Raise your hand if you’ve ever stayed up way too late because “just one more chapter” turned into 3 a.m. 🙋♂️
If you live for the smell of old pages, dog-earing corners, or crying over fictional characters like they’re real… good news: you can get paid for that.
Not “$5,000/month reading Harry Potter in your PJs” (sorry, that’s a scam).
But real, legit ways to earn $50–$500/month doing what you already love: reading.
I’ve tested some of these myself. Others? I’ve watched bookworm friends turn them into side income. So let’s cut the fluff and dive into what actually works—and what’s just noise.
1. Get Paid to Review Books (Yes, Really)
Publishers need real readers to review new books before they blow up. And they’ll pay you for your honest opinion.
Top legit platforms:
- Online Book Club – Pays $5–$60 per review. Start with 1–2 books/month = easy $50–$100.
- BookBrowse – Pays modestly (~$25–$50), but gives you a byline + free ebooks. Great for building a portfolio.
- Kirkus Reviews – The big leagues. Pays $40–$100+ per review if you get accepted. Requires writing samples + genre expertise.
- Publishers Weekly – Send a 200-word sample review to
reviewers@publisherweekly.com. They cover everything from self-help to memoirs.
💡 Pro tip: Start with free review copies (see section #5 below) to build samples before applying to paid gigs.
Tell others :50+ Real Online Jobs for Teens (Yes, Even If You’re 13)
2. Proofread or Copyedit (Grammar Nerds, This Is Your Moment)
Love catching typos? Spotting comma splices from a mile away?
Proofreading pays $15–$50/hour—and you don’t need a degree.
Where to start:
- Fiverr – Offer “Proofread your ebook or blog post” for $10–$25.
- Reedsy – Connects you with indie authors needing editors.
- Scribd – Occasionally posts proofreading gigs.
No experience? Take a free grammar refresher on Coursera or YouTube. Then practice on free manuscripts from Project Gutenberg.
3. Narrate Audiobooks (If You’ve Got the Voice)
Got a calm, clear voice? You could be the next Audible narrator.
How it works:
- Record chapters in a quiet space (closet = studio).
- Use a decent mic ($50 on Amazon) + free software like Audacity.
- Get paid $100–$300/hour once you’re experienced.
Best platforms:
- ACX (Amazon) – The #1 place. Audition for books. Get paid per finished hour (PFH) or royalties.
- Bunny Studio – Steady gigs for voiceover + audiobooks.
- Voices.com – Big marketplace for all voice work.
4. Design Book Covers (Even If You’re Not “Artistic”)
Thousands of self-published authors need eye-catching covers—and they’ll pay $50–$300 each.
You don’t need Photoshop. Use:
- Canva (free book cover templates)
- Adobe Express (easy drag-and-drop)
Then sell on:
- Fiverr (“I’ll design your Kindle ebook cover for $30”)
- SelfPubBookCovers.com – Upload premade covers. Authors buy them once → you keep 100%.
Real example: A college student made $200/month designing minimalist romance covers in Canva. Zero art degree.
5. Get FREE Books Just for Reviewing Them
Even if you’re not ready for paid gigs, start here to build credibility:
- NetGalley – Read advanced copies of unreleased books (ebooks only). Free to join.
- LibraryThing – Enter giveaways for physical books. Write a review → keep the book.
- Baker Publishing / Moody Publishers – Get free Christian books if you have a blog or social following.
- Springer – Review academic books → get a free hard copy as a “thank you.”
👉 Why this matters: These free reviews become your portfolio to land paid gigs later.
6. Start a Book Blog or TikTok (Long Game, Big Payoff)
Yes, it takes time. But “BookTok” and “Bookstagram” are huge right now.
- Post short reviews, “shelfies,” or “books that made me ugly cry.”
- Grow to 5K–10K followers → brands send you free books + pay for posts.
- Monetize with Amazon affiliate links (earn 4–10% when people buy books you recommend).
Real talk: My friend’s BookTok hit 20K in 6 months. Now she makes $300–$500/month from affiliate sales + sponsorships.
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7. Work in Publishing (Remote & Entry-Level)
Want to go pro? Look for remote roles like:
- Freelance reader for literary agents ($25–$100/hour) – read manuscripts and write reports.
- Editorial assistant on FlexJobs or Publishers Marketplace.
- Copyeditor for indie authors (use The Chicago Manual of Style as your bible).
Many of these accept beginners—especially if you’ve got samples from free review gigs.
❌ What Doesn’t Work (Save Your Time)
- “Get paid to read on Goodreads” – Goodreads doesn’t pay reviewers. (Scam alert!)
- Random “book reviewer” gigs on shady sites – If they ask you to pay to join, RUN.
- Expecting $1,000/month from day one – This is a side hustle, not a lottery ticket.
💡 Final Thought
You don’t need to “become famous” to make money from books.
You just need to start small, be consistent, and add value.
Your first $20 might come from reviewing a free NetGalley ebook.
Your first $100 might come from proofreading a self-published novel.
But your first $500? That comes from showing up when no one’s watching.
So grab your favorite book, pick one idea from this list, and try it this week.
Because the world needs more thoughtful readers—and you might as well get paid for it.
Hey! 👋 If this post saved you time, stress, or another “I give up” moment…
Do me a tiny favor? Share it with one friend who’s also grinding to make extra cash — but hates “guru” nonsense.
I don’t do fake scarcity, pop-ups, or “DM me for the secret.” Just real, messy, human advice.
When you share, you keep this blog alive… and help me afford more coffee (and fewer 3 a.m. panic sessions).
— Remon STS 💙
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