read books.

By becoming a paid book reviewer at EBookFairs , you can read a variety of books and get paid for reviewing them.

Your review must be at least 200 words long and posted on your social media, GoodReads, or book review site.

How much do you get paid to read books at EBookFairs?

Your first two reviews for EBookFairs will be unpaid. After that, you will be paid $10 per review.

You can get paid to review a maximum of 5 books on this platform.

Note that some books including those under 100 pages available for review on EBookFairs may not be eligible for payment.

8) My Reader Rewards Club

My Reader Rewards Club works like a rewards platform but with a bookish focus.

This is a unique way to get paid to read books - you get free books and Bibles by earning points for various activities.

As a member of this platform, you earn points to:

share the book titles you have discovered

shopping at Tyndale , NavPress , or HendricksonRose

share your birthday

subscribing to e-newsletters

review products from the website

take surveys

invite your friend

You can redeem your points for books whenever you desire. Isn't this an interesting way to get paid to read books?

9) getAbstract

getAbstract is a unique website with a simple premise - it summarizes the key insights from a vast library of books, allowing users to quickly gain essential knowledge from each title.

This platform also offers a compelling opportunity to get paid to read books.

How to get paid to read books on getAbstract?

Getting paid to read books on getAbstract is a simple process. You just need to sign up on the getAbstract website , complete a brief application, and submit a sample summary along with your CV.

Your summary must be of 50 to 150 words.

Once accepted into the program, you become a freelance writer at getAbstract. You can then start earning money by reading and providing summaries.

You can also join their affiliate program and earn commissions for successful referrals.

10) NetGalley

NetGalley is a powerful digital review service that connects book publishers, authors, and readers.

It is a fun platform that allows publishers to share advance copies of their books with reviewers, bloggers, and influencers.

If you are a book reviewer or an influencer, you can make use of this great opportunity to get paid to read books and review them.

NetGalley doesn't pay you any direct monetary compensation for reading books.

As a member of this platform, you are granted free early access to highly anticipated titles in exchange for honest reviews.

By discovering and reading books through this platform, you can:

generate pre-release buzz

share your opinion with your audience

monetize your review through your website or social media.

Read the NetGalley - Help section to learn more about their guidelines and processes.

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11) BookBarbarian

Book Barbarian is an online platform that offers a vast selection of sci-fi and fantasy e-books for book enthusiasts.

All you need to do is sign up to receive daily emails on book deals. You will receive an email every day from which you can discover and download books.

You can read these books from your smartphone, tablet, or e-reader.

Many books are free and the rest are available for as low as $0.99!

The best part of this platform is that it recommends only best-sellers and top-rated books.

You can keep the books for yourself, read them, and provide reviews on your website or social media.

Regarding the 'getting paid to read books' part? You can monetize your reviews through ads and affiliate marketing.

12) Free Booksy

Another way to get paid to read books is by getting free books from Free Booksy .

Free Booksy is a valuable resource for avid readers and book reviewers who are looking to discover new authors and genres without having to pay for every book.

By signing up for this platform, you receive recommendations straight to your inbox.

You can explore and download over 20 genres of free ebooks through Free Booksy. And also find amazing deals that you don't want to miss!

So, what are you waiting for? Read free books through Free Booksy, share your reviews on your blog or social media, and monetize your traffic!

13) Book Sirens

BookSirens is a platform that connects readers with authors and publishers, providing an opportunity to discover and read new books.

By signing up as a book reviewer on this platform, you can get Advance Reader Copies (ARC) for free. In exchange, you need to provide your honest review on platforms like Amazon, GoodReads, your book blog, or social media.

You can receive books in your preferred format - PDF, Mobi, or ePub. If you have a large following, authors may reach out to you directly and also send you physical books.

Book Sirens is not a typical 'get paid to read books' portal. It offers an interesting way to grow your following.

The more influence you have, the more ways you can find to get paid to read. Don't you agree?

Get Paid To Read Books Aloud

If you have an interest in reading books aloud, you can narrate audiobooks and make money. Note that you may have to invest in setting up your home studio with a computer and microphone for recording audiobooks.

Here are some platforms where you can get paid to read audiobooks as a narrator:

To get paid to read books as a narrator at ACX , you need to:

create your profile and add your voice samples

audition for your preferred projects

set your pricing - per hour basis or royalty share

record and deliver the audiobook

Once your audiobook narration is approved, it will be distributed across Amazon, Audible, and iTunes.

15) Voices com

Voices is a platform where you can get paid to read books through audiobook narration gigs.

To get paid to read audiobooks on Voices com , you need to:

create your profile with guest membership (free) or premium membership (paid)

find your audiobook project

sign your job agreement

read and record your audiobook

Voices (dot) com sends you your earnings via PayPal. On average, you can make $200-$300 per finished hour.

16) Voice123

Voice123 is another platform where you can get paid to read books aloud as an audiobook narrator.

To become an audiobook narrator at Voice123, you need to:

submit auditions

find audiobook projects

set your pricing

17) VO Planet

VO Planet is another platform to get paid to read books aloud as a narrator.

This site hires only professional voice talent, so this may not be a good place to check out if you are a beginner.

18) Voice Crafters

Voice Crafters is a company that provides voice-over services in over 80 languages.

You can sign up on this platform as a voice talent and get paid to read books aloud as an audiobook narrator.

This platform offers $200 to $500/hr for every completed and edited audio hour. For unedited audiobook reading, it pays $225.

VoiceCrafters - Get paid to read audiobooks

19) Backstage

Backstage is another casting company where you can get paid to read audiobooks.

You need to sign up and provide your voice samples when creating your profile.

Note that you need to pay a subscription fee before being able to find jobs on this portal.

20) Freelance Platforms

Another option to get paid to read books aloud is to sign up as an audiobook narrator on freelance platforms such as People Per Hour , Fiverr , or Upwork .

You can create your profile, set your rates, and start reading for money!

10 Best Ways To Make Money With Your Voice (plus Companies Hiring)

1) Beta Reader / Book Reviewer for ARCs:

Beta Readers or book reviewers for ARCs (Advance Reader Copies) are people who are given access to unpublished manuscripts or early copies of books before their official release.

As a book reviewer for ARCs, you have the chance to read and evaluate books that the general public has not yet seen. You will thus have the privilege to offer valuable input to authors and publishers before the book has been released.

For example, you may have to identify:

character inconsistencies

pacing issues

areas that require further development

To become a beta reader, you need to reach out to publishers, book review websites, etc., and express your interest.

In this process, you may need to provide:

writing samples

a review portfolio

information about your social media presence and engagement, if any

For example, BookSirens is one such platform where you can receive ARCs for review.

Isn't this an exciting way to get paid to read books while playing a valuable role in the publishing industry?

2) Book Editor / Proofreader

Another interesting way to get paid to read books is by becoming a proofreader.

A book proofreader is a professional who specializes in meticulously reviewing written material, such as books, manuscripts, and publications.

As a book proofreader, you need to:

identify and correct errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation, etc.

verify the formatting of the book

provide clear and concise feedback to authors or publishers

ensure the quality and accuracy of the books to be published

To become a proofreader, a solid foundation in writing and editing through a bachelor's degree in English, journalism, or a related field is preferred.

If you are an aspiring book proofreader, you can also enhance your qualifications through training programs from professional organizations such as the Editorial Freelancers Association or the American Copy Editors Society .

3) Translator

If you are bilingual and have a strong command over languages, you can get paid to read books and translate them!

A book translator is a professional who specializes in converting the written content of a book from one language into another.

To become a book translator, a bachelor's degree in linguistics, translation studies, or a related field is highly preferred.

If you are an aspiring book translator, you can hone your skills by gaining experience through:

internships

freelance projects from platforms such as TranslatorsCafe , Proz , etc.

entry-level positions at publishing houses or translation agencies

4) Book Layout Designer

An interesting way to get paid to read books by clubbing your artistic and technical skills is by becoming a Book Layout Designer.

A Book Layout Designer is a professional who takes care of the overall visual and structural design of a book.

As a Book Layout Designer, you will be tasked with arranging the elements of a book, such as text, images, graphics, etc. in a visually appealing way.

You can take up freelance work, in-house positions, or consulting work to design the layout based on the book's content and the publisher's requirements.

To become a Book Layout Designer, you need to have:

Strong understanding of typography, layout, and design principles

Proficiency in design software like Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, etc.

Familiarity with the publishing industry and book production processes

What an exciting way to get paid to read books and help with the visual design of the books!

5) Illustrator

Another way to get paid to read books is to use your artistic talent and become an illustrator.

A book illustrator is a visual artist who creates illustrations, drawings, or other visual elements that accompany and enhance the written content of a book.

To become a book illustrator, you may need a degree in illustration, fine arts, or a related field.

As a book illustrator, you need to collaborate with authors/publishers and understand the tone and style of the book.

Depending on your skills, you can use different illustration styles such as cartoon, comic, sketch, etc., and artistic techniques such as freehand digital, vector art, watercolor, etc.

Isn't it fun to get paid to read books and show your artistic skills?

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FAQs - Get Paid To Read Books:

#1 . can i earn money by reading books.

Yes! From publishing houses to online platforms, many companies offer paid book review opportunities, as discussed in this post.

These companies appreciate the value that avid readers can bring to their content evaluation and marketing efforts.

Additionally, you can create content on your blog or social media about the books you read and make money.

Even if you can not make a living out of it, it is worth pursuing in your spare time.

#2 . How much can I earn by getting paid to read books?

The earning potential for reading books can vary significantly, depending on your role and the organization involved.

In general, book reviewers may earn a few dollars per book. However, for in-depth analyses or specialized expertise, you can command higher rates.

Similarly, if you have a strong portfolio of book reviews or have a huge following, you can demand better rates.

