Are you an avid reader who dreams of getting paid to read books?
Then you’re in the right place.
This article will explore how you can turn your love of reading into a profitable side hustle – or perhaps even a full-time career!
Reading is not only a fun activity – it can actually be therapeutic according to Psychology Today.
Whether it’s reviewing books or working as an audiobook narrator, there are plenty of ways you can get paid to read books!
Table of Contents
How to Get Paid to Review Books
There are actually a few ways you can make money by reading books, both directly and indirectly.
To make it easier for you to read this guide, I have organized the different methods under relevant categories.
They include:
- Review Books
- Work as a Proofreader/Editor
- Become a Book Translator
- Become an Audiobook Narrator
- Other Ways
Read on for details on each category and the best sites, apps, companies, and platforms that pay you to read books within that category.
Review books
Enjoy reading books and sharing your thoughts?
Then paid book reviews are an excellent option for you.
Many authors and publishers will pay you in exchange for honest reviews. These reviews help to promote their work, and you get paid. It’s a win-win.
Here are some websites that pay you to review books:
1. Kirkus Media
- Pay: Around $50 per review
Kirkus Media is a well-known book review site that provides paid opportunities to review books.
Reviews need to be around 350 words and are due 2 weeks after the book is assigned.
2. OnlineBookClub.org
- Pay: $5 to $60 per review
This site provides free books and will pay you for reviewing them! Get plenty of new books to read, all while raking in cash!
For your first review, you’ll just be given the book for free. After that though, you’ll be eligible for the platform’s paid review opportunities.
3. Reedsy Discovery
- Pay: You’re not paid a fixed rate. Tips of $1, $3, or $5 can be given instead
Self-publishing is a big business now with many authors opting to go down this route.
You can earn money by reviewing self-published books with Reedsy Discovery.
It’s important to note that Reedsy Discovery does not pay you directly for reading and reviewing books.
Instead, it operates on a tip-based system. This means you’re not paid a fixed rate for reading books. Readers can choose to tip you if they enjoy your work.
4. Booklist
- Pay: $5 to $15 per review
Booklist is a publication from the American Library Association (ALA). The magazine helps libraries, educators, and booksellers to decide what to buy and recommend to readers. It includes reviews. The magazine is available in print and online.
You can get paid to write reviews for Booklist. Reviews need to be short.
You will get paid $15 for each review.
If you reject a title, you’ll get a “reject fee” of $5.
The average reviewer writes two to three reviews per month.
5. BookBrowse
- Pay: $60 per review
BookBrowse reviews fiction and non-fiction books. You can become one of the site’s book reviewers.
6. The U.S. Review of Books
The U.S. Review of Books is a nationwide organization, which publishes book reviews in a monthly newsletter. It hires freelance writers to review books for the publication.
Work as a Proofreader/Editor
Have an eye for grammar, style, and structure?
Then work as a proofreader or editor for authors, publishers, and writers who are self-publishing their books.
You’ll get paid to read and edit content.
It’s your job to check work for spelling mistakes, grammatical errors, and overall structure, style, and flow and to improve the work before publication.
Here’s where you can find proofreading and editing work:
7. ProofreadingServices.com
- Pay: $19 to $46 an hour
ProofreadingServices.com hires proofreaders and editors. It offers at-home proofreading jobs. There are full-time and part-time remote positions available.
8. ProofreadingPal
- Pay: $500 and $3,000 per month
You can make money by proofreading and editing content with ProofreadingPal. The company proofreads content to check for spelling, grammar, punctuation, capitalization, and verb tense. It also edits for sentence structure, clarity, and style.
9. Scribendi
- Pay: $22 to $32 per hour
Scribendi offers proofreading and editing services. Sometimes it has freelance editor/proofreader jobs available.
Become a Book Translator
Are you fluent in multiple languages?
If so, translating books could be a rewarding career for you.
With this job, you get paid to read books and translate them from one language into another.
You will need to be fluent in two languages and have strong translation skills to work as a book translator.
Here are some places to find work as a book translator.
10. Babelcube
- Pay: Earn a share of the royalties from the sale of the book
Find work as a freelance translator with Babelcube. Choose a book that you want to translate, decide on the translation language, and design a project timeline that suits you.
You’ll become a partner with the rights holder – this is the author or publisher – and earn a share of the royalties from the sale of the book you helped to create.
11. Upwork
- Pay: Varies
Upwork is a freelance marketplace where you can find a variety of freelance jobs. This can include book translation jobs. Simply browse jobs on there and apply for the ones you’re interested in.
12. Guru
- Pay: Varies
Guru is a website where clients can post freelance jobs. Sometimes you can find freelance book translator jobs on there. Have a browse and apply to the ones that you’re interested in.
