Authors preparing for launch often hear the term "ARC" and assume it is some kind of marketing trick. It is not. An ARC, or Advance Reader Copy, is simply a copy of a book given to a reader ahead of, or around, publication, in the hope that some of those readers will read it, talk about it, and perhaps review it once the book is live.
This guide explains what ARC readers actually do, how an ARC differs from a beta read, what is reasonable to expect from an ARC reader, and where authors most commonly go wrong when running an ARC programme.
What ARC means
ARC stands for Advance Reader Copy (sometimes still called an Advance Reading Copy, a term that goes back to traditional publishing, where printed proof copies were sent to reviewers and booksellers months before publication). For a self-published or independently published author, an ARC is more often a digital file, usually an ebook, sent to readers shortly before or around the official publication date.
The purpose of an ARC is straightforward: to get the finished book in front of a small group of readers early, so that when the book goes on sale, it is not launching into total silence. Some ARC readers will leave reviews once the book is live; some will simply read and enjoy it; some will not get to it at all. All of these are normal outcomes.
What an ARC reader actually does
An ARC reader is given a free copy of the finished (or near-finished) book, generally with no purchase involved, in exchange for nothing more than reading it if they are able to. Some authors ask ARC readers to consider leaving an honest review once the book is published; a well-run ARC request always makes clear that this is optional and that reviews, where left, should be honest rather than positive.
It helps to think of ARC readers as early readers of the finished book, rather than as a marketing channel to be managed. Treating them as real readers, with no strings attached, tends to produce better results and a better relationship than treating the arrangement as a transaction.
Beta reader versus ARC reader
| Beta reader | ARC reader | |
|---|---|---|
| When they read | Before the manuscript is finished | After the book is finished, near or at publication |
| What they see | A draft that may still change | The final, published (or near-final) text |
| Purpose | Feedback that can shape revisions | Early reading and, sometimes, a review |
| Expectation to give feedback | Usually asked for structured feedback | Usually optional, informal |
Confusing the two roles causes real problems. Sending a manuscript that still needs developmental work to ARC readers, expecting reviews, tends to produce lukewarm feedback on a book that was never meant to be judged in that form. Beta readers belong earlier in the process, and their feedback should already be reflected in the book an ARC reader receives.
Timing an ARC read
ARCs are usually sent out a matter of weeks before publication, though the exact window varies by author and genre. Long-form or dense non-fiction readers may need more time than a quick contemporary romance; readers with day jobs and existing commitments need realistic time to actually read the book, not just to receive it.
Sending an ARC only a few days before launch rarely gives readers enough time to finish and consider a review before or shortly after publication day. Sending it many months early can mean the book, and the reader’s enthusiasm for it, has gone cold by the time it is actually available to buy.
Digital ARCs
Most independent authors distribute ARCs as digital files, commonly EPUB or MOBI/AZW files, or through review-copy tools built for this purpose. Digital ARCs are cheap to produce and easy to send to a reasonably large group of readers, but they also carry a higher risk of unauthorised sharing than a printed proof, which is worth bearing in mind when deciding how widely to distribute one.
Print ARCs
A small print run of ARCs is more common among authors targeting press coverage, bookshop buy-in or book bloggers who specifically prefer physical copies, and is generally a bigger investment in cost and logistics than a digital ARC. Most independent authors reserve printed ARCs for a small, carefully chosen group rather than a wide readership.
What is reasonable to expect from a review
It is reasonable to hope that some ARC readers will leave a review once the book is published. It is not reasonable to expect every ARC reader to review, to expect reviews quickly, or to expect only positive reviews. Genuine ARC arrangements accept that some readers will not finish the book, will not review it, or will leave an honest review that is less enthusiastic than the author had hoped.
For example, an author sending ARCs to twenty readers might reasonably see a handful of reviews appear in the weeks after launch, from a mixture of readers who enjoyed the book at different levels, rather than assuming all twenty will post glowing five-star reviews on publication day.
Disclosure
Where a reader received a free ARC and goes on to post a public review, honesty and, depending on the platform, its own rules may call for disclosure that the copy was provided free of charge for review purposes. Requirements vary by platform and by jurisdiction, so check current guidance for wherever the review will appear (for example a retailer’s review guidelines, or a blog’s own disclosure practice) rather than assuming one rule applies everywhere.