#3 . What qualifications do I need to get paid to read books?

Most 'get paid to read books' programs don't have specific requirements.

While some positions may require specific subject matter expertise or writing skills, many opportunities are open to passionate readers with a keen eye for detail and a love for literature.

#4 . What company will pay you $200 to read a book?

A company called WordsRated used to pay $200 for every book read in their Bibiliophile-at-large program. However, the program is permanently closed.

#5 . Is getting paid to read legit?

Yes, there are legitimate ways to get paid to read books, as discussed in this post.

Book review platforms connect you with authors/publishers and compensate for your time and honest review.

You can also take up audiobook reading jobs as a freelancer and get paid legally.

Final Thoughts - Get Paid To Read Books

Getting paid to read books is a viable and enticing option for book lovers.

If you are an avid reader looking to monetize your passion, don't hesitate to explore the world of getting paid to read books – it just might be the perfect fit for you.

By understanding the available opportunities and the earning potential, you can take the first steps toward turning your passion for reading into a rewarding and lucrative profession.

So, are you ready to appreciate the wonder of the written word and get paid to read books?

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20 Proven Ways To Get Paid To Read Books in 2024

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Trusted by Millions of Readers

For many people, curling up with a good book is the best way to pass the time. However, it may not have occurred to you to turn your love of reading into a stream of income. Whether it’s reading books aloud, editing or just plain reading there are several ways you can earn a few extra bucks by simply doing what you love to do.

Read More: 6 Genius Things All Wealthy People Do With Their Money

Quick Take: How Do I Get Paid to Read Books?

When you’re looking for companies that will pay you to read books, keep in mind there’s usually something more to the arrangement than just reading the book. Some companies will ask for short reviews. Some will want longer articles. Companies that create audiobooks will require you to submit a recording of your reading the book, which is a great way to make money on your phone.

20 Ways To Read Books for Money

In today’s digital age, where the demand for content is ever-growing, getting paid to be a book reader is not out of the realm of possibility–in fact, it can even become a side gig. Whether you’re a bibliophile looking to turn your passion into a source of passive income or someone seeking flexible work opportunities, there are numerous ways to monetize your love for reading in 2024.

Here are 20 different ways and websites where you can get paid to read books:

Kirkus Review
Findaway Voices
The U.S. Review of Books
Reedsy Discovery
Online Book Club
Audiobook Narration
Start a Blog or Podcast About Books
Translate Books
Join an Online Reading Community
Monetize Your Social Media Platforms
Offer Literary Consulting Courses
Do Freelance Editing
Start Beta Reading
Submit Writing to a Literary Magazine
Create Book Summaries

1. Kirkus Review

Kirkus Review is a highly reputable website that reviews books of all genres and formats. The site is seeking experienced reviewers of English and Spanish titles written by self-published authors for Kirkus Indie.

This gig does not appear to be for newbies, as the site requests a resume, writing samples and a list of reviewing specialties. With most freelance gigs, the more impressive your writing samples and the more prestigious places you have been published, the better your chances of being selected.

2. Booklist

Booklist is part of the American Library Association. Its reviewers help school and public library workers to choose books for purchase or recommendation to library patrons. Booklist calls its reviews “the haiku of book reviewing,” requesting 150-to-175-word reviews that include a plot synopsis, suggest the book’s ideal audience and recommend similar titles.

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ACX offers professional narrators and audiobook producers the opportunity to earn money working with published authors who need a narrator for their book. You can also earn money by referring Audible users to your recorded books through the Bounty Referral Program.

You can enlist the help of other studio professionals to complete and finalize your audio recording. You’ll get paid once the audiobook is published or you’ll receive ongoing pay equal to 50% of the royalties on sales. Once you have at least 25 audiobooks under your belt, you can apply to be an Audible Approved Producer.

4. Findaway Voices

Findaway Voices works similarly to ACX, where authors choose narrators to create audiobooks for them. It offers a comprehensive guide with all the tools to help you succeed.

You can create a profile as a narrator. You’ll receive a custom URL to make it easy for authors to find you. Then, upload samples of your work, along with an audio intro, bio, cover image and an avatar.

Voices is a marketplace for voiceover artists to find jobs or list their availability for projects. The platform says that more than 5,000 jobs are posted each month. When you’re done with a project, your payment is deposited automatically into PayPal.

Projects listed under the “audiobooks” skill offer pay ranging from $250 up to $375. As a voiceover artist, you can choose your rates and delivery time when you list your services.

Simply create your profile and upload samples of your work — you can upload an unlimited number of samples for free. If you opt for the paid Premium membership, you’ll be matched with jobs that fit your profile.

6. The US Review of Books

With the tagline “Professional Reviews for the People,” The US Review of Books publishes a monthly newsletter of book reviews to help authors get the word out about their newest titles. Reviewers are expected to write between 250 and 300 words, offering a plot synopsis and insights. The site’s guidelines request “heart and succinct writing,” without using first-person language in the review. The review can compare similar books, offer opinions or discuss the author’s experience and previous titles.

Reviewers can request their preferences from a list of titles. Once assigned, The US Review of Books expects reviews to be submitted within two to three weeks.

7. Reedsy Discovery

Reedsy Discovery doesn’t pay a flat rate, or even an hourly rate, for reviews. Instead, it allows readers to share tips of $1, $3 or $5 to reviewers in appreciation of their work. You won’t get rich writing reviews for Reedsy, but it is a great way to hone your skills if you are looking to write reviews for larger, more well-known sites, like Kirkus Reviews.

The application process for Reedsy is easy. Just provide your email address and first and last name to create an account. You’ll also have an opportunity to upload an avatar. Then, answer a few questions about your reading habits and the genres you’d like to review. Include a brief bio. To improve your chances of being selected, share links to some of your best reviews. You can submit reviews on video or in written form.

8. BookBrowse

BookBrowse requires review applicants to have good quality sample reviews of at least 300 words before applying. Reviewers must also submit a “Beyond the Book” article in conjunction with each review. Most reviewers write one review per month, and titles include adult fiction and non-fiction, as well as young adult fiction.

The application process is easy and requires listing your favorite genres, sharing two high-quality reviews — plus a link to other reviews if you’d like — and a short bio.

Upwork is one of the largest online marketplaces for freelancers, and you can find plenty of book review opportunities amidst other freelance writing gigs. Qualifications and requirements will vary depending on the client and the specific project. In many cases, Upwork can provide a foot in the door to ongoing work as a book reviewer, making it one of the best sites that will, indirectly, pay you to read books.

Create a Freelancer account on the site, list your skills and experience and upload a portfolio. Then search for jobs and submit proposals for the ones you want. If a client wants to hire you, they’ll send you a contract.

10. Online Book Club

OnlineBookClub.org lets you choose the titles you’d most like to read from a list of books. You receive the books free and then write a review. Your won’t be paid in cash for your first review, but subsequent reviews pay between $5 and $60, according to the website.

Unlike many other online review websites, you do not need to submit an application or have previous book review samples published. That makes this website more open to beginning reviewers.

11. Audiobook Narration

Audiobook narration and production are growing fields with opportunities for voice actors, editors, and producers. If you love audiobooks and have a great voice this offers you the chance to combine your love of reading and performing.

12. Start a Blog or Podcast About Books

Create your own platform, such as a blog or podcast, dedicated to discussing books. Once you build a loyal audience, you can monetize your platform through ads, sponsored content, affiliate marketing and even Patreon subscriptions. It may take a while to start earning real money this way, but once you find your audience it could lead to a financial windfall.

Freelance or blog writing gigs related to books and literature are abundant. You can pitch book reviews, listicles, essays, and other content ideas to online publications, magazines, and blogs that pay for quality book-related content.

13. Translate Books

If you’re proficient in multiple languages, you can explore opportunities in book translation. Translating books from one language to another can be a lucrative niche, especially for in-demand languages.

14. Join an Online Reading Community

Platforms such as Goodreads and BookTube, which is the YouTube page dedicated to books, offer opportunities for readers to share their thoughts on books they’ve read. If you grow your following and become an influencer in the literary world you can easily start monetizing your content.

Organize and host virtual book clubs for readers interested in discussing and analyzing books together. Charge a fee for membership or session participation, creating a community while earning income.

15. Monetize Your Social Media Platforms

Grow your social media presence by sharing book recommendations, reviews and literary insights. Once you have a sizable following, you can earn money through sponsored posts, affiliate links, and brand partnerships.

Some market research companies and academic institutions will pay you to read books and provide feedback through surveys or interviews. You can even partner with bookstores, publishers, and literary subscription services to promote their products or services. Collaborations can range from sponsored content to ambassador programs, providing both exposure and income.

16. Offer Literary Consulting Services

Provide consulting services to authors, publishers or literary agencies. This could involve manuscript evaluations, market research, or strategic planning for book launches.

If you have a passion for discovering new talent and negotiating deals, you could even offer literary agent services as a part of your fee. Representing authors and their works can be financially rewarding, especially if you have a good eye for marketable books.

17. Do Freelance Editing

If you have a keen eye for detail and a love for editing, consider offering editorial services to authors and publishers. This could include proofreading, copyediting, and developmental editing, all of which can be done remotely.

18. Start Beta Reading

Authors often seek beta readers to provide feedback on their manuscripts before publication. While some may offer this service for free, others are willing to pay for detailed feedback and insights, which is a great way to not only make money but also get your hands on new books before anyone else.

19. Submit Writing to a Literary Magazine

Many literary magazines and journals pay for short stories, essays and poems. As a literary enthusiast, you can submit your creative work or work as an editor for these publications. Generally, when you submit you can get the whole issue for free as well.

