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How to Make Money Writing Book Reviews: 9 Websites that Pay

• by Michelle
• November 1, 2020

As an avid reader, you may be thinking of how to use your hobby and passion for books to make money. You can use your critiquing skills to make money writing book reviews that can help other readers get a detailed insight into a book. You don’t have to be a professional writer to earn money with your passion for books.

There are many opportunities available for freelance reviewers to earn a side income while doing the thing they love. There’s a whole new marketplace for book readers and writers. You can easily turn your hobby into a profession in a matter of clicks.

List of websites that Pay for writing Book Reviews

Online book club.

Online Book Club is a free reading site that has been on the internet for over 10 years. It has a large reading community from all over the world. This platform is also a great opportunity for reviewers to earn some side income.

For your first review, the Online Book Club will give you a book to review for free after which you will be able to get a reviewing opportunity with a small fee. As a reviewer, you have to write a professional review that covers all aspects of the book, including mentioning the right audience for the book. You are not expected to only write a positive review. Remember, if you don’t like the book, you can mention that in the review and then rate it accordingly.

Kirkus Reviews

Kirkus Reviews is an American book review magazine that has gained a good reputation for its quality reviews. It is a great place for book reviewers to publish their content on an authentic and respectable forum.

Currently, Kirkus media is looking for book reviewers who can write professional reviews on English and Spanish books for Kirkus Indie, which is a section for self-published books.

Reviews should be 350 words long and due two weeks after the book is assigned. There are no charges for the books, they are completely free. You can write reviews for both print media and soft media books as well as paperbacks.

The US Review

The US book review is a popular book review publication that is known for its quality reviews. The online publication offers the opportunity for freelance writers to earn by writing book reviews for unpublished books. If you want to apply for this job, you can send your resume, along with writing samples and two professional recommendations either through email or regular mail.

The US Review website lists the books for reviews. From there reviewers can select the books to review by mentioning their preferences on the list. The books are then assigned in order of reviewer request. Once the book is sent, you are expected to write a review in 2-3 weeks.

New Pages is a site that provides online news, information, and guides to literary magazines. The website offers the opportunity for freelance writers to earn by writing flash reviews. You only have to write 100-200 words, although you can write up to the limit of 300 words. Reviewers can give their honest opinions on any of the latest books, magazines, or individual writings they have read recently.

Booklist Online

Booklist is an American journal that publishes book reviews and has helped thousands of librarians in selecting the right books. The company has other products such as Booklist magazine and Booklist reader. They offer opportunities to write book reviews for Booklist magazine and Booklist reader.

Your review should follow the guidelines provided by them. Reviews are generally around 175 words, however, if the book is an outstanding one, you may write a review of up to 200 to 225 words. Once you send in your submission to Booklist, it will be reviewed and if accepted, it will be edited by the editors before being published.

Writerful Books

Writerful Books is an editorial company that assists authors in securing a publishing deal through book editing and manuscript assessments.

Currently, the company is offering freelance job opportunities for book reviewers. They are recruiting a panel of experts to review contemporary books from American, Australian, British, Irish, Canadian, and New Zealand authors. Once you become a trusted reviewer at Writerful books, you can get an offer for earning opportunity.

Reedsy is a website that has everything about books and writing. It publishes book reviews of many unpublished books and you can become a part of this thriving community. Hundreds of authors submit their books for reviewing. Not only you will get a chance to write reviews but also get those books for free.

Reedsy doesn’t directly pay reviewers for their work. Reviewers get paid by the readers who are reading your book reviews and enjoying them.

Get Abstract

Get Abstract is a website that provides summaries for all kinds of books. It offers summaries on a variety of books including academic books and journals. The website is offering opportunities for reviewers to join their teams in Switzerland and the US. To be a part of this team, you can send your resume to the email listed on their website.

Book Browse

Book Browse is a website that publishes reviews of some of the best books out in the reading world. They also publish reviews for adult fiction and nonfiction as well as books for young adults. As a freelancer, you can apply for the reviewer position at Book Browse and become a part of their community.

You can write a review on monthly basis and get a small payment for it. As an expert in the USA, you can get a paperback for review. But if you reside outside of the USA, you can get an ebook to review.

As a book lover there are other kinds of earning opportunities available as well. For instance, you can sell your old books online and make money from that!

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Get Paid To Write Reviews: 14 Top Sites

Get paid to write reviews by reading our guide with all the top sites for you to check out. Earn money and home and increase your skills today!

Before you purchase products or download apps, do you read the reviews? Most consumers do. A study published by Qualtrics showed that 93 percent of customers read online reviews before buying a product. Product reviews are important to people’s purchasing decisions, and review sites are everywhere.

Companies know that they will make more money if their products have positive reviews, so they’re willing to pay people to write product reviews for money. If you are wondering how to get paid to write reviews and blog articles, try applying to these sites for review writing jobs .

1. Writers Work

2. get paid to write reviews for amazon, 3. get reviewed, 4. crowdtap, 6. listverse, 7. capterra, 8. usertesting, 9. gartner peer insights, 10. harris poll online, 11. g2 crowd, 12. review stream, 13. inboxdollars, 14. swagbucks, final word on where to get paid to write reviews, is it illegal to write fake reviews, where can i write music reviews, how do you make money by giving reviews.

Writers Work connects writers with companies looking for freelancers. With thousands of jobs available, it’s an ideal place for new and experienced freelancer writers to find work. The site has built great relationships with many established companies requiring writing , from general content to blogging to copywriting and reviews; endless opportunities exist. The average earnings on the freelance site are anything from $20 – $65 per hour, making it a lucrative option for writers to get involved in.

Writers Work contains freelance writing opportunities for writers who want to start their career

Many freelancers earn commissions from Amazon by writing product reviews. Amazon pays reviewers who successfully try a product and refer it to new customers. This process is a type of influencer work called affiliate marketing, which can be used through the Amazon Associates program. Whenever a customer uses your affiliate link, you’ll receive a small commission on the sale.

For example, if you were to try a product and then post about it on your blog or social media with an affiliate link, your viewers might then buy the Amazon product, which means you earn a commission. There are many different niches for bloggers to choose from, like food, fashion, beauty, tech, and entertainment.

If you want to write product reviews for money, one of the best places to look is Get Reviewed . The website will pay you cash for sponsored reviews and blog posts. If you want to participate in this program, you need to have a self-hosted website with a strong domain authority of at least 20 or above. To elevate your domain authority, focus on a specific niche.

Then, convince others to provide links that point back to your website. This will position your site as an authority in the field.

If you want to get paid to write a review on this site, submit your blog for consideration. After your blog is accepted, you will display your blog on the marketplace. Then, advertisers can view your blog and order a product review from you. If someone places an order for a review from your website, you will receive an email notification.

Based on the email request, you can either accept or reject their review request. You also negotiate the price of your review with the client. Once you and the client agree on a deadline and rate for the job, you’ll write the review and get paid! Typically, you get paid 14 days after the article has been completed. The site pays a paid reviewer by PayPal.

If you want a fun way to review products from your phone, check out CrowdTap . You can access the program through your smartphone. Then, you can look at their “daily missions,” which products they would like you to review that day. If you review their products, you will be rewarded for leaving a high-quality review.

You get paid in a variety of ways. For example, some companies will reward you with product samples. Other companies will reward you with gift cards. You may also be given merchandise rewards you can redeem at certain brands and establishments.

This is one of the top review apps out there. There are other ways you can earn points as well. For example, you can complete daily polls, fill out surveys, and share your reviews on social media channels. You can get additional points if you share your reviews on your blog.

Another review site you may want to check out is called Ciao . This is a review site based in the UK, but it is open to the international community, including non-English speakers. They have various products listed on the website, some of which are Amazon products.

The website also has a rotating category of focus or high-authority products. These are products that they need reviews for, so they’re willing to pay extra money for writers. The payment for each review varies, but it is directly tied to the amount of traffic that a specific review generates.

You don’t have to make much money to request a payout. As long as you have a balance of five pounds or more, or about $6, you can request to be paid. It might be challenging to generate a lot of traffic with your first review, but you can make significant money online once you get a lot of practice.

If you are more of a long-form paid reviewer, check out ListVerse . This website will pay you money to make a “top 10” list. Often called “listicles,” this is an opportunity to get creative. You have a lot of control over the products you decide to review, and you can make several recommendations in a single article.

You may want to write a paragraph or two on each item before moving forward. After your list has been published, you get paid through PayPal.

Next, you may want to check out Capterra as well. If you have looked for reviews of specific products, including software programs, you have probably come across Capterra. You can also get paid to write reviews for them. Typically, you need to use the product before you write the review, which may require additional work; however, you can also get paid more for each review.

On Capterra, you get paid approximately $10 for each review that is accepted. Because they are one of the largest players in the industry, they vet all of their reviews closely to ensure they meet their requirements. You need to verify your identity using LinkedIn, and you might get asked to send screenshots of the software or product you want to review before they let you write the review. For this reason, they pay more money for each review.

If you are someone who enjoys testing websites and applications, you may want to take a look at a website called UserTesting . During the review process, you need to make a 20-minute video. Then, you’ll be paid $10 for each review you give. Try this website if you would rather talk about a product or service instead of writing about it.

If the platform can download the necessary recording software, you can record it using any device you want. This could include a desktop computer, a laptop, a smartphone, or a tablet. You will also need to record yourself testing the app or website in real-time. Companies will pay a lot for people who record themselves using their products or services.

Therefore, this could be one of the most lucrative ways for you to make money through product reviews.

Another website that will pay you a lot of money for each review is called Gartner. Gartner is a leading technology and software review company. The goal is to help users make educated decisions on the products they use. Even though you can only write ten reviews annually, the company pays you approximately $25 for each successful review.

Caveat: Gartner closely vets every review before it is published to ensure it provides customers with real insights into the product. The more details you can give about your experience, the greater the chance your review gets accepted. You need to know a lot before you write your first review on this platform. So, check out Gartner’s FAQ page to figure out how to take advantage of this opportunity.

You might also want to consider Harris Poll Online . They are one of the oldest research firms in the industry, and they have a sterling reputation. Most of the surveys and reviews you complete for Harris will focus on their current marketing campaigns.

For example, you might be asked to watch a series of marketing videos a company produces. Then, you’ll be asked to share your opinion. You might also be asked to recommend improving their marketing videos to better speak to someone like yourself.

Every time you complete a survey for this company, you’ll be given points to redeem for gift cards. You might also be given a bonus award if you win the raffle. You get an entry into the raffle with every survey or review you complete.

G2 Crowd is a crowdsourcing platform for reviews. The amount of money you can make on this platform can vary widely depending on what you review. The average review pays between $5 and $15, but you could earn up to $25 per review if you review specific types of software. The website has hundreds of thousands of reviews, so it is one of the most popular review websites on the internet.

Similar to other software review websites, there are strict requirements you need to follow to make sure your review is accepted. You’ll also have to verify your identity by tying your LinkedIn account to your review.

Review Stream will allow you to make money by reviewing just about every product. Furthermore, if a user likes your review, you could get paid a bonus. If you get a vote of confidence from a user, this indicates that the person found your review useful.

Even though you can write a review on just about anything, you can look at what is currently trending on social media. Generally, ReviewStream will pay more money for products and services that have become popular. Furthermore, if you write a review that matches the publishing guidelines of the platform, they might pay you more money. These reviews are also more likely to be deemed useful by users.

InboxDollars has an excellent reputation for paying users to take surveys, shop online, and read email newsletters to assess them for clarity and effectiveness. You can get paid to write product reviews and collect rewards easily on this platform.

InboxDollars partners with top research organizations that are looking for feedback and input from the public. All you need to do is sign up and give your opinions on surveys, and you’ll be paid cash when you’ve completed your task.

Swagbucks is one of the most popular loyalty and consumer rewards platforms online. It’s free to join, and members receive gift cards or cash for the everyday activities they complete online. Tasks include web searching, playing games, watching videos, and shopping online. You can also scan your receipts for cash back, making it easy to earn extra cash without completing hundreds of surveys.

If you’re interested in answering surveys and giving reviews for cash, Swagbucks also pays users to take surveys on topics like personal finance, favorite foods, vacations, and more. Swagbucks has already paid its members over 5 million dollars, solidifying it as one of the most reliable online paid review platforms.

These are some useful review sites to apply to if you want to write product reviews, book reviews, and more. Writing legit reviews is also a great way to get free products, as lots of companies will send you new products and samples to write about on a review website. You can also combine writing reviews with other proven methods that will help you get paid to write .

These sites are a good side-hustle choice before applying to the best affiliate marketing programs and publishing review content on your website.

FAQs About How to Get Paid To Write Reviews

Section 5 of the FTC Act 15 U.S. Code 45 makes fake testimonials illegal in the United States. It can also dent your customer’s trust in your business. It should be noted that a man was jailed after posting fake reviews on TripAdvisor.

Many music writers start their careers by launching their blogs. However, several magazines and websites accept freelance reviews. Two Story Melody gives a list of sites that accept music reviews.

There are several ways to make money by giving reviews, depending on the platform or industry you are involved in. Here are a few methods: 1. Sponsored reviews 2. Affiliate marketing 3. Paid survey sites 4. Blogging or YouTube channels 5. Paid review websites

Meet Rachael, the editor at Become a Writer Today. With years of experience in the field, she is passionate about language and dedicated to producing high-quality content that engages and informs readers. When she's not editing or writing, you can find her exploring the great outdoors, finding inspiration for her next project.

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10 Legit Ways to Get Paid to Write Reviews (Movies, Restaurants, and More)

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Our ultimate goal is to educate and inform, not lure you into signing up for certain offers. Compensation from our partners may impact what products we cover and where they appear on the site, but does not have any impact on the objectivity of our reviews or advice.

Some companies will pay their customers to leave candid feedback about their products, while others provide free product samples in exchange for reviews. If you want to make extra money, getting paid to write reviews can be a great way to do it.

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Our number one goal at DollarSprout is to help readers improve their financial lives, and we regularly partner with companies that share that same vision. If a purchase or signup is made through one of our Partners’ links, we may receive compensation for the referral. Learn more here .

When you’re shopping online, do you look at the reviews left by other customers to determine if you’re getting a good product?

Or maybe you like leaving reviews to help future customers.

But reviews aren’t just for other consumers. Companies take your feedback seriously and use customer feedback to improve their products. Some will even pay their customers to leave candid feedback about their products, while others provide free product samples in exchange for reviews.

