What does ARC mean in books? Advance reader copies explained
ARC means “advance reader copy.” It is an early edition of a book, sent out before publication so reviewers, booksellers, librarians, and book influencers can read it and talk about it in time for release day.
You will also see ARC used as a verb on BookTok (“I got ARC’d”), and alongside eARC, meaning the digital version.
What is actually in an ARC
An ARC is not the finished book. It is usually set from a late but not final manuscript, which means it can still contain typos, an unproofed layout, placeholder cover art, and occasionally scenes that get cut before publication.
That is why nearly every ARC carries a line like “uncorrected proof, not for resale” on the cover. Two practical consequences:
- Quoting from an ARC is risky. The line you loved may not exist in the published book. Reviewers who quote are expected to check against the final text.
- Selling an ARC is not allowed. They are given, not sold, and reselling them is the single fastest way to lose access to future ones.
How readers actually get ARCs
There are four common routes, in rough order of how open they are:
- NetGalley and Edelweiss. Request digital ARCs directly from publishers. Open to anyone, though publishers approve or decline each request, often based on your review history.
- Publisher newsletters and giveaways. Many imprints run open ballots for physical copies.
- Direct from the publicist. Once you have a track record, publicists start sending offers. This is the point where ARCs stop being something you chase.
- Author street teams. Smaller and indie authors often recruit readers directly.
The unglamorous truth is that access is earned with a consistent review record more than with follower counts. A reader who reviews 90 percent of what they request is more valuable to a publisher than one with a big account and a 30 percent ratio.
The obligations that come with an ARC
An ARC is not a free book. It is a book in exchange for a review, and there are norms:
- Review near release, not months later. The whole point is the pre-launch window.
- Disclose it. “I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review” is standard, and in some countries it is a legal requirement rather than a courtesy.
- Honest means honest. A negative review is allowed and expected. Publishers ask for reviews, not praise.
- Keep your ratio up. Requesting far more than you review is the usual reason approvals dry up.
- Do not post the file. Sharing an eARC is straightforward piracy of an unreleased book.
Should you DNF an ARC?
Yes, and you should say so. If a book is not working for you, marking it DNF with the page you stopped on is more useful to everyone than a forced review of a book you did not finish. Most reviewers post a short note explaining where and why they stopped, which is genuinely informative to other readers.
ARC and the neighbouring abbreviations
- eARC: the digital version, usually via NetGalley or Edelweiss.
- DRC: digital review copy, the same idea under a different name.
- Galley or proof: older publishing terms for the same object.
- Blurb: the endorsement quote a publisher solicits from another author, often written from an ARC.
- TBR: the pile your approved ARCs immediately join.
More in the reading glossary.
Tracking ARCs in Endleaf
ARCs create a scheduling problem ordinary reading does not: several books, each with a review deadline tied to its release date. Endleaf handles it with shelves and tags you define, so an “ARC” shelf sits beside your ordinary library, and start and finish dates tell you whether you are actually on pace.
Unlimited books, unlimited statuses, and full export are free, and nothing leaves your iPhone. If a publisher ever asks what you have read and reviewed, you can export the lot as CSV in a tap.