Welcome to my "How to Get Paid to Read Books" Post!
In previous days, I reviewed a lot of weight loss and other income-generating opportunities. Most of them have dissatisfying results when it comes to earning more profits than your investments. It doesn’t matter if it’s monetary startups or what.
Hence, today, we’re going to review how to get paid by simply reading books online. Does it sound absurd to you or is it otherwise? If so, let’s delve into the whole post and see what we’ve got here.
But before we go through it, let me first introduce to you the #1 recommended business opportunity in which it teaches not only the money-making process, but it also teaches you the importance of upgrading your online business skills to attract fortune in no time.
Now, we’re all set, aren’t we? Let’s dive into this review. Shall we?
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How to Get Paid to Read Books?
Like getting paid to read emails, you need to register on certain websites that accept reviewers to read and give thoughts to the books they render.
Once you get accepted, you are entitled to receive a lot of benefits, including commission payouts per book you have read and reviewed. Having that said, I compiled 28 sites that offer slots for book reviewers with pay.
1. Any Subject Books
You’re going to receive commissions depending on the number of books you receive since they follow a book-by-book basis. That means you have to read a lot regardless if it’s a 10-page short story or a 500-page blockbuster.
Having that said, it doesn’t mean you can simply write a crappy review for the sake of earning more money. You have to provide comprehensive findings of the work that range from the characterization to the plot.
Disclosure: They have no open slots for new book reviewers now. Stay tuned for their updates as soon as they announce its opening later on.
2. Kirkus Media
It is an American book review magazine that opens its category for book reviews. Since its opening, they have been offering for reviewers, who are willing to provide a comprehensive review of the books of both English and Spanish-speaking titles.
Here's the catch.
Once you're confirmed to become one of their book reviewers after your application, the company will immediately give you 350 works due in 2 weeks assigned to you regardless of the length, and type (digital or printed).
3. Online Book Club
Online Book Club opens itself for those who are interested in free book reading in various genres, lengths, and types as well as free Amazon gift cards worth $1,000 per month as a giveaway.
4. Publishers Weekly
Established in 1872, Publishers Weekly is founded as an international publishing and book-selling company that's also offering slots for book reviewing with pay under Booklife.
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According to their website, there's no pay for submitting own book for reviewing. In contrary, the reviewers receive a small percentage per book reviewed.
5. The US Review of Books
The company receives submitted published books for review purposes. Except for manuscripts, they review published ebooks and audiobooks.
Not only they offer review, but they also provide marketing by means of their social media marketing and newsletters to 18,507 subscribers.
For the reviewers, on the other hand, they receive compensation depending on the packages the authors pay upon submission. You can see below the chart for which the company offers.
The US Review of Books follow the above chart offered to authors in packages. From there you could assume the compensation rates shared with the book reviewers for promotional purposes.
6. Women's Review of Books
As the name suggests, this publishing company limits the works to women's studies scholarship and fiction, poetry, and memoir by women.
According to their website, they're paying $100 per review. That means, as others want from you, no crappy review is considerable for submission.
7. Upwork
I started my writing career by means of searching free website memberships such as OnlineJobs.Ph and Upwork. Within these websites, you get access to endless writing opportunities and could land a job instantly.
Based on experience, I took advantage of Upwork when I got started and had been in contact with various private individuals and even companies in need of writers. If it worked for me, it would work for you, too.
You have a lot of writing opportunities online. You can submit reviews and earn some bucks from your book addiction, too. (Photo credits to Alvaro Felipe on Unsplash
8. Bethany House
Unlike the earlier publishing companies with various genres to offer, Bethany House is exclusive to Christian fiction and nonfiction.
Having that said, if you plan to apply as one of their book reviewers, you expect the obvious. To read Christian works.
Based on their official website, you have to sign up for the on-site application form and wait for around 3 months before they could get back to you due to the increasing number of people applying for the same slot. Also, they could do so on a seasonal basis.
9. BookBrowse
BookBrowse is open for international book reviewers. Hence, you can apply as one of those people with granted access to free ebooks in exchange for comprehensive reading inputs good for a month.
As their website says, "Our reviewers tend to write about one review a month for us, and receive a byline and modest payment."
All you have to do is to apply alongside sample reviews for at least 300 words before you could get accepted. You can check on their page for more information on how you could get into this offer.
10. BookLook Bloggers
BookLook Bloggers is under their parent publishing company HarperCollins Christian Publishing. Hence, you're going to expect to review Christian works from fiction, nonfiction, Bibles, Children's Books, and/or Gift Books as Bethany House complies and offers to their target market.
On their website, they specified the regulations on each type of review you write ranging from 50 to 100 words. Further, you have to be objective with your review to keep the unbiased judgment for the sake of their readers.