20. Become a Book Reviewer

Many websites, blogs, and publications pay individuals to write thoughtful and insightful book reviews. Platforms like NetGalley, Goodreads, and Publishers Weekly often offer opportunities for book reviewers to receive free copies of books in exchange for their reviews.

Final Take To GO

If you have a passion for reading and a way with words, you can combine your hobby with your skillset to get paid for reading books. Getting paid to read books is not just a dream but a viable reality thanks to the myriad opportunities available in the digital age. Whether you choose to write reviews, create content, offer services or explore entrepreneurial ventures, the key lies in leveraging your passion for literature into profitable endeavors.

Our in-house research team and on-site financial experts work together to create content that’s accurate, impartial, and up to date. We fact-check every single statistic, quote and fact using trusted primary resources to make sure the information we provide is correct. You can learn more about GOBankingRates’ processes and standards in our editorial policy .

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Side Hustles

Side Hustles For All

Home Side Hustle Basics Get Paid to Read Books

Freelance worker sitting and looking at an open book that she's getting paid to read

Get Paid to Read Books: Side Hustles for Bibliophiles

May 6, 2024

Written by:

Jessica Norris

Jessica is a writer for SideHustles.com. Her side hustles include freelance academic writing and editing, which she's done for...

Startup Time

Startup Costs

Remote-Friendly

College Required

Certification Required

If you’re the type of person who often reads for pleasure, why not turn your passion into profit? There are many different kinds of side hustles that will pay you to read books, meaning you get to enjoy your favorite pastime while earning extra money—and probably get free books to boot.

We’ve found 6 gigs that will pay you to read books and 10 companies that will pay you to review books or do other reading-related work.

01. The 6 best ways to make money from reading

You can get paid to narrate, edit, or review books

Check out these 6 ways to make money from reading:

1. Narrate audiobooks

An audiobook narrator is someone who reads books aloud for audio recordings.

What requirements are there?

All you really need for audiobook narration is the right kind of voice, plus great diction and pronunciation. Your voice should be strong, clear, and expressive, and you should be able to maintain it over time.

This gig has a lot in common with starting a voice acting side hustle . If you want to work from home (as opposed to renting a studio), you’ll need certain equipment, like a microphone (ideally with a pop filter), a computer, and a quiet room for recording. If you can soundproof a spare room or your home office, that’s perfect.

How much can you make?

The pay for audiobook narration is extremely variable. On platforms like Upwork, rates for narrators range from $28 all the way up to $480 . As a newcomer to the field, you’ll probably have to start on the low end and work your way up.

Where can you find jobs?

Try general freelancing job boards like Upwork or Fiverr , as well as dedicated audiobook platforms like ACX and Findaway Voices .

Anything else I should know?

As an audiobook narrator, you probably won’t actually be paid by the hour. You may receive a one-off payment, a fee per “finished hour” (where you’re paid for the total number of hours the audiobook lasts, as opposed to the time you spend recording), or a share of the audiobook royalties.

2. Proofread manuscripts

A proofreader is someone who carefully reviews written content for accuracy and consistency in terms of grammar, punctuation, spelling, and formatting. Some proofreaders specialize in book manuscripts.

There are many proofreading certifications you can get that will give you a boost, although you don’t absolutely need any of them to land jobs. You do need a knack for spelling and grammar and a computer with an internet connection.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics cites an average hourly rate of $21.12 for proofreaders and copy markers (who have very similar roles).

Again, general freelancer sites like Upwork and Fiverr are a good place to start if you have no little or no relevant experience. To find more gigs proofreading book manuscripts, you can also offer your services to self-published authors or publishing companies (look for job listings on sites like Indeed ).

To find clients in the publishing industry, you can also join professional copyediting and proofreading associations (e.g., the American Society of Journalists and Authors , the Editorial Freelancers Association , or ACES ). These often have job boards or directories with freelance proofreading opportunities. They’re also helpful for networking in general.

3. Translate books

A translator is someone who converts written content from one language (the source language) into another (the target language).

You don’t need a certification or license to be a translator, but you obviously need to speak at least one other language fluently. You’ll also need great spelling and grammar in your target language (i.e., in English, if this is the language you’ll be translating into) and must have a computer with an internet connection.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics cites an average hourly rate of $29.68 for translators and interpreters.

Babelcube , TranslatorsCafe , and Translate.com are all platforms where translators can connect with authors and publishers who need their services. As usual, you can also try freelancer sites like Upwork or Fiverr (which are ideal if you have no little or no relevant experience) or general job sites like Indeed, Monster , and ZipRecruiter .

4. Become a book influencer

Book influencers are people who read and review books, then try to inspire others to read them. They use social media platforms to share their reviews, opinions, and recommendations.

Theoretically, anyone who can read can become a book influencer. That said, if you want to make real money from it, you need to build a large following and master the art of creating irresistible content. To do this, you’ll need to be likable, charismatic, and have a knack for writing or for recording videos.

The amount you can make as a book influencer depends entirely on the size of your audience. In the beginning, you won’t make much money at all, but if your content really takes off, you can make thousands of dollars per month.

You probably won’t be able to find traditional jobs or gigs as a book influencer. Instead, you’ll have to create and monetize your own content on a blog, Spotify (with a podcast), YouTube , TikTok , or other social media channels.

To monetize your book-related content, you can use tools like Google AdSense , Media.net , and the Amazon Associates program for affiliate marketing (which is where you place unique referral links or codes in your content; these will earn you commissions when people use them to buy books).

5. Write book reviews

A book reviewer is someone who reads books and shares their thoughts and opinions on what they’ve read. Most book reviews are written (e.g., as personal blog posts, social media posts, or reviews on book-related websites), but reviewers can also use other mediums, such as audio or video.

You don’t need any specific qualifications to write book reviews, just a computer with an internet connection.

Many websites that accept book reviews pay around $60 for them. There are much higher-paying gigs writing for national newspapers and other high-profile publications, but these are usually only accessible if you’re an established literary critic.

The sites and publications that will pay you to write book reviews include Online Book Club, Reedsy Discovery , Kirkus Media, and the US Review of Books. We’ll write about these sites in more detail in the section below.

You may also be able to find gigs on the general job boards we’ve already mentioned (e.g., Indeed, Monster, and Upwork).

You may need to send a pitch or a sample review to your chosen publication before you can start writing book reviews for them. To attract more opportunities, work on building a portfolio of your writing work. You should also network within the book-reviewing community (e.g., by joining relevant social media groups).

6. Beta reader or sensitivity reader

A beta reader is someone who reads a book manuscript before it’s published. When it comes to fiction, this means providing feedback on the plot, characters, pacing, and the overall reader experience. Beta readers help authors refine their work.

A sensitivity reader is similar, but they specialize in offering feedback on sensitive topics within a manuscript, such as anything related to diversity, culture, or mental health. The idea is to help authors address sensitive topics appropriately, avoid harmful stereotypes, and write more inclusively.

It’s easier to find people willing to pay for beta or sensitivity reads if you’re already established in an online writing community (e.g., on Twitter or Instagram). For sensitivity reading, you should focus on something you have personal experience with.

Some online sources suggest you can expect an hourly rate of $18 as a beta reader and much the same rate as a sensitivity reader. Upwork cites a higher hourly rate of $40 for professional beta reading services.

To find beta reading opportunities, check out websites like Goodreads and Wattpad , which provide platforms for connecting with authors in need of beta readers. You can also try networking via online writing communities or social media groups.

02. 10 companies that will pay you to read books

Many companies will pay you to proofread, review, or summarize books

If any of the side hustle ideas listed above sound good to you, then the next step is to look for your first paid gig. Check out these 10 opportunities to get paid for reading books:

1. The U.S. Review of Books

The U.S. Review of Books is a reputable contemporary publication that features independent book reviews. It’s run by professional reviewers and editors, and it provides a platform for writers to share their thoughts and opinions on books.

The U.S. Review of Books accepts 250–300-word reviews from freelance book reviewers. The review has to include a summary of the book, plus your own thoughts on it.

To submit a review for publication, you have to send the editor a resume, a sample of your work, and at least two professional references. You can email all of this to [email protected] .

Rates : The U.S. Review of Books website doesn’t clearly indicate the rates it pays, but some sources suggest it pays $25–$75 per book review .

2. Kirkus Reviews

Kirkus Reviews is a popular magazine that features unbiased book reviews. It’s considered a good source of information for readers, authors, libraries, and anyone in the publishing industry. It reviews books of all lengths in nearly all genres.

Kirkus Indie is the section of the magazine that’s dedicated to self-published authors. It often accepts submissions from freelance writers and reviewers.

You can pitch a book review to Kirkus Indie by submitting your resume, writing samples (although they don’t specify how many of these you should send in), and a list of reviewing specialties (e.g., literary fiction, science fiction, historical fiction, or other genres). You can do this by emailing them to Kirkus Indie Editor David Rapp at [email protected] .

If your pitch is accepted, you’ll have to write a review of about 350 words. It will be due two weeks after you’re assigned the book.

Rates : The Kirkus website doesn’t mention how much they pay per review; reports suggest that the rate is around $50–$75 per article.

3. Publishers Weekly

Publishers Weekly is an international news website for those who work in the book trade (e.g., publishers, booksellers, librarians, and literary agents). It publishes book reviews along with other articles and features on various topics, such as book releases, author interviews, industry events, and market trends.

Publishers Weekly’s reviews cover many categories and genres of books, including fiction, children’s books, comics, poetry, and more.

Their jobs page sometimes has opportunities for freelancers to write book reviews for them. Check regularly for openings if you’re interested in writing for them.

The usual process for application is to send a resume and a 200-word sample review of a recently published book to [email protected] .

Rates : Online reports suggest that $25 per review is Publishers Weekly’s normal rate.

