What is an advance reader copy?

Long before a book appears on a shelf or in an online store, carefully selected readers are already holding it in their hands. Those early copies have a name — and a specific, strategic purpose.

An advance reader copy — commonly known as an ARC, and sometimes called a review copy or galley — is an early, pre-publication version of a book distributed to reviewers, booksellers, librarians, journalists, and influential readers before the official release date. The purpose is to generate awareness, reviews, and word of mouth ahead of publication, so that when the book launches it does so with momentum already building behind it.

In practice, ARCs are typically distributed several weeks to several months before the publication date — enough time for recipients to read the book, write a review, or prepare coverage that coincides with or precedes the launch. They are sent to book bloggers, literary journalists, trade reviewers, podcast hosts, bookstagrammers, and anyone else whose opinion or platform could influence the book's reception. In traditional publishing, ARC distribution is coordinated by the publisher's publicity and marketing team. For self-publishing authors, it is a process they manage themselves, often using platforms like NetGalley or Edelweiss to reach reviewers at scale.

ARCs are not final versions of the book. They may contain minor errors that are corrected before the final print run, and they are typically marked clearly as advance copies not for resale. Recipients are generally asked to note this in any reviews they publish before the official release date.

The value of ARCs lies in the timing. A book that arrives in the world already reviewed, already discussed, and already on the radar of key readers and tastemakers has a significant advantage over one that launches into silence. For both traditional and self-published authors, building that early readership is one of the most important things a pre-publication strategy can do.

An ARC is not just a copy of your book. It is an invitation to be part of the conversation before it has officially begun.