Calling All Bookworms: 11 Ways To Make Money Reading Books

Do you have an appreciation for the written word? Does your bibliomania border on addiction? Well, it turns out you can get paid to read books. That said, you can’t just sit on the beach, read, and wait for the money to roll in (if you can, please let us know how). But with a little extra effort, some talent, and the help of this guide, it won’t be too hard for avid readers to transform their hobby into a lucrative pastime.

This long-running New York City-based magazine publishes over 10,000 book reviews a year. According to Kirkus’ website, they’re currently looking for experienced reviewers to write for the publication’s self-published section. Applications require a resume, writing samples, and a list of your reviewing specialties.

Put your social media-addled brain to good use and craft a tweet-length review for this well-known industry magazine. Besides some writing talent and/or skill, all they ask is that you “are familiar with both books and libraries.”

Think of VoiceBunny like Upwork or Fiverr but exclusively for voice actors and other audio professionals. Although talent applications are closed right now, you can follow VoiceBunny on social media to receive updates on availability.

Most social media-savvy book lovers are aware of TikTok’s literary community, BookTok. While establishing a following in the community won’t be easy — there are plenty of reviewers, tastemakers, etc. already — you can make good money from sponsorships if you earn enough followers.

While some love the feel of a novel in their hands (and the freedom to throw a frustrating book across the room), others prefer the dulcet tones of an anonymous voiceover. If you count yourself among the latter group, you can join the community of freelance audiobook reviewers on AudioFile’s website. Details about the application process remain sparse, though others report that the magazine pays $10 a review.

As a Reedsy reviewer, you’ll gain access to a pool of forthcoming indie books. You won’t be compensated for your work, but you will receive free books and tips from the website’s readers (so generous). Surprisingly, Reedsy is somewhat selective when it comes to reviewers — some nerve given the lack of pay — requiring several examples of previous book criticism.

With patience, time, and a knack for editing, you can make a career out of reading manuscripts on Fiverr and Upwork. But since both are freelance platforms, there’s no guarantee that you’ll get clients, especially if you don’t have previous experience or examples of your work.

In the age of Patreon, Discord, and Reddit, it doesn’t take much to create and monetize a book club. Just be prepared to do everything yourself (and potentially fail), as you won’t have the support of a publication behind you.

Despite Publisher Weekly’s renown in the literary world — it’s been around since 1872 — the publication asks very little of prospective writers, requiring only a 200-word sample review and a resume.

The U.S. Review of Books has one of the most involved application processes, asking for two references on top of writing samples and a resume. That said, at least they pay their writers (an admittedly low bar) and let you submit a list of preferred books you’d like to review.

Although Online Book Club’s website looks like it hasn’t been updated since the early 2000s, others insist that it’s a real reviews site. According to writers who’ve worked for the site, you get to choose which books you critique from a list. While some reviews pay more than others, the highest-paying gigs are reserved for writers with high “reviewer scores.” But, in the own website’s words, “you won't be able to leave your day job” with the money you earn. You can sign up to be a critic here.