4. Booklist Online

Booklist Online is a book review magazine that’s published by the American Library Association (an organization that represents librarians and library professionals in the US). The magazine is aimed at school and public libraries, library users, and book lovers.

As well as book reviews, Booklist features recommendations for adult and children readers, author interviews, thematic lists, and in-depth articles about the world of books and literature.

Booklist sometimes has opportunities for freelance book reviewers (although they say you need to be familiar with both books and libraries to write for them). To apply, see the instructions on how to write reviews for Booklist , which provides more information on their requirements and links to the application form for new reviewers.

Your review should be 150 to 175 words in length, and Booklist specifies that it should “place each work in context, provide a synopsis of plot and other appeal, suggest the ideal audience, and offer readalikes.”

Rates : Booklist pays $15 per review.

5. BookBrowse

BookBrowse is a digital magazine for book lovers. It features book reviews of adult fiction and nonfiction, and some books for young adults. It also has articles, author interviews, recommendations, exclusive previews of notable books, and resources for book clubs.

To apply, use the reviewer application form (which also has instructions on how to write reviews for BookBrowse). Note that you will have to submit two sample reviews of at least 300 words.

Rates : The BookBrowse website says that reviewers receive a “modest payment,” but they don’t specify how much.

6. Online Book Club

Online Book Club is an online community for book lovers. The site publishes book reviews, author interviews, and literary discussions. There are also forums for readers and opportunities for members to participate in book giveaways and sweepstakes, try out various reading challenges, and take part in other activities.

To become a book reviewer for Online Book Club, sign up on their website . They don’t specify how many words you’ll need to produce if you’re selected to write a review for them, but most of the reviews on their site are several hundred words long.

Rates : According to the Online Book Club website, most payouts are $5–$60 per review.

7. Women’s Review of Books

Unlike the other entries in this list, the Women’s Review of Books is a print publication—a feminist literary journal that publishes feature essays and book reviews with a focus on women. Its reviews are primarily of women’s and gender studies scholarship, as well as fiction, poetry, and memoirs by women.

They don’t specify how many words you’ll have to write for their reviews, but it probably won’t be more than 1,000 words (as most book reviews are shorter than this).

If you’d like to pitch a review idea to them, they recommend emailing it to [email protected] .

Rates : According to online reports, they pay $100 per review.

8. BookWritten

BookWritten is a book-focused online publication featuring reviews along with book recommendations, book-related articles and listicles, author interviews, and other content about the literary world.

If you’re interested in writing for them, they suggest emailing [email protected] to introduce yourself and tell them about your love for reading and writing. They also say that you should name a few of your favorite books, and if possible, share some of your own online content.

Rates : BookWritten says they pay their freelance writers, but they don’t specify how much.

9. Instaread

Instaread is somewhat different from the other sites and publications we’ve discussed so far. It’s an app that breaks books down into small, bite-sized summaries accompanied by analyses of key concepts and themes. People can use Instaread to get a quick overview of a book’s main ideas and decide if they want to read it.

As such, this isn’t actually a review-writing gig. Instead, you have to read a book, write a summary, and analyze key details. The total word count should be 1,375–1,500 words.

To apply, check the list of titles that Instaread wants covered . Note that the list of titles may vary, and there were no titles on it at the time of writing, but it’s still worth checking back for updates.

Rates : User comments on online communities suggest that Instaread pays $100 per summary.

10. Writerful Books

Writerful Books is an Australian company that offers affordable book editing and other similar services, such as beta and sensitivity reading. It hires freelancers from many other countries, including the US.

Their website says that they’re looking for book reviewers and beta readers. If you’re interested in either of these gigs, Writerful Books suggests contacting them through their website and telling them about yourself.

Rates : Writerful Books reportedly pays $10–$50 per review.

03. What are the advantages of a reading-related side hustle?

Your reading habit could be the perfect inspiration for your new side hustle

If you’re the bookish type, the perks of a side hustle that involves reading are obvious. With all of the side hustles listed above:

You can pick your own working schedule
You can work from almost anywhere (as long as you can get a good internet connection and have access to books)
Startup costs and overhead are both minimal
You can get paid to do something you love
You have the chance to express yourself and develop intellectually
You (usually) won’t have to interact much with people, making these great side hustles for introverts

That said, getting paid to read isn’t a perfect gig; if it was, everyone who liked books would do it. As you’ve probably gathered, it isn’t the highest-paid work out there.

Reading a book and writing a solid review of it takes time and effort, and the kinds of payouts you can realistically expect ($60 or so) aren’t particularly high. It’s possible to turn your love of reading into a more lucrative side hustle, but it will take time, a lot of dedication, and a bit of luck.

Other side hustle ideas for book lovers

If you love reading but the jobs listed above sound like too much work for too little reward, here are a few more side hustles you can investigate:

Part-time librarian : This is someone who works in a library helping out with tasks such as finding books for people, carrying out research, providing guidance on using library databases and catalog systems, offering recommendations for reading materials, and more.
Part-time bookstore clerk : With this job, you’ll work in a bookstore and assist customers with finding books, offer recommendations, organize shelves, handle transactions, and help maintain the inventory.
Book marketing assistant : In this role, you’ll help authors and publishers promote and sell books. You might be involved in tasks like running social media campaigns, organizing book events, or coordinating book tours, for example.
Literary agent assistant : This is someone who helps literary agents with their work of representing authors and selling book rights. Literary agent assistants may help with reading and submitting manuscripts, writing letters, negotiating contracts, and other administrative tasks.

Some of these positions will have rigid hours, which makes them less suitable for side hustles, but you may also be able to scale them down by looking for a remote version of the role.

In particular, you can become a virtual assistant for someone who works in publishing (or even an author or another book reviewer) to dip your toes in the literary world without making too big of a commitment.

04. Other side hustles for book-lovers to try

We’ve gone over the best ways to get paid to read, but there are dozens of worthwhile side hustles that didn’t make it onto this list, many of which are also perfect for readers, writers, and other bookish people. Explore more ways to fund your reading habit below.

Article Sources

Amazon. "Customer Reviews" Retrieved July 14, 2023.

Robert Jellison

Managing Editor

Robert is a writer and editor for SideHustles.com. He has 7+ years of experience in freelance writing and previously worked as the in-house editor for Compose.ly, a platform for remote and part-time writers.

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Get Paid To Read Books

11 legit ways to make money from your reading habit.

This is the definitive guide on how to get paid to read books 📚

I’ve been working online for several years and spent 15 hours researching what you can do to earn cash remotely if you love to read.

If you want to:

Learn the best ways to earn money reading books
Understand the pros and cons of reading jobs
Know where to get started finding jobs as a book reviewer, narrator, editor, translator and lots of other reading-related jobs

Then this is the guide for you.

📚 How To Make Money Reading Books: 11 Best Ways

There are several ways to make money reading books. Here are the 11 best. They start off fairly easy and tend to get harder as you go down the list.

Reading Books Via Apps Using a smartphone, tablet or any other digital reader to read for cash.
Writing Book Reviews Reading books then writing a review telling people what you thought.
Writing Book Summaries Breaking down the main themes, concepts or plot of a book into a small text.
Proofreading Reading books and checking for errors, continuity issues or whether books meet a specific criteria.
Editing Reading books and correcting errors. Or improving books for readability.
Reading Books Aloud Narrating books and converting them to audiobooks.
Translating Books Reading books in one language and translating them to another.
Blogging About Books Starting a blog talking about the books you read.
Podcasting About Books Recording your thoughts about books for others to listen.
Starting a YouTube Channel About Books Becoming a “booktuber” and making videos about the books you read.
Publishing Books Reading books, forming a partnership with authors and marketing them to the public.

Let’s take a deeper dive into each.

Get Paid To Read Books Via Apps

Getting paid to read books via apps is easy to get started with.

You get paid for the amount of words you read.

🤑 How Much Can You Earn Reading Books via Apps?

Earnings are relatively low compared to other ways to make money online .

$0.25 to $1 is the typical range for about 20,000 words ( source ). 20,000 words would take the average reader at least 2 hours to finish, according to Words to Time .

Most apps also pay via a point system.

😎 Legit Places to Make Money Reading Books via Apps

Booksta Read and earn coins that you can later redeem for gift cards. Popular vendors include Amazon, eBay and Delta Air Lines.
Bookshout Another similar app but you can’t earn cash. You can only redeem points for ebooks in their store.

🤓 What Skills Do I Need to Make Money Reading Books via Apps?

Skills that could help you include:

Fast reading ability (but natural enough that speed trackers don’t suspect foul play)
Concentration and focus

📱 What Equipment Do I Need to Read Books via Apps?

You can get started with most apps with only a smartphone.

A tablet or eReader, thanks to larger screens, could help improve reading speed.

The Pros and Cons of Getting Paid to Read Books Via Apps

Very easy to get started
Read the books you want
Extremely low pay
Most apps don’t allow direct cashouts
Limited choice of books

Get Paid To Write Book Reviews

An experienced book reviewer writing for high-profile websites can make good money from reading books.

Most people get started leaving honest reviews on websites like Amazon and Goodreads first, then graduate to paid work later.

🤑 How Much Can You Earn As a Book Reviewer?

Earnings are variable. For many clients, you’ll be expected to pitch a rate. Typical earnings range between $10 to $100 per review .

😎 Legit Places to Get Paid Writing Book Reviews

Here are 4 legit sites that pay writers per review .

Online Book Club : Pays anything between $5 to $60 per book review .

Other sites that pay freelancers for book reviews but aren’t that clear on rates include:

Dog Eared Reviews Book marketing company that pays for positive (4 stars and above) reviews only.
Kirkus Media Looks for 350-word reviews of books of all genres.
NetGalley Connects publishers with readers via a membership platform.
Publishers Weekly Sometimes offers freelance positions for reviewers and editors.
Tyndale Blog Network Rewards users with points for social media shares and quizzes more than reviews.
U.S. Review of Books Asks for 300-500 word book reviews. Pays monthly.