Become an Audiobook Narrator
Audiobooks are super popular nowadays. Many authors want to capitalize on the demand by creating an audio version of their book.
You can make money as an audiobook narrator.
Here are a couple of places to find work.
13. ACX
- Pay: $100 to $5,000 per finished audiobook. It also offers royalties.
Find work as an audiobook narrator on ACX. You can choose the books you want to audition for.
Choose to pet paid your own per-finished-hour rate, which is paid when you complete the audiobook or forgo upfront payment and get paid monthly by sharing royalties from sales with the Rights Holder.
Or you can choose the hybrid model and receive a lower per-finished-hour rate in addition to splitting royalties.
14. Voices.com
- Pay: $100 to $500 or more per finished hour
Voices.com features audiobook narration jobs. On Voices.com, you can create a free profile to showcase your narrator skills, past work history, and testimonials.
Then you can get privately invited to jobs or automatically matched to jobs that fit your profile.
Other Ways to Get Paid to Read Books
For even more ways to turn your love of reading into a profitable venture, check out these options.
15. Do some book summarizing and analysis work
Get paid to read by summarizing books and providing detailed analysis. This job requires you to read a book, break down its key points, and provide a concise, yet insightful summary.
You may also be required to analyze the themes, characters, or overall message of the book – depending on the needs of the client or platform.
Where to get started
- Contact companies that offer book summaries and ask if they have any book summarizing jobs available. Companies you can contact include Blinkist, Instaread, and BookRags.com.
- Find jobs on ZipRecruiter and Indeed.
- Offer your freelance book summarizing and analysis services on sites like Upwork and Fiverr.
16. Do some beta reading
Beta readers get an early peek at upcoming books. They help authors improve their books by providing feedback on the plot, characters, pacing, and other elements of their books.
Where to get started
Many beta reading jobs don’t pay anything. You do get a free book though. You may be able to find paid beta reading jobs on sites like Upwork, Freelancer, and Guru.
17. Start a blog
Start a blog about books. Once you’ve built an audience, monetize it with Google AdSense and affiliate links.
This will help you to bring in an income from something you love – reading!
Authors and publishers may give you books to review and pay you for them – provided your blog has a big enough audience.
Where to get started
- Start researching content ideas online.
- Write posts.
- Get a domain and hosting from sites like Bluehost, HostGator, and GoDaddy.
- Publish your content through a platform like WordPress.org.
- Put ads through Google AdSense on your site.
- Put affiliate links on your site. You can try the Barnes & Noble affiliate program and the AbeBooks affiliate program. Also, Google “affiliate programs,” to find more programs.
- Contact authors and publishers to ask if they have any paid book reviewing opportunities available.
18. Start a YouTube Channel
Start a YouTube channel where you discuss and review books.
When your channel gets enough views, you can join the YouTube Partner Program and get paid for the ads that play on your videos.
You may even be able to work with publishers and authors who’ll pay you to review their book – as long as you have a large enough audience.
Where to get started
- Start a YouTube channel.
- Make videos.
- Edit and upload videos to your channel.
- Be consistent with your uploads to grow your channel.
- Earn money for the ads that play on your videos once you become eligible for the YouTube Partner Program.
- Reach out to authors and publishers to see if they have any paid book reviewing opportunities available.
19. Become an influencer
Bookstagram is a big thing. Many people get book recommendations through social platforms like Instagram and TikTok.
Gain a following as a book influencer on social media and you may be able to make money reading, reviewing, and promoting books.
Where to get started
- Start social media accounts on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and X (formerly Twitter).
- Gain a following by uploading book-related content consistently.
- Reach out to authors and publishers to see if they have any paid review or promotion opportunities available.
20. Write for magazines
Some specialty and trade magazines pay writers to create reviews and features on books. This is an effective way to get paid to read.
Where to get started
Research magazines that accept submissions for reviews and features on books. Send them a pitch and they may publish your work. You may even get paid to write for them again in the future.
21. Get a job in the publishing industry
Finding a job in the publishing industry is a good option if you want to get paid to read books. Many jobs in publishing, after all, involve reading.
Where to get started
Consider a job in publishing that involves reading books, such as:
- Literary agent
- Book marketing assistant
- Copy editor
- Cover designer
- Illustrator
- Book contract manager
- Book sales agent
- Public relations agent
Many jobs in publishing require a degree, but not all of them. Research these careers online and search for jobs on platforms like Indeed.
Wrapping Up: Ways to Make Money by Reading
Getting paid to read is not just a dream. It’s a reality with countless opportunities – whether it’s reviewing books, working as a book narrator, or starting a blog.
Turn your passion for reading into a money-making venture with our tips on how to get paid to read books
Please feel free to share any of your own tips on getting paid to read in the comment section below.
Leave a Reply