Finding ARC readers
Authors commonly find ARC readers through an existing email list, a street team or reader group built up over time, genre-specific ARC or review communities, book bloggers and reviewers who cover the relevant genre, and, for some genres, dedicated ARC-distribution platforms. An author’s own list of existing readers is usually the strongest starting point, because those readers already have some relationship with the author’s work.
Screening ARC readers
A short, simple sign-up process (asking what genres a reader enjoys, and roughly how quickly they tend to read) helps match ARCs to readers who are actually likely to enjoy and finish the book, rather than sending copies indiscriminately to anyone who asks. This is not about excluding readers unfairly; it is about setting an ARC programme up so that most copies land with people genuinely interested in that kind of book.
Genre fit matters more than numbers
A smaller group of ARC readers who genuinely read and enjoy the genre will usually be more useful than a much larger group assembled without regard to reading taste. A cosy mystery sent to fifty readers who mostly read thrillers is less likely to land well than the same book sent to fifteen readers who specifically enjoy cosy mysteries.
Following up, politely
A single, friendly reminder around or shortly after publication, thanking ARC readers and gently noting that reviews are welcome if they have time, is reasonable. Repeated chasing, or making a reader feel obligated, tends to damage the relationship rather than produce more reviews, and works against the goodwill an ARC programme is meant to build.
Privacy
ARC readers are often ordinary readers, not public figures, and their contact details and any private feedback they share should be handled with the same care as any other reader data: not shared publicly, not passed on without consent, and kept only for as long as needed to run the ARC process for that title.
Spoilers
Because ARC readers finish the book before most of the public, it is worth being clear, when sending an ARC, about how the author would like spoilers handled in any early reviews or social posts, particularly for books with twists, mysteries or reveals that depend on a reader not knowing what happens next.
Review policies
Retailers and review platforms set their own rules about what counts as an acceptable review, including rules about incentivised reviews, reviewer relationships with the author, and disclosure. These policies are set and updated by each platform directly and can change, so before running any ARC or review campaign, check the current review guidelines of the specific platform involved (for example Amazon’s customer review guidelines) rather than relying on general assumptions.
What not to promise ARC readers
Do not promise, imply or suggest that a free ARC is conditional on leaving a review, still less a positive one. Do not promise a guaranteed feature, shout-out or ongoing relationship in exchange for a review. An ARC is a genuine early read, offered freely; framing it as a transaction risks breaching platform rules and, more simply, is not an honest way to treat readers.
Using ARC feedback
Because ARC readers see the finished (or near-finished) book, their feedback is not generally meant to prompt further rewriting in the way beta feedback might. Where an ARC reader flags a genuine error, such as a typo or a factual slip, it is reasonable to note it for a future print run or file update; ARC feedback is not, however, an invitation to restructure a book that has already gone to press or to retailers.
Common mistakes
- Treating ARC readers as beta readers. Sending an unfinished or unpolished manuscript to ARC readers, then expecting reviews on a version the book will not actually be published as.
- Implying a review is required. Language that suggests a free copy must be repaid with a review, which risks breaching platform rules and reader trust alike.
- Sending ARCs without any genre screening. Distributing copies as widely as possible rather than matching them to readers likely to enjoy that kind of book.
- Chasing readers repeatedly for reviews. Turning a goodwill arrangement into pressure, which tends to reduce goodwill rather than increase reviews.
- Ignoring current platform review rules. Assuming old advice about incentivised or ARC reviews still applies, when retailer policies are updated over time.
Frequently asked questions
Do ARC readers have to leave a review?
No. A genuine ARC arrangement offers a free copy with no obligation to review, and never an obligation to review positively.
Is an ARC reader the same as a beta reader?
No. Beta readers typically read an earlier draft and give feedback that can shape revisions; ARC readers read the finished or near-finished book, generally without expecting structural feedback.
How many ARC readers should an author aim for?
There is no fixed number. A smaller group of readers genuinely interested in the genre tends to be more useful than a larger group assembled without regard to reading taste.
Can an author pay someone for an ARC review?
Paying for reviews, as opposed to giving a free copy in the hope of an honest, unpaid review, generally breaches most retailers’ review policies. Check the current guidelines of the relevant platform before offering anything beyond the book itself.
Do ARC readers need to disclose they received a free copy?
Many platforms and general good practice call for some form of disclosure when a review is based on a free copy provided for review purposes. Requirements vary, so check the current rules of the platform where the review will appear.