Gain more experience reviewing books and the potential to earn (or turn it into a full-time gig) could be a reality.

Here are some high profile places you could land freelance opportunities . You’ll have to pitch the editorial team for each.

Chicago Review of Books
NewYorker.com

Most big news and culture sites pay book reviewers well.

A few book review sites that give advanced book copies in exchange for reviews include (but don’t pay for reviews):

Book Browse
Moody Press
Lola’s Blog Tours
Bethany House

🤓 What Skills You’ll Need to Be Successful Reviewing Books

To be successful in book reviewing you’ll need to be able to write well, give honest reviews and work to tight deadlines.

Freelance writing courses could help. Earn More Writing scores well according to our review .

💻 What Equipment You’ll Need to Review Books

You’ll only need a computer and basic word processing software to get started.

The Pros and Cons of Writing Book Reviews

Creative (it’s fun to share your opinion on the books you read)
Chance to develop a strong writing portfolio
Can potentially earn up to $100 per review
Don’t always get to choose the books to review
Many authors/publishers will pressure you to give good reviews
Many review sites don’t pay (they give advanced copies)

Get Paid To Write Book Summaries

Summaries are becoming more popular with people too busy to read books.

Getting paid to write them is another legit way to earn.

🤑 How Much Can You Earn Writing Book Summaries?

The best gigs, with well-known companies like Blinkist and GetAbstract , are usually full-time.

This article estimates similar content writing positions paying around $75,000 per year . Don’t take this as the norm though, you’ll need extensive experience to land anything near this.

😎 Legit Places to Get Started Writing Book Summaries

Here are 2 legit places to earn cash writing book summaries :

Booklist Publications Pays $12.50 for 175-word book summaries. Also pays out $5 for rejections.
New Pages Looks for 100 to 200-word summaries on books or literary magazines. Doesn’t specify pay.

🤓 What Skills You’ll Need to Write Book Summaries

To do well writing book summaries you’ll need the ability to read fast and distil things down to a few major points.

Skills are similar to those needed by book reviewers.

💻 What Equipment You’ll Need Writing Book Summaries

A computer and basic word processing software.

The Pros and Cons of Writing Book Summaries

Upward trending industry with increasing opportunities
Book summary websites and apps are on the rise
Summaries can be harder to write than reviews
Might not be able to choose the books you summarize

Get Paid To Proofread Books

Proofreading is an important part of the publishing process. Authors or publishing companies will sometimes pay you to read texts first before they go out to the public.

This is a role that’s slowly becoming more automated, especially with tools like Grammarly.

🤑 How Much Can You Earn Proofreading?

Basic book proofreading jobs don’t pay that well. But when combined with other writing-based roles, especially editing and writing, you can expect to make anything between $35,000 – $120,000 for a full time remote position.

It’s possible to work with publishing houses directly as a proofreader. Doing so can often lead to higher paying opportunities. It involves reaching out and making contacts though.

😎 Legit Places to Get Started Proofreading

The best places to get started proofreading are the same as those we recommend for finding editing jobs : Flexjobs, Upwork and PeoplePerHour.

Similar opportunities to find work proofreading include getting paid to read manuscripts. AgentQuery is a good site to check out if that’s something you’re interested in. Sometimes they post book review opportunities too.

More info about proofreading jobs

🤓 What Skills You’ll Need to Be Successful Proofreading

Entry level proofreading jobs require only basic skills.

You’ll need to have a close eye for detail and be able to communicate any errors quickly.

💻 What Equipment You’ll Need For Proofreading

Basic computer equipment only.

The Pros and Cons of Proofreading

Minimal skills needed for basic proofreading
Though it’s not easy to find ‘proofreading only’ jobs for books (most look for writing and editing skills)

Get Paid To Read and Edit Books

Experienced editors have lots of opportunities when it comes to earning cash via reading.

Their role is important in helping to make texts easier to read. Most editors combine their work with other skills like proofreading and copywriting to increase their hourly rates.

🤑 How Much Can You Earn Editing Books?

The median salary for book editors is around $59,000 per year .

Many top level editors can make more than this, especially if they have direct connections with big publishers.

Entry-level editing work usually pays in the region of $10 – 20 per hour.

😎 3 Legit Places to Get Started Editing Books

FlexJobs There are lots of remote editing opportunities here. Most are US-based full-time positions but there are lots of freelance and part-time positions listed too.
Upwork Upwork is the place to go for freelance or hourly-based editing positions. A few of their recent listings include positions editing short stories in paranormal romance, non fiction business books and childrens books.
PeoplePerHour Many editors get started advertising their services here and taking on short-term gigs to build their experience. You’ll notice lots of proofreading and editing opportunities here.

🤓 What Skills You’ll Need Editing Books

Most top level editors have a range of skills. These include:

Proofreading Editors skim texts and identify problems
Grammatical changes Editors have a high command of the language and know how to use grammar precisely
Writing Changing wording to improve readability

A lot of these skills can be developed and improved through courses. Check out our articles:

Best Copy Editing Courses on Udemy
Best Writing Courses on Udemy
Earn More Writing Course Review

💻 What Equipment You’ll Need Editing Books

You don’t need any specialist equipment to make a good living in editing. A basic computer set-up should be enough.

The Pros and Cons of Editing Books

You get to read and help shape the books you read
Experienced and well-regarded editors can make good livings working from home
Many people competing for the same types of jobs
More info about editing jobs

Get Paid To Read Books Aloud

Getting paid to read books aloud sounds like a dream gig for a keen reader.

You get to read and others get to listen to the audio recording of the book. It’s not as easy as it sounds however.

🤑 How Much Can You Earn Reading Books Aloud?

There’s no such thing as typical earnings when it comes to narrating or reading books aloud. Pay depends on the length and type of book. The more experienced you are the more you’re likely to earn.

Business books tend to pay more than short children’s books. Especially those written by established authors. Most books in this genre pay around $50 – 100 per finished hour on sites like ACX.

Jobs are almost always on a freelance basis , meaning earnings are less dependable than some of the other full-time options on this list.

😎 The Best Place To Get Started Reading Books Aloud

Amazon’s ACX is like a freelance marketplace for publishers looking to convert texts into audiobooks.

Connecting narrators and sound engineers to authors or publishing groups, you have to audition for gigs. Each new listing shows reading time and earning rate (usually per finished hour).

Voices and Bunny Studio are two other places to explore but most opportunities are for things like adverts or podcasts rather than audiobooks.

🤓 What Skills You’ll Need To Read Books Aloud

Most narrators scoring gigs at ACX are trained actors with a background in theatre or film.

You’ll need a good reading voice and understanding of pacing to do well.

💻 What Equipment You’ll Need To Read Books Aloud

Reading books aloud needs some specialist equipment. Basic things include:

Voice editing software
Access to a soundproof studio

The Pros and Cons of Reading Books Aloud

Can choose which books to read
Highly competitive
Pay can be misleading (you get paid for an hour of finished audiobook, not an hour of work)

Get Paid to Read and Translate Books

Getting paid to read a book and translate it into another language is a highly technical skill.

To make it work you’ll need an audience in the language you’re translating a book to or from.

🤑 How Much Can You Earn Reading and Translating Books?

The pay in translation work varies a lot. Generally it depends on three factors:

Language competency

The better you are in each the higher hourly rate you’ll be able to command. But you’ll also need to work in languages that are in high demand.

Less widely spoken languages seem to have less competition when it comes to jobs though.

😎 Legit Places To Get Started Translating Books

The best places to find translation jobs are the same as those for editing and proofreading work. These all require working in English to some extent.

FlexJobs Recent opportunities here include German, French, Italian and Japanese book translation work. Earning ranges from $25 – $30 per hour.
Upwork Book translations aren’t as common as stand-alone article translation work but they still appear regularly. Earnings range from $6 – $25 per hour.

More options and info about translation jobs .

💻 What Equipment You’ll Need To Read and Translate Books

Basic computer equipment is all you’ll need.

🤓 What Skills You’ll Need To Read and Translate Books

Aside from having mastery in another language, you’ll also need these skills:

Writing ability
Communication
Organization

The Pros and Cons of Reading and Translating Books

Regular opportunities (especially for widely spoken languages)
Don’t get to choose what to read
Competition for work (intense for commonly spoken languages)

Freelance 👉 Authority

Most of the options listed so far can be considered freelance work. Freelancing is one of the easiest ways to get started earning money online .

The next few options are more about building an authority business . These kinds of businesses can be more rewarding creatively and financially, but it usually takes more time and effort to see results.

Get Paid To Blog About Books

Starting a blog about books gives you a lot of creative control over what you can read.

It also opens up the possibility of more monetization options. But you’ll need a broad skill-set – successful bloggers don’t just read and write!

🤑 How Much Can You Earn Blogging About Books?

Blog earnings are variable. Work hard and it’s possible to make a full-time living (and more).

Here are the ways most bloggers make money:

Amazon Affiliates Make a commission from recommending books and reading-related products on Amazon (eg. tablets and Kindle devices). The higher the cost of the item, the more money you’ll make, but Amazon’s commission rates are notoriously low, usually less than 5% of the purchase price.
Display advertising Placing ads on your blog is another way to increase your earnings. The more traffic you can drive to your site, the more impressions the ads will get. You’ll make more as a result. Popular ad platforms include Ezoic, AdThrive and Mediavine.
Sponsored posts Sometimes publishers of product marketers will pay you to promote things on your blog. Usually they’ll do this by providing a guest post talking about their product or service.