11. Chicago Book Review
Not only you get access to fiction and/or nonfiction works, but you also get the chance to review other forms of media such as:
- comics
- graphic novels
- graphic memoirs
- narrative podcasts
- audio dramas
- audio documentaries
- literary TV and film adaptations
- literary stage adaptations (not exclusive to Chicago but to New York also), and;
- novellas (both standalone and companions)
Adam Morgan, the editor-in-chief, mentioned that they will review your samples either as a separate document or a blog post on your own website before they grant you the chance to become one of their reviewing team.
12. Moody Press
Through MP Newsroom, Moody Publishers grants bloggers with the free copies of any of the company products in exchange for reviews published on their respective blogs. A comprehensive review on Amazon is also acceptable.
Like the rest of the publishing companies, they require you to register on their application form available on-site before they accept samples. Once you get accepted, you expect to receive the available books for your review within 7 to 10 days via USPS.
From there, they will give you around 60 days to fulfill your responsibilities i.e. publish the review on your own website, or from third-party online platforms like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc.
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13. Net Galley
As their mission says, "We help books succeed," it's clear they're bound to make ways to help lots of authors to make a successful debut or launch under their belt.
With that having said, they welcome slots for book reviewers to write comprehensive and unbiased opinions of the work regardless of the genres and types of format.
According to their website, they mentioned that their company accepts set up fee as well as monthly subscription rate.
Hence, they could possibly offer pay for each review. Besides, it's for the sake of promotional engagement and marketing.
Book publishing companies offer slots for book reviewers and pay to outsource menial tasks. This, in turn, becomes the advantage for readers. (Photo credits to NeONBRAND on Unsplash)
14. New Pages
Although they don't offer paid reviews at this point, NewPages does help boost your traffic to its optimum via its social media network massive following. If this is what you're looking for as a writer, you can apply as one of their book reviewers.
Once you get into the company, you can do flash reviews with 100 to 300 words of any of their published literary.
Be it a magazine, book, or individual piece/s. To ensure unbiased reviews, you have to do a fair critique for the sake of the author.
15. Tyndale Blog Network
Tyndale Blog Network offers a variety of rewards through its My Reader Rewards Club. You could earn points from the following options:
- inviting a friend to sign up on their website
- sharing posts on social media
- joining their birthday club
- subscribing to their e-newsletter and e-devotional
- listening to podcast, and;
- reviewing any of their products
As for earning points from reviewing printed and digital works, you have to post a review of any of their published items from various retail websites such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Christian Book Distributors, among others.
You have 5 business days before your applications could be approved with a maximum threshold of 50 points before you can redeem the rewards in accord to the number of points you collected within the month.
16. BookJobs
Unlike the other companies I've compiled, BookJobs seems to have different structure when it comes to offering jobs for graduates interested in the realm of book publishing.
When you get into these types of companies, obviously, you have to read a lot of books before considering the marketing and other upcoming tasks it entails to succeed in the market.
Having that said, if you want to stay in a permanent job to review works, you could join the other graduates to work in the industry and become an aid to the success of each book they print and deliver to its bookshelf.
17. Writerful Books
Writerful Books offer $100 worth of Amazon gift check to those who are able to satisfy them with a comprehensive and unbiased review regardless if they belong to:
- Contemporary fiction
- Historical fiction
- Literary fiction
- Realistic fiction
- Speculative fiction
- Narrative nonfiction
- Memoirs
Within each review you submit, you ensure that your opinions are fair, honest, not libelous, valuable, original, and doesn't infringe the rights of others.
Further, you have to write more or less 350 words for each and should not be considered a synopsis of the work.
On top of that, as a book reviewer, you have to conform with the conventions and standards for a seamless relationship between you and the publisher itself.
18. Booklist Online
Booklist Online pays out book reviewers modestly around $12.50 to $15 per review. That's the cost for a blog post and comprehensive book review respectively. Also, they offer negotiated fees for other feature articles necessary for publishing on its website.
Disclosure: Due to its limited freelance opportunities at the moment, they value multicultural perspectives when it comes to accepting new book reviewers. If you are into this, you may approach either of the editors-in-charge assigned to each genre.
19. Springer
Although Springer didn't disclose whether they pay book reviewers or not, what they merely stated on their website is the entire process of how the acceptance of new reviewers to registration to their online-reader option to get full access to the site's functionalities.
To limit the number of reviews submitted from each member, you are limited to 10 copies at a time before you commence to the next set of books. They start counting as soon as you upload your reviews on their website.
On the contrary, you may also go to their affiliate program option if you opt to earn some bucks by promoting their products. Below you see the benefits Springer offers in a nutshell.
Springer gives away these benefits as stated on their official website.
20. Story Cartel
Indies Unlimited stated that Story Cartel offers free books in exchange for book reviews from enthusiasts since 2012.