If you want to make a few extra dollars writing reviews for money — be it for movies, restaurants, or something else entirely — this list of resources is a great way to accomplish exactly that. 

10 Places to Write Reviews for Money

It can be difficult to convince a company to pay you directly for reviews. Most companies who choose to do so generally work through an intermediary. There are plenty of websites and services that you can sign up for if you want to get paid to write reviews.

1. LifePoints

LifePoints is a website that pays users to complete surveys. Some of these surveys will be about the products that you’ve bought. Others will be about more general topics.

For each survey that you complete, you’ll earn LifePoints. Some surveys will ask you for demographic information and may disqualify you if enough responses from your demographic have been received. If this happens, you’ll still earn a few LifePoints for your time.

Most surveys take about fifteen minutes to finish, but some are much shorter or much longer. Usually, longer surveys will offer more LifePoints.

You can redeem LifePoints for rewards. Redemption options include gift cards, charitable donations, and cash deposits to your PayPal account.

Related: LifePoints Review: Should You Become a Free Member?

2. InboxDollars

InboxDollars pays its customer for a variety of tasks, including:

• Taking paid surveys
• Watching videos
• Playing games
• Shopping online
• Reading emails

Opportunities to complete surveys and other tasks are emailed directly to you. You’ll earn cash rather than points, and InboxDollars has paid its customers more than $56 million since 2000.

Related: InboxDollars Review: Is it Legit, and How Much Can You Earn?

3. American Consumer Opinion

American Consumer Opinion is another survey-taking site that pays you to share your opinions with companies. The site has paid out more than $30 million to its 7 million members.

Each survey you take rewards you with points. You can redeem points for cash through PayPal, sweepstakes entries, or charitable donations, letting you choose how you want to be rewarded.

4. Start a Review Blog

If you don’t want to deal with another website’s requirements to get paid for reviews, consider starting your own review blog. While it can be difficult, especially in the beginning, it’s a good strategy for making money writing reviews.

Websites like Wirecutter have grown to have millions of readers each month because of their high-quality reviews. With a review website, you can make money with advertising or by working with a service like Amazon Affiliates that allows you to earn a commission when someone makes a purchase based on your review.

Related: How to Start a Profitable Blog (Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners)

5. UserTesting

UserTesting connects tech companies to regular people who want to help them test their websites and apps.

Companies will provide you with a link to their site or app and a set of tasks they’d like you to accomplish. An online retailer, for example, might ask you to go through the process of buying a shirt.

To start an assignment, you’ll need a microphone. While you’re going through your tasks, UserTesting will record your screen and anything you say. You should speak your thoughts clearly and out loud so that the people reviewing your recordings can understand your thought process and update the website accordingly.

You’ll be paid $10 through PayPal for every 20-minute recording you complete.

6. Review Stream

At Review Stream , you’re paid based on what other consumers think about your reviews. This means that it pays to be completely candid and to provide as much detail as possible.

You can review almost anything on the site — products, movies, and books are all fair game. If Review Stream accepts your submitted review, you’ll earn a small payment. Once your review is posted, other users can vote on whether the review is helpful or not. You’ll earn ten cents per helpful vote that you receive. You can also earn ten cents for each answer you provide to other consumers’ questions.

Payment is made through PayPal. The minimum balance to cash out varies based on how much you made for the first review you sold in each payment cycle. The minimum will be ten times the value of the first review you sold, with a minimum of $100. So, if your first review sold for $2 or $10, the minimum is $100. If it sold for $16, the minimum is $160.

Related: 11 Ways to Get Paid to Read Books In Your Spare Time

7. YouTube BrandConnect

YouTube BrandConnect is an invite-only service that connects YouTube creators to brands that want to show their products to a wider audience.

This service is relatively hands-off, connecting you to companies to pitch, but you get to decide how you want to feature products and you can set your own rates. Once you sign up for the service, you’ll be able to see all of the sponsors looking to work with YouTubers. The site advertises nearly 500 companies that pay people to advertise their goods and services .

In exchange for connecting you with brands, YouTube BrandConnect takes a 10% service fee. There are no sign-up or other fees, so you only pay the fees when you get paid. YouTube BrandConnect pays through PayPal or check.

8. Influence Central

Influence Central is another site that connects influencers to brands who want to showcase their products to consumers. You’ll get paid to write reviews and post them directly on your blog, website, or social media accounts.

The pay for each review varies. Some companies will pay you more than others, but this can be a good way to leverage your influence and provide honest reviews to your followers.

If you want to get paid to test products , Tryazon is the website for you. After you sign up, you’ll be able to view a list of available TryaBox and Party opportunities.

For a TryaBox opportunity , a company will send you a single product or item for you to test. If you apply for a Party and Tryazon selects your application, the company will send a box filled with products, party favors, and the like, free of charge. You can host a party with friends, family, and colleagues and everyone gets the chance to try the product.

Once you’re done, your free to share your feedback with the manufacturer, post about the party on your blog or social media, and tell your friends about the things you tried.

10. Write Reviews for Clients

To find possible clients, you can do an online search for websites that focus on product and service reviews. Then, pitch your review writing services to them directly. You will need to have a portfolio and a drive to pitch multiple clients before landing your first gig. Make sure your final submissions to clients are amazing, because it may lead to steady work writing more reviews in the future.

Related: 18 Legit Online Jobs for College Students

Can You Get Paid to Write Reviews for Google and Amazon?

Google and Amazon are two of the most trusted websites on the internet when it comes to reviews. That means that companies are willing to do a lot to make sure their Amazon and Google reviews are good.

You can get paid to write reviews on these websites. However, although providing compensation for a review is allowed, providing compensation with the requirement that you leave a good review violates both websites’ Terms of Service. So if this type of opportunity is presented to you, make sure you think about whether or not you should take it.

For example, your local pizza shop is welcome to give you a free slice when you show that you left a review, but it can’t require that you leave a five-star review on Google. It has to extend the offer to anyone who leaves a review.

3 Tips to Make the Most with Paid Reviews

The truth is that you won’t make a huge amount of money for writing reviews, but it can be a good way to add some extra cash to your wallet. Here are the best ways to make money writing reviews.

Do it in your spare time.

Turn some of your unproductive spare time into productive time by writing reviews. If you commute by bus or train, write a review or two on each trip. After work, rather than focusing on a Netflix show you’ve seen a dozen times, put it on in the background while you write a review.

Because most reviews are short and easy to write, they’re a great way to fill small chunks of time.

Review things you already use.

You’re most familiar with products that you use on a regular basis, so start by reviewing those items.  Your familiarity with them, especially if you’re a long-term user of a specific product, will help you make high-quality reviews that other consumers can use.

Write high-quality reviews.

To make sure your reviews are approved by the company paying you and appreciated by other consumers, take the time to make the reviews as good as they can be. That means checking your spelling and grammar, including photos, and providing specific details about each product.

Are Paid Review Sites Worth Your Time?

Paid review sites are a good way to earn extra cash, but they won’t give you a full-time work from home income.

The best sites will pay a reasonable wage. For example, UserTesting can pay as much as $30 an hour, but you won’t be able to fill a full workweek with the available opportunities. You’re more likely to earn $5 – $10 an hour when writing reviews.

When getting paid to write reviews, be on the lookout for online scams . The most common scams are websites that force you to pay a fee before you can view opportunities to get paid. The companies organizing these opportunities should be earning a commission from the companies that provide the products or surveys, so if you find a company asking reviewers to pay a fee, walk away. That is a major red flag that something is not legit.

You Can Get Paid to Write More Than Reviews

Writing reviews online might be good for pocket money, but you won’t earn a full-time income from it. However, reviews aren’t the only way to make money from online writing.

If you enjoy writing, you may want to try to pick up freelance writing gigs. It can be a good way to earn some money in your spare time and to hone your writing skills. Some clients will pay hundreds of dollars for a single article and many people make a full-time living from freelance writing.

Even people who don’t write can earn a great income online by working as virtual assistants, editors, transcriptionists, or artists. The internet makes it easy to work with and get paid by people across the globe. It’s up to you to showcase your skills and find the people who need your services.

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Get Paid to Review Books: 5 Book Review Jobs Sites That Pay Reviewers

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Writing book reviews is one of the best ways to get paid to read books online.

As a book reviewer, you’re tasked with reading and reviewing books, which in return can earn you a paycheck.

This blog post will show you five of the top-paying book review sites where you can submit your pitches and get hired for book review jobs.

To review books effectively, having a good education is important. EduBirdie can help you improve your skills and knowledge, making you better at reviewing books.

Book review jobs sites that pay reviewers

So, if you want to get paid to review books online , here is a list of five websites that you can explore to find book review jobs:

1) The US Review of Books

The US Review of Books has fair terms for reviewers, and the pay is usually between $25 and $75. To be accepted you’ll need to submit your resume, samples, and references. You’ll also be asked to do a sample review.

The site doesn’t have tough guidelines, the reviews can be half summary, half commentary. Most of the reviews requested will be around 300 words and you can expect to earn $25 for each. For longer reviews that are around $600 the pay can be as high as $75

The first review you will do will be treated as an application and you are compensated nonetheless, whether you’re hired eventually or not.

The pay might not seem much especially when you factor in the hours it will take you to read a book. However, if you are a faster reader, you can easily lock in $250-$750 doing 10 reviews a month.

Another added benefit of writing reviews for The US Review of Books is that you will be listed in its directory of reviewers that you can use as social proof and also get a backlink to your site.

The site pays via PayPal. US Review of Books encourages readers and authors alike to visit their website.

2) Kirkus Reviews

Kirkus Reviews isn’t transparent with their rates but some people claim that it’s usually $50 per review.

The media company has been in existence since 1933, so it is a legitimate company. That said, the reviews from Glassdoor seem to suggest that the editors will ask you to change your review if it’s negative, thus interfering with your work ethics as a book reviewer.

The reviews are around 350 words long with 2 weeks turnaround time. If you still want to apply, simply head over to this page and contact an editor.

3) OnlineBookClub

Though a popular book review website, many people do not recommend OnlineBookClub because of its tough and demanding guidelines with extremely low pay.

While they claim to pay up to $60 per review, most reviewers earn their lowest rates, which is actually $5 per review.

Reviews are easily rejected and can affect your review score. When you join, your score will be below 35, meaning that you will be bagging home $0 per review as they only begin to pay beyond the 35-point mark.

There are no clear guidelines on improving your score apart from the fact that you will have to engage in a forum and give shoutouts on social media. The editors aren’t as responsive either.

4) Booklist Publications

Booklist Publications is a book review website whose pay is not as appealing. Booklist pays $15 per review and only upon publication. This means that even if your review is accepted, you might have to wait a while

For published reviews, you will get one line credit and you can also be listed as a reviewer on their directory page.

To get started, you will need to fill in an application form answering basic questions and if you are fit the team will get back to you.

5) Women’s Review of Books

Women’s Review of Books is a publication of Wellesley Centers for Women, a part of Wellesley College, and reportedly pays $100 per review.

The publication specifically reviews books about women or written by women.

They expect their reviewers to have journalistic, academic, or strong book review backgrounds.

So if you believe that you can develop thought-provoking reviews you can start pitching your idea to them.

They pay on a review basis. To get started, send in a review pitch proposal about the book you want to review, its publication date, and your angle to the editors. You can find contact details on this page.

You will be paid upon review publication and you also get 12 months of subscription to their monthly issues.

You can also find more writing guidelines in this document . Make sure you adhere to them when writing the reviews.

Ready to begin your book reviewer job?

Book reviewing is a lucrative yet demanding career.

However, if it’s something you love doing and have a passion for writing, then book reviewing can be another source of income for you.

If this isn’t the case, I would advise you to look for other ways to earn money online such as freelance services, info products, or affiliate marketing.

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Blog – Posted on Wednesday, Mar 27

How to become a book reviewer in 12 steps.

Most book critics have a pretty thankless job. If they give a bad review, they’re often accused of sour grapes (“If they could write, then they wouldn’t be reviewers”) and when their write-ups help a book to take off, they almost never get the credit (“the author’s talent sold the book, not the review”).  Yet literary criticism is an essential driver in the book-world — now more than ever in our age of online purchases and algorithmic curation. Which means there’s no time like the present to learn how to become a book reviewer .

In this post, we’ll look at the value of book criticism and show you how to become a book reviewer with our 12-step plan.

Why is book criticism important?

By conservative estimates, over 600,000 books are published each year in the US alone. Even the most voracious reader could only read a tiny fraction of those titles. Without literary criticism, the only thing to determine which books receive exposure would be the marketing teams of Big 5 publishers who would — dollars to donuts — always choose the titles they think will sell the most copies.

In the film Ratatouille , the fearsome food critic Anton Ego has something of an epiphany in the final reel: “There are times when a critic truly risks something, and that is in the discovery and defense of the new.” In many ways, that is the reason why literary journals, newspaper book reviews, online review blogs, and Amazon user reviews exist: all of these play an important role in championing new authors and new ideas.

As we’ll discover in the next section, the book critic’s job is not just to serve as an arbiter of taste, lording their influence over authors. When they’re doing their job right, they’re serving as a shepherd, not just for readers but for writers as well.

Why would you want to become a book reviewer?

Before we get into the topic of what a critic personally gets out of reviewing books, let’s expand a bit on the role they play.

First (and arguably foremost), a critic’s job is to guide readers . They need to present a book to the reader in a way that gives a flavor of what it’s like: they might choose direct quotes, isolate individual sections — whatever it takes to help the reader to form their own impression of the title.

The reviewer should also be well-read, so they can not only provide a personal reaction to the book, but justify that opinion as well. In an age of online ‘reaction videos’ where novices offer their knee-jerk opinions of music, films, and books they’re not familiar with, the critic should ideally provide a more rounded, informed account. They should be able to put a book into context, comparing and contrasting the author’s approach based on what works have come before it.

Some may see this as an elitist approach, but surely we read reviews because we’re interested in what the critic knows — not what they don’t know. Not to mention that authors hoping for reviews will appreciate a well-informed reviewer!

Book reviewers also have an influential platform . Whether they’re writing product reviews for an online retailer or penning 1,200 words for The New York Times , they can use their soapbox to shine a light on new authors. If we want to get lofty about it, you could say that it’s a critic’s responsibility to seek out and champion new talent: give them exposure that they wouldn’t get if we were to leave it to the marketing team at HarperCollins, for example.