😎 Legit Blogs About Books That Earn Money

There are many legit blogs centered on reading books. Here are two interesting ones:

Brainpickings Brainpickings started as an email series set up by Maria Popova talking about the lessons she was learning from books, creativity and art. Originally intended to be shared among her colleagues in advertising, Brainpickings has since grown into a blog that’s read by over 7 million people monthly. It’s monetized mainly by donations.
Nat Eliason Nat Eliason has grown his personal blog into a monetization machine that promotes his courses and marketing business. The site gets a lot of traction thanks to Nat’s book notes (a category he calls “The Brain”). There are over 250 books covered here, mainly non-fiction. Nat earns from packaging these notes as well as affiliate commissions through Amazon.

🤓 What Skills You’ll Need to Read and Blog About Books

To do well in blogging you’ll need a broad skill-set. You’ll need to have some technical experience setting up a site and using a content management system like WordPress.

You’ll also need to be persistent, disciplined and resilient. It can take a long time to get results.

💻 What Equipment You’ll Need to Read and Blog About Books

You only need a basic computer set-up to get started blogging.

The Pros and Cons of Reading and Blogging About Books

High earning potential (if you succeed)
You get to choose what to read and write about
Need a big audience to earn well
Return on investment is slow (you could be blogging for years before you’re able to earn money)

Get Paid To Podcast About Books

Just like blogging, you can earn by podcasting about books. A lot of the pros and cons are similar.

🤑 How Much Can You Earn Podcasting About Books?

Podcasts mainly earn by paid sponsorship. The amount you can earn depends on the number of downloads from listeners.

Industry standards are around $20 – 25 per 1000 listens for a 60-second mid-roll promotion ( source ).

Patreon is another popular way to earn money from podcasting. Subscribers pay a monthly recurring fee for early access.

😎 Legit Podcasts About Books That Earn Money

Book Riot A weekly podcast connected to another successful book blog. Has over 400 episodes available for public download.
So Many Damn Books Popular podcast run by two New York-based book-enthusiasts that earns from both Patreon donations and advertising sponsorship.
Book Fight Another two-person podcast that earns from Patreon and commissions from book sales made through Book Fight’s website.

🤓 What Skills You’ll Need to Podcast About Books

To make a good podcast you’ll need sound recording, editing and software skills.

You’ll also need strong research and organization skills to plan podcasts, book guests and publicize your show.

💻 What Equipment You’ll Need to Podcast About Books

As well as basic computing equipment you’ll want a good microphone.

Access to a soundproofed studio could also help improve production quality.

The Pros and Cons of Podcasting About Books

You get to choose what to read and talk about
Slow return on investment (you could be podcasting for years before you’re able to earn money)

Get Paid to Talk About Books on YouTube

YouTube is a creative and potentially lucrative platform to share your love of books and reading.

Becoming a successful “booktuber” isn’t easy however. There’s a lot of skills you’ll have to master.

🤑 How Much Can You Earn As a Booktuber?

Creators on YouTube monetize their videos via a mix of YouTube advertising, affiliate commissions and sponsorships. The more views you get, the more money you’ll make.

See examples of YouTubers from different niches and how much money they make

😎 Legit Booktubers Earning Money Reading and Talking About Books

PolandBananasBOOKS With over 400K subscribers, Christine Riccio makes weekly vlogs about books, comedy and everything in between. Some of her more popular videos discuss the Harry Potter and Twilight fiction series.
Jessethereader Jesse is another big booktuber who does predictions, round-ups, unboxing and other fun book-related activities. His most watched videos are list-type comedy videos but he also has interviews, challenges and product reviews.
Katytastic Kat talks about both reading and writing on her YouTube channel. Her updates are less frequent than the above examples but she’s still grown a sizable platform of 250K subscribers.

🤓 What Skills You’ll Need To Read and Talk About Books On YouTube

You’ll need to have some diverse skills to make it on YouTube.

Video editing and recording skills are a must starting out. You’ll need to get comfortable talking in front of a camera and be creative when it comes to video topics.

Building a personal brand is crucial to making YouTube work.

💻 What Equipment You’ll Need To Read and Talk About Books On YouTube

You can get started making videos with basic video recording equipment on a decent smartphone or laptop.

Develop a following and you could reinvest into more high-tech hardware and software later.

The Pros and Cons of Becoming A Booktuber

Good earning potential (if you succeed)
You get to choose what to read and make videos about
You’ll probably need to sell your personality more than your love of reading
Building an audience can take a while

Get Paid To Read Books As A Publisher

Starting a book publishing business could bring a lot of opportunities to read and discover new books and authors. Although it isn’t necessary, it’s definitely one perk of the job that will appeal to book lovers.

🤑 How Much Can You Earn Publishing Books?

Running a publishing business isn’t easy. You won’t earn per hour or project. You’ll have to buy or negotiate the publishing rights to books and hope they sell well to earn a percentage.

How much you earn depends entirely on your business skills.

😎 The Best Sites To Get Started In Publishing

To do well in publishing you’ll need to tap into self-published authors and market their books effectively. Sites like Amazon and Goodreads can be great for this. Especially the new author or self-published categories of either site.

Approaching bloggers or YouTubers that have good audiences is another idea. You could strike up book deals with these creators and negotiate a percentage of the sales on your behalf.

🤓 What Skills You’ll Need To Be Successful In Publishing

Doing well in publishing means doing well in business. To do that, you’ll need the following skills:

An eye for talent
Ability to negotiate (especially when it comes to royalties, commissions or percentages)
Organization and management

💻 What Equipment You’ll Need To Get Started In Publishing

Starting out, it makes most sense to stick to digital books rather than paper.

A basic computer set-up is enough.

The Pros and Cons of Publishing

High potential earnings (especially if you find and market a best-seller)
Good business model for people with an existing platform (blog, YouTube channel, etc.)
Very difficult to get started with
Need strong business skills

💬 Know other ways you can get paid to read books?

If so, let us know in the comments below .

Other ways to make money online

There are many other ways to make money online, to work from home or anywhere in the world.

Full list of ways to make money online
More profiles of online money makers

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Get Paid to Read Books: 15 Top Companies for Book Reviewers

September 30, 2020 by Jane 15 Comments

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Do you enjoy reading books as a hobby? If so, you might be delighted to know you can get paid to read books!

If you can bury yourself in a book, reading it chapter after chapter, and can write an on-point book review, then this side hustle may be perfect for you.

This post may contain affiliate links. I may earn from qualifying purchases at NO extra cost to you.

How to become a book reviewer

Table of Contents

Right now, you’re probably asking: How do you become a book reviewer? Do you need to hold a specific degree or earn a particular certification? Do you even need training for it?

Fortunately, there’s not much that you need to become a book reviewer. First, you need to be a voracious reader. You must really love reading books. If you spend a good time in the library reading books or always made a point to visit the bookstore to check out books from your favorite author, then you’ll most likely qualify to become a book reviewer.

However, you also need to be a good writer. After reading the book, you will have to write a book review. You should be able to follow the guidelines of the editorial staff. Most editors are busy, so they’ll appreciate book reviewers who can create concise, onpoint, and objective perspectives about the book. Make sure not to give out spoilers or discuss the plot twists. Book Trust has a fantastic guide in writing book reviews here .

Additionally, having a sample book review, resume or CV, and website or blog link ready would be very useful when you’re hunting for book review gigs. Some companies require one or all of these, so it’s best to have them digitally stored when you apply. If you want to specialize in this niche, it’s a good to place all your book reviews in one place so that publishers and authors can easily see if you’re a good fit for them.

How much do book reviewers make?

Reading a book can take some time and writing a review will also require some effort and brain energy, so you’re probably wondering how much you can make as a book reviewer.

There is no standard rate for book reviewers. According to Career Trend , you may earn zero dollars plus a free book, or $300 per review from top publishers. Those who are employed full-time by a publisher can make a more predictable income.

So as you can see, being a book reviewer isn’t always lucrative, and it won’t promise steady income. It’s a good side hustle for people who enjoy reading books as a hobby, but it probably won’t pay your mortgage.

Most people who love reading books also love writing. If you also want to make money writing, I highly recommend starting your own blog! I make a full-time income from this blog and I can help you do the same! Check out this detailed, step-by-step guide on how to start a blog and make money from your blog as a beginner.

Top Publishers That Pay You For Book Reviews

Now let’s get down to the list of publishers that hire book reviewers, how much they pay, what they require, and what it’s like to work with them.

Related: 15 Inspiring Hobbies that Make Money

Online Book Club

One of the most popular book review sites is Online Book Club . Joining the Club is quite easy: just sign up and pick a book you’d want to read and review. The first review you write that’s accepted by the editorial staff isn’t paid, but all the subsequent book reviews will earn you somewhere between $5 to $60, plus a free copy of the book. Additionally, Online Book Club awards a $25 Amazon gift card for every 30 book reviews you write. .

Reedsy Discovery

If you want to get your hands on the best new books even before they hit the market, joining Reedsy Discovery will help you get paid to read books online. Reedsy has a massive library of books by self-published authors, so you’ll most likely to find books that you enjoy reading. You won’t get paid much, except for tips from authors ($1, $3 or $5). But as you build your reputation as a book reviewer, you can connect with authors directly for book review gigs.

Kirkus Media

Do you want to know how to become a book reviewer for Amazon? Join Kirkus Media! It is the prime source for book reviews for books that are sold on Amazon.

Kirkus Media is often hiring book reviewers, so it’s great to try your luck here before anywhere else. In your application, mention any relevant experience you have as that may increase your chance of being noticed.

Once you get in, you’ll have thousands of books from across genres that you can read and write a 350-word book review for. Details about the rates, however, are not specified on the site but you will get paid by check 60 days after your review is submitted and approved.