To lure them into joining, they also giveaway rewards like $10 worth of Amazon gift check, 5 physical books to deliver right into your home address, free downloads of ebooks of your choice for a limited time, among others.
From there, you couldn't help but get enticed with the number of freebies you're going to get once you become one of the company's bonafide book reviewers. The only way to get into that is to apply through their website.
Disclosure: Their official website seems to be under construction process. So, you have to wait until their website gets live again.
As a book reviewer, you're entitled to get authorized access to an unlimited number of books and review them for free Amazon gift checks & other benefits. (Photo credits to Ben White on Unsplash
21. City Book Review
The company offers a variety of book publishing services like book marketing to designing book covers. Obviously, they do offer book reviewing services in which you, as a writer and an avid book review, could take advantage.
Their website stipulated benefits once you become one of their bonafide members of the reviewing time. One of those is to receive 20% commissions rate per book purchased. That's under the company's Sponsored Review Program.
Before you enjoy it, you have to apply on-site through filling in the required information, including the necessary date like your preferred books to read and review, among others.
22. LibraryThing
Having seen on different big websites like on The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, among others, it proves that LibraryThing is a legit publishing company that continues to outsource people to provide service related to book publishing.
Such service comprises book reviewing, which is deemed necessary for authors to know the real thoughts of the readers upon reading their work without bias and is comprehensive enough for a pay.
Although they haven't stated how much, many bloggers recommend this company as a jumpstart to earn some rewards after reading a suggested number of books regardless of the formats and genres.
23. Astronomy.Com
To become one of the book reviews in Astronomy, you have to get in touch with company editor by telling why the certain title of the work deserves a review.
On their website, you see the required information from you before you could get the benefits in reviewing several works.
Also, they haven't stated the pay (if any), however, bloggers seem to recommend this publishing company as an outsource for paid reviewers.
24. Wiley
In Wiley, you have 3 options. You can either review proposals of book projects in various subjects, manuscripts, or published books. You could choose which of these apt to your personal taste.
Once you have chosen the particular type of work you want, you can begin the review in exchange for a modest amount (which isn't exactly mentioned how much) though they indirectly express the percentage. "An equivalent worth in books from the publisher's current list," they wrote.
From there, you're given a particular timeline for each project in which you have to comply with a comprehensive review and submit to the editor-in-charge (based on the type of review you chose from the beginning of the application).
25. Possibilities Publishing Company
Possibilities Publishing Company seems to be relatively new in the industry, however, they provide lots of benefits to book reviewers. Among them is the freedom to choose or request a book title intended for that purpose.
Consequently, they allow 15 titles per month for printed books and an unlimited number for the ones in digital format.
To continuously promote the book, as a reviewer, you are also entitled to set up interviews or guest posts to other blogs with the author/s if necessary.
26. Publons
Publons is a publishing company that's solely focused on research environment. Hence, you are expected to review works related to this subject.
To begin, you're asked to create a free reviewer profile, which is also available on their website. After which, the company will send out emails confirming your membership before they hand in the titles for your review.
Unlike other companies, you're going to send all your reviews directly on email. If you have further questions about the titles and other concerns, you can simply go to their website and send an email.
27. Emerald Publishing
Emerald Publishing is a bit strict in filtering the reviews whether they accept this and reject the other one.
Every time you submit your comprehensive review, it goes to the Reviewer Center where the editor is notified and will check the quality of your work.
Once you receive an email in which it tells you that your work is accepted, you can go proceed to the next review.
If ever you receive a confirmation for each accepted review, you will be receiving several awards. One of them is the Awards for Excellence.
Others comprise Outstanding & highly commended papers, Outstanding Reviewers, Outstanding Author Contributions, among others.
28. Amazon Affiliates
Although you won’t receive much, Amazon Affiliates pay out an average of 4% for each book purchased regardless of the formats, digital and printed. The thing is that you have to purchase more books to get access to each work before you can start your review.
Unlike the rest of the options you have on the list, Amazon won’t provide free books for that matter. This relies on spending some bucks from your pocket before you can commence the review and receive rewards.
From there, you have to make sure you buy a lot of titles to ensure a higher income from affiliates. Hence, this option also relies on the traffic your website generates.
The higher the traffic, the higher the users land on your page and buy the book you recommend.
If you want to boost your website traffic, learn how to set up your blog step-by-step in the correct way + getting ready to earn money through affiliate marketing.
Cons of Getting Paid To Read Books
1. Inadequate Income
You can’t get much from a book review, apparently. This isn’t for replacing a day job or for compensating monthly costs.
It’s for a side income that proves your book reading hobby can give you something, at least. Imagine you’re limited to 15 books per month. And in each book, you’re only paid $10 each. Can you survive with $150 per month? I don’t think so.
