Ah, the smell of books.
Or in some cases, the excitement of seeing your digital library grow on your Kindle.
If you’re a fellow bookworm, you may be interested in this side gig: online book reviewing.
We found some websites and publishers that want to pay you for your thoughts on books. You can get paid for doing one of your favorite activities – reading!
1. Booklist
Pay: $15 for each review with a byline attached
Booklist is part of the American Library Association, and their magazine (print and online) guides school and public library workers on what books to purchase. They refer to their reviews as “the haiku of book reviewing” as they’re looking for brief but impactful reviews at 150-175 words.
They look for reviewers that are familiar with books and libraries, although a library degree isn’t required. Since their magazine is a recommendation-only journal, the reviews provide context, plot synopsis, the ideal audience, and suggest similar books.
Once you start reviewing, you’ll go under training as a Booklist editor guides you through the process. Head to Booklist for full details and apply if you’re interested!
2. Online Book Club
Pay: $5-$60 per review
The Online Book Club was created over 16 years ago and currently has over 3 million members. The site is free for readers and offers free books in exchange for a review.
After your first review is approved, you’ll then be eligible to get paid. As they’re looking for honest reviews, you do not have to love every book you read.
The sign-up process is really simple. You create a username, choose what book formats you like on the Review Team page and provide your PayPal email address so you can get paid! Afterward, you can browse the list of books waiting to be reviewed.
3. Kirkus Media
Pay: $50-$75 per review with no byline
If you become a paid book reviewer for Kirkus Media, you’ll also be featured in their magazine, “Kirkus Indie.”
They typically look for more experienced reviewers to review English and Spanish titles from self-published authors in many genres.
Reviews should be about 350 words and are due two weeks after a book is assigned. The books are free.
You can apply by sending a resume, writing samples, and the genres that you prefer to review.
5. Publishers Weekly
Pay: $25 per review with no byline
Publishers Weekly, the international news platform of the book publishing industry, pays for experienced book reviews that are 180-200 words in length. You’ll get to choose how many books you want to review in a month.
You’ll need to send a resume and a sample review (approximately 200 words) of a recently published book. For full details, head here on how to apply.
5. ACX
Pay: Your own per-finished-hour rate or share 50% royalties from sales
If you want to get into audiobook narration, ACX.com would be a great place for beginners, as you don’t need any agency or casting agent to get started. ACX is owned by Audible Inc., which is a subsidiary of Amazon.
After you create a free profile, you can upload an unlimited number of samples that can be based on accents, genre, and style. You can choose a per-finished-hour rate, 50% of royalties, or both.
Plenty of books are available for auditions; if you’re the author’s or Rights Holder’s top choice, you’ll receive an offer.
