Read free books from indie authors. Review them honestly.
The Readers Club gives you free books to read today, as a copy we host or through your Kindle Unlimited subscription. In return, you thank the author with one honest review. That is the entire deal.
No fees. No waiting list. No obligation to praise anything.
What is the Read & Rate Readers Club?
The Read & Rate Readers Club is a free book review community that connects self-published authors with readers who review honestly. Members read indie books at no cost, either as a copy hosted on the platform or through their own Kindle Unlimited subscription, and thank the author with an honest review on Amazon, Goodreads, BookBub or wherever they prefer.
There is no application to fill in and no approval queue: you choose your favorite categories once, and the books you can read are available immediately. Reviews are opinions, never transactions, so nobody pays to read and nobody is paid to review.
How does the Readers Club work?
Four steps, once each. Joining takes a minute, choosing your categories takes two, and everything after that is reading.
1. Tell us how you read
Pick your favorite categories once, and tell us whether you have Kindle Unlimited. Two minutes, one time. It decides which books we put in front of you.
2. Pick a book you can read now
There are always 1,000+ indie books waiting for you. Download the copy we host, or open it on Kindle Unlimited. Save anything for later on your own bookshelf.
3. Review it where it counts
When you finish, we hand you every review link the author provided, Amazon first. Say what you honestly thought. That review is the thank-you.
Post your review where readers actually shop
How does the Readers Club compare to other review platforms?
The Readers Club is free for readers like the major ARC platforms, and differs in three practical ways: there is no per-title approval queue, Kindle Unlimited counts as a way to access books, and authors' copies are watermarked so they can share without fearing leaks.
| Platform | Cost to readers | Approval needed | Kindle Unlimited | Watermarked copies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Read & Rate Readers Club | Free | None, start immediately | Yes | Yes |
| NetGalley | Free for readers | Per-title approval | No | No |
| BookSirens | Free for readers | Per-title approval | No | No |
Compiled from each platform's public documentation. See our detailed NetGalley and BookSirens comparisons.
What you get as a member
Free books, today
1,000+ indie books are always waiting for you: a copy we host, or free inside Kindle Unlimited if you subscribe. New books arrive as authors join.
Your own bookshelf
Save books to your library, keep what you are reading in one place, and see at a glance which reviews you still owe.
Books that match you
You choose up to five categories. We only show you books from the shelves you actually read.
Honest reviews, nothing else
- You never pay to read, and nobody pays you to review. Reviews here are opinions, not transactions.
- You are never required to praise a book. Rate what you actually thought, including the low ratings.
- Authors join knowing the deal: real readers, real opinions. That honesty is why reviews from this platform mean something.
A reading community that shows its numbers
1,000+
Books waiting for you right now
5,037
Verified reviews on the platform
1,225
Books reviewed here
4.59
Average rating readers give
Readers Club questions, answered
How do I become a book reviewer?
Create a free reader account, tell us your favorite categories once, and pick a book you can read today. When you finish it, leave an honest review on Amazon or the store of your choice. That is the whole process: no application, no waiting list, no fees.
Is the Readers Club really free?
Yes. Reading is free and stays free. Authors share their books because honest reviews help readers find them. You never pay anything, and nobody pays you: reviews here are honest opinions, not transactions.
Do I need a Kindle Unlimited subscription?
No. Many books come with a copy we host that you can download directly. If you do have Kindle Unlimited, you unlock even more books that are free to read inside your subscription.
Where do I post my reviews?
Wherever you already read: Amazon, Goodreads, BookBub, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Kobo and more. For every book, we gather all the links the author provided in one place, so posting takes a minute. Amazon reviews help indie authors the most.
Do I have to like the book?
No. Honest means honest. Rate what you actually thought. Authors here ask for real reader opinions, and that honesty is what makes the reviews on this platform worth something.
Can authors join the Readers Club?
Author accounts and reader accounts are separate. If you are an author, sign up for an author account instead: the Readers Club is how your book reaches these readers.
What is the best way to get free books for review?
Join a platform that connects indie authors directly with readers, so no application or approval queue stands between you and the book. On Read & Rate you create a free reader account, choose your categories, and start reading immediately from the 1,000+ books always waiting, either as a hosted file or through Kindle Unlimited.
How is the Readers Club different from NetGalley or BookSirens?
Three practical differences. There is no per-title approval queue, so you start reading the moment you join. Kindle Unlimited counts as a way to access books, which widens what you can read at no extra cost. And the books come from indie authors who want honest opinions, so a critical review is welcome rather than awkward.
How long do I have to read a book and post my review?
There is no hard deadline and nothing is taken away if you are slow. Your library shows what you still owe a review on, so you can read at your own pace and come back when you are done.
Are you an author? This is how your book reaches readers.
The Readers Club is the reader side of Read & Rate. Authors have their own account: publish your book, and these readers find it, read it, and review it honestly.