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6 ARC Rules for Reviewers: Where to Get Copies and When to Disclose

September 29, 2026
6 ARC Rules for Reviewers: Where to Get Copies and When to Disclose

An ARC, short for Advance Reader Copy (sometimes Advance Review Copy), is a prepublication edition sent out to generate early buzz and honest feedback before a book hits shelves. Publishers choose who gets one, so access is selective rather than something you can simply claim. The one rule every reviewer should tattoo on their brain: if you receive a book for free, you disclose that in your review.

TL;DR:

  • ARCs are provisional, heavily formatted copies with content and pagination likely to change before the final publication.
  • Access typically depends on established review profiles, direct requests to publishers, or participation in author or platform mailing lists, with rejection common.
  • Reviewers must disclose receiving ARCs clearly and avoid promising positive reviews or sharing digital files, as reselling or unauthorized distribution is discouraged or illegal.
  • Digital and audiobooks ARCs are mainly accessed through platforms like NetGalley and Edelweiss, which impose device and DRM restrictions.
  • Consistently meeting review deadlines and labeling all review content as coming from an advance copy build trust with publishers and authors.
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Table of Contents

What is an ARC and why do publishers send them out?

You'll see ARCs called a few different things depending on who's talking: Advance Reader Copy, Advance Reading Copy, or occasionally Advance Review Copy. They're distinct from proofs, which typically circulate among editorial staff rather than the public, and they're absolutely not the same as a story's narrative "arc," a distinction Writer's Digest points out is easy to confuse in a Google search.

Publishers distribute ARCs because publishing runs on a calendar that reviewers need a head start on. Coverage in magazines, newsletters, and podcasts has to be scheduled around a release date, and building pre-release buzz takes lead time. Nobody wants a glowing review landing three months after a book has already left the front table.

Who typically gets one? Booksellers deciding what to stock, librarians building their acquisition lists, professional and hobbyist reviewers, influencers with an engaged following, and members of dedicated ARC teams that authors assemble for a launch. If you're curious how a manuscript gets from an author's laptop to this stage in the first place, our guide to getting a book published walks through the publicity machinery behind it.

How an ARC differs from the book you'll buy in stores

An ARC is a working document, not a finished product, and it shows. The cover might be a placeholder sketch, the binding is often flimsy, and formatting quirks that would embarrass a finished book are common. According to PublishDrive's glossary, you'll frequently spot phrases like "Uncorrected Proof" or "Not for Sale" stamped somewhere on the cover or copyright page, along with a provisional price or publication date that may shift.

Content changes too. Typos get caught, sentences get tightened, and sometimes entire scenes get revised between the ARC and the final print run. Page counts and pagination are especially unreliable: what's on page 214 in your ARC might land on page 227 in the finished book, or vanish entirely.

The practical takeaway: treat everything you read in an ARC as provisional. If you quote a line in your review, label it as coming from an advance copy, and skip citing exact page numbers unless you plan to double-check against the final edition.

How an ARC differs from the book you'll buy in stores — overview diagram

How to get ARCs from publishers, platforms, and authors

Access to ARCs is earned, not requested on a whim, but there are real, working channels once you understand how each one operates.

NetGalley and Edelweiss are the two big digital platforms where publishers list titles for review. You build a profile that includes your reading interests, review history, and where you publish, then request titles. Publishers approve requests based on how well your profile matches their audience, and rejection is common, especially for a new profile with no track record.

Publisher publicity departments will work directly with reviewers who make a specific, professional ask. According to ALA's review-copy guidance, a request should include the exact title you want, links to past reviews, a sense of your audience size and genre focus, and when you expect to post your review. A vague "I love books, can I have some?" email rarely goes anywhere.

Author-run ARC teams and mailing lists are another route, particularly for genre fiction and independent authors who manage their own launch publicity. Library review-copy programs and virtual publishing events round out the list, sometimes offering digital copies to attendees.

  • NetGalley and Edelweiss reward built-up review history, so start small and consistent rather than requesting a dozen big titles on day one.
  • A concise, specific publisher request beats an enthusiastic but vague one every time.
  • ARC teams and author newsletters tend to be more accessible for newer reviewers than major platforms.

Pro Tip: Keep a simple spreadsheet of what you've requested, when you were approved, and your review deadline. It sounds unglamorous, but it's the difference between a reputation for reliability and a pile of guilt.

Set your expectations accordingly. Even seasoned reviewers get turned down more often than approved, and the timeline from request to reading copy can stretch for weeks. Patience and a genuine track record matter more than any single clever pitch.

The dos and don'ts every ARC reader should know

Getting the ARC is only half the job. What you do with it shapes whether publishers and authors trust you with the next one.