2. Hassle Application Process
This is understandable because these publishing companies keep their reputation as a hub for writers and authors alike.
Because of the demands of perfection in this industry, the editors, in turn, have to review and implement a hassle process before they accept your work and pay you.
That means you have to wait for months before you receive a confirmation from them.
There's no certainty whether you receive a fair or modest amount of money after you submitted reviews. It's up to the editor to accept it or not. If not, they simply throw your work and move on. (Photo credits to Alexander Mils)
3. Not All Publishing Companies Pay
As you see in the list, there are many of these open the slots for book reviewers. But that doesn’t mean they pay out commissions for each submitted book review. Not all companies allow that, given that there are some that rely on funding from their parent company.
4. Time-Consuming
It doesn’t matter if you are a fast reader or not, as long as you’re required to provide a comprehensive and brutally honest review for each piece of work.
From there, it gives you a rough idea of how time-consuming this side income opportunity this is. You can’t just give out a crappy review for the sake of finishing each in a deadline.
You have to make sure you follow each company guidelines. That is if you are accepted from several companies at once.
5. Limited Time
What do I mean by this?
Not all ebooks and printed works are available for lifetime consumption. Most of these free books are given to you for a limited amount of time, which is the timeline for completing your work per se. Nothing else.
You can’t simply enjoy the work and share it with others due to compliance with confidentiality and copyright rules.
What I Like About This?
1. Access To Pre-Debut Books
Who wouldn’t want to get access to these kinds of works anyway? If you are one of the bonafide book reviewers, you’re entitled to read the books that haven’t been launched and delivered to retailers. That means you are reading those that the world hasn’t yet.
2. Access To Feed Your Book Addiction
If you are an avid book reader, this opportunity is best for you. Once you get into their circle and become one of their book reviewers, you’re authorized to a massive number of books and other works for free. You don’t have to purchase books on third-party platforms using your own money but theirs.
3. Gathering Data For Personal Authorship
If you plan to become an author (like me), having these kinds of opportunities to review lots of works in various formats and genres can be your advantage.
It does function as your personal research for your own book. Be it fiction or nonfiction.
Through these, you get a gist of the titles accepted for traditional publishing and those otherwise. That also includes the post-publishing matters i.e. marketing and promoting purposes.
4. Contribution To Authors
One thing that most authors appreciate is having gained a lot of thoughts from their work from their real readers, not bashers or spammers.
Although they didn’t intend to correct their work for it, the fact they receive reviews from the people they intend to write for is already a sort of appreciation on their part.
At least, in a small way possible, you’re able to sort out the subjects that work and whatnot for your future publishing endeavors.
5. Potential Publishing (For Future Work)
Simply because you’re working hand-in-hand with the publishing company itself, having your name exposed to their records as well as to the eyes of the editors can be your biggest asset when the times you realize to write your own work.
By reviewing works for a small amount of money, it brings you towards the chance of building relationships with these group of people and help you with the success of your own work in the future.
What Did Others Say?
Book publishing is really one of the toughest and competitive industries out there. From the beginning of the process, the book writing, is already difficult for the authors, how much more the publishing per se?
Albeit the difficulty, there are still many enthusiasts, who intend to make much out of it by providing their services to these authors.
That is through giving away their time and effort to write a comprehensive, unbiased, and objective review for each work in exchange for payment.
The payment isn’t that much. That’s true. But as a writer and future author (if you will), you are getting more than the money’s worth.
How?
According to Mayra Calvani, you get the rare chance to see the strengths and weaknesses of the book prior to your personal journey towards publishing your own work.
By means of reviewing lots of titles within a single month, you’re also given the opportunity to see what you should avoid and what you should write so as not to compromise your effort of writing the book and waste a lot of time because of your recklessness and lack of research.
Nonetheless, you have a lot of benefits when it comes to joining these book publishing companies and become one of their book reviewers.
You simply have to go through their official websites and hover over the option where they wrote the guidelines of joining and apply. That’s it.
Is Getting Paid To Read Books Scam?
Definitely, not.
Getting paid to read books as I wrote above is a legitimate way to earn money. As I mentioned earlier, it doesn’t function as a replacement of your day-job or to compensate for your monthly expenses. But it does serve as an alternative to feed your hobby though.
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Given the resources I compiled above, you may have some income opportunities by simply receiving, reading, and reviewing books from the publishing companies. But as I repeatedly stated, it doesn’t work as a stable online business opportunity.
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Now that I shared my thoughts in my “How to get paid to read books?” post, it’s time to turn the table and ask about your experience, in general.
What kinds of experiences do you have with getting paid to read books? Is it worth your time, money, and effort?
Do you prefer to begin earning your first passive income through affiliate marketing or you rather invest your time, money, and effort to income-generating opportunities like this?
Let me know in the comments below! 🙂
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