Advance Reader Copys and Where to Find Them:

MorallyGrayGhoulette's 2025 ARC Wrap Up

    Phew this year has flown by hasn't it? It feels like just yesterday it was April and I got up the courage to finally create my bookstagram (and I'm so glad I did!) This has defiantly been a learning experience but honestly, I would not change a single thing. Through my Bookstagram, I got to engage with some of my favorite authors, share my love for books, and make so many new friends along the way. 

    With that being said I also got the privilege to get my hands on some Advance Reader Copy (ARC)  from so many amazing authors, so I figured I would take the time to list out all the books I was privileged with getting to read early. I will do my best to list all of these in order of release, and if you would like to see my reviews head on over to my Goodreads.

• Ly to Me - ES Portman
• Run Little Killer - Darma Day
• Starve - AJ Merlin
• Black Warden - Ciara Hartford
• Grim - DJ Krimmer & Joe Arden
• Spellbound Beneath the Sapphire Skies - Amber Leigh Larrain
• Shadow of Lilith - Stevie Hosler
• What Blooms in Barren Lands - Margo Smyth
• Silent Scars - Cornelia Mansfield
• We Should Not Have Come Here - J.D Mills

    This year I also got accepted to be a permanent ARC reader for AJ Merlin and the scream I scrumpt when 

I read that email was wild. If you haven't checked out any of her books and love dark romance and morally gray men check her out. I promise you won't regret it!

So how do I keep up with all my ARC's? 

    I have two ways that I like to accomplish this. First I have a designated note in my phone for all of my bookstagram things. This is organized by tabs, where I collect my ideas, links, my pre-formatted posts such as reviews, as well as all of myARC. I will attach a screenshot so you can get a better idea of what I mean. For my ARCs I utilize the checklist and put in the title, author and release date as it is given out. And once I have read and posted my review, I mark it off. This keeps my life a little more organized.

    Secondly, at my desk I keep a little note pad where I basically transplant the list from my phone to paper. Now, why on Earth would I do this you ask? I am just a girl who has been scorned by technology one to many times. Plus I tend to remember things better if I physically write them down. 

Where do I Find my ARC's?

    Honestly most of the ARC's that I apply for come from Instagram adds or stories. But recