ARC FAQs for Readers

While each author’s specifications for ARC readers differs based on genre, capacity, timing, etc., here are the basic qualifiers we look at when choosing ARC Teams:

Platforms: Each review platform benefits an author’s release in a different way, so it’s important that we provide authors with readers who are on different platforms. For reviewing on Goodreads or Amazon only - we verify that the reader has a history of reviewing similar books. For reviewing on social media only (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube) - we verify the reader has good engagement numbers, not necessarily follower count. Reviewing on multiple platforms will help you stand out as a candidate for the ARC Team.

Verifiable Links: To maintain the integrity of our ARC teams, we require verifiable links to your active review platforms and/or social media accounts. These links allow us to confirm your reviewing history, engagement, and ensure we’re pairing authors with genuine, active readers. Providing accurate, working links helps us streamline the review process and build strong ARC teams for every author we represent.

Reader Preferences: Just like every book is different, every reader is too. One of our goals is to match the right readers with the right books. We take into account a reader’s favorite genres, sub-genres, and tropes to determine if this is right the book for them.

What We Don’t Look For:
• An aesthetic account
• If you’ve ever posted about the author prior to this release
• If you’ve ever even read the author prior to this release
• Follower count (if you’re reviewing on multiple platforms)
• If you’ve ever been on an ARC Team

Read: This is probably the easiest (and most fun) part of being on an ARC Team! Once an ARC reaches your inbox, we’ll make sure you have plenty of time to read it, so that’s what we ask you to do. Read it within the timeframe given.

Share With Us: When you are accepted on an ARC Team, you get a form unique to the release to submit your review links when you have them. This will allow us to directly verify your review, which will increase your chances of getting approved for future ARC Teams.

Confidentiality: While you can tell the world that you have received and are reviewing an ARC (and we even encourage you to do so), you may not share or sell the document. In fact, doing so will result in your removal of ARC opportunities. Our authors work hard on each story they release and we don’t take piracy lightly. We will absolutely protect our authors from others profiting off of their work.

Communication: Life happens. We get it. Sometimes this means that you thought you’d have enough time to read and it turns out you don’t or this ARC wasn’t quite your vibe and you don’t want to finish it or you signed up for one too many ARCs that are all due around the same time. If there’s any reason that you will not be able to review the ARC by release day, all we ask is that you tell us. We are always available through email or social media DMs and will respond promptly. We are happy to answer any questions you have.

While each author’s specifications for ARC readers differs based on genre, capacity, timing, etc., here is what you as a reader can expect from Pen Pal PR every time.

Communication: We feel like honesty and communication are key to a great relationship. ARC Teams can always expect open, two way communication with us. Readers will receive an email letting them know when they have been approved for an ARC Team, when the ARC arrives, if any changes occur, and a day or two before Release Day as a reminder. Additionally, if readers have comments, concerns, or any issues of any kind while reading, we are available and will respond as quickly as possible to address whatever they need.

Timeliness: Because we want honest reviews as well as a pleasant experience for everyone, we want to make sure our readers have plenty of time to read, enjoy, and review the ARCs sent to them. We try to provide ARCs no later than two weeks prior to Release Day, giving readers at least14 days to read and review. If for some reason we have a shorter time frame, that information is given upfront before signing up. Sign-ups for ARCs typically occur two weeks before the ARCs hit inboxes, allowing readers to plan for potential ARCs with plenty of notice.

No Review Restrictions: The purpose of ARC Teams is for authors to have reviews of their book on Release Day, but reviews in general are for readers to get an impression of how their peers reacted to the book. The entire system falls apart the moment reviews get suppressed or monitored. We will never ask you to delay or withhold low star reviews in return for receiving an ARC.

Author Protection: While we always ask for honest reviews, we also ask for readers to help us protect the mental health of our authors by not tagging them in reviews lower than 4 stars. We will also always protect our authors from pirated copies to the best of our abilities. Any reader found selling or uploading their ARC will be blacklisted from receiving from us. Authors work extremely hard, and we take the theft of their hard work very seriously.