What is an ARC Reader and Why Do I Want to Be One?

That's you, the early bird, getting your free worm

Leading up to the launch of a book, authors start using the term "ARC" pretty frequently on social media and on our slightly deranged rants to ourselves. ARC stands for "Advanced Reader Copy," and it's a pretty sweet deal for readers and authors both.

Sometimes as long as 6 months but usually 1-3 months before a book goes on sale, authors build a list of advanced readers who get a free copy of their book in exchange for the readers' agreement to leave an honest review on Amazon, Storygraph, Goodreads, Fable, Netgalley, social media—or all of the above!

What an ARC reader gets

Typically, ARC readers are provided a free PDF, ebook, or digital galley by email or through a system like Bookfunnel or NetGalley. Some authors provide physical ARC copies, which often have a placeholder cover as the final cover is in design. ARCs feature a disclaimer that there may be typos or errors remaining, as it won't be the final, final edit of the book.

What an ARC reader provides in exchange

At a minimum, ARC readers are asked to provide an honest review of the book, either in the weeks leading up to launch during preorders or during launch week. Within these reviews, ARC readers must divulge that they received a free copy of the book, per the FTC.

Some ARC readers may fall in love with the book and want to be champions of it, posting on their social media and drumming up interest in the lead-up to the book's launch and during launch week.

What should ARC readers not do?

Recently, authors and PR companies started instructing ARC readers to wait to post a negative review until 2-3 weeks after launch day to give the book the best chance at launch. This is not a legal request. These authors can face legal and financial consequences for asking for this, but because it was a trending idea, people are picking it up without realizing the risk. If you are an ARC reader and see this in the communications surrounding an ARC, feel free to inform them if you are so inclined or to simply ignore it.

ARC readers are hand-selected by authors and their teams. Your ARC copy is for you only. It's not to be distributed to other people. It's certainly not to be uploaded to pirating sites. And physical ARCs cannot be resold.

So if you want to read books for free and talk about them, ARC reading is a win-win! Keep an eye out for posts from authors you follow on social media asking for ARC readers. Many also have places on their author website for you to sign up to be an ARC reader. Readers can also set up free NetGalley accounts to request books.

Want to be an ARC reader for A King's Trust? Sign up on my get involved form!