If you’ve ever thought, “Can I earn money by reading books?”, you are in the right place!
And if you love reading and are the type of person who forms strong opinions and observations on the books you read, you’ll love the idea of reading and getting paid to review books!
getting to read and review books!
In this post, I have rounded up some of the most effective ways for making money as a book reviewer, and the best sites for getting free titles in exchange for reviews.
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Sites That Pay You to Review Books
Did you know that you could actually make money for sharing your opinions on books?
It’s true. Just like these sites that pay you to review movies, there are also many companies and websites that will pay you to write book reviews.
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So, whether it’s a Gothic romance, crime or non-fiction, you could actually, in essence, get paid to review the books you read.
To make things easy, we’ve rounded up a list of companies that will pay you to write book reviews.
1. Review for The US Review of Books
The US Review of Books pays writers for book reviews in a variety of genres.
Succinct reviews of between 250 to 300 words are requested. The review must provide a summary of the book, as well as any insights or opinions you drew from it.
Reviews can also include quotes from the book and observations about the author. But, they must limit clichés and avoid a casual tone. Criticism is okay – as long as it is constructive and factual.
Reviews must be completed within two to three weeks.
The website, which was set up to give people easy access to book reviews, periodically posts book titles.
Then, potential reviewers select the titles that they’re interested in reviewing. The website then selects writers to create reviews based on how well they fit the project and the titles they chose earlier.
Reviewers are paid monthly, on the 5th, for each review that they completed during the previous month.
- Where to apply: Apply here!
2. Write book reviews for Online Book Club
If you love to read books and enjoy discovering new authors, becoming a reviewer for the Online Book Club will be right up your alley.
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This website gives readers free books and payments in exchange for book reviews.
The website is designed to help authors to promote their books, through honest reviews.
The website pays between $5 and $60, depending on the experience of the reviewer and the book under review.
As a new member of the Online Book Club, you probably won’t get paid for your first few reviews. Instead, you’ll receive books for free. After the site checks some of your previous work, you’ll get paid review opportunities.
- Where to apply: Apply here!
3. Review books for Booklist Magazine
This one is really interesting. Booklist is a print and online magazine created for librarians. They publish book reviews in both their print and online magazines.
Now, you don’t have to actually be a librarian to be able to submit reviews. However, “…Because our audience is school and public library workers, Booklist reviewers must be familiar with both books and libraries as well as the U.S. and Canada book market in general.”
Booklist pays $15 for each review you submit that gets accepted. The average review is between 150 to 200 words long. And you can submit 2-3 book reviews each week.
The neat thing is that your name as the reviewer will appear in both the online and print versions of the magazine.
- Where to apply: Apply here!
4. Review books for BookBrowse
This is a great site for book lovers of all genres. They publish reviews of various books so readers can decide whether or not to purchase certain books.
For a reviewer, that means an endless supply of books to review!
That doesn’t mean you can submit hundreds of reviews every week. They want quality reviews.
Needless to say, you cannot plagiarize by submitting other people’s work. It has to be original and your own review.
Don’t even think about having ChatGPT write book reviews for you because they can and will detect AI-written reviews and will ban you forever.
As far as how much you get paid for each review, the company doesn’t say explicitly how much; they just state, “Our reviewers tend to write about one review a month for us and receive a byline and modest payment.”
That said, from the research I have done online and reading about the experience of other reviewers who have already worked with them, you can expect between $50 to $60 per review.
- Where to apply: Apply here!
5. OnceWritten
Update: No longer in business!
Read new books and get paid for them with OnceWritten.
This website requires well-written, unique reviews that are more than 350 words.
Reviews are published on the site’s Book Reviews Page and in its Off the Press Newsletter.
Unlike the sites previously mentioned, OnceWritten only accepts book recommendations – meaning that no negative reviews are allowed. So, if you don’t like a book, you won’t be able to review it.
The site pays $5 per review.
6. Write book reviews for Kirkus Reviews
If you’d like to get paid for reviewing books and get your writing featured in a magazine, then check out Kirkus.
Kirkus Media needs experienced review writers to create reviews of both English and Spanish language titles.
These reviews are published in Kirkus Indie, which is the section of the book review magazine that focuses on self-published authors.
Reviews must be around 350 words and must be submitted within two weeks of assignment.
To become a reviewer, you need to submit a resume, along with writing samples and some information about what types of books you like to review to the Kirkus Indie Editor.
- Where to apply: Apply here!
7. Write audiobook reviews for AudioFile Magazine
With the increasing popularity of audiobooks, audiobook sites are looking for book reviewers more than ever.
