What is an ARC Reader and how to become one

Ever heard the term “ARC reader” and wondered what on earth that means? I know I did the first time I saw it. 

An ARC reader is someone who gets an Advance Reader Copy (ARC) of a book before it’s officially published. It’s like being invited to a private pre-launch party for book lovers. Authors and publishers send these early copies out to readers who agree to read the book and share an honest review once it’s released. The copies might still have a typo or two, but they’re almost identical to the finished version. The main goal is simple: help the author build early buzz, collect reviews, and give the book a strong start on launch day.

ARC readers are basically the unsung heroes behind a book’s success. When a new book hits Amazon or Goodreads and already has reviews waiting, that’s the magic of ARC readers at work. They help make sure a book doesn’t step out into the world unnoticed. By sharing thoughts, posting reviews, and chatting about it online, they help the story reach more readers. It’s community-driven, reader-powered, and honestly, a little bit magical.

If you’re thinking this sounds fun, that’s because it is. I can say this because I am one, and it’s thrilling to be trusted with someone’s work before anyone else.

Becoming an ARC reader is surprisingly easy. You can join an author’s ARC team (a lot of authors have sign-up forms or mailing lists for readers who want early access), or check out review platforms like StoryOrigins, NetGalley, Booksprout, or BookSirens where you can request ARCs directly. You can also connect with authors you love on social media, comment, share, join conversations. Authors notice genuine engagement and often invite those readers to their ARC lists. That’s how I became an ARC reader. I posted a review of one book and the author reached out and asked me to read her second.

Once you’ve read the book? Leave your review. It doesn’t have to be long or fancy, just honest. I would recommend if you have strong negative feelings about the book, especially if the author has reached out to you, perhaps consider reaching out privately to the author rather than leaving a negative review publicly.

If that sounds like your kind of thing, I’d love for you to join my ARC team. You’ll get early access to my upcoming books, and sneak peeks behind the scenes. Basically, you get to read free books before anyone else and help shape their success.

At this point you might be asking yourself what’s the difference between a Beta reader and an ARC reader. Beta readers come in earlier, before the book is completely finished. They help the author polish the story, catch pacing issues, plot holes and sometimes even point out where a character’s choices don’t quite make sense. ARC readers, on the other hand, come in at the end, once the book is ready to fly. Their role is to read, review, and help spread the word publicly. Both are important, but in very different ways, beta readers help make the book better, ARC readers help make it seen.

Click here if you would like to become an ARC reader for The Watcher’s Prey.