Have you ever wished you could get paid to do nothing but read books all day? Well, now you can. A little-known website called BookBrowzer will actually pay you up to $2,000 a month just to read books and write short summaries about them. No transcription, no surveys, no teaching required. All you need is a comfy chair, an internet connection, and a love of reading.
Sound too good to be true? Believe it. BookBrowzer is disrupting the publishing industry by harnessing the power of everyday readers like you. Publishers provide digital copies of books and BookBrowzer distributes them to readers, who write short summaries and reviews in their own words. The publishers get valuable pre-publication feedback and the readers get paid.
If you devour books the way most people binge-watch their favorite TV shows, this may just be the ideal side hustle for you. No experience necessary and you can work as little or as much as you like on your own schedule. The only requirement is that you have to actually read the books - no skimming allowed! So if getting paid to dive into a good book sounds like your dream job, keep reading to find out how you can become one of BookBrowzer’s paid readers.
Get Paid to Read Books Online - It's Possible!
It sounds too good to be true, but you really can get paid just to read books online. Here's how it works:
Online survey companies hire people to read books and provide opinions
Market research firms conduct studies on books, products, and media all the time. They need real readers to provide feedback, and that's where you come in. You sign up to read books, both physical and digital, and fill out surveys about the experience. The tasks can pay between $5 to $60 each and typically take 1 to 3 hours to complete.
Survey Junkie, Swagbucks, and InboxDollars are a few of the top websites where you can find book reading surveys.
You may be asked about characters, themes, plot points, cover design, and more. The companies want your genuine reactions and opinions.
Payment is usually made via gift cards, cash, or by entering sweepstakes. With enough volume, you can earn $500-$2,000 per month.
Online transcription companies hire people to read and transcribe book content
Some companies hire readers to transcribe the text and audio from books into digital ebooks. You listen to an audiobook and type out each word into a document. Transcriptionists are typically paid by the audio hour, earning $25-$60 per hour. The work requires attentive listening, typing skills, and the ability to keep up with speech.
While not always consistent work, getting paid to read books in your spare time can be an enjoyable side hustle. With a variety of ways to participate, you're bound to find an option that suits your interests and schedule. Now, go start perusing those pages! The money and entertainment are waiting.
How Online Book Review Programs Work
Have you ever thought about getting paid just to read books? Well, it's not too good to be true. Online book review programs offer exactly that - the chance to earn money by reading and reviewing books before they're published.
How do they work?
Online book review programs, like NetGalley and Edelweiss, allow publishers to get reviews and opinions on upcoming titles before they release a book. As a reviewer, you get free access to digital copies of books, called ARCs or Advance Reader Copies, in exchange for your fair and honest review.
The process is simple. You browse available titles on the site and request access to any books that interest you. Once approved, you can download a digital ARC to your e-reader. Read the book, then share your thoughts by posting a review on the book review program’s website, your blog, Goodreads, Amazon, or all of the above. For some programs, the more detailed and impactful your review, the more you can earn. Payments are made via PayPal or gift cards.
While you won’t get rich, you can earn decent side hustle money, from $5 to $60 per review. The key is being prolific and building a trusted reputation over time. The more you review and the more followers and likes you gain, the more you can charge. Some top reviewers report making between $500 to $2,000 per month.
If free books and cash sound appealing, online book review programs are an easy side gig anyone can do in their spare time. Earn a little money, gain early access to hot titles, and become an influencer in your favorite genres. For book lovers, it doesn't get much better than that.
Top 5 Highest Paying Book Review Sites in 2023
Online book review sites are always looking for avid readers to review new books. If you love reading and sharing your opinion about what you've read, you can easily make an extra $2,000 or more each month reviewing books online. Here are the top 5 highest paying book review websites:
Kirkus Reviews
Kirkus Reviews pays $50 to $200 per review for books in a variety of genres. They prefer reviewers with a degree in English, creative writing, or journalism and at least 2-3 years of experience writing book reviews. You'll need to submit a resume and short writing samples to be considered.
OnlineBookClub.org
OnlineBookClub pays between $15 to $60 per review for books in all genres. They have a huge database of over 50,000 book titles so there are lots of opportunities for reviews. You'll need to sign up, create a profile, and start requesting books you want to review. The more experienced you get, the higher your pay will be.
Readers' Favorite
Readers' Favorite pays $50 per review for books in all genres, including children's books, nonfiction, sci-fi, romance, etc. To become a book reviewer, you'll need to fill out an application, provide a sample book review, and have at least 1-2 years of experience writing reviews. The reviews are posted on their website and distributed to authors, publishers, and booksellers.