In this next section, we’ll show you how you can get involved in the world of literary criticism and become a book reviewer.

How to become a book reviewer in 12 steps

If you're looking to become a professional book reviewer and reach a growing audience, you could do a lot worse than to follow these twelve steps.

Step 1. Read abundantly

If you don’t already read like a maniac , then one might wonder why you’d want to become a book reviewer in the first place. Reading certainly won’t get any more enjoyable when you’re faced with a deadline. Plus, as we mentioned before, one of the best things you can bring to the table as a reviewer is your understanding of the history and landscape of the genre. When you’re reviewing a new horror book set in small-town New England, you should be, at the very least, well-versed in Stephen King books.

While you're at it, read other book reviews as well. You might as well learn from the best!

Step 2. Start reviewing books for free (or for money!)

Guess what? You can become a book reviewer today! You just need to log into your account at an online book retailer and drop a review of a book you’ve enjoyed. You can even write quality commentary with the help of our book review templates .

Okay, this article’s done now. Turns out, we only needed two steps. Roll credits.

All joking aside, reviewing books on retail sites is not a bad place to start. It gives you an opportunity to exercise your reviewing muscles and have your write-ups seen and enjoyed by folks browsing for their next big read. You can get feedback on your review (“20 people found this helpful”) and even contribute to the success of a book you like.

Once you feel confident in your skills (and are ready to take the next step), you can look at some of the online platforms which are always on the lookout for reviewers.

One of the most difficult parts of being a first-time author (especially a self-publishing one) is getting editorial reviews in time for the release of their book. If you look at the product description of a book’s Amazon page, you’ll often see that they include an extract from a review. If it’s a prominent release, the review may be from a national broadsheet; if it’s a smaller release, it may be from a smaller online reviewer. A few services specialize in providing authors with paid editorial reviews, which naturally requires reviewers. Some of the services will even pay them for their reviews (with some significant strings attached).

So which review platforms should you consider?

Some of the best-known review services include Kirkus, The U.S. Review of Books, Online Book Club, and Publisher’s Weekly — all of which offer a small honorarium in exchange for reviews. The review copies of the book are free (ideal!) but almost all of these services will give the reviewer no exposure (not ideal — especially if you’re looking to build your own profile as a reviewer).

The team here at Reedsy recently launched Reedsy Discovery as an alternative to these services. The reviewers on the platform have to submit examples of their writing for quality control, but once accepted, they can access and review a massive pool of upcoming indie books from their chosen genre.

The edge that Discovery offers reviewers is visibility . Each reviewer has a bespoke landing page where all their reviews can be found, along with a bio, headshot, and newsfeed. Readers who like what any given reviewer has written can choose to “follow” them and receive alerts about new reviews. Overall, Reedsy Discovery aims to give critics a platform (and the social networking tools) to build their personal profile and readership, two things that will come in handy as your reviewing career progresses.

To register as a reviewer on Reedsy Discovery, click here .

Between these options, you should have a few places where you can start writing reviews almost immediately! If you'd like to double-check, we recommend taking this quick quiz to find out which review community is the right fit for you:

Which review community should you join?

Find out which review community is best for your style. Takes 30 seconds!

And then, before you take a step into the big leagues, let’s cover some best practices.

Step 3. Always follow guidelines

Following guidelines is a good reviewing habit to develop early on — it will save you from a lot of rejection and rewrites. Sites like Kirkus are notorious for requiring an exact format for each review, while Reedsy Discovery and a few of the other sites allow a bit more freedom.

As you start to work with editorial staff, this ability to stick to guidelines will help you with your reputation as someone whose reviews don’t require an immense amount of feedback and editing — something that time-strapped editors appreciate.

Step 4. Always think of the reader first

In your life as a reviewer, you will almost always have a choice of which books to write about. So if a book has been utterly terrible, you can always choose not to write about it at all. Instead, find another title that might actually deserve getting the push that your review can provide. Look for books that sound intriguing; then if you love it, find a way to convince your readers that they might love it too.

Step 5. Host all your reviews in one place

Any freelance writer (such as a reviewer) these days needs to have a strong online presence. If you’re looking to build your portfolio and profile, you need to keep most of your work in one location .

This might mean starting your own website or maybe a Tumblr page ( maybe ) as an easy, low-cost alternative. Reedsy Discovery effectively gives reviewers a homepage where all their reviews can be found (okay, the last mention of Reedsy Discovery for a while, we promise!).

Essentially, you just want to be able to send anyone a single URL where they can browse through your back-catalog of work. This will come in extra handy if you’re ever applying to a high-profile reviewing (or any other type of writing) job: your whole portfolio will be in one convenient place to impress employers.

Step 6. Become a specialist

It can be hard to sell yourself as a jack of all trades. If you tell an editor that you are the right person to review ‘anything’, chances are they’ll think you’re deluded.

Instead, focus on a few genres that you know intimately. Through your work, you want editors to know you as the go-to person for certain genres — so when a conspiracy thriller or what have you crosses their desk, they’ll know exactly who to assign it to (you).

Once you know your specialty, make sure you’re familiar with trends in that category, and review a lot of titles in those genres. When it comes to pitching to review the next big book in that niche, you’ll be able to point to your past work as why you’re uniquely qualified to take that job.

So now that we’ve built you a reputation, a small following, and a massive body of work, you may want to take the next logical step: writing a review for a paper or a big online outlet. To do this, you’ll need to get yourself on the radar of some editors.

Step 7. Put together a packet of your best reviews

If the editors of a magazine or paper have never heard of you, then your work is going to have to knock their socks off. The prime way to do this is to assemble a packet of your best work . Yes, you should already have your full portfolio in one place — but this will be a “greatest hits” compilation of sorts, so editors can see your maximum potential.

Perhaps choose a mix of recognizable, traditionally published titles and indie books, so they know you have a wide range. Then, as you start getting published in more prestigious publications, begin working those reviews into your pack, and continue the cycle as you write more and more. After all, it’s much easier to get published if you can show that you’ve already been published.

Step 8. Join an association

Being part of a community is an important element of entering any profession. And book reviewing is no different! If you’re based in the US, check out the National Book Critic’s Circle : membership currently costs $50 a year for freelancers and it gives you access to a bunch of great resources and access to its Emerging Critics Fellowship.

Step 9. Find out upcoming releases

Once you know what books are coming up, you can start creating a shortlist of books you want (and are suited) to review.

Step 10. Start small-ish

Even if you’re a freakishly prodigious writer, chances are you won’t be able to make the jump straight to The New York Review of Books . Instead, look for more modest opportunities at smaller local papers, online magazines, and certain literary journals . As you research, make yourself a “hit list” of possible review outlets, figure out which upcoming books might be suited to those outlets, and start pitching.

Step 11. Pitch reviews effectively

First of all, always make sure that you’re contacting the right person at a magazine or newspaper. Don’t send your pitch to the city editor or the sports desk — word will get out that you don’t know how to do basic research.

It’s also good to bear in mind that you’re not pitching the idea of a review: you want to pitch the story your review might tell . The editor might not have considered running a review of the book you’re putting forward, so you have to sell them on the idea: why should they print a review of that book? Is it newsworthy (e.g. does it cover a topic in the current zeitgeist, or that is about to have a major anniversary)? Is it the latest book in a category that’s about to explode?

Once you’ve convinced an editor that the book you’ve proposed is worth reviewing, you’ll also have to make a case for why you should be the one to do it. Of course, you’ll want to link to your review samples to prove that you can write and that you’re well-versed in the genre. This should demonstrate your understanding and passion for that type of book and prove that you’re the ideal candidate.

To see what that might look like, check out this post from writer Erika Dreyfus. She provides an example where she mentioned how her grandfather was a businessman in post-WWI Germany as part of her successful pitch to review a new memoir set in that era.

Also, don’t pitch too late. Magazines will assign reviews weeks (if not months) in advance, so get your pitch in there early.

Step 12. Always follow up politely

Some people call this “hustling,” but in truth, it’s basic common sense. Wherever there is a submissions process, you can bet that there’s some poor soul who has to go through hundreds of emails. Naturally, emails will get lost in the pile and forgotten. If you don’t receive a reply from an outlet after two weeks, drop them a short polite reminder .

And if the answer is “no thank you,” then be gracious. Just because they don’t want you to review this book for them today, doesn’t mean they won’t be interested in something down the line. Who knows: after a few pitches, they might remember you as the “reviewer who’s big on Civil War fiction” and think of you the next time something appropriate turns up. So make a good impression and leave things on a positive note.

Keep plugging away, never stop reading, and always review with an eye to championing new talent and broadening readers’ horizons. You’ll eventually get a lucky break — and when that happens, you’ll be ready to seize the opportunity!

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Get Paid to Write Reviews: 17 Easy Ways

Did you know that, as a consumer, you can earn extra cash for your opinions by writing reviews online? Book reviews, software reviews, sponsored reviews, there’s no shortage of ways to make money writing online.

Keep reading to learn the best ways to get paid to write reviews.

17 Ways to Get Paid to Write Reviews

Here are the best ways to write reviews for money:

• 🏆  Crowdtap

InboxDollars

Survey Junkie

Prime Opinion

• Slicethepie
• Opinion Outpost
• UserTesting
• Panel Pay Day
• American Consumer Opinion
• Product Report Card
• Clicks Research
• Review Stream

1. Crowdtap

Crowdtap is an online survey platform that conducts market research for large companies like eBay, Sony, and Verizon.

Once you set up your account, choose the mission (or task) you want to complete. Missions include answering survey questions, participating in discussions, and product testing.

Completed missions earn points you can redeem for digital gift cards to retailers like Amazon, Sephora, and Walmart. (Crowdtap does not offer an option to receive PayPal cash).

2. InboxDollars

When writing online reviews, it helps to work with well-known providers with established histories so you don’t get ripped off or risk giving away personal information to unknown sources.

One company with a good reputation is InboxDollars, a site that lets you take paid surveys, shop, and read emails. You can get paid to provide product reviews and collect cash rewards.

InboxDollars has been around for about two decades and has paid over $80 million to participants.

Learn More:

• InboxDollars Review

Sign Up Bonus: $5

With InboxDollars, you take surveys and earn cash, it's that simple. You can even earn by watching tv!

3. Survey Junkie

Not everyone wants to spend time writing lengthy articles. Survey Junkie is great because it saves time while providing an excellent platform for providing feedback and reviews.

Users build profiles based on their interests. The site then sends short surveys to match consumers with questions. Answering surveys allows you to earn rewards in the form of virtual points, and you can redeem these points for PayPal and e-gift cards.

• Survey Junkie Review

Survey Junkie is the most reputable online survey company and an easy way to make some extra money in your free time.

4. Swagbucks

Ask any avid online reviewer where to turn for work, and you’ll hear the name Swagbucks.

Swagbucks is a legitimate rewards site that offers users a variety of earning opportunities.

With Swagbucks, you can get paid to take surveys and give your opinions about products and services. You can also get paid to test products and write reviews. It’s fun, easy, and reliable.

You can also make extra money on Swagbucks by surfing the web and playing games. Head over to Swagbucks and poke around to see if it’s worth it.

• Swagbucks Review

Swagbucks - Easy Online Rewards & Surveys

Sign Up Bonus: $10

Swagbucks is a legit money-making app where you can make money taking surveys, watching videos, playing games, and more.

5. LifePoints

The LifePoints program offers a chance to earn points by taking surveys. Sometimes, the surveys are based on general concepts and can also focus on recently purchased products.

When you complete surveys through LifePoints and provide reviews, the site issues points you can redeem for cash, donations, or gift cards from leading retailers.

Using a site like LifePoints won’t lead to unimaginable riches, but it can be a fun and easy way to collect cash and provide reviews.

• LifePoints Review

Earn points redeemable for free gift cards just by completing some online surveys with LifePoints. LifePoints’ website is clutter-free and colorful, which makes it enjoyable to navigate and start earning points today!

6. Prime Opinion

Recently founded, Prime Opinion is a legitimate survey site that pays for your opinion on a range of products and services from major brands. You could be paid to review anything from your favorite soap to the TV you prefer to watch.

Once you sign up with your email address, you can scroll through available surveys and see an estimate of how long they’ll take to complete.

After completing a survey, you’ll be instantly awarded points. You can redeem points for gift cards, cash, or charitable donations when you hit 500 points, or $5.

• Prime Opinion Review

Price: FREE

If you enjoy providing your opinion to help companies provide better products and services while making a little extra money on the side, Prime Opinion is for you.

7. Slicethepie

If you’re looking for variety when writing reviews, Slicethepie has many options. This online review site can pay you to cover various areas like music and fashion. You can even watch commercials on Slicethepie to earn some extra dough.

Here’s how it works: provide reviews based on what you see and get paid. You can cash out via PayPal once you earn $10.

• Slicethepie Review

Toluna is looking for influencers to connect and exchange ideas with their community.

Simply sign up for Toluna and start providing opinions about products and services. Toluna makes it clear they’re looking for quality content.

The company issues rewards for time and effort through points that can be redeemed for cash or vouchers with retailers.

• Toluna Review

9. Opinion Outpost

Opinion Outpost is another community that pays consumers to sign up and provide their opinions.

This site offers rewards for taking online surveys, allowing you to get paid for your reviews and opinions.

• Opinion Outpost Review

10. UserTesting

Another site to consider is UserTesting , a platform that pays consumers to give product feedback.

All you have to do is sign up for UserTesting, take a practice exam, and join their global community. Then, once you’re in, UserTesting gives you tests and asks you to provide feedback about various products.

The best part is step three: getting paid. UserTesting gives users $10 for every 20-minute test and even more for people who take the time to complete interviews. Once you’ve earned some cash, the funds get sent directly to your PayPal account.

11. ListVerse

For people who prefer to write lists instead of long-form reviews, there is ListVerse — a site that pays $100 to make “top 10” lists, which is darn good money for freelance writers who don’t want to spend their days trolling Fiverr looking for potential work.

The cool part about ListVerse is you don’t need to be an expert to make money. All you have to do is sign up, write a list with at least ten items, and submit it.

If the list gets accepted, the company publishes your work and pays you through PayPal.

The great part is that you can cover just about any topic that interests you (within reason). You don’t need to include pictures or video, either.

12. Panel Pay Day

Panel Pay Day , recruits participants to complete online surveys. While they don’t pay you directly, the company that hired them does, it’s a great resource for finding the best survey opportunities.

13. American Consumer Opinion

American Consumer Opinion  is one of the most well-known names in the review industry, with a network of more than 7 million freelancers worldwide who regularly get paid to participate in research opportunities.

Membership is free with American Consumer Opinion, and you can make money by trying and evaluating new products, taking surveys, and testing new advertising.

According to American Consumer Opinion, the company has paid over $35 million in rewards.

14. Product Report Card

The Product Report Card program is another fun and rewarding site to consider.

Simply sign up for Product Report Card and start getting survey requests within 24 hours. It’s free to join, and you can get paid for each survey you complete.

On Product Report Card, you can earn gift cards for leading retailers and even free products by participating and providing feedback.

15. Clicks Research

Clicks Research is a pretty straightforward user testing site offering rewards in exchange for opinions.

Users are asked to sign up for the Clicks Research site as product testers. The site then sends free items in the mail.

Once the items arrive, users need to test products, take short surveys, and provide feedback. What’s great is that Clicks Research lets you keep the products you receive.

The site offers household items, cosmetics and toiletries, clothing, food and drinks, and even pet products, among other examples.

16. PINCHMe

There’s no shortage of fun happening over at PINCHMe . Just take one look at their website, and you’ll see for yourself.

Here’s how the PinchMe program works: Sign up for their site by creating a profile. Claim product samples each month. Then, wait for the site to ship you free samples. It simply asks for your feedback in return.

They’ll keep sending items as long as you keep providing great opinions and reviews. It’s that simple.

The site offers coins that can be redeemed as rewards. While you won’t get rich with this site, this could be the place to go if you want to have fun and get some cool items for your efforts.

17. Review Stream

Review Stream is a website that pays customers to write and submit reviews online.

This requires using products and then writing reviews on them. The site mainly aims to collect feedback on consumer experiences with certain products and services.

• Get Paid to Write Amazon Reviews

Why Get Paid to Write Reviews?

There are many reasons to consider writing reviews online. Here are a few of them.

Work from Home

There’s nothing better than making money from the comfort of your own home . You can write reviews from home or anywhere else you want, as long as you have an internet connection.

Best of all, there is virtually no overhead. You don’t have to pay for gas or spend time traveling to and from destinations. All you need is a computer or mobile device, an internet connection, and sometimes an address with a mailbox to receive products for testing.

By avoiding driving, you’ll pocket more of your income instead of spending money on gas. You will also avoid putting wear and tear on your car.

Be Part of the Gig Economy

The gig economy is growing by leaps and bounds every year as more and more people work flexible side jobs. You can become part of the gig economy and participate in this exciting trend alongside millions of other workers.

Pay Down Debt

If you’re in debt, you’re (hopefully!) working to get out of it as soon as possible. By writing reviews, you can bring in cash to help pay down your high-interest credit card debt or student loans. However, if you really want to pay down debt, you will probably be better off focusing your time on a higher-paying side hustle .

Save and Invest

Bringing in more cash can also give you more opportunities to save and start investing to build a brighter financial future for yourself.

The more you put into the bank for growth while you’re young, the less work you have to do when you’re older.

Tips for Writing Reviews Online

Consider the following points when you want to get paid to write reviews.

1. Watch Out for Scams

Unfortunately, the internet is filled with scams. While the websites mentioned above are all legit, there are many others out there that aren’t. I am talking about sites that collect and resell sensitive consumer data without providing value to you or your brands.

It’s important to be careful about the websites you use to avoid running into scams. The last thing you want to do is have your identity stolen while trying to make a few bucks online.

• Read Reviews: Read peer reviews and research providers. Try to stick with brand-name sites whenever possible to avoid complications. Trustpilot, the Better Business Bureau, and Consumer Affairs are all good resources to check when vetting survey providers.
• Never Send Money: Another thing to consider is that you should never have to wire money or pay for a service to test anything.
• Never Share SSN or CC Number: You also shouldn’t have to supply sensitive information such as your Social Security number or credit card information.

If a site asks for this type of data, it’s a surefire sign that it’s a scam and something you should avoid. Also, when it’s time to redeem your rewards, make sure to collect money through secure payment services to be safe (e.g., PayPal, Venmo, or Zelle).

2. Your Time is Valuable

Time is of the essence when completing online reviews. When reviewing an assignment, the first thing you should do is figure out approximately how long it will take you to complete it and what you’ll earn.

The general rule of thumb is to avoid reviews that take a long time with little to no valuable payout. For example, if a review takes you an hour to try the product and another hour to write a review, you’re looking at two hours of work.

Make sure the pay is commensurate with the effort you’re putting in, or you could get ripped off.

3. Know Your Payment Options

Many of these sites look similar, but they have small differences with their payouts that you should understand. For example, some pay in cash while others pay in rewards. This is something to note before getting started. If you need cash, reward cards might not be that helpful.

4. Write Quality Reviews

You don’t need to write like Hemingway when filling out online reviews. But you do need to try your best when writing and taking surveys.

If you write poorly or fill out surveys as quickly as possible, you could run into payment issues or have your account restricted.

The above sites have built-in quality control mechanisms to prevent users from exploiting them with fake reviews.

So, do your best to write detailed reviews and provide honest feedback. This is especially important if you are receiving actual products in the mail.

5. Consider Starting Your Own Blog or YouTube Channel

The most successful people start their own independent review sites on platforms like YouTube and WordPress.

Taking this approach requires putting in a bit more effort. After all, blogging or vlogging isn’t easy.

However, becoming a blogger can lead to greater returns — especially if you partner with brands or make targeted advertisements. Who knows? You could become the next best influencer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should i write reviews on social media.

Putting reviews on social media can be tricky. On the one hand, you can earn a lot of money if you have a big following. On the other hand, it’s sometimes not easy or even possible to get paid. You might also open the door for negative comments or arguments. If you take this route, you must be prepared to defend yourself (or the brand) in a public forum. The nice part about working with third-party review sites is you will almost always receive compensation for your work while shielding yourself from public scrutiny.

Should I take Amazon cards or cash payments when submitting online reviews?

When you have the choice, it’s almost always better to take cash payments than accept gift cards to online marketplaces or merchants.

For example, suppose you receive $25 in rewards for completing an online review. You could invest that money in the stock market or put it into a bank account for emergency savings. Online rewards for Amazon products are fun, but it’s always worth remembering that rewards aren’t equal to cash.

Do online reviews generate passive income?

Usually not. Most online review opportunities are one-offs, meaning you write a review and collect payment for it.

The only real way to generate passive income with online reviews is by starting a blog, writing reviews, and inserting affiliate links that pay you when someone clicks and makes a purchase. Of course, you may also be able to bring in revenue through ad sales if your blog receives a lot of traffic.

The Bottom Line

Everyone wants to be heard, and now, you can get paid to give your opinions about various products, services, and experiences.

Always provide honest reviews and try your best. But remember, don’t spend too much time doing them. Make sure the reward is worth the effort before getting started.

Writing reviews online won’t make you a billionaire, but it can be a great way to build up an emergency fund and eventually stack up enough cash to begin investing.

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Learn more in our full disclaimer

How and Where to Get Paid Editorial Book Reviews

Paying someone to review your book is an accepted and common marketing tactic. This article and directory will help you determine the answers to these questions:

• Should I pay for an editorial book review?
• What should I consider when choosing a review business?
• What services are available?

Editorial reviews vs customer reviews

Customer reviews are written by readers, who also assign one to five stars to reflect their opinion of the book, with five being outstanding. Authors are referring to customer reviews when they reference a book’s review count on Amazon, Goodreads, and elsewhere.

I like Amazon’s definition of an editorial review:

“An editorial review is a more formal evaluation of a book, usually written by an editor or expert within a genre.”

Editorial reviews may be added to your book’s product page on Amazon via Author Central. They appear under the heading Editorial Reviews .

Examples of other uses of paid editorial reviews:

• Include excerpts on your book’s cover and/or inside your book
• Post on your website and social media accounts
• Include excerpts in your book’s description on Amazon (this is one of my favorite uses)
• If you are contacting a blogger or podcaster, include the reviews your written materials
• Include in a press release and on other marketing collateral

Do you need editorial reviews?

If the purpose of a review is to impress and influence someone, who is the person you are trying to impress?

• A bookstore manager?
• A librarian?
• A reporter, podcaster, or blogger?
• Some other influencer?

Clarity about who you are trying to impress is your compass for navigating possible review sources. Each review source has two facets: the person or organization who wrote the review, and the review itself.

In my experience, the average reader isn’t too familiar with these review businesses or doesn’t give them much thought. But another reason for buying these reviews is to impress bookstore owners and librarians—people who make buying decisions.

Tip : Be clear about the answer to this question. If you are trying to impress readers, Amazon customer reviews are probably more important.

Five questions to ask yourself before making a decision

If you are familiar with  The Book Reviewer Yellow Pages , you know that I break out paid review businesses into two categories, fee-only and hybrid. Hybrid reviewers review a limited number of books at no charge. Those that are not accepted must pay.

Note: Businesses that that do not charge to write editorial reviews are profiled in The Book Reviewer Yellow Pages . There are not very many, their standards are high, and their requirements are stringent, making them less available to self-publishing authors.

1. Is the cost in your budget? Name-brand reviewers like Kirkus Reviews and Foreword's Clarion Reviews begin at $425, but even lesser-known reviewers cost $200. Considering the fact that opinions vary, it can get very expensive to solicit multiple reviews.

Tip : Sign up with the review business’s mailing list well in advance and watch for discounts and specials. Associations also offer discounts: IBPA’s arrangement with Foreword will save you 35% (which gets you close to the fee for joining!). Find out more at https://www.ibpa-online.org/.

2. How important is “professional” feedback to you as a writer? We all want independent feedback about our writing. Some services also offer longer reviews and/or reviews of manuscripts. However, it’s important to remember a review is just one reader’s opinion.

Tip : Read the company’s reviews for books like yours. Is that the depth you are looking for?

3. How will they promote their review? Most review businesses claim they market your review. Examples include their print magazine, website, mailing list, and social media. They may also syndicate their reviews. For example, Foreword Clarion licenses their reviews to book wholesalers such as Ingram, Baker & Taylor, Cengage, Bowker, and EBSCO.

Tip : Review the information in the table below to decide if a company’s claim of promotion is helpful for your situation. I also like to  check their website’s Alexa ranking , a useful tool for evaluating a website’s popularity (the lower the number, the more popular the website). Note: Our research as reflected in the table is only a starting point, and it is subject to change.

4. Does the name of the review business detract from your positioning? If you are trying to downplay the fact that your book is self-published, does the name of the review business give it away or is it neutral? Or does it even matter?

Tip : As always, bestselling self-published authors in your genre can serve as a guide. Check their editorial reviews on Amazon for ideas.

5. How do you plan to use the review? I’m always looking for short, insightful quotes to promote client books. I’m not even sure readers read 300+ word reviews!

Tip : If a quote is all you need, perhaps try excerpts from Amazon customer reviews or blurbs from a well-known person or organization.

16 sources for paid editorial reviews

In our directory below, we profile 16 sources that review self-published books for a fee. The details you see were taken from their website or were publicly available sources as of June 2021.

Caution, please read:

• The details here are subject to change.
• You should rely on your own research and validation of the details.
• The details we provide may or may not be the best way to evaluate the worthiness of a review from a service. Only you can decide that.

Notes about the listings:

• Only review businesses with reviews posted in 2021 are shown. If you uncover a review business not on this list, make sure it has reviewed books in 2021.
• Most businesses allow you to suppress (kill) a review you don’t like. You still need to pay for it, but at least it won’t be public. Ask ahead of time, if you are concerned about this.
• Min Fee . This is the fee for their non-rush service. Most will offer a review more quickly, but it will cost more.
• Turnaround . This is how long it takes to get the review, based on the noted fee. Most offer faster service for a higher price.
• Alexa Rank . Alexa is a useful tool for evaluating a website’s popularity (the lower the number, the more popular the website). It isn’t perfect, but every website on the internet has a ranking, and those numbers are public. (Click the link and enter your own website. You’d be surprised what you can learn!)
• Author Link . Is the review linked to the author’s website?
• Amazon Buy Link . Yes means the review links to Amazon to buy your book.
• Other Buy Link . Most of the companies link to Amazon, but do they link to other stores?
• Review Promotion . In most cases, this information is taken directly from the reviewer’s website.
• Click the arrows to sort by column.

Scroll down for Additional Resources.

Additional Resources

• Book : The Book Review Companion: An Author’s Guide to Getting and Using Book Reviews
• Book : The Book Reviewer Yellow Pages: A Directory of Book Bloggers, Blog Tour Organizers & Book Review Businesses

About The Author

Manon Wogahn

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6 of the Best Ways to Get Paid to Read Books

Arvyn Cerézo

Arvyn Cerézo is an arts and culture writer/reporter with bylines in Book Riot , Publishers Weekly , South China Morning Post , PhilSTAR Life , the Asian Review of Books , and other publications. You can find them on arvyncerezo.com and @ArvynCerezo on Twitter.

View All posts by Arvyn Cerézo

It’s true that reading books is beneficial in so many ways, including improving our mental health . But there’s an unpopular benefit that reading books can also provide: money. Indeed, reading can become an income stream, turning passion into profit. Ever wondered how to get paid to read books?

While there are several, broad avenues to do that — such as getting a job in the publishing industry , becoming a book editor or proofreader , narrating an audiobook , developing ebooks for a living, or becoming an audiobook proof listener — I’d narrow in on the easiest route, something that could be done right away: book reviewing.

I’m a writer and journalist regularly reviewing books for Publishers Weekly , and I’ve been doing this for four years now. Although the pay isn’t that great, it helps me hone my writing and reviewing skills. It also helps me build connections within the publishing industry. But a gig such as this might as well be a full-time job itself; reading a book for review purposes is a different thing from reviewing a book for leisure. There’s a lot of things to consider, and it might not seem that enjoyable at it appears.

But if you’re interested to become a book reviewer and get paid to read books along the way, I have a list of six ways for you to try below. The list includes writing for traditional magazines and publications that are proven to pay freelancers after a published review. Maybe after trying these gigs out, you might get interested in working in publishing. So, to test the waters, a book reviewing side hustle might be ideal.

Here’s how to get paid to read books through reviewing gigs:

Writing Book Reviews for Publishers Weekly

PW , the industry magazine, pays $25 per review that runs about 180–200 words. You can choose how many books you can review in a month. In my case, I recently switched to one book per three weeks because of my schedule. But before, I used to do two books a month. In addition to that, you can decline a book if you don’t feel like it, but I’m not sure if it’s the case with every editor.

There are also opportunities for other kinds of writing, such as a Q&A and an author profile, which you can pitch to your editor.

Publishers Weekly accepts reviewer applications occasionally. All you have to do is send a CV and a sample review à la PW . They don’t assign a byline, however.

Writing Book Reviews for Kirkus Reviews

This magazine also accepts applications for freelance reviewers . However, it won’t be for traditionally published books, unlike with PW . Instead, reviewers would be working on self-published books for the indie section of the magazine called Kirkus Indie.

The review runs about 350 words and is due two weeks after the book is assigned. They pay $50, but it could go upwards to $75 if they see some great writing. For picture books, they pay $40 for a review of 250 words. As with PW , they don’t give a byline.

“Reviewing for Kirkus Indie was fun. I got sent a steady stream of books to recommend, usually 1–2 per month,” shares Sarah S. Davis, former Kirkus Indie reviewer and a Book Riot contributor. “I did have an opportunity when I first started to list what genres were my preferred genres to recommend. You don’t get to choose which book you get, but they will often give you a sub-genre or category that you connect well with. For example, for me that was books about health, psychology, and spirituality. My friend who reviewed for Kirkus, however, ‘specialized’ in geotechnical thrillers.”

To be considered, submit a sample review in the style of Kirkus.

Reviewing for Booklist

Booklist is a magazine catered toward librarians. They also occasionally publish reviews in their print and online versions. Just like the magazines aforementioned, Booklist is also constantly looking for reviewers.

For a word count of 150–175, the pay is a meager $15. If you reject a book, you get $5. Nonetheless, the best thing here is that the reviews are signed. That means you get to have a byline attached to the review, whether in print or online. In some instances, however, the payment could be delayed because the review is scheduled for a later issue. But once it gets published, you get to be paid.

Here’s how to apply as a Booklist reviewer . Once accepted, you’d become an apprentice reviewer.

Writing Audiobook Reviews for AudioFile Magazine

AudioFile is a magazine that regularly reviews audiobooks. If you’re an avid audiobook listener and feel like recommending best new titles, then this is for you.

AudioFile assigns a couple audiobooks in a month, and you have to write a review of about a hundred words. They pay $10 apiece, which is disbursed twice a year. Because of this payment scheme, it would take a long while to receive the payment. Still, you have the freedom to choose the genre of audiobook you want to review, such as young adult, fantasy, classics, literary fiction, etc. In the review that appears in print and online versions, you get to have initials as your byline, but you don’t get to have your name printed in full.

Reviewing an audiobook, however, is an altogether different realm. Make sure to read the magazine to get familiarized with the style.

Writing Book Reviews for Online Book Club

This is a forum that publishes book reviews, and they always accept reviewers. Since it’s a forum — not a magazine or a publication — you get to choose what appears as your byline. Pay varies per book, but it usually ranges from $5–60 per review according to their website.

“Reviewing books for the Online Book Club was a good experience because I got to read books and give my opinion about them, which I enjoyed,” says Yolimari Garcia, a former reviewer. “You can choose which books you want to review from a list. However, you can only pick the books with higher payments if you have a high reviewer score. I reached the highest level, which was six. A level-six reviewer is allowed to be an editor, which I was too.”

According to Garcia, the reviewers receive feedback from the editors, who also assign ratings based on the Review Team Guidelines. The objective is for the high-quality reviews to receive a high score and those with low quality to receive a low score. Some reviews cannot be published because it is clear that the writer did not read the book or adhere to the rules, according to Garcia.

“You can review as many books from the list as you can in a month as long as you follow the Review Team Guidelines and meet the deadlines…The payment is lower if you are a low-level reviewer and higher if you are a high-level reviewer,” she adds. As with other publications that publish book reviews, Garcia says that “don’t expect to make a salary” and “see it as a hobby, a side gig, or a medium for gaining experience writing professional book reviews .”

Here’s how to apply as a reviewer for Online Book Club .

Pitching Directly to Magazines and Publications

This is the recommended option if you’ve already gained an experience writing professional book reviews or if you have a stellar writing portfolio. Many publications allow unsolicited pitches to editors; The New York Times , The Guardian , and other major outlets may accept such pitches.

The rate is significantly higher, reaching as high as $800 for a 1,000-word review . However, since this is the high-paying path, it’s also the most difficult one. It takes a lot of effort to craft the perfect pitch to an editor, and sending the pitch doesn’t even guarantee an assignment. It might depend on the quality of the pitch, the publication’s editorial calendar, the strength of the writing portfolio, relevance of the book, etc. To get paid to read books in this manner, one must already be an established literary critic. Think of it as the be-all and end-all of reviewing.

For more tips on how to pitch an article to a major publication, here’s a guide .

There are several ways to get paid to read books, but book reviewing seems to be the easiest path. Because of the nature of this gig, though, you might want to supplement it with other book-related jobs. Here are audiobook narrator jobs for beginners and other jobs for book lovers !

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Smart Money Tips!

33 Legit Ways to Get Paid to Write Reviews (in 2023)

Written by Schiavonne Robinson - Verified by Amanda on April 19, 2023

If you like leaving reviews for products or services, you’d be glad to know that you could get paid to write reviews for certain companies.

Giving businesses feedback does more than allow you to express your views.

Online reviews aid consumers in making purchasing decisions.

In fact, a PowerReviews survey shows that over 99.9 percent of customers read reviews when they shop on the Internet, and 98 percent consider them important sources when choosing to buy something.

Some web reviews encourage potential buyers to purchase a service or product.

That said, other web reviews advise against buying something to protect consumers from getting ripped off or wasting their time.

Reviews can even serve as a wake-up call to companies to clean up their act to avoid going out of business.

Best of all, many establishments are eager to pay people like you to share opinions on snacks, music, appliances, and more.

So without further ado, here are businesses where you can make extra cash by giving feedback on products/services.

Table of Contents

Companies That Pay You to Write Reviews

Check out these sites to earn money writing reviews.

1. Capterra

Frequent software user?

Then, sign up for Capterra!

This site offers over 30,000 software products to review, so you’ll have plenty of work.

If Capterra publishes your review, you’ll get a gift card as a thank you.

2. Inbox Dollars

With Inbox Dollars, you can earn between $.50 and $20+ per survey.

The company also pays you to shop online, play games, and shop for groceries.

Inbox Dollars even starts you off with $5 after signing up.

3. Crowdtap

Crowdtap has over two million users, and it’s simple to see why.

Unlike many survey sites, you earn points even if you complete a one-question survey.

Share your views on brands via your computer or phone, then convert points into gift cards.

Download the app for Android or iOS.

4. GetReviewed

If you enjoy writing blogs, then consider creating a GetReviewed.

This platform lets you submit blog posts of product reviews to advertisers.

Upon approval, GetReviewed will display your articles on its platform and pay you via PayPal.

G2 allows you to make money by posting reviews about IT, customer support, marketing, and other services or software.

You can make up to $25 per post.

However, you need a LinkedIn account to qualify since G2 requires users to connect their LinkedIn accounts when submitting reviews.

6. UserTesting

Wanna get paid to test websites and apps and give your reviews?

You can do that through UserTesting!

Depending on the tests you conduct, you can make between $4 and $120 per session.

Click on “Get paid to test” to begin.

7. ReviewStream

Through ReviewStream, you can make extra cash by posting articles about your experiences with certain products, places, and services.

Any review you post on this site can’t be published elsewhere.

You can also earn more money by referring others to ReviewStream.

8. ListVerse

ListVerse doesn’t entirely focus on reviews.

However, you can use its platform to write and submit listicles of the best (or worst) products/services.

It pays $100 per accepted article.

9. Survey Junkie

Be a survey junkie with Survey Junkie!

When you earn at least 500 points (equivalent to $5), you can cash out and redeem them for gift cards, bank transfers, or PayPal.

Survey Junkie has another money-making option called Survey Junkie Pulse, a feature that lets you earn money passively via activities like ad views and site visits.

10. Gartner Peer Insights

Gartner Peer Insights pays you $25 per review on software and technology products.

That said, the site lets you submit only 10 reviews per year.

(Hey, it’s better than nothing!)

11. Slicethepie

When you work for Slicethepie, you receive payment for every review you leave.

Some of the things you give feedback for include clothing, music tracks, and more.

I read from some sources that you can make about $12 an hour through Slicethepie.

12. YouTube BrandConnect

Are you a charismatic individual who loves being in front of the camera?

Sign up for YouTube BrandConnect!

After joining (which is invite-only), you’ll see sponsors to choose to partner with.

You set your own rates and receive payment by check or PayPal.

13. LifePoints

With LifePoints, you earn points for sharing your opinions on various products and brands.

Each survey you choose to answer takes about 10 to 20 minutes to complete.

The points you get from taking LifePoints are redeemable for e-gift cards and PayPal payments.

14. Tryazon

Tryazon lives up to its name since it offers many types of products to try out, like board games, toys, food, and other merchandise.

Once you sign up, you compete with other users for review opportunities.

If selected, you’ll receive a sample box of products, aka a Tryabox. (You can even host a party based on the product(s) you receive if you apply and get accepted for its party-hosting opportunities.)

Then, you leave a review on your social media account or blog.

While you don’t get paid to write reviews for this company, at least you get to keep the products you try.

(There are currently no Tryabox opportunities, so you can check out the Party opportunities if you want to host an event with friends and family members.)

15.   Apperwall

Review apps through Apperwall!

You’ll receive apps to download, use, and give feedback for.

You can make $30 a month. ($100 a month if you refer friends.)

Download for Android or iOS.

16. Clicks Research

Clicks Research rewards you with Click Points when you complete its surveys.

How does this work?

Once you create a Clicks Research account, the company sends you products like pet supplies, cosmetics, and beverages to sample.

After you submit your survey responses and earn at least 2,500 Click Points, you receive a £25 bank transfer. (Plus, you keep the sample products.)

17. Swagbucks

You can share your opinions on brands by taking surveys through Swagbucks.

It also allows you to make money in other ways, like playing video games, searching on the Web, and shopping online.

Then, you can redeem points for PayPal or gift cards.

18. Smiley360

Smiley360 is sure to make you smile because it provides you with free products to sample.

After you try a product, you submit reviews through a platform so your followers, friends, and advertisers can read them.

You can also participate in online discussions and opt into offers tailored toward your interests.

19. MyPoints

With MyPoints, you can get:

• Up to 2200 points per survey
• Up to 4 points per game you play
• Up to 20 points cash back when you shop online or at grocery stores

You even get $5 as a Welcome bonus.

20. American Consumer Opinion

Earn 100 to 5,000 points per research project or survey when you sign up for American Consumer Opinion!

This company pays you to test advertising, participate in focus groups, and sample products.

Redeem points for charity donations or cash.

21. TryProducts

TryProducts partners with 300+ brands to provide 400+ products, so you’ll have plenty of stuff to sample.

Create an account, and then wait for the company to send you candy, household cleaners, and other goods to your home.

After trying them out, share your views and keep the products as a reward.

22. ProductReviewJobs

ProductReviewJobs brags that you can make up to $500 per week sampling and reviewing products.

It seems plausible because its website says users earn an average of $25 per product review.

23. Kirkus Media

Do you enjoy reading?

Kirkus Media frequently hires avid readers to write book reviews for its book review magazine section Kirkus Indie.

You submit 350-page reviews for paperback, hardback, and digital books.

Send your writing samples and resume to [email protected] .

24. Pinecone Research

With Pinecone Research, you can try various products and services before they hit the market.

However, you need to receive an invite from another user before taking advantage of its opportunities.

Once you sign up, you can take part in studies, earn points, and exchange them for prizes or cash.

25. Publishers Weekly

Publisher Weekly pays $25 per book review.

You’ll read and write reviews for book genres like:

• Children/Young Adult

Send your resume and sample book review to [email protected] .

26. Branded Surveys

Make some extra cash by signing up for a Branded Surveys account!

You take surveys provided by Fortune 500 companies to give feedback on various products and services.

Then, you earn points that are exchangeable for PayPal or gift cards.

27. The US Review of Books

The US Review of Books pays you to write 250-300 word book reviews.

Here’s how it works: you receive a list of books to read and then submit your reviews.

Send your resume, samples, and professional references to [email protected] .

28. PINCHme

What’s cool about PINCHme is that it releases new free samples every Tuesday.

You can sample peanut butter, skincare products, and other stuff and share your views to earn PINCHme coins.

29. BookBrowse

BookBrowse will pay you and even give you a byline when you submit well-written book reviews.

You’ll write reviews for adult and young adult non-fiction and fiction genres.

BookBrowse’s site even has fun quizzes you can take if you wish. (I recommend the reader personality quiz.)

30. Amazon Vine

If you like shopping on Amazon, consider becoming an Amazon Vine member!

This invite-only program allows you to place orders for free items and leave reviews for prospective Amazon customers.

All reviews you post on Amazon will be labeled with the “Vine Customer Review of Free Product” badge.

It doesn’t pay money, but you keep the products you review.

31. Harris Poll Online

With Harris Poll Online, you can influence market research trends by responding to surveys (and getting paid to do it, too).

When you earn $10 (1,250 points), trade them for gift cards or merchandise, or you can donate to charity.

Harris Poll Online is an interesting survey site because it pays you even if you don’t qualify for a survey (about 15 points). And that, to me at least, makes it one of the best legitimate online survey sites !

Note that it only accepts Canadian residents.

32. Moms Meet

If you’re a mom, you might want to check out Moms Meet.

You can join as a Moms Meet Creator, an individual who samples products and reviews them through your blog or social media.

Your reviews might help fellow moms make the best decisions for themselves and their children.

Some rewards you’ll earn include printables, gift cards, surprise packages, and more.

You even get 100 points just for joining Moms Meet.

33. MyVoice

Between 14 and 24?

Sign up for MyVoice!

This website lets you share your views on political topics via text message.

MyVoice gives you polls once a week during a 12-week period.

You’ll receive $5 as a sign-up bonus, then $1 per poll. (Total is $15.)

Writing Online Reviews for Money FAQ

Here are frequently asked questions about becoming a reviewer and getting paid.

