How to Get Paid to Read Books at Home

by | Jan 12, 2021


This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure for more info.

If you love to read and wish that you could make your hobby more profitable, here’s how to get paid to read books. 

Do you love to read? Want to put your passion for books to good use and help you make some extra money?

Reading is an entertaining and rewarding hobby that can easily be done on a budget. Thousands of new books are published every year and readers are needed to help review and promote these books online. 

Whether you read one book a month or one a day, you may be wondering if you can turn your love of books into a way to make money. The good news is that you can!  Here is how to get paid to read books, record audiobooks, proofread and more.

5 Legit Ways to Make Money Reading Books

You may be surprised to learn that your love of reading can be turned into a profitable side hustle that you can earn money as you get paid to read books!

Many companies need reviewers of new books and manuscripts and are willing to pay for your time and feedback. Here’s how to get started on these perfect side hustles for book lovers! 

Read New Manuscripts

Want the opportunity to read new authors that may not have ever been read before? Freelance readers are paid to read new manuscripts.

Literary agents receive more material than they can ever possibly read and freelance readers are often contracted to help them make their way through potential new books and make recommendations on whether or not to pursue.

With the potential to make as much as $25 to $100 per hour, freelance readers read new manuscripts and provide reports on what they read. 

Become an Editor


Do you have mad grammar skills and want to put them to good use? You may be able to use your editing skills to help others.

Websites like Fiverr and FlexJobs have opportunities for editors to assist others by becoming a virtual assistant and helping edit everything from full books to blog articles. 

Review Books for Money


If you like to review books, becoming an online book reviewer may be for you!  Many websites will offer free books plus a paid amount for reviewing books.

  • Online Book Club – This well established free online community targeted towards booklovers has been around for over a decade. 
  • Goodreads – Get paid for submitting book reviews and proofreading articles with Goodreads. 
  • Publishers Weekly – This weekly news magazine looks for book and article reviewers. 
  • Booklist – Find paid book review gigs and freelance opportunities. 
  • Scribd – Scribd has paid gig opportunities for book reviewers and proofreaders.
  • Women’s Review of Books –  Editorial writing opportunities are available. Writing samples and pitch may be required. 
  • Reedsy – Get new books to read for free and earn tips for reading them. 
  • The US Review of Books – If you’ve done professional reviews in the past and have a resume and references that can attest to your capabilities, you may qualify to do paid book reviews or even blog articles. 
  • GetAbstract – This service pays readers to write abstracts on different pieces. 
  • Writerful Books – Have the opportunity to review books from all over the world. The amount paid depends on the length of the books. 
  • BookBrowse – If you have sample book reviews that you’ve done in the past, you may qualify to do paid book reviews with BookBrowse. 
  • Publishers Marketplace – Check the job board for paid book reviewer opportunities. 
  • Kirkus Media Reviews – Book reviewers in both English and Spanish are needed. A resume and writing samples are needed to apply. 
  • Writers Work – This writers website is not only willing to hire writers, they are willing to train you too! Full-time, part-time and contract work is available and they have tools and resources to help you become successful.

Narrate Audiobooks


Do you have a great voice and love to read aloud? If so, you may be a great candidate to narrate audiobooks. A small investment in equipment such as headphones, a microphone, and editing and recording software is needed, as well as a quiet space to record.

Narrating audiobooks can pay well and many experienced individuals can make as much as $100 to $300 per hour, and those who are members of the SAG-AFTRA guild can ask even larger rates starting at $225 per hour. Learn more about how to get started and check out these audiobook narration opportunities below.

  • Bunny Studio – This freelance service for audiobooks and voice over narration opportunities has thousands of opportunities. 
  • The Voices – Find voice over and audiobook narration opportunities, as well as many other voice acting opportunities. 
  • ACX – The Audio Creative Exchange of Amazon is a place for book narrators to find new paid opportunities and to submit auditions. Gigs can not only pay an hourly rate, but some may offer royalties from book sales as well. 

Other Ways to Get Paid to Read Books


Looking for a few more ways to earn extra cash reading? Here are a few more ideas to try! 

  • Start a book blog. Starting a blog can be a great way to explore your reading passion and even earn extra income from sponsors and advertising dollars. If you have a writing passion and access to a computer, minimal start up costs are involved and blogging can be done in your spare time on weekends or in the evenings after the kids go to bed. Check out tips for how to start a blog and find out how much money you can really make blogging. Website hosting can be as little as $1 per month with a free website domain.
  • Find Jobs in the Book and Publishing Industry. Love books so much that you want to make it your career? Look for a job that can help you explore your passion part-time or full time. Get started on FlexJobs.  

Reading can be a fun hobby to pass the time and it can also be profitable too! These are just a few of the ways that you can get paid to read books. Know of an opportunity we missed? Leave it in the comments below!