Because a review is a favour, and many people who take a free copy never get round to
it. Some drop-off is normal for every author. You can improve the rate: pick readers
who already review books like yours, send them the finished book, tell them exactly
where and when to post, and send one reminder near launch. What you cannot do is make a
review the price of the copy. Amazon allows free advance copies only as long as the author
does not require a review in exchange or try to influence what the reviewer thinks.
The longer version
What an ARC is, and what it isn't
An advance reader copy (ARC) is the finished book, sent before publication so reviews
are ready at launch. It is not a draft for feedback; that is what beta readers are for.
Authors who send an unfinished ARC report a predictable result: reviews about typos and
plot holes that were fixed before launch, attached to the published book permanently.
Why reviews don't arrive
- Life. Reading takes hours and a review takes effort. Many readers mean to and don't.
- The wrong readers. Friends, family and people who rarely review were never likely
to.
- Unclear asks. "Let me know what you think" does not tell anyone where to post, or by
when.
- Bulk ARC lists. Paid ARC services can reach many readers, and authors report very
mixed results. One r/selfpublish author reported paying for a service, sending the book
to 140 readers, and getting one review. Others report dozens. Results depend heavily on
genre and on the service.
What Amazon's rules allow
This is where well-meant ARC programmes go wrong. Amazon's Community Guidelines say:
| Amazon's rule |
|---|
| Free advance copies for review | allowed, as long as the author does not require a review in exchange or try to influence the reviewer’s opinion |
| Reviews in return for compensation | not allowed in exchange for anything, including payments, refunds, discounts, products, gift cards or services |
| Friends and family | not allowed from anyone with a personal connection to the author |
So these are out, however common they are:
- Telling ARC readers they must review to get the next book.
- Asking readers not to post reviews below a certain star rating. One r/fantasyromance
thread describes exactly this, and it is exactly what "try to influence your opinion"
rules out.
- Gift cards, prize draws or anything else linked to posting a review.
- Reviews from family, close friends or anyone else with a personal connection to you.
Amazon removes reviews that break these rules, and authors report accounts being closed
over review schemes.
What actually helps
- Recruit readers who review your genre. Look for people already posting reviews of
comparable books, rather than people who simply want a free book.
- Send the finished book, in the format the reader prefers.
- Write the ask down. Where to post (Amazon, Goodreads, wherever matters for your
book), when the book launches, and that an honest review of any rating is welcome.
- Remind once. A short note on launch day with the direct link. Not a series of
chasers.
- Keep the request voluntary. "If you'd like to share your thoughts, here's where" —
not "you agreed to review".
- Expect drop-off and plan around it. Send more copies than the number of reviews you
are hoping for.
Common exceptions
- Disclosure. Amazon's guidelines do not require advance-copy reviewers to say they
got a free copy, but many add a line saying so, and it is good practice. Other sites and
other countries' consumer rules may set their own requirements.
- Feedback rewards are risky. Some authors offer a small reward to ARC readers who spot
typos. Even if it is not tied to a review, rewarding the same people who review can look
like compensation. Keep the two clearly apart, or don't do it.
- Don't contact readers who reviewed organically to ask for more reviews or changes.
Authors consistently report this goes down badly.
- Negative ARC reviews are part of the deal. An honest 3-star review is worth more to
readers than a 5-star one that looks arranged, and responding to it rarely helps.
Sources
- Amazon, Community Guidelines — advance copies, compensated reviews and connected
reviewers. Read 1 October 2026.
- Author reports on r/selfpublish, r/bookstagram and r/fantasyromance (2025–2026) on ARC
drop-off and review services. These are experiences, not measured results.
Amazon's rules are quoted from the AuthorAZ record for
Amazon KDP. Verified 1 October 2026.