Discover thrilling new reads and exciting authors before they hit the shelves with our guide to getting Advance Reading Copies (ARCs). With some dedication, these five steps can help you nab free ARCs of books right before their release.
How to Get ARCs of Books
Follow authors and publishers on Social Media
Following authors, publishers and book-related accounts on social media is a great way to find out about upcoming releases. Keep an eye out for announcements of giveaways—many publishers run contests giving away advanced reading copies to celebrate new books or important holidays. Don’t forget to keep track of hashtags—you may just discover your next favorite author using one!
Sign up for the early reviewer program on Amazon.
Amazon’s Early Reviewer Program is a great way to acquire advance reading copies of books for free. Through the program, publishers and authors offer ARCs to Amazon customers in exchange for honest peer reviews. All you need to do is sign up for an Amazon account and be sure to complete your profile with a brief description of yourself and why you’re interested in reviewing books. Then search through the list of available ARCs and select the one(s) you want!
Reach out to publishers directly.
Many publishers offer free ARCs to readers who request them. All you have to do is send them an email introducing yourself and expressing your interest in their book. When emailing, make sure that your proposal is professional and explain why you’re interested in the title. Include links to your social media profiles or book blog if applicable, as well as reviews of books you’ve read in the past that relate to the author’s topic. With a little bit of research and effort, it’s possible to land some great reads for free!
Look for special previews from your local bookstore or library.
You can also pick up a free advanced reader copy through your local bookstore or library. Many libraries offer ‘Reader’s Preview’ events where they provide readers with a sneak peek of an upcoming book before it is released to the public. Similarly, some independent bookstores will also host free events to promote new releases from local authors. Be sure to ask around and keep an eye out for these special previews!
Take advantage of Goodreads giveaways and other online contests!
Goodreads giveaways are a great way to get your hands on advance reading copies! Goodreads hosts contests regularly where you can win free physical and digital copies of upcoming books. All you have to do is follow the rules, answer a few questions and voila! You could be a lucky winner! Similarly, some authors host other online contests or giveaways to preview their future works so keep an eye out for any opportunities that might come up.
With these five simple tips, you will be on your way to getting free ARCs in no time!
Book lover, coffee addict, mom of dragons (aka rambunctious kids). I share book recs, mom life survival tips, and the occasional existential crisis.
[…] these ARCs are physical copies, and others are eBook copies. Either way, ARCs are sent to readers in advance of a book’s release in order to get more reviews and sell more finished […]