Book Browse

Book Browse is another legit company that hires people to read and review books. This company aims to help readers pick out the best books for them by publishing book reviews. If you’re wondering how you become a book reviewer for Book Browse, you’ll need to fill out a short online form and send them two sample book reviews. According to its website, Book Browse gives book reviewers a modest payment and a byline. However, most reviewers only get to review one book each month.

Publishers Weekly

Publishers Weekly is a weekly news magazine with a core focus on the publishing industry. The company has a long list of book genres that are open for book review including children’s books, mystery/thrillers, religion, lifestyle, and tnonfiction, from self-published as well as traditionally-published authors. To work with PW, you need to send your resume and a sample 200-word review. Book reviewers are paid an honorarium, but the amount is not disclosed publicly.

Any Subject Books

Any Subject Books is a book review website that aims to supply honest and objective book reviews to readers. To do this, the site provides a standard form that book reviewers need to fill in, evaluating the book’s style, characters, plot, etc. Any Subject Books is also generous in sending reviewers books in their desired genres. The deadlines for book reviews are mutually decided by the book reviewer and Any Subject Books, and payment varies accordingly.

UPDATE 2024: Anysubject.com is no longer available

Women’s Review of Books

If you love to read books written by women authors for women audiences, then it’s a great idea to work for Women’s Review of Books. Women’s Review of books has been around for the last three decades, reviewing a wide range of literary works, including poetry, fiction and memoirs, among others.

If you wish to apply, attach one of your best book reviews as a sample as well as your resume. You will be compensated with a PDF issue where your book review appears, one year subscription to their magazine and $100 for every successfully approved book review.

The U.S. Review of Books

Another reputable book review website is the U.S Review of Books . The company hires freelance book reviewers who can write professional objective reviews of their books. The U.S Review of Books has an extensive selection of books spanning different genres, and they’re looking for reviewers who can provide an honest yet objective critique aboutthe book, and not the author. Book reviews should be around 250-300 words and are formatted according to the Chicago Manual of Style. Payment is not disclosed, but according to most sources, the company pays via check once a month.

Booklist Online

Booklist is owned by the American Review Association, striving to help readers pick the best books that are worth their time. There are over 8,000 books published on Booklist, so the magazine constantly hires book reviewers. Books are of a wide variety, including fiction, nonfiction and young adult. You can write a book a review of 175 words to 225 words, and receive $15 for every approved book review. Make sure to follow the editorial team’s guidelines for writing book reviews to make sure you don’t get rejected.

10. Writerful Books

Writerful Books works with authors and publishers seeking honest reviews of their work. As an author services company, they are constantly searching for book reviewers with unique and engaging voices to help with their growing list of titles.

Whether you’re into mystery, romance, fantasy, or non-fiction, you can choose the books that interest you the most and write reviews on them.

Writerful Books pays anywhere from $10 to $50 . If you consistently publish high-quality reviews for them, they may even reach out to you with more opportunities.

If you are interested in becoming a book reviewer for Writerful Books, it would be ideal to check out their website for more information on their guidelines.

11. Foreword Reviews

Foreword Reviews is a company that provides summaries and reviews written by independent authors and publishers. They boast of a team of professional reviewers who come from diverse backgrounds, including published authors, librarians, and teachers.

When you write for Foreword Reviews, you get to keep the books they send you. And here’s the best part—you have the freedom to choose the books you want to read and review. Foreword Reviews also offers a fair compensation of $55 per review. In addition to the pay rate, you have a whole month to complete each assignment.

You can apply by sending your application to their managing editor.

12. Book Tasters

Whether you are a seasoned reviewer or just starting out, BookTasters welcomes all book enthusiasts to join their community.

BookTasters already have over 5,000 readers on board, but they are in need of more to help authors improve their work.

To join BookTasters, you must have an Amazon Verified account and a Goodreads account. This is to ensure that you are a legitimate reader and have a platform to share your reviews. Once you have these accounts, you can go to the BookTasters website and sign up to become a reviewer . Browse through the available books and request to review the ones that interest you. If your request is approved, you will receive a digital copy of the book to read.

When you become a part of the BookTasters community, you’ll have the chance to participate in competitions and even win prizes.

13. eBookFairs

Another option on the list is eBookFairs. They have a program called Paid Book Reader where you can make money by writing reviews of the books featured on their website.

eBookFairs has a straightforward set of guidelines for book reviews. Book reviews need to be at least 200 words long and provide valuable feedback to authors. You can learn more about their guidelines here .

They also have specific rules in place for paying their reviewers. You can check out their site to see how much you can earn for each review and what steps you need to take to get paid.

14. Reader’s Favorite

Reader’s Favorite is a well-known book review and contest website that connects authors with book reviewers. They already have a team of over 1,000 reviewers, but they are always on the lookout for more professional and talented reviewers. If you have good writing skills and want to help readers and authors alike, then Reader’s Favorite is the perfect place for you.

Reader’s Favorite only accepts digital books for review. If you want to be a part of their team, you need to be willing to read and review books in digital format. However, the good thing is that you can earn money and even win cash prizes by simply reading and reviewing these books.

13. Tyndale Blog Network

Ever heard of My Reader Rewards Club ? It is a program run by the Tyndale Blog Network. This program is centered around a special rewards system where you can earn points by participating in different activities on the site. These include inviting a friend to join the program and sharing a link on Facebook.

At My Reader Rewards Club, you can also earn points by writing a review for a Tyndale or NavPress book on Amazon or Barnes & Noble. You can earn up to 50 points in a month and these points can then be redeemed to snag more books from Tyndale’s collection.

If you’re interested in participating, you can find more information in the FAQ section on their website .

14. Blue Ink Review

Blue Ink Review is a reputable book review service that offers paid reviews to self-published authors and publishers. They are always looking for reviewers who have a strong command of the English language and can write honest and insightful book reviews.

The company also takes great care in matching the right book with the right reviewers, so choose a specific genre that you are knowledgeable of and passionate about. For instance, if you have a particular interest in science fiction, highlight this in your application. If accepted, you will be assigned books to review, typically in the genres you are interested in.

The compensation details are not mentioned, but if you wish to become a reviewer, make sure to read and understand their guidelines .

Upwork is a popular online platform where people can find jobs in many different industries. While Upwork is often associated with traditional freelance jobs like graphic design and virtual assistance, it may come as a surprise to learn that authors and publishers also post book review jobs on the platform. Here’s an example :

To get started, sign up as a freelancer on Upwork. In your profile, mention any relevant experience you have as a book reviewer. This could include writing book reviews for blogs, literary magazines, or other platforms. It’s also a good idea to show a portfolio of your work. This could include samples of your writing, such as book reviews or literary analyses. Once your account is set up, you can start bidding on book review projects that interest you.

The amount of money you can make by reviewing books on Upwork varies depending on the project and the client. Some clients pay reviewers on an hourly basis, while others pay per project completed. Successful reviewers may receive offers for long-term partnerships with authors or publishing companies.

Get Paid To Read Books: Is It Worth Becoming A Book Reviewer?

If you want to get paid to read books, you should first look at these nine places and see where you can possibly land a book review gig. Some of them pay more than the others, but of course, you also have to consider the selection of books they offer. You probably won’t enjoy reading memoirs if you love romance novels, right? To make your work as a book reviewer more pleasurable, try to find book reviewer jobs where you can get access to your favorite kinds of books.

All in all, working as a book reviewer is a great way to get paid to read books. You are not just enjoying your hobby, but getting paid for doing what you love. It isn’t very lucrative though, so it’s probably best to keep this as a side hustle and not your main source of income.

Have you tried working as a book reviewer? If so, how was your experience?

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Reader Interactions

Muhammad Ayyaz

August 06, 2021 at 11:52 am

I am a mechanical engineer I worked in a university as a mechanical engineer from 1981 to2019 so my interest is in mechanical technology. I am also a master in education from the University of Punjab Lahore Pakistan.

August 08, 2021 at 12:26 am

I’m interested in doing this. I love to read. I’m just not sure about my writing skills.

Donna Rice-Saffold

September 18, 2023 at 7:51 am

I like to read and am interested in a we ork from home advrnture. I sometime serve as a substitute teacher im my local school area and have grans who love to hear & read good stories.

November 25, 2023 at 4:03 pm

I am a CPA who loves to read. I was in a number of on line reading/book club groups when I was approached to write reviews after reading books sent to me. As these were advanced copies, I could not sell them, but was allowed to keep any and I generally chose which books I wished to read and review as well as which genres I was interested in There were deadlines for the reviews and the only payment I received was the free book. I did nothing to arrange this gig and loved doing it, allow eventually the deadlines interfered with tax season hours and I let the reviews end. Worthwhile? Yes. Better now though with payments for the reviews, but I would still do them, even just for the free books!

Ms. Amber Naz

March 15, 2024 at 9:16 pm

How to join this opportunity???

August 21, 2023 at 10:34 am

I’m interested in this

Tammy L Thompson

September 04, 2023 at 3:39 pm

Is this legitimate I mean the date says Jane 3rd?

March 14, 2024 at 12:16 pm

I love reading books and so interested to start writing reviews also ….

October 14, 2023 at 2:38 am

I am really interested in reading.

October 22, 2023 at 10:16 pm

Hi I am interested in reading a book.

Thobelani Nkomo

December 21, 2023 at 8:15 am

I’m up if you looking for someone

January 02, 2024 at 3:40 pm

Books have always been apart of me. I love that I can get lost in the story, escape yor troubles. I can’t wait to start.

Anusiya Kirubaharan

March 18, 2024 at 2:34 pm

I am available to read a book. A book review can be done. I am in Canada.

January 07, 2024 at 1:54 am

I am interested

March 20, 2024 at 6:24 am

Funny how people who say they want a gig reading do not read the article that tells them how to get a gig reading.