  1. Do meet your agreed deadline. If you told a publicist you'd post by release week, treat that like a real commitment.
  2. Do disclose that you received a free copy, clearly and near your actual opinion, not buried in an "about me" page. The FTC's endorsement guidance treats a free ARC as a material connection between you and the publisher, and it expects that connection to be obvious to anyone reading your review.
  3. Do post an honest review, even when it's a mixed one. Publishers value real feedback more than they value flattery.
  4. Don't promise a positive review in exchange for a copy. That's not a review anymore, it's an ad, and readers can usually tell.
  5. Don't spoil plot points without a clear warning, especially for a book that hasn't officially released yet.
  6. Don't redistribute an eARC file or share your download, even with a friend who'd love it.

A good disclosure doesn't need to be elaborate: a line like "I received a free advance copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review" does the job. Pair that habit with a shared calendar or reminder app for your deadlines, and you'll rarely find yourself scrambling the week before a release.

Can you resell or share an ARC legally?

Most ARCs carry "Not for Sale" language somewhere on the cover or inside pages, and that's not decorative. Publishers print it because ARCs are meant to generate reviews, not revenue, and reselling one undercuts both the author and the retail edition.

Physical copies sit in murkier territory than you might assume. The first-sale doctrine generally allows you to resell a book you legitimately own, but Publishers Weekly's coverage of ARC and resale issues notes that courts have been reluctant to extend that same logic to unauthorized digital files, since copying a file isn't quite the same as passing along a physical object. Selling a physical ARC on the secondhand market is generally discouraged and often against platform terms; uploading or sharing a digital eARC file is typically prohibited under copyright law.

The simplest rule: don't sell or upload an ARC, in any format, without explicit permission from the publisher. When you're unsure, ask the publicist who sent it.

Can you resell or share an ARC legally? — overview diagram

Reading ARCs across formats: physical, digital, and audio

Physical ARCs are often glued rather than sewn, so they don't hold up to repeated handling the way a finished hardcover does. Libraries in particular should think twice before cataloging one as a permanent collection item, since content and even the ending can change before final print.

Digital ARCs live mostly on NetGalley's Shelf app or Edelweiss's reading interface, both of which work well on tablets and dedicated e-readers, though some DRM restrictions limit downloading to certain devices. Audiobook review copies exist too, often distributed through the same platforms, giving librarians and reviewers a way to access listening copies ahead of release. For more on organizing what you're reading and when, our post on managing your TBR covers tools that work just as well for advance copies as for your regular stack.

Why trust Bookaholic on how ARCs actually work

Podcasts that discuss books and interview authors often have insights into the publicity process ARCs are part of. Some podcasts focus on author interviews and book coverage, which involves topics like ARC etiquette.

A few habits our community has picked up along the way:

  • Sign up for author newsletters early. Many ARC teams recruit straight from a mailing list before a book is publicly announced.
  • Show up to virtual launch events. Publishers sometimes distribute digital copies to attendees on the spot.
  • Approach authors like a professional, not a fan. A short, specific message about your review platform lands better than a long one about your excitement.

Our book club coverage and reading habits archive dig further into how our community balances honest reviewing with a genuine love of the books themselves.

Where to learn more about ARC rules and platforms

For the rules themselves, start with the FTC's endorsement guides on disclosure and ALA's review-copy request guidance. For the platforms, NetGalley and Edelweiss remain the two largest, and Publishers Weekly covers the industry conversation around them.

An honest take on advance reading

ARCs work best when everyone treats them as what they are: a trust exchange between publishers and readers, not a free-book scheme. The reviewers who get invited back aren't necessarily the ones with the biggest platforms. They're the ones who show up on time and disclose honestly.

Adopt one habit if nothing else: label every ARC in your review, every single time, no exceptions.

— Deirdre

Sources

FAQ

How do I become an ARC reader?

Build a public review history first, whether on a blog, Goodreads, or social media, then create profiles on NetGalley and Edelweiss and start requesting titles that match your usual genres. Publishers and authors approve based on your track record, so consistency matters more than volume. Joining author mailing lists and ARC teams is often an easier entry point for newer reviewers.

Can you legally sell ARC books?

Most ARCs are marked "Not for Sale" because publishers intend them for review, not resale, and selling one is generally discouraged even where it isn't explicitly prohibited by law. Digital eARC files carry stricter risk, since courts have been reluctant to apply ordinary resale rules to unauthorized copies of digital files. When in doubt, ask the publisher before selling or sharing a copy.

How can you tell if a book is an ARC?

Look for cover language like "Advance Reader's Copy," "Uncorrected Proof," or "Not for Sale," along with a placeholder cover design or a provisional publication date and price. According to PublishDrive's glossary, no single clue is definitive on its own, so check for several markers together, especially on the copyright page.

Do ARC readers get paid?

Volunteer ARC readers typically aren't paid for receiving a copy: the exchange is a free book for honest consideration, and sometimes a review. Paid professional reviewing, like certain arrangements with outlets such as Kirkus, operates as a separate model with compensation and formal deadlines attached.