Can you get paid for writing reviews on Amazon?

Yes, you can get paid for writing reviews on Amazon through their Vine program or by working with companies who offer compensation for reviews.

What’s the income potential of Review Writing?

The amount of money you can make from review writing depends on various factors, like how much money a site pays and how much time you put into writing reviews.

Some review sites pay a few dollars per review, while other sites— like ProductReviewJobs — allow you to make hundreds of dollars per week.

Some sites don’t pay you at all; however, you do receive “payment” in the form of free products.

Which is better: gift cards or cash?

I can’t tell which is better for you since the “better type of compensation” is subjective.

However, I can help you decide whether gift cards or cash are best suited for your goals and interests.

Are you looking for extra cash to spend on groceries or bills?

Then, review sites that pay in cash should suit you.

If you enjoy shopping at retailers like Home Depot or Best Buy but don’t want to spend your own money, then go with gift cards.

Are there ways to make money writing reviews other than joining a review site?

Yes, there are.

You can create your own YouTube Channel if you don’t mind broadcasting videos of yourself reviewing products/services.

Another option is creating a review blog and becoming an affiliate for a retailer like Amazon, aka Amazon Associates Program . (Unlike the Amazon Vine site, you actually make money with this option.)

When visitors click on the products you recommend and buy them, you earn a commission.

Are there other places to make money writing reviews online?

How can i prove i’m a trustworthy reviewer.

Sadly, many reviews on sites like Amazon, Yelp, and Google aren’t real.

Some people post phony feedback because they’re secretly paid by someone to do so, or they want to ruin a company with false and hurtful stories.

If you want followers and potential customers to see you as an individual with integrity, I suggest the following:

• Snap photos of receipts to prove that you bought a product or service and post them on your blog or social media posts.
• Make unboxing videos, which show viewers that you purchased something.

Becoming a Paid Reviewer!

Writing reviews not only helps customers make better buying decisions but also encourages businesses to improve their products or services.

And the best part of review writing?

You can earn sweet rewards like gift cards, cash, or even freebies just by sharing your honest opinion.

So why not turn your words into valuable currency and start getting paid for your reviews today?

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How To Get Paid To Read Books (Plus 5 Legit Companies That Pay for Reviews)

Turn the dream into reality!

If you’ve ever dreamed of a world where someone would pay you to read books, we’ve got good news! There are multiple ways to get paid to read books, whether you make a career out of it or just do it to pick up some extra cash. In fact, these options can be the perfect choice for teachers looking to change careers or those who need to make a little money on the side . Here’s how to live the dream.

Can you really get paid to read books?

Short answer: Yes, you can! Longer answer: You can make money, but you may not be able to make a living. If you’re looking to get paid to read books as a career, you’ll probably need to pursue jobs in publishing, which can be hard to come by. Expect to earn a related degree and work your way up from the very bottom. Penguin Random House has much more information about how to get into publishing here.

It’s much easier to get paid to read books if you’re willing to do some smaller jobs instead. Many companies will pay you to write book reviews, though only small amounts at first. Plus, there are other gigs, like audiobook narrator or book translator, which you might be able to pick up on an as-needed basis.

One note: Many people dream of becoming librarians because they can’t imagine anything better than spending their days surrounded by books. And while there are many rewards to becoming a librarian, getting paid to read isn’t usually one of them. This varies, of course, depending on your position. But in general, how much time does the average librarian spend reading on the job?

“The answer is zero,” shares one former librarian. “Unless you count reading spine labels as you’re shelving.” So if you’re looking to make money just for reading, take a look at one of the jobs below instead.

What types of jobs are available for avid readers?

Lorenzo Cafaro via Pixabay

Whether you’re looking for a career or a side gig, here’s what you’ll want to know about some of the most common reading jobs.

Book Reviewer

Pay range: $5–$50 per review for beginners

This is one of the easiest ways to get paid to read books. There are a variety of companies that will pay you for your thoughtful reviews, though the per-job pay isn’t amazing. If you’re a prolific reader, though, this can be a nice way to pick up some extra money regularly. Check out our list of companies that pay for reviews below.

If you’re an accomplished reviewer, you might consider pitching your reviews to bigger outlets, like newspapers, magazines, or websites. You could receive hundreds of dollars for your reviews—if they’re published. Learn how to pitch an article to a magazine here.

Publishing Acquisitions Editor

Pay range: $47,000–$85,000 per year

Not all jobs in publishing actually require a lot of reading, but acquisitions editors definitely spend their days turning pages. Their main job is to read manuscripts from authors (solicited or unsolicited) and make recommendations about which of them to publish. These jobs aren’t necessarily glamorous, but they’re a bookworm’s dream. And as you might imagine, they can be very hard to land. Find out more about becoming an acquisitions editor here.

Publishing Copy Editor/Proofreader

Pay range: $41,000–$96,000 per year

If you’ve got an eye for detail, these could be the jobs for you. Copy editors work with a book while it’s still in progress, reviewing for consistency, errors, continuity, factuality, and legal liability. They help authors make changes as needed throughout the editing process.

Proofreaders review a final copy of a manuscript before it goes to press. A proofreader compares the edited manuscript with the proof copy, word for word. They catch any last spelling, grammar, or punctuation errors, and fix any awkward word or page breaks. Discover the differences between copy editors and proofreaders here .

Audiobook Narrator

Pay range: $10–$500 per finished hour

Audiobooks are very popular, and those with strong voice-acting skills can make good money by recording them. Some narrators even do their own recording, editing, and more. For fiction books, the process often involves multiple narrators, with a regular audition process. You may work at home if you have the right equipment, or you may need to come into a recording studio.

Note that audiobook narrators are usually paid per “finished hour,” which refers to the length of the audio files you record. For an 18-hour audiobook, you may spend double that or more in preparation, rehearsal, and recording, so figure your salary accordingly. Want to get started working in audiobook narration? Look into ACX, Audible’s audiobook creation marketplace.

Literary Translator

Pay range: $22,000–$100,000 per year

Many books are translated into multiple languages and sold around the globe. If you’ve got strong world language skills, you could make money by translating those books for publishers or authors.

This job involves more than just word-for-word translation, since many words and phrases don’t have direct cognates. Translators have to use their knowledge of language to ensure the translated book retains the same tone as the original, making it a real art form. See tips on becoming a literary translator here.

Companies That Pay You to Read and Review Books

Karolina Grabowska via Pexels

You won’t make a bundle writing book reviews for any of these companies, but it can be a steady way to earn some much-needed extra cash. Some require experience and an application process, while others are easier to get in on. Here are the details.

Pay rate: Not specified

BookBrowse asks that applicants have some experience in writing the types of reviews they’re looking for. Their website says reviewers write about one review a month for “a byline and modest payment.” See if BookBrowse is a good fit for you here.

Pay rate: $15 per review (~150 words)

Libraries depend on publications like Booklist to help them choose new additions to their shelves. The pay is low, but the reviews are also quite short and you’ll receive a byline credit. Learn more about writing for Booklist here.

Kirkus Reviews

Pay rate: $50 per review (~350 words)

Kirkus hires reviewers for Kirkus Indie, the book review magazine’s section dedicated to self-published authors. If you’re interested, find out more here.

Online Book Club

Pay rate: $5–$60 per review

For the first review, OnlineBookClub.org gives you the book for free. After that, you’re eligible for paid opportunities (which also include free books). Learn how the process works and apply to be a reviewer here.

Publishers Weekly

Pay rate: $25 per review (~200 words)

This publishing powerhouse looks for reviewers who can handle books across a wide array of subjects, from cookbooks to psychology, romance to sci-fi. Submit an application via their website to be considered for review gigs.

Do you know of other ways to get paid to read books? Come share your thoughts and ask for advice in the WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook .

Plus, 38 companies that hire former teachers in 2023 ..

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Get Paid to Read Books: 9 Top Companies for Book Reviewers

September 30, 2020 by Jane 18 Comments

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Some people enjoy reading books as a hobby. But others do it to make some extra income too. So if you can bury yourself in a book, reading it chapter after chapter, and can write an on-point book review, then you can get paid to read books.

This post may contain affiliate links. I may earn from qualifying purchases at NO extra cost to you.

How to become a book reviewer

Table of Contents

Right now, you’re probably asking: How do you become a book reviewer? Do you need to hold a specific degree or earn a particular certification? Do you even need training for it?

Fortunately, there’s not much that you need to become a book reviewer. First, you need to be a voracious reader. You must really love reading books. If you spend a good time in the library reading books or always made a point to visit the bookstore to check out books from your favorite author, then you’ll most likely qualify to become a book reviewer.

However, you also need to be a good writer. After reading the book, you will have to write a book review. You should be able to follow the guidelines of the editorial staff. Most editors are busy, so they’ll appreciate book reviewers who can create concise, onpoint, and objective perspectives about the book. Make sure not to give out spoilers or discuss the plot twists. Book Trust has a fantastic guide in writing book reviews  here .

Additionally, having a sample book review, resume or CV, and website or blog link ready would bevery useful when you’re hunting for book review gigs. Some companies require one or all of these, so it’s best to have them digitally stored when you apply. If you want to specialize in this niche, it’s a good  to place all your book reviews in one place so that publishers and authors can easily see if you’re a good fit for them.

How much do book reviewers make?

Reading a book can take some time and writing a review will also require some effort and brain energy, so you’re probably wondering how much you can make as a book reviewer.

There is no standard rate for book reviewers. According to  Career Trend , you may earn zero dollars plus a free book, or $300 per review from top publishers. Those who are employed full-time by a publisher can make a more predictable income.

So as you can see, being a book reviewer isn’t always lucrative, and it won’t promise steady income. It’s a good side hustle for people who enjoy reading books as a hobby, but it probably won’t pay your mortgage.

Most people who love reading books also love writing. If you also want to make money writing, I highly recommend starting your own blog! I make a full-time income from this blog and I can help you do the same!   Check out this detailed, step-by-step guide on how to start a blog and make money from your blog as a beginner. 

Get Paid to Read Books: Top Publishers That Pay You For Book Reviews

Now let’s get down to the list of publishers that hire book reviewers, how much they pay, what they require, and what it’s like to work with them.

Related:  15 Inspiring Hobbies that Make Money

• Online Book Club

One of the most popular book review sites is Online Book Club. Joining the Club is quite easy: just sign up and pick a book you’d want to read and review. The first review you write that’s accepted by the editorial staff isn’t paid, but all the subsequent book reviews will earn you somewhere between $5 to $60, plus a free copy of the book. Additionally, Online Book Club awards a $25 Amazon gift card for every 30 book reviews you write. .

• Reedsy Discovery

If you want to get your hands on the best new books even before they hit the market, joining Reedsy Discovery will help you get paid to read books online. Reedsy has a massive library of books by self-published authors, so you’ll most likely to find books that you enjoy reading. You won’t get paid much, except for tips from authors ($1, $3 or $5). But as you build your reputation as a book reviewer, you can connect with authors directly for book review gigs.

• Kirkus Media

Do you want to know how to become a book reviewer for Amazon? Join Kirkus Media! It is the prime source for book reviews  for books  that are sold on Amazon.  Kirkus Media is often hiring book reviewers, so it’s great to try your luck here before anywhere else. In your application, mention any relevant experience you have as that may increase your chance of being noticed. Once you get in, you’ll have thousands of books from across genres that you can read. After which, you need to come up with a 350-word book review in two weeks. Payments are not specified and will be sent to you by check 60 days after the review is submitted.

• Book Browse

Book Browse is another legit company that hires people to read and review books. This company aims to help readers pick out the best books for them by publishing book reviews. If you’re wondering how you become a book reviewer for Book Browse, you’ll need to fill out  a short online form and send them two sample book reviews. According to its website, Book Browse gives book reviewers a modest payment and a byline. However, most reviewers only get to review one book each month.

• Publishers Weekly

Publishers Weekly is a weekly news magazine with a core focus on the publishing industry. The company has a long list of book genres that are open for book review  including children’s books, mystery/thrillers, religion, lifestyle, and tnonfiction, from self-published as well as traditionally-published authors. To work with PW, you need to send your resume and a sample 200-word review. Book reviewers are paid an honorarium, but the amount is not disclosed publicly.

• Any Subject Books  

Any Subject Books is a book review website that aims to supply honest and objective book reviews to readers. To do this, the site provides a standard form that book reviewers need to fill in, evaluating the book’s style, characters, plot, etc. Any Subject Books is also generous in sending reviewers books in their desired genres. The deadlines for book reviews are mutually decided by the book reviewer and Any Subject Books, and payment varies accordingly.

• Women’s Review of Books

If you love to read books written by women authors for women audiences, then it’s a great idea to work for Women’s Review of Books. Women’s Review of books has been around for the last three decades, reviewing a wide range of literary works, including poetry, fiction and memoirs, among others.

If you wish to apply, attach one of your best book reviews as a sample as well as your resume. You will be compensated with a PDF issue where your book review appears, one year subscription to their magazine and $100 for every successfully approved book review.

• U.S. Review of Books

Another reputable book review website is the U.S Review of Books. The company hires freelance book reviewers who can write professional objective reviews of their books. The U.S Review of Books has an extensive selection of books spanning different genres, and they’re looking for reviewers who can provide an honest yet objective critique aboutthe book, and not the author. Book reviews should be around 250-300 words and are formatted according to the Chicago Manual of Style. Payment is not disclosed, but according to most sources, the company pays via check once a month.

• Booklist Online

Booklist is owned by the American Review Association, striving to help readers pick the best books that are worth their time. There are over 8,000 books published on Booklist, so the magazine constantly hires book reviewers. Books are of a wide variety, including fiction, nonfiction and young adult. You can write a book a review of 175 words to 225 words, and receive $15 for every approved book review. Make sure to follow the editorial team’s guidelines for writing book reviews to make sure you don’t get rejected.

Get Paid To Read Books: Is It Worth Becoming A Book Reviewer?

If you want to get paid to read books, you should first look at these nine places and see where you can possibly land a book review gig. Some of them pay more than the others, but of course, you also have to consider the selection of books they offer. You probably won’t enjoy reading memoirs if you love romance novels, right? To make your work as a book reviewer more pleasurable, try to find book reviewer jobs where you can get access to your favorite kinds of books.

All in all, working as a book reviewer is a great way to get paid to read books. You are not just enjoying your hobby, but getting paid for doing what you love. It isn’t very lucrative though, so it’s probably best to keep this as a side hustle and not your main source of income.

