Getting Started as a Reader

BookAuth is 100% free for readers — no premium tiers, no hidden costs, ever. Whether you're looking to discover your next great read, join a vibrant book club, or become an ARC reviewer, this guide covers everything you need to get started.

What You'll Learn

How to create your reader profile and set preferences
How to discover and browse books on the platform
How to organize your reading with lists and status tracking
How to join book clubs and participate in discussions
How to apply for ARC campaigns and build your reviewer reputation
How to purchase books directly from authors

Step 1: Create Your Reader Account

Getting started takes less than a minute:

Visit bookauth.com and click "Sign Up" in the top navigation
Choose your sign-up method:
- Email & Password — enter your email and create a password
- Google SSO — sign in with your Google account (one click)
- Magic Link — enter your email and we'll send you a secure login link (no password needed)
Select "Reader" as your initial role when prompted
Complete the onboarding wizard — you'll be asked about your favorite genres and reading preferences

Pro Tip: Your account isn't locked to one role. You can switch to Author or Professional anytime from your settings. Many of our users are both readers and authors!

Step 2: Set Up Your Reader Profile

Your reader profile is how authors and other readers see you on the platform — especially important if you plan to review books or join book clubs.

Navigate to your Reader Dashboard — this is your home base after logging in
Click "Profile" in the sidebar, or use the quick-action card on the Dashboard
Fill in your profile details:
- Display Name — how your name appears on reviews, book clubs, and discussions
- Bio — tell other readers (and authors) what kinds of books you love
- Reading Preferences — select your preferred genres (Fiction, Non-Fiction, sub-genres)
- Preferred Formats — indicate whether you prefer ePub, PDF, or both
- Website & Goodreads — link your external reading profiles
Upload a profile photo — this appears on your reviews, book club activity, and reader link page

Reader Dashboard Overview

Step 3: Discover and Browse Books

BookAuth has a rich discovery system to help you find your next great read:

Global Search

Click the search bar or navigate to /search
Search across Books, Authors, Book Clubs, and Professionals — results are weighted by relevance
Filter by genre, format, price (free vs. paid), and rating

Browse Directories

Books Directory (/books) — browse the complete catalog sorted by popularity, recency, or genre
Authors Directory (/authors) — discover authors by genre or follower count
Marketplace (/marketplace) — explore publishing professionals if you're looking for services

From Your Dashboard

"From Authors You Follow" — see the latest releases from authors you follow directly on your Dashboard
Quick Actions — use the "Discover" card to jump straight into browsing

Step 4: Build Your Reading Lists

BookAuth's reading list system helps you organize every book you encounter:

Navigate to Reading List in the sidebar
Add books by clicking the "Add to List" button on any book's detail page
Track your progress with four reading statuses:

Status	Meaning	How to Set It
Want to Read	On your TBR (To Be Read) pile	Default when you add a book
Currently Reading	You're actively reading it	Click "Start Reading" on the book
Read	You've finished it	Click "Mark as Read"
DNF (Did Not Finish)	You stopped reading	Click "Did Not Finish"

Filter and search — use the tabs at the top of your Reading List to quickly filter by status
Add personal notes — click on any book in your list to add private reading notes

Pro Tip: When you mark a book as "Read," BookAuth prompts you to leave a star rating and review. This helps the author's book rank higher in discovery and builds your reviewer reputation.

Step 5: Follow Your Favorite Authors

Stay updated when your favorite authors publish new content:

Visit any author's profile page (click their name on a book page, or find them in the Authors directory)
Click the "Follow" button
Benefits of following:
- New releases appear in your "From Authors You Follow" feed on the Dashboard
- You receive email notifications when they publish new books
- You're among the first to see their new ARC campaigns

You can view and manage all authors you follow from your Dashboard stats.

Step 6: Join Book Clubs

Book clubs on BookAuth are vibrant communities centered around reading together:

Navigate to the Book Clubs page (/book-clubs) or click "Book Clubs" in the sidebar
Browse available clubs — filter by type:
- Reader Clubs — community-organized reading groups
- Author Clubs — author-led groups for their readers
- Buddy Reads — small-group reading partnerships
Click "Join" on any public club, or use an invite code for private clubs
Participate:
- Discussions — share thoughts, ask questions, and engage with fellow readers
- Polls — vote on the next book to read
- Reading Schedules — follow along with the group's reading pace
- Challenges — participate in reading challenges with milestones

Pro Tip: You can also create your own book club! Navigate to Book Clubs > Create Club to set up a public or private reading group.

Step 7: Apply for ARC Campaigns

Advance Reader Copies (ARCs) give you early access to upcoming books in exchange for an honest review:

Navigate to "My ARCs" in the sidebar, or browse available campaigns from the main ARC page
Find campaigns that match your reading interests
Click "Apply" — the author will review your application based on:
- Your reviewer reputation score
- Your review completion rate (how often you actually submit reviews for ARCs you receive)
- Your preferred genres matching the book's genre
If accepted:
- Download the ARC copy from your "My ARCs" page (status: "Ready to Download")
- Read the book before the review deadline
- Submit your honest review

Your Reviewer Reputation

BookAuth tracks your reliability as a reviewer. Your reputation card on the Dashboard shows:

Completion Rate (60% weight) — percentage of ARCs where you submitted a review
Review Quality (20% weight) — average rating from authors on the helpfulness of your reviews
Timeliness (20% weight) — percentage of reviews submitted before the deadline

Higher reputation scores unlock access to more exclusive ARC campaigns and can earn you reviewer tier badges (Bronze → Silver → Gold → Platinum).

Step 8: Purchase Books Directly

BookAuth enables direct-from-author book purchasing:

Find a paid book and click "Buy Now" or "Add to Cart"
View your cart at /reader/cart
Apply discount codes if you have one — enter it in the promo code field
Complete checkout via Stripe's secure payment system
Access your purchase in your Library (/reader/library) — download the ePub/PDF file

Pro Tip: You don't need an account to purchase (guest checkout is available), but creating a free account lets you track your purchases in your Library forever.

Your Reader Dashboard at a Glance

Your Dashboard shows real-time stats:

Currently Reading — books you're actively reading
Want to Read — your TBR pile count
Books Read — your total finished books
Following — number of authors you follow

Plus quick-action cards for Library, ARCs, Discover, and Profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does BookAuth cost anything for readers?
A: No. BookAuth is completely free for readers. There are no premium tiers, no hidden fees, and no restrictions on features. You only pay if you choose to purchase a book.

Q: Can I also become an author on BookAuth?
A: Absolutely! Your account supports multiple roles. Navigate to your settings to switch between Reader, Author, and Professional roles anytime.

Q: How do I get more ARC invitations?
A: Build your reviewer reputation by consistently completing your ARC reviews on time and writing thoughtful, detailed feedback. Authors prioritize reviewers with high completion rates.

Q: Can I export my reading list?
A: Currently, reading lists are managed within BookAuth. Export functionality is planned for a future update.

Q: What formats are available for book downloads?
A: Books are available in ePub and PDF formats, depending on what the author has uploaded. ePub is the most common format for digital reading.

Managing Your Reading Lists
Applying for ARC Campaigns
Joining & Discovering Book Clubs
Writing Book Reviews
Your Reviewer Reputation & Trust Score