AudioFile is one of the few really good magazines that publishes audiobook reviews regularly.
They pay $10 for each review you write. The average review is about 100 words long, so $10 isn’t bad for it, especially if you are an avid audiobook consumer and you listen to audiobooks a lot.
- Where to apply: Apply here!
8. Any Subject Books
Update: No longer in business!
If you love reading and think you can offer some analytic book reviews, then consider writing for Any Subject Books.
The site pays you to create honest, objective reviews
The website will contact you with the book title that they want you to review – along with a short synopsis of the book. The titles they give you will be in a genre that you’re familiar with.
If you choose to do the review, then you’ll need to read the book and provide an honest review of it, in accordance with the site’s form.
The amount you’ll earn varies on a book-by-book basis. Shorter books will pay less and longer books will pay more.
Get Free Books in Exchange for Reviews
While not all websites will pay you for reviews, many will give you free books for reviews. So, if you’re the type of person who reads dozens of books each year, this can save you some cash!
Below, we’ve gathered some of the sites where you can get free books in exchange for a review.
9. NewPages
Earn free books and lit mags by writing reviews for NewPages.
The website wants lively, opinionated, honest reviews that are accessible to a wide audience.
You can include short quotes in the review too. All you need to do is send the site a sample book review and they’ll check it out.
Then, if the site enjoys your writing sample, they’ll send you books. The better your reviews, the more free books you’ll get.
The website accepts reviews on all book genres and topics – but prefers indie titles.
- Where to apply: Apply here!
10. LibraryThing
I’ll let them explain how it works:
“LibraryThing is teaming with select publishers* to provide advance copies of books to you, in exchange for reviews. The publishers are supplying the books, you get to read and review them, and we play matchmaker! :)”
- Where to apply: Apply here!
11. Springer
If you operate or write for a specialty journal, a blog, a newspaper or a magazine, then you could get free books simply for writing reviews.
Springer gives you instant access to online review copies of books. If you write a review of one of these books and publish it online or offline, they’ll send you a free print copy.
- Where to apply: Apply here!
12. Chicago Book Review
Do you have some unique and insightful observations or opinions on the books you read?
If so, you could become a reviewer for Chicago Book Review. But, best of all, you’ll receive free books in the process.
To become a reviewer, all you need to do is send your resume, along with a few writing samples, and any reviews that you’ve had published previously. In return, the site will give you free books and a byline.
You’ll also be featured on the site’s “Meet the Reviewers” page.
- Where to apply: Apply here!
13. Civitas Press
Update: No longer in business!
Civitas Press is a website that helps authors to create and publish their work. One of the ways that the site does this is by generating reviews. And you could become one of its reviewers.
Simply join the Civitas Book Review program, and you’ll receive books for free.
All you need to do is write and publish an honest, insightful review of it on your blog or on an online retail site, like Amazon.
- Where to apply: Apply here!
14. Net Galley
A “galley”, in the writing industry, simply refers to a book that hasn’t been yet published.
The site helps readers to discover new books while helping out authors through reviews.
So, if you’re a blogger, a bookseller, a librarian, a reviewer, or you’re in the media, then join NetGalley.
You’ll get free digital books, in exchange for reviews.
- Where to apply: Apply here!
15. Tywebbin
Update: No longer in business!
Tywebbin is a website that assists authors with creating an online presence and with marketing their work.
One of the ways the site does this is through reviews. So, if you’re a blogger, an online influencer or someone who loves reviewing books, you should join the site.
It’s a great way to get books, without parting with your cash.
- Where to apply: Apply here!
16. Blogging for Books
Update: No longer offering free books in exchange for reviews!
Whether it’s the genre of business or entertainment, you can find a plethora of books to review on Blogging for Books.
With the Blogging for Books program, you can get free books just for writing a review.
You don’t have to be a U.S. citizen to be a reviewer, meaning that people worldwide can participate.
The site does require you to have an active blog or be a retailer, librarian or professional media outlet in order to be a reviewer.
- Where to apply: Apply here!
17. Tyndale Blog Network
Update: No longer in business!
Get free books in exchange for reviews by joining the Tyndale Blog Network.
The program is open to international reviewers. But, only residents of the US are eligible to receive hard copies. Reviewers outside of the US receive digital copies.
You can choose the titles you want to review. After you’ve written your review, you’ll need to post it on your own blog, as well as on a consumer website like Amazon.
- Where to apply: Apply here!
18. Bethany House
If you’ve got a blog or a website, you could get free books from Bethany House. The website sends out two newsletters each month, containing titles that they need reviews for.