Have you tried working as a book reviewer? If so, how was your experience?

for more money and frugal living tips!

Reader Interactions

Muhammad Ayyaz

August 06, 2021 at 11:52 am

I am a mechanical engineer I worked in a university as a mechanical engineer from 1981 to2019 so my interest is in mechanical technology. I am also a master in education from the University of Punjab Lahore Pakistan.

August 08, 2021 at 12:26 am

I’m interested in doing this. I love to read. I’m just not sure about my writing skills.

Donna Rice-Saffold

September 18, 2023 at 7:51 am

I like to read and am interested in a we ork from home advrnture. I sometime serve as a substitute teacher im my local school area and have grans who love to hear & read good stories.

November 25, 2023 at 4:03 pm

I am a CPA who loves to read. I was in a number of on line reading/book club groups when I was approached to write reviews after reading books sent to me. As these were advanced copies, I could not sell them, but was allowed to keep any and I generally chose which books I wished to read and review as well as which genres I was interested in There were deadlines for the reviews and the only payment I received was the free book. I did nothing to arrange this gig and loved doing it, allow eventually the deadlines interfered with tax season hours and I let the reviews end. Worthwhile? Yes. Better now though with payments for the reviews, but I would still do them, even just for the free books!

Ms. Amber Naz

March 15, 2024 at 9:16 pm

How to join this opportunity???

August 21, 2023 at 10:34 am

I’m interested in this

Tammy L Thompson

September 04, 2023 at 3:39 pm

Is this legitimate I mean the date says Jane 3rd?

March 14, 2024 at 12:16 pm

I love reading books and so interested to start writing reviews also ….

September 17, 2023 at 3:18 pm

That’s not a date, it’s the poster’s name (Jane) and the number of comments before you made yours – it would have said “Jane 3 Comments”. If you look closely, you can see that “Jane” is a link, and “X Comments” (it says 4 right now) is a separate link. It should read “5 comments” after I post mine.

October 14, 2023 at 2:38 am

I am really interested in reading.

October 22, 2023 at 10:16 pm

Hi I am interested in reading a book.

Rosana Correia

October 26, 2023 at 5:49 pm

This might be interesting. I read books like a madman and I write as much. This might be the time to start doing something about it.

Carole James

January 02, 2024 at 7:29 am

Hi I have a medical background and qualifications in alternative therapies as well. Educated to Masters level I am happy to read medical/nursing and social textbooks. I am from the Uk so useful to check for English and American spellings

Thobelani Nkomo

December 21, 2023 at 8:15 am

I’m up if you looking for someone

January 02, 2024 at 3:40 pm

Books have always been apart of me. I love that I can get lost in the story, escape yor troubles. I can’t wait to start.

Anusiya Kirubaharan

March 18, 2024 at 2:34 pm

I am available to read a book. A book review can be done. I am in Canada.

January 07, 2024 at 1:54 am

I am interested

March 20, 2024 at 6:24 am

Funny how people who say they want a gig reading do not read the article that tells them how to get a gig reading.

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How to Get Paid to Read Books: 23 Ways to Make Money Reading

How to make money reading books.

If you love reading, there are several opportunities for you to get paid to read books.

Some are best suited for those looking for a low-cost side hustle that will earn you extra money in your spare time. Others may lead to full-time careers in the book publishing industry or owning a business.

Here are 23 ways you can make money reading books :

1. Proofread

Here’s a good side hustle for people who like to read: proofreading.

Publishing houses, self-published authors, and anyone who writes anything for public consumption need skilled proofreaders. That includes fiction and non-fiction.

Proofreading requires meticulous attention to detail. Proofreaders also need a thorough knowledge of grammar, spelling, punctuation, and capitalization.

If you don’t have much experience in the book publishing business or samples of your work, potential clients might ask you to take a test or proofread a sample document for them. Experienced freelancers with samples available can usually skip prescreening tests.

You can work from home or anywhere you have access to Wi-Fi, and proofreading is a pretty good side hustle for introverts . There are no set hours for freelancers, but there are deadlines.

Freelance proofreaders on gig economy platforms and freelance job boards like Upwork charge between $30 and $40 an hour.

2. Edit Copy

Copyediting is a bit more specialized than proofreading. Besides fixing typos and correcting spelling, copyeditors make more substantial edits. Copyeditors interested in editing books can find freelance opportunities and full-time jobs with publishing companies and indie authors.

A good copyeditor will address style, formatting, clarity, and flow in addition to grammar. You might also do some fact-checking or suggest changes that make the writing more readable.

Pay rates for freelance copyeditors vary based on the type of editing required and other factors related to each job. Clients might pay book editors per word, per page, per hour, or at a flat rate.

The Editorial Freelancers Association suggests the going rate in the freelance editing business is between $30 and $60 an hour.  Freelance book editing jobs tend to pay toward the higher end of the range.

If you’re interested in a career as a copyeditor or want to start copyediting on a freelance basis, you might want to pursue a copyediting certificate. A certificate adds credibility and could help you get your foot in the door if you’re starting. You’ll also strengthen your existing skills and likely learn new ones.

Several colleges, universities, and professional organizations offer copywriting certificate programs. There are both online and in-person courses available. Here are a few to look into:

• University of Chicago
• Emerson College
• UC San Diego
• Editorial Freelancers Association
• Poynter ACES Certificate in Editing
• Writer’s Digest Copyediting Certification Course

3. Translate Books and Documents

Read and earn money by translating.

Communicating in multiple languages is a highly in-demand skill for freelancers and other job seekers. Translating written works from one language to another could be a good side gig for someone who loves to read and is bilingual.

Authors and publishers always seek to reach a wider audience and break into new markets. As such, fiction and non-fiction books alike get translated into multiple languages.

To make money translating books and other written works, you’ll need a thorough understanding of at least two languages. Two semesters of high school Spanish will not cut it. If you grew up in a bilingual household and have spoken two languages your entire life, your skills could be in high demand.

Based on the type of material, you might also need some knowledge of idioms, slang, technical terms, and cultural differences to ensure that your translation reads well.

The pay varies widely, and finding steady work can be challenging as many translation jobs for books and other written materials are one-off gigs.

You can create a profile on  Upwork and reply to anyone looking for a translator or post gigs on Fiverr to attract clients. Still, there are also translation agencies that connect translators with customers. In addition to books, many translation agencies handle online content like blog posts, sales pages, and email newsletters. These agencies take a cut, but you get access to translation jobs you wouldn’t be able to get on your own.

Agencies will generally require a fluency test before working with you. Certification from the American Translators Association might let you bypass any fluency tests or earn higher rates. Translators who pass an ATA examination are certified in a specific language pair and direction (from or into English).

Pay rates for translation jobs fall into a wide range. You may get paid per word, page, hourly, or at a flat rate. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics lists the median pay for translators at $49,110 per year or $23 per hour as of 2021.

4. Get Paid to Narrate Audiobooks

If you can speak clearly and have a compelling voice, you can make money narrating audiobooks. You’ll get paid to read books aloud , cover to cover. It’s a good side hustle for book lovers, the pay is decent, and there aren’t a lot of startup costs or ongoing expenses.

Writers don’t want to miss out on more exposure and an extra revenue stream. No matter how many copies of books they sell, they can make additional money with an audio version since the audiobook market is growing. They’ll often hire someone to narrate their books so they can be sold on popular audiobook marketplaces, including Amazon, Audible, and iTunes.

You don’t need formal vocal training, a background in acting, or a fancy home studio to find work as an audiobook narrator. Voice training and acting experience could help, but they’re not required. All you need to get started is:

• A quiet space
• A good microphone, a mic stand, and a pop filter
• Audio recording software like Audacity , which is free and excellent
• A sample audio file of your voice

As with most freelance gigs, the payment rates for audiobook narration vary. An experienced narrator might make $25 for a short children’s book, or hundreds for a 6-10 hour business audiobook. Professional voice actors and narrators with good reviews and plenty of experience command the highest rates.

Fiverr , People Per Hour , and Upwork are good places to look for freelance job openings while you build up your portfolio of audio samples.

To score a higher-paying gig, look at Amazon’s Audiobook Creation Exchange (ACX). This online platform connects audiobook narrators with authors.

You can choose either an hourly rate or a royalty share from sales. With the royalty share option, you could make passive income for a long time if the title becomes popular.

Alternatives to the Audiobook Creative Exchange include the following platforms for audiobook narrator jobs and voice-over artists:

• Findaway Voices
• Bunny Studio
• Mandy Voices

Freelance narrator gigs aren’t the only jobs some of these sites post. You might get hired for other types of voiceover work if you create a profile and upload your samples.

5. Design Ebooks or Book Covers

Best-selling fiction writers are great at telling a riveting tale. Successful non-fiction authors are highly skilled at explaining things in an easy-to-understand way.

Both fiction and non-fiction writers might come up a little short on talent in getting their work ready for selling in ebook form.

Many frustrating technical challenges come with producing ebooks from book manuscripts. For example, the most popular ebook reader (Kindle) doesn’t support the most popular ebook format (EPUB).

Rather than fuss with creating a clickable table of contents or ensuring images align properly, many authors would rather pay someone to handle the technical stuff for their digital books.

That’s where your opportunity lies.

You can offer your ebook conversion services. You get paid to convert books to ebooks while authors get to focus on their writing.

You might receive a Word doc and then convert it to popular ebook formats like MOBI for Kindle and EPUB for other platforms, making sure margins, spacing, and images look good. HTML knowledge, image editing skill, and familiarity with apps like Word, InDesign, and Calibre are good to have.

Pay rates for ebook conversion services vary based on the author’s requirements. I’ve seen fees for ebook conversion services ranging from $15 for a short, basic document to $250 for complex technical manuals or image-heavy works.

They say you can’t judge a book by its cover, but standout covers generate interest and attract clicks on sites like Amazon. Authors and publishers are willing to pay for ebook covers if you have solid graphic design skills. The prices book cover designers charge run the gamut, but typically fall somewhere between $25 and $100 for a one-off cover on freelance websites .

6. Blog About Books

Read books for money by starting a book blog.

Starting your own blog about books gives you the freedom to write about the kind of books you enjoy in your writing style. Blogging also allows you to earn via multiple revenue streams, including affiliate commissions through direct links to products you recommend, display ads, recurring subscriptions, or sponsored posts.

To make it as a book blogger, in addition to being a voracious book reader, you’ll need writing skills. You also need enough technical savvy to set up and maintain WordPress or another content management system. You might focus your book review blog on a niche like young adult fiction, graphic novels, mysteries, romance, or whatever floats your boat to find your fans.

With book blogging, you won’t get results overnight. Developing an audience and building traffic to your blog can take a long time. You could earn money for reading through blogging if you’re patient, consistent, and persistent.

Examples of Successful Book Blogs

Here are some excellent book blogs for inspiration:

• Crime by the Book
• Bag Full of Books

7. Start a Podcast About Books

As with book blogging, starting a podcast about books gives you the freedom to read, review, and discuss any type of book you like , rather than being given an assignment. Also like blogging, podcasting requires technical skill, familiarity with tools like audio editing software, and the perseverance to keep going until you build a large enough audience to generate revenue.

You can get paid for reading books and talking about them with a podcast. You can monetize a podcast through paid sponsorships, joining an ad network, affiliate marketing, or using Patreon for monthly recurring revenue from paid subscribers.

Examples of Successful Book Podcasts

Here are a few popular book-related podcasts:

• The Book Riot Podcast

8. Start a YouTube Channel

Book lovers are finding a home and building communities on YouTube. You can share your takes on your favorite books, review recently released titles, or do bookshelf tours. Whether you prefer the classics, sci-fi, YA fiction, children’s books, or any genre, your audience is out there. YouTube content creators can monetize through AdSense ads, affiliate links, sponsored videos, and donations or subscriptions.

Examples of Successful Booktubers

Here are some popular BookTubers finding success and thousands of subscribers on YouTube:

• Christine Riccio (PolandBananasBooks)
• Sasha Alsberg (ABookUtopia)
• Ariel Bissett

There are pros and cons to being a YouTuber , but if you don’t mind putting yourself and your opinions out there, it can be lucrative. If being on camera is not for you, there are ways to start a YouTube channel without showing your face , but booktubing is probably out because your audience will likely want to see who is behind the opinion.

9. Coach Writers

An author can get stuck with writer’s block, lose confidence, or need guidance to help them finish their book. A book writing coach can help them get their book across the finish line. As a book coach, you might help authors with:

• The writing process
• Brainstorming ideas
• Feedback on their work
• Staying organized and on track
• Getting published
• Marketing strategy

If book coaching is a service you might like to provide for writers, check out the Author Accelerator website. It’s a community that provides training, certification, and support for book coaches.

10. Summarize Books for Instaread

Instaread is an app that provides subscribers with summaries of popular books in text and audio form. Writing summaries entails reading a book cover to cover, breaking each chapter down into its main points, and providing your insights. Their summaries are meant to be consumed in half an hour.

If you’re an avid reader willing to take thorough notes and provide your analysis, the company pays $100 per book summary. With each accepted report, you also get six months of free access to the app. Check here to see if they’re looking for contributors.

11. Write Book Summaries for getAbstract

People looking to get the key insights from the best books without spending the time it takes to read them turn to getAbstract . They tend to focus on business and personal development, but they do cover history, politics, and classics too. They look for freelance writers who can distill the main points of a book into a 10 to 15-minute read.

You can apply to write for getAbstract here . Be prepared to submit a sample summary with your application. If you are accepted, you’ll gain access to their writer platform, where you can see and choose available assignments.

12. Earn $200 per Novel You Read

WordsRated will pay you $200 per novel, but their work is not like typical book review sites. The company collects statistics about books to create data-driven studies. You’ll need to record things like:

• What kind of animals appear in the novel
• The number of characters by gender
• The number of sentences given to male and female characters
• How many questions are asked in the book

You can read one book per month or several. As long as you turn in accurate data on the specific things they’re looking for, they will pay you $200. The job title is Bibliophile-at-large, but it’s not open all the time. Check and apply here .

13. Review Books for Online Book Club

Online Book Club is a popular book review website and community for book lovers that pays reviewers $5 to $60 per review. You won’t get paid for your first review, but you get a free book. You’re eligible for payments after they accept your first review.