Latest from “Money”

IMAGES

How to Become a Paid Book Reviewer
Paid Book Reviews: Are They Worth it? (All You Need to Know)
Paid Book Reviews: Are They Worth it? (All You Need to Know)
How to Write a Great Book Review: 6 Templates and Ideas
How to Get Paid to Write Online Reviews
Best Paid Book Review Sites for Authors

COMMENTS

Get Paid to Read: 18 Legitimate Sites That Pay Reviewers
5. Online Book Club. 💸 Pay: $5 to $60. 👀 More information: Check here. Online Book Club's FAQ begins with a warning for all aspiring book reviewers: "First of all, this is not some crazy online get-rich-quick scheme. You won't get rich and you won't be able to leave your day job.".
6 of the Best Ways to Get Paid to Read Books
Booklist is a magazine catered toward librarians. They also occasionally publish reviews in their print and online versions. Just like the magazines aforementioned, Booklist is also constantly looking for reviewers. For a word count of 150-175, the pay is a meager $15. If you reject a book, you get $5.
Want to Get Paid to Review Books? Try These 7 Publishers
Pay: The website pays between $5 and $60 per review. 3. Kirkus Media. Tina Russell / The Penny Hoarder. As a book reviewer for Kirkus Media, not only will you be paid for your hard work but your reviews will also be featured in its magazine, "Kirkus Indie".
Get Paid to Review Books: 5 Book Review Jobs Sites That Pay Reviewers
To review books effectively, having a good education is important. EduBirdie can help you improve your skills and knowledge, making you better at reviewing books.. Book review jobs sites that pay reviewers. So, if you want to get paid to review books online, here is a list of five websites that you can explore to find book review jobs:. 1) The US Review of Books
Interested in joining Discovery as a book reviewer?
Submit your application. The best books go undiscovered — be part of the movement that shines a light on them. Apply to become a reviewer. Streamline your workflow, access hundreds of books for free before they are published, and earn money while doing what you love.
12 Legit Ways to Get Paid to Read Books
8. Start a book review blog, YouTube channel, or podcast. If you want to get paid to read books and write reviews but you don't want to work with a book review company, you could monetize your reading skills with a blog, YouTube channel, or podcast. There are a variety of ways to make money with a book review blog, including:
How to Become a Book Reviewer: 10 Tips for Getting Paid to Read
Below are 10 essential tips for anyone interested in becoming a book reviewer. 1. Read a lot of books. If you're interested in becoming a professional book reviewer or critic, I'm guessing you already have a love for books. If not, you should probably consider another line of work, because reading won't get any more enjoyable once you ...
How to Get Paid to Read Books
Most reviewers get fourteen cents per paid word, and the company welcomes suggestions for books to review as well. 6. Upwork. Upwork, a freelancing network that connects freelancers with those in need of help, may offer some positions for writing reviews on books for websites or blogs. Of course, job availability varies.
17 Ways to Get Paid to Read Books (Up to $225/hr)
17 Fun & Legit Ways To Get Paid To Read Books. From book reviews to book-related jobs, there are tons of ways that you can make money reading books. Below are 17 different ways. Use These Websites to Get Paid to Review Books Online. Getting paid to review books doesn't mean that you only have to write positive reviews.
How To Get Paid To Read Books, Plus 6 Top Book Reviewer Jobs
Book Reviewer. Pay range: $5-$50 per review for beginners. This is one of the easiest ways to get paid to read books. There are a variety of companies that will pay you for your thoughtful reviews, though the per-job pay isn't amazing. If you're a prolific reader, though, this can be a nice way to pick up some extra money regularly.
18 Best Ways to Make Money by Reading
Just post your thoughts, get 100 followers, and start making money by reading books and posting your thoughts. 4. Podcast it, baby. Podcasts work similarly to BookTok or Bookstagram to make money ...
Get Paid to Read Books
Get Paid to Read Books With These Companies: #1. Kirkus. Kirkus is a book reviewing company that regularly hires book reviewers on a freelance basis. You can apply here with your résumé, writing samples, and the genres you specialize in.. The job involves writing in-depth reviews of around 350 words about the books, which are mostly from self-published authors.
Best Paid Book Review Sites for Authors
These two book review sites also deliver your ARC copy to both readers and reviewers. But, they focus more on getting your ARC securely to reviewers, bloggers, and your book army. #3 BookSirens. BookSirens boasts over 10,000 readers across various genres with an average review rate of 75%, making it an attractive site to get book reviews.
How to Become a Book Reviewer in 12 Steps
Look for books that sound intriguing; then if you love it, find a way to convince your readers that they might love it too. Step 5. Host all your reviews in one place. Any freelance writer (such as a reviewer) these days needs to have a strong online presence.
How To Become A Book Reviewer: 29+ Websites That Pay You To Read!
Booklist is a website dedicated to online book reviews in a range of genres. It also has a magazine that publishes book reviews. Freelancers can write reviews for submission to the website or in the magazine, with each review paying $15. Even if your review gets rejected, you'll get $5.
Get Paid to Read Books: 42 Legit Sites
Simply complete the application to get started and you'll earn $1, $3, or $5 per review, as each author determines the pay. 3. Online Book Club. Online Book Club pays $5 to $60 per review and you get the book for free. Provide your email address here, if you're interested.
74 Publications That Pay Freelancers for Book Reviews, Interviews, and
Book reviews aren't as ubiquitous as they used to be, but as of 2022, at least 74 publications still pay freelance writers for book reviews and author interviews. To build this exhaustive list as a free community resource, I collaborated with the wonderful Chelsea Leu to create a more detailed version for the National Book Critics Circle ...
Get Paid to Read Books: 20 Best Sites For Reading Opportunities
For the reviews you submit in a month, you get paid the following month via check. 6) New Pages. New Pagesis not exactly a 'get paid to read books' program. This website gives opportunities for kids to publish their reviews on what they have enjoyed reading recently. It accepts short reviews - 200 words maximum.
20 Proven Ways To Get Paid To Read Books in 2024
Here are 20 different ways and websites where you can get paid to read books: 1. Kirkus Review. Kirkus Review is a highly reputable website that reviews books of all genres and formats. The site is seeking experienced reviewers of English and Spanish titles written by self-published authors for Kirkus Indie.
How to Get Paid to Read Books
01. The 6 best ways to make money from reading. You can get paid to narrate, edit, or review books. Check out these 6 ways to make money from reading: 1. Narrate audiobooks. An audiobook narrator is someone who reads books aloud for audio recordings.
Get Paid To Read Books: 11 Legit Ways To Make Money
Here are 4 legit sites that pay writers per review. Online Book Club: Pays anything between $5 to $60 per book review. Other sites that pay freelancers for book reviews but aren't that clear on rates include: Dog Eared Reviews. Book marketing company that pays for positive (4 stars and above) reviews only.
Get Paid to Read Books: 15 Top Companies for Book Reviewers
The first review you write that's accepted by the editorial staff isn't paid, but all the subsequent book reviews will earn you somewhere between $5 to $60, plus a free copy of the book. Additionally, Online Book Club awards a $25 Amazon gift card for every 30 book reviews you write. .
Get Paid to Read: Companies That Reward Your Book Reviews
Dive into this list of companies that offer compensation for your valuable perspectives on the world of books. Online Book Club. Overview: Online Book Club provides free books in exchange for honest reviews. Payments range from $5 to $60 per review, depending on the book's length. Kirkus. Overview: Kirkus Media hires freelance book reviewers ...

6 of the Best Ways to Get Paid to Read Books

Arvyn Cerézo

Writing Book Reviews for Publishers Weekly

Writing Book Reviews for Kirkus Reviews

Reviewing for Booklist

Writing Audiobook Reviews for AudioFile Magazine

Writing Book Reviews for Online Book Club

Pitching Directly to Magazines and Publications

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Get Paid to Review Books: 5 Book Review Jobs Sites That Pay Reviewers

Book review jobs sites that pay reviewers

1) The US Review of Books

2) Kirkus Reviews

3) OnlineBookClub

4) Booklist Publications

5) Women’s Review of Books

Ready to begin your book reviewer job?

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12 Legit Ways to Get Paid to Read Books

Sites That Pay You to Write Book Reviews

1. The US Review of Books

2. Kirkus Media

3. Online Book Club

4. Women’s Review of Books

5. Publisher’s Weekly

6. WordsRated

Other Ways to Make Money Reading Books

7. Become an audiobook narrator.

8. Start a book review blog, YouTube channel, or podcast.

9. Become a freelance book review writer.

10. Become a book proofreader or editor.

11. Become a freelance beta reader.

12. Learn a new skill and implement it.

Do What You Love and Monetize Your Reading Hobby

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17 Ways to Get Paid to Read Books (Up to $225/hr)

17 Fun & Legit Ways To Get Paid To Read Books

Use These Websites to Get Paid to Review Books Online

1. Online Book Club

2. Women’s Review of Books

3. Writerful Books

4. The U.S. Review of Books

5. getAbstract

6. Booklist Online

7. Reedsy Discovery

8. BookBrowse

9. Kirkus Media

10. eBookFairs

How to Get Paid to Read Books With These Online Jobs and Side Hustles

11. Audiobook Narration

12. Freelance Read Manuscripts/Beta Reader

13. Editor/Proofreader

14. Copyediting

15. Publisher

16. Book Illustrator

17. Book Translator

Where to Find Remote Jobs for Bookworms

More Ways to Get Paid to Read:

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there jobs that pay you to read books?

How much do book readers get paid?

How can I write a good book review?

Can I get paid to read books out loud?

Wrapping It Up & Actionable Tips

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How To Get Paid To Read Books (Plus 5 Legit Companies That Pay for Reviews)

Can you really get paid to read books?

What types of jobs are available for avid readers?

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