Online Book Club
Online Book Club pays between $25 to $100 per book review depending on the length, quality, and genre. They feature books from major publishing houses as well as self-published authors. To become a book reviewer, you'll submit a sample review and information about your reading preferences and experience. The more books you review, the higher your pay will become.
Book Browse
Book Browse pays between $30 to $150 per book review for both fiction and nonfiction books. They prefer reviewers with a degree in English or journalism and at least 2 years of experience writing reviews. You can pick from over 1,000 books each month to review. The reviews are published on their website, which has over 1 million monthly visitors.
With several of the top sites, the more experience you gain and the higher quality your reviews, the higher your pay will become. In some cases, $2,000 or more per month is very doable if you commit to writing high-quality, in-depth reviews for multiple books each week. The key is to start building your experience today by signing up with a couple sites and requesting your first books to review!
Becoming a Book Reviewer - Requirements and Qualifications
To become a book reviewer, the basic requirements are simple. You need to love reading, have a way with words, and be willing to share your honest opinions about books. While degrees or certifications are not necessary, building your credibility and expertise over time through the quality and quantity of your reviews is important.
A Love of Reading
First and foremost, you’ll need to have a passion for reading. As a book reviewer, you’ll be reading a lot of books across different genres and subjects. If you don’t genuinely enjoy reading, you won’t last long in this role. It’s a perfect side hustle for bookworms and those with an insatiable curiosity to learn new things through reading.
Strong Writing Skills
You’ll need to be able to write thoughtful, compelling reviews that capture the essence and experience of reading a book. Your reviews should be concise yet comprehensive, highlighting what you liked and didn’t like about the book and whether you would recommend it to others. Having experience writing for blogs, websites, or other publications is useful but not always required. The ability to write in a casual, conversational tone for a general audience is most important.
Honest and Fair Reviews
The key to being a reputable book reviewer is providing reviews that are honest, objective, and fair. Don’t just provide glowing reviews to get free books or please publishers and authors. Share both the positive and negative aspects of a book to give readers a balanced perspective so they can determine if it’s right for them. Over time, readers and publishers will come to trust your judgment and depend on your reviews.
Building Your Credibility
While you can get started reviewing books on your own blog or website, many book reviewers build credibility by writing for established book and media companies, like Booklist, Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, and more. Pitching to these companies, starting your own site, and consistently publishing quality reviews are all ways to establish yourself as an authoritative voice in book reviewing and open up more opportunities.
With a love of reading, strong writing ability, fairness, and credibility, you'll have the makings of a successful book reviewer. Though it may start as a side hustle, many reviewers are able to turn their passion for books into a full-time career.
Turn Your Love of Reading Into a Lucrative Side Hustle
Turning your passion for reading into a lucrative side hustle is easier than you might think. As an avid reader, you already have the main skill needed to get started—a love of diving into interesting books and stories. The key is finding ways to monetize your hobby in your spare time for some decent cash.
One of the best options is book reviewing. Major publishing companies are always looking for readers to provide reviews and ratings of pre-release books to help determine their potential success. You can sign up on sites like NetGalley, Edelweiss, and LibraryThing Early Reviewers to receive free advance copies of books in exchange for an honest review. Reviews typically only take 1 to 2 hours to read and review the book, earning you anywhere from $25 to $200 per review.
Another choice is online survey and research studies. Market research firms hire readers like yourself to provide opinions and insights into trends. You can register on survey sites such as Survey Junkie, Swagbucks, and InboxDollars to participate in paid book-related surveys and focus groups. Most studies pay between $5 to $25 and take 10 to 30 minutes to complete. The more consistently you participate, the more opportunities you’ll receive.
For the tech-savvy reader, transcription services offer a simple way to earn solid money from home. Companies like Rev, Transcribe Me, and 3Play Media hire freelance transcribers to convert audio files like podcasts, speeches, and audiobooks into text documents. Transcriptionists can make between $15 to $25 per hour, working as little or as much as they want on a flexible schedule. The key requirement is being able to type quickly and accurately.
Turning reading into a lucrative side hustle simply requires a little effort to find the opportunities that match your interests and skills. Whether through book reviewing, paid surveys, or transcription services, you can easily earn an extra $500 to $2,000 per month using the one hobby you already love—reading. The possibilities for making money from home have never been greater!
Conclusion
So there you have it, an easy side hustle that pays well and only requires some time reading books. No more long surveys, boring transcription, or tedious market research studies. Sign up for a few of these book reading programs, pick the genres you enjoy and get to reading. Before you know it, you'll have an extra $2,000 in your pocket each month just from indulging in a favorite pastime. The companies get the reviews and data they need, readers get paid, and you get to sit back, relax and read. A win-win for everyone involved, wouldn't you say? Give it a shot—your wallet and your mind will thank you. Happy reading and here's to padding your bank account with an enjoyable new side gig!