Signing up as an Online Book Club book reviewer is straightforward. Create a username, choose the type of books you like to read, and provide your PayPal email address. Once you’re signed up, you can look through the list of books waiting for reviews.

Online Book Club looks for honest reviews with a summary of the book, your thoughts on it, and a star rating from 1 to 4. They’re looking for genuine reviews, so don’t feel you have to write a positive review to get paid.

You’re also assigned a reviewer score based on factors including the quality of your work and how many page views your reviews get. For every 30 reviews you provide, you get a $25 Amazon gift card. Sign up here to review books at Online Book Club.

14. Write for the U.S. Review of Books

The U.S. Review of Books hires freelancers to write book reviews for their website. They’ve published reviews for thousands of books across every genre. Their tagline is “Professional Reviews for the People,” which should give you an idea of the quality they expect.

The U.S. Review of Books does not randomly assign reviews to any freelance writer. They post a list of book titles up for review. Reviewers can submit their preferences.

Assignments are handed out in order of request and based on your experience, interests, and background.  Experienced book reviewers have a leg up, but don’t let that discourage you.

A standard review runs 250-300 words. Copy conforms to the Chicago Manual of Style. You’ll have 2 to 3 weeks to complete your review.

Reviewers get payments monthly by check for all reviews completed during the previous month. Check out some of their book reviews. If you’d like to pursue the opportunity, apply to write reviews for the U.S. Review of Books .

15. Write Reviews for Book Browse

BookBrowse is an online magazine for avid book readers. The magazine seeks and recommends the best in fiction and nonfiction titles. They only feature books they consider enjoyable to read.

They pay $50 for an honest review of about 600 words. You’ll also write a “Beyond the Book” article that dives deeper into one interesting aspect of the book as a companion to your review.

To write book reviews for BookBrowse, you’ll need 2 sample book reviews of at least 300 words. You’ll also have to fill out a short form with basic information about yourself.

Visit this page to apply: Becoming a Reviewer for BookBrowse. Hearing back might take a while as they get swamped with book reviewer applications.

16. Review for Kirkus Media

Kirkus Reviews is a well-known and highly respected source of book reviews and services for authors. If you’ve spent time browsing popular titles on Amazon, you’ve probably seen snippets from a Kirkus review in some book descriptions.

They’re looking for freelance book reviewers to write reviews of English and Spanish language titles covering all kinds of books in almost every genre. You are expected to complete your 350-word review within two weeks.

To apply, check the careers page on KirkusReviews.com for instructions on how to review books for Kirkus Media.

17. Be a Freelance Book Reviewer for Booklist Online

The American Library Association publishes Booklist , a book review magazine that aims to help librarians and readers select books. Booklist reviews fiction, nonfiction, young adult titles, audiobooks, and DVDs.

Booklist publishes approximately 8,000 book reviews per year. To maintain that kind of publishing volume, they accept freelance book reviews on a book-by-book basis.

Standard reviews can be up to 175 words. If the book is outstanding, reviews can be up to 225 words with an editor’s approval. That’s not a lengthy review, which is why Booklist bills its reviews as “the haiku of book reviewing.”

Booklist Publications pays $15 per review, and they pay $5 for a rejected review. If you’re interested in writing book reviews for Booklist, familiarize yourself with the guidelines then contact the appropriate editor with your writing samples. Get started here: Writing for Booklist

18. Contribute to the Women’s Review of Books

The Wellesley Centers for Women at Wellesley College publishes the Women’s Review of Books, which provides in-depth reviews of books by and about women. The types of books WRB reviews include scholarly works, fiction, poetry, and memoirs by women.

Academics, journalists, and experienced reviewers contribute most of the reviews to this feminist magazine. The compensation is $100 per review.

If you would like to write book reviews for the publication, contact Women’s Review of Books .

19. Write Book Reviews for Writerful Books

Writerful Books is an author services company providing a number of services for indie book authors. They also publish book reviews on their website. They look for passionate readers to write insightful reviews of books in their favorite genre.

Writerful Books pays $10 to $50 per review depending on how comprehensive the review is. The reviewer who publishes the most quality reviews also gets a $100 Amazon gift card.

If you want to get paid to read and do some freelance writing for Writerful Books, check out the guidelines and apply through this link: Paid Book Reviewers Wanted

20. Submit Reviews to Publishers Weekly

Publishers Weekly is a weekly news magazine that bills itself as “the bible of the book business.” They publish industry news, interviews, and book reviews across a wide range of genres.

Book reviews appear in advance of a book’s publication and average around 200 words. They have a database of reviews available to subscribers going back to 1987 so your work will potentially get a lot of exposure.

Writing book reviews for Publishers Weekly requires a resume, examples of your past work, and a sample review of a recently published book. Check out their jobs page to see if they are any book review opportunities right now.

21. Provide Book Reviews for Bethany House

Bethany House is a publisher of Christian Books. They look for fans of Christian non-fiction and fiction books to help promote their book launches and Christian authors through reviews. They’re looking for reviewers with an established audience through YouTube, social media, or a book blog.

There’s no mention of payment in cash for book reviews, but you do get free book copies in exchange for your review. If you love Christian fiction and nonfiction, getting a free book in exchange for writing a review you can use in your portfolio or for professional references might be worth it.

They get many applications for book reviewers so you might not hear back from them for up to three months.

22. Post a Book Review for Moody Publishers

Moody Publishers is another Christian book publisher with a blogger review program offering free books in exchange for reviews. They require you to post your honest review on your blog and one other site like Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

If you participate in the program, you won’t get paid, but you will get free books for reviews of the Christian titles they publish. The details of the program are here: Moody Publishers Blogger Review Program .

23. Compose Short Reviews for New Pages

If you can keep your reviews short, NewPages.com is looking for flash reviews of books, literary magazines, and other pieces of writing you’ve read recently. They publish original reviews of up to 200 words.

NewPages doesn’t currently offer any compensation for reviews. You will get exposure via their blog and social media accounts , however, which could lead to paid opportunities for writing reviews or other work. Take a look at their requirements here .

Making Money Reading Books

You can get paid for reading books if you are passionate about the written word. An avid reader looking for extra cash or a new job can find plenty of opportunities to earn money by reading books within or without the book industry.

Getting paid to read books might mean a career in proofreading or editing for book publishing companies. You could start a side hustle book reviewing, reading books aloud for Amazon authors, or helping aspiring authors with their work. If reading is your passion, reading books for money is a viable way to make extra money or build a career.

Image Credits: Unsplash. Screenshots courtesy of the author.

The post How to Get Paid to Read Books: 23 Ways to Make Money Reading by Jerry Graham originally appeared on KindaFrugal.com .

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What We Know About Trump’s Quest for a Half-Billion-Dollar Bond

Donald J. Trump failed to arrange a bond to halt collection of a $454 million judgment. The New York attorney general might begin to collect very soon.

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By Kate Christobek and Ben Protess

Here’s the latest on Trump’s bond in the N.Y. civil fraud case .

Donald J. Trump is running out of time to stave off a financial crisis.

The former president is racing to secure an appeal bond for roughly half a billion dollars in his civil fraud case in New York, but has so far failed.

If he cannot, the New York attorney general’s office, which brought the fraud case, could begin to collect. The attorney general, Letitia James, could have enforced the judgment last month, but provided Mr. Trump a 30-day grace period that expires on Monday.

Ms. James might start slowly. She could even wait for an appeals court to decide whether to pause the judgment, a decision that could come as soon as this week.

But if she wanted to take a more aggressive stance, Ms. James could freeze some of Mr. Trump’s bank accounts, which might send the Trump family business into a tailspin.

She could also seek to seize some of his New York properties, and public records show that Ms. James has formally posted the judgment in Westchester County, a preliminary step toward staking a claim to Mr. Trump’s private estate and golf club there.

In recent days, The New York Times has received many questions about Mr. Trump’s financial woes. Here are answers to several:

What was Trump accused of?

Ms. James took Mr. Trump, his company and his adult sons to trial last fall, accusing them of fraudulently inflating the value of golf clubs, office buildings and other properties to the tune of about $2 billion.

Mr. Trump exaggerated the property values, and in turn his own net worth, to obtain favorable terms from banks and insurers, according to Ms. James.

At the trial, which lasted months, Ms. James’s lawyers argued that Mr. Trump’s company had ignored appraisals and manipulated numbers to sometimes absurd degrees.

The judge overseeing the case — there was no jury — ruled in favor of Ms. James.

How was he punished?

The judge, Arthur F. Engoron, came down hard on Mr. Trump, imposing a judgment of $355 million plus interest, amounting to $454 million.

The judge also imposed penalties that could curb Mr. Trump’s influence over his family business, barring him from serving as a top executive at a New York company for three years.

Can he appeal?

Yes. Mr. Trump is appealing Justice Engoron’s punishments, and has asked a higher court, the Appellate Division in Manhattan, to pause the financial judgment. If the appeals court denies that, he might ask the state’s highest court, the Court of Appeals in Albany.

Although he does not have to pay Ms. James’s office the $454 million while he appeals, he must either cut a check to the New York State court system for the full amount, or, more likely, obtain a bond.

What is an appeal bond?

An appeal bond is a document in which a company guarantees the $454 million judgment, plus interest, should Mr. Trump lose his appeal and fail to pay.

Mr. Trump would need to pledge significant collateral to a bond company — about $557 million, his lawyers said — including as much cash as possible, as well as stocks and bonds he could sell quickly.

He would also owe the bond company a fee that could amount to nearly $20 million.

Does he have enough cash to obtain one?

Short answer: No.

A recent New York Times analysis found that Mr. Trump had more than $350 million in cash as well as stocks and bonds, far short of what he would need in collateral for the bond.

In a court filing March 18, Mr. Trump’s lawyers said they had contacted more than 30 bond companies, and none had agreed to a deal.

But I thought he was a billionaire?

While Mr. Trump has long bragged about his wealth, his true financial position remains something of a mystery. Most of his fortune is tied up in real estate holdings, which bond companies don’t typically accept as collateral.

He also has less liquid collateral available today than he did even a few weeks ago. Mr. Trump this month had to post a $91.6 million bond in the defamation case he lost to E. Jean Carroll. For that, he most likely had to pledge more than $100 million in collateral to Chubb, the insurance company that provided guarantee. That money cannot be used as collateral for a second bond.

What is the deadline for the appeal bond?

There is no formal deadline. She offered the 30-day grace period and now may wait for the appeals court to weigh in on whether to pause the judgment.

How could Ms. James collect?

It could get ugly for Mr. Trump.

Ms. James could start by merely issuing a list of properties and accounts she is eyeing, or sending subpoenas to locate assets. Or she could move swiftly to freeze and ultimately seize his assets.

If she opted for the more aggressive path, Ms. James could send so-called restraining notices to Mr. Trump’s banks and brokerage firms, effectively freezing his accounts.

It’s a powerful weapon, legal experts said. She can send the notices on her own, without needing a judge to bless them.

To then collect, Ms. James can ask a judge to grant her an order directing the banks to hand over his assets to the state.

“The low-hanging fruit for the state to enforce the judgment in this case is to issue restraining notices to banks,” said Daniel W. Levy, a former federal prosecutor who is now a lawyer at McKool Smith in New York, where he has represented creditors in judgment proceedings.

What about seizing his properties?

Easier said than done.

Mr. Trump does not directly own his properties — in general, they are owned by corporate entities that he controls — and Ms. James would have to fight in court to pierce those layers. Even if Ms. James could take control and force a sale, Mr. Trump’s lenders would be first in line to collect.

The most sensible option, legal experts said, would be for Ms. James to pursue New York properties — specifically the buildings directly owned by a corporate entity that was a defendant in Ms. James’s case. That would include Mr. Trump’s Seven Springs estate in Westchester.

If she took control of the property, she could instruct a local sheriff to auction it.

She might also try to seize some of Mr. Trump’s marquee Florida properties, including his Doral golf resort, which was a defendant.

And she has threatened to take aim at his office tower on Wall Street in Lower Manhattan. But Mr. Trump does not actually own it: Instead, he effectively controls the property and pays rent to the owner.

Trump Tower also poses a challenge, because it was not a defendant, nor is it directly owned by one.

The legal experts cautioned that actually seizing any property through the courts could take significant time without a guarantee of a huge payoff.

But should Mr. Trump win delays, they could cost him. Under New York law, he must continue to pay 9 percent interest on the judgment.

Can she throw him in jail?

Although Ms. James can’t jail Mr. Trump — it is a civil case, not a criminal one — Justice Engoron could issue an arrest warrant if Mr. Trump repeatedly flouts court orders. That, however, is unlikely to happen.

What other options does Trump have?

Mr. Trump could quickly sell a property or another asset, or seek a supporter’s help. He might also try to obtain a loan from a bank, hedge fund or private equity firm that he could then post as collateral. The attorney general has suggested that Mr. Trump could pledge his properties to the court.

And his net worth could soon leap when shares of his social media company start trading on the stock market as soon as Monday. His stake is valued at roughly $3 billion. Although he is prohibited from selling shares for six months, Mr. Trump could find ways around that restriction that enable him to raise cash for the bond.

If all else fails, he could have the corporate entities implicated in the case file for bankruptcy, which would automatically halt judgments against them. Ms. James’s penalty against Mr. Trump himself would continue to be in force, and she would most likely seek to hold him accountable for his company’s debts.

Could Trump use campaign money to pay?

Probably not.

A super PAC supporting Mr. Trump’s candidacy can raise unlimited amounts, but it is banned from coordinating with him and cannot pay the judgment.

And although the former president has used a political action committee under his control to pay for lawyers and witnesses in his legal cases, that group lacks the money to address the $454 million penalty.

What else is happening Monday?

Mr. Trump has a crucial hearing in his Manhattan criminal case, which could be the first prosecution of a former American president.

The district attorney, Alvin L. Bragg, has accused Mr. Trump of covering up a sex scandal involving a porn star to bolster his 2016 presidential campaign.

Jury selection was originally scheduled to start on March 25, but the trial was delayed late last week after the disclosure of more than 100,000 pages of records that had been in the possession of the federal prosecutors

Justice Juan M. Merchan set the hearing to determine whether the new tentative trial date of April 15 should hold, and to rule on Mr. Trump’s motion for an outright dismissal.

The Manhattan case is among four prosecutions Mr. Trump faces.

Ben Protess is an investigative reporter at The Times, writing about public corruption. He has been covering the various criminal investigations into former President Trump and his allies. More about Ben Protess