How to Receive Advance Reader Copies (ARCs) and Read Your Anticipated Releases Before Anyone Else
As readers, we all get excited for our favorite authors’ upcoming releases. We add them to our TBR list. We make calendars marking when they’ll be available to purchase. But what if I told you that you can get a copy of that book and read it before anyone else? Well, there’s a way you can do that and that’s by getting an Advance Reader Copy.
What is an Advance Reader Copy?
Advance Reader Copy (simply known as ARCs) is a pre-publication version of a book that is sent to readers in exchange for fair and honest reviews. The purpose of these Advance Reader Copies is to drive up publicity and hype for a book before its release.
For most book influencers and content creators, reviewing Advance Reader Copies is a typical part of our work and steady source of content creation.
How do I get an Advance Reader Copy?
For book influencers and reviewers, there are multiple ways to request and receive advanced reader copies, but below are the five most common ways readers get ARCs.
NetGalley
NetGalley is a website that directly manages ARC distribution for hundreds of publishers and matches them with readers that want to read their front list. Most of my ARCs come directly from NetGalley, and, in my opinion, I believe NetGalley is the easiest way for readers to gain access to Advance Reader Copies.
There are many reasons why I feel that NetGalley is the easiest way for readers to receive Advance Reader Copies, and I’ve listed some of those reasons down below:
It’s free for readers to sign up and request ARCs.
They have a “Read Now” feature that allows users to instantly get approved for an Advance Reader Copy.
NetGalley has options to sort through and request both digital and audiobook formats.
You don’t need to have a huge following in order to get started on NetGalley, but you need a platform that you regularly utilize to share your book reviews. Additionally, you will need to build up your Feedback Ratio in order to get more opportunities to receive Advance Reader Copies beyond the ones marked as “Read Now”.
Nevertheless, it’s a beginner-friendly platform with plenty of helpful resources to help you get started in requesting and reading Advance Reader Copies.
Giveaways
Occasionally, an author or their publisher will decide to place their advanced reader copies of their book in a giveaway to drive up hype for the book. These giveaways, either occurring on social media or on a platform like GoodReads, often drive a high number of entries just for the sheer nature of the giveaway and little to no requirements necessary to enter.
When I was researching and drafting this article, I went to look at my entries from various GoodReads giveaways that I entered recently. You want to know how many other people wanted the same books that I did? I saw entry numbers that ranged from 3,000 people to over 26,000 people!
Anywhere from debut authors to reigning bestsellers can rack up thousands of entries alone just to get a free copy of their book. While you may be lucky to secure a copy, it’s not always the most sustainable option if you want to be regularly reviewing advanced reader copies.
Publisher Influencer Programs
Another way publishers try to generate hype for their upcoming books, specifically Big 5 Publishers, is to send them to readers who are part of their influencer programs. These programs often feature influencers, some of whom have very large followings on social media, that read/review their upcoming titles and then share those reviews online to their audience.
These programs are similar to NetGalley’s structure, but you have more of a direct relationship with the publisher(s) you’re working for and that these programs often have a competitive application process. If you have a large following on social media, this could be a good option for you to receive Advance Reader Copies.
To find these programs, visit the website of the publisher you’re interested in collaborating with and see if they have information on influencer programs.
Book PR Companies
A not as often talked about avenue for readers to request and receive ARCs are bookish PR companies, These companies often work with authors (usually indie or self-published authors) to organize their ARCs management as well as other marketing-related services to promote their books.
While I haven’t had much experience working with these companies, it could be a good way to get your foot in the door or you personally enjoy the idea of working with indie authors on your platform. Please keep in mind that these companies often use applications when selecting ARC readers and you would need to follow strict guidelines in regards to where and when you can post your reviews.
You can usually find these companies through a quick Google search, but here are some places to look into.
Contacting Authors/Publishers Directly
It is possible for readers to receive Advance Reader Copies by contacting the author or their publisher directly. However, I would use this tactic with caution and not make it a regular practice.
This tactic might work better for contacting indie and self-published authors. They’re more likely to respond and these authors would usually have ARC applications for readers to fill out if they want an Advance Reader Copy of their book. Yet, this ultimately depends on the author and their personal preferences.
Additionally, contacting the author’s publisher about ARCs could help you get one, especially if you’re very passionate about the author’s previous works and/or if you are an #OwnVoices reviewer.
If you go down this path, I would recommend checking out Jules Buono’s Email Template for emailing publishers on her blog at The Literary Lifestyle.
I got an Advance Reader Copy! What do I do now?
Now that you got your advanced reader copy, make sure to do the following:
Review the instructions of when and how to post your review online
Some publishers/authors are okay with reviews being posted prior to publication day. Others may want readers to hold off on posting reviews until publication day or a few weeks prior. Whatever the requirements may be for the particular publisher or author you’re working for, it’s important to check the ARC requirements as soon as you get the approval email.
Write a thorough review of the book
After reading the book, make sure you have enough time to write a thorough and thoughtful review. Also, make you sure you include a disclaimer in the beginning or the end of the review that states that you got this book as an Advance Reader Copy. An example of how to do so would look like this:
I would like to thank NetGalley and XYZ Publisher for providing me with a free e-ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
If you need help learning how to write a book review, you can check out my previous post for everything you need to know about writing reviews.
Final Thoughts
If you made this far and got that Advance Reader Copy on your nightstand or ready to be downloaded to your e-reader, congrats! I’m so excited for you. Being able to receive an advanced reader copy can be very exciting, especially if it’s a book that you absolutely want to read. Now that you know more about Advance Reader Copies, you can strategize how you can go about requesting ARCs for your most anticipated new book releases.
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