How to Make Money Reading Books Online
Get Paid to Write Book Reviews
Wanna get paid to read and share your thoughts? Writing book reviews is like telling your bookworm bestie if that novel is worth their time.
Sites like OnlineBookClub, Kirkus Reviews, and Reedsy Discovery will actually pay you to review books. Yup—read a book, write a review, and boom, money!
OnlineBookClub starts by handing you free books. After a few solid reviews, they may even start throwing cash your way.
Kirkus and Reedsy are a bit pickier—like fancy-book-club picky. They want strong writing and real opinions, not just “This book was cool 😎.”
When writing a review, think of it like chatting with a friend. Keep it honest, clear, and friendly.
Spill the tea (but not the ending). Talk about what made you laugh, cry, or want to throw the book across the room—nicely, of course.
Start with what the book’s about. Then share cool stuff, weird stuff, and who’d love it most.
End with a quick summary. No need for perfect grammar—just sound like you!
To get started, sign up for a site and build a profile. Some may ask you to write a sample review to show off your skills.
Hot tip: Review the kinds of books you love. If you’re into spooky mysteries or swoony romances, stick with those!
Reviewing books is awesome because you help other readers AND authors. Plus, you get free books and money—yes, please.
Become an Audiobook Narrator
If you’ve got a smooth voice and love acting things out, audiobook narration might just be your dream gig. You get paid to read stories out loud—how cool is that?
People love audiobooks because they can listen while driving, cooking, or pretending to work. You’re basically their reading buddy.
Websites like ACX (Amazon’s audiobook site) and Voices.com help you find jobs reading books. There are tons of authors looking for someone just like you!
You’ll need a decent mic, a computer, and a quiet space. And nope, yelling “Quiet!” at your dog doesn’t count as soundproofing.
Closets work great for recording! Just hang up some blankets and voilà—your voice sounds like magic.
Practice makes perfect—read with feeling, like you’re living the story. A good narrator makes listeners forget they’re even being read to.
Some books need different voices for different characters. So go ahead, give that pirate a gruff “Arrr!” and that grandma a sweet giggle.
Make a demo reel—just a short sample of your voice. Upload it to your profile so authors can hear your awesome storytelling.
With time, you can build a steady stream of audiobook narrator jobs. And guess what? You’ll never run out of books.
Start a Book Blog or YouTube Channel
Love talking about books? Start a book blog or YouTube channel and turn that passion into cash.
You can review books, share reading lists, or even show off your favorite bookish merch. People love watching book lovers geek out.
Apps like WordPress and Blogger make blogging easy. For YouTube, you just need a phone, good lighting, and a smile.
You can make money from ads, sponsors, or affiliate book links. The more people click and watch, the more your piggy bank grows.
Pick a theme for your content, like fantasy, thrillers, or spicy romance. That way, your audience knows what to expect—and keeps coming back!
Ideas? Try “Top 10 Books That Made Me Cry,” “Books I’d Marry If I Could,” or “What I Read in July.” Make it fun!
Don’t fake it—just be you. Readers and viewers love real talk and real smiles.
Be sure to post regularly. And don’t forget to respond to comments—book friends are the best kind of friends.
Wanna grow faster? Share your posts and videos on Instagram, TikTok, or anywhere bookworms hang out.
More clicks = more cash. And honestly, we all need a fun reason to talk about our favorite books all day.
Join a Book Affiliate Program
Okay, imagine this: you talk about a book you love, share a link, someone buys it… and you earn money. That’s book affiliate marketing.
You don’t even have to sell anything yourself. Just add special links to your blog, videos, or social media.
Amazon Associates is one popular program. You earn when people buy books—or anything else they toss in their cart. Hello, bonus points!
Bookshop.org is awesome too. It supports indie bookstores, so you can earn money and feel good inside.
Got a blog called “Spooky Reads for Rainy Days”? Share links to your haunted faves. That’s how you connect with the right readers.
Make themed lists like “5 Cozy Books for Fall” or “Best YA Romances That’ll Melt Your Soul.” Then pop in your links.
Post your lists everywhere—blogs, newsletters, even tweets. Just make sure to say you’re earning a cut—it’s the honest thing to do.
The more people click and buy, the more you earn. It’s a win-win-win: for you, your readers, and bookstores!
Work as a Proofreader or Editor
If spotting typos is your superpower, proofreading or editing might be your ideal gig. You literally get paid to fix mistakes while reading books online.
Proofreaders fix small stuff like spelling errors. Editors go deeper—rewording clunky sentences and making the writing shine.
Writers and publishers hire pros like you to polish their books before they’re published. They want clean pages and happy readers!
You can find gigs on websites like Upwork, Fiverr, or Reedsy. Make a killer profile and show off your skills.
You don’t need a fancy degree, but you do need sharp eyes. Grammar nerds, this is your time to shine!
Start with small gigs—like editing short stories or blog posts—to build reviews and trust. Then raise your rates as you grow.
To practice, try fixing typos in online articles or your cousin’s Instagram captions (nicely). Every little bit helps.
Helping writers improve their books feels amazing. And hey, it’s another way to make money reading books online.
Join a Book Summary Service
Love reading nonfiction and dropping fun facts on your friends? Book summary writing could be your thing.
Websites like Blinkist and getAbstract pay people to turn long books into short, smart summaries. Think cheat sheets for busy adults.
Your job? Explain big ideas in small words. Kinda like “TL;DR—but make it helpful.”
Most summaries start with an intro, then share key takeaways and tips. Keep it simple, clear, and cool.
To apply, you may need to send a writing sample. Show them you can break down ideas like a teaching wizard.
Look for job listings directly on the company’s site or on LinkedIn. Some pay per summary, while others hire freelance writers long-term.
If you like learning new stuff and explaining it in a fun way, this is gold. Plus, you’ll sound super smart at dinner parties.
This is a clever way to earn money while reading books you’d probably read anyway. Knowledge + cash? Yes, please.
Become a Beta Reader for Authors
Ever wanted to read a book before it’s even published? As a beta reader, you get to do that—AND help shape the final version.
Beta readers give feedback on the story, characters, pacing, and more. You’re like a book coach with snacks.
Writers wanna know if their plot makes sense or if that love triangle is just too much. Your honest feedback is gold.
You don’t need fancy training—just good reading skills and a kind heart. Be honest but helpful!
Facebook groups, writing forums, and sites like BetaReader.io are great places to find beta reader gigs. Some pay in cash, others in free books.
Give useful feedback like “This part confused me” or “I love this character’s sass.” Not just “It’s good.”
Be polite and encouraging—authors pour their heart into their work. You’re there to help, not crush dreams.
Want more gigs? Create a simple website and ask authors you’ve helped to leave testimonials.
It’s a super fun way to get paid reading books online—and you get bragging rights when the book gets published!