All you need to do is create a review that is, at a minimum 75 words, not including the plot synopsis.
You then need to publish that review on your blog or website, as well as on a retailer’s website. Per month, you can only request one title for review.
Print copies are only available to residents of the USA, but digital copies are available for international reviewers.
- Where to apply: Apply here!
19. BookLookBloggers
Update: No longer in business!
Do you run an active blog?
If so, you could get books in exchange for reviews.
To be eligible to become a reviewer on the site, you must have an actively maintained public blog.
This means you need to post at least once per month and have a minimum of thirty followers or subscribers.
Once you’re accepted as a reviewer, select the title you’re interested in reviewing.
The site will send you a copy of the book for free. All you need to do is create a review, which must be a minimum of 200 words, and publish it on your blog, as well as on a consumer website.
- Where to apply: Apply here!
20. Women’s Review of Books
Update: They no longer accept reviews!
As the name suggests, this is a site for female authors and readers.
Now, they don’t just accept any woman.
To be considered for reviewing assignments, you’ll have to send in your “resume, samples of published reviews, and a cover letter about your areas of interest and expertise.”
- Where to apply: Apply here!
21. Astronomy.com
Fan of astronomy books?
This is the place for you to get free astronomy books to review.
- Where to apply: Apply here!
Other Ways to Read Books & Get Paid
While the websites above give you some great opportunities to earn cash from reading, here are some other ways to make money with books.
22. Join Affiliate Programs
What if you could write a review, publish it and then get a steady, albeit, small income, for months or even years to come?
Well, with affiliate programs you can!
Affiliate programs give you a percentage of the products you sell through your affiliate links.
For example, you can join Amazon’s Associate program. Then select a book (or more) you’d like to make money from. Then, create a glowing review of it, post it on your blog, and put an affiliate link in the article. You’ll get paid a commission each time someone buys that book through your link.
23. Become a Book Editor
Are you a stickler for good grammar?
Do you have an eye for typos?
If so, you could make a brilliant book editor. Nowadays, it’s easier than ever to find work as a book editor.
Publishing companies are always searching for editors.
But, an easy way to get your foot in the door is to become a freelance book editor. Online, you can find a plethora of websites that post jobs for book editors. Craigslist, Problogger, WAHM, UpWork, eLance, and FreelanceWritingGigs.com are all great places to get started.
24. Narrate or Create Audio Books
Have you ever been told you’ve got a voice for radio?
If you have, then you could make an excellent book narrator. There are many websites that pay people to narrate audiobooks – like Fiverr, for example.
You could also create your own audiobooks, and sell them on websites like Amazon, CD Baby and Feiyr.
25. Write for Magazines
There are many specialty and trade magazines that will pay writers to create reviews and features on books.
Many of these magazines pay well too and, as an added bonus, you’ll get a byline.
Send them a strong pitch, and they might decide to run your review. And, if you impress them enough, they might ask you to write for them again in the future.
Look at local magazines or search online databases of magazines.
26. MoodyPress
Update: They no longer accept reviews!
If you’re a blogger or if you have an active Amazon.com account – which most people do nowadays – then you could get free books from MoodyPress.
The site looks for honest reviews.
Simply fill out the registration form on the website, select a title you want to review, and then read the book and write your review. You’ll receive a free copy of the book within seven to ten days.
Once you get it, you must write the review within 60 days.
- Where to apply: Apply here!
27. Story Cartel
Story Cartel is a website where authors share their books with potential readers for free. So, you can get your hands on dozens of free books.
While it’s not mandatory, the website asks that you return the favor by reviewing the books you receive. Book reviews can be positive or negative, as long as they are constructive.
- Where to apply: Apply here!
Making Money as a Book Reviewer
As you can see, there are some really great ways to make money as a book reviewer. You may not be able to make a living reviewing books, but it’s a great way to earn some extra cash by doing something you already enjoy doing.
Even if you can’t get paid for your book reviews, you can still get free books and other perks!
Of course, as with most other things, the more reviews you write, the more experience you’ll gain, and the better your writing will become which means you will get paid more to review books!
interesting I need to get a blog however
I think is a great opportunity i will go for the online book club and any subject books both are very interesting and easy to work with.
I think it is a big opportunity to work online and expend our knowledge wall and it is easy to work with
Interesting. I really need this right now
An interesting site which offers opportunities to make money and expand one’s knowledge in the area of interest.
Wouldn’t mind giving it a try.
Super interesting and for me and I think its a big opportunity to make money online for all student have don’t enough money to buy the things we want…and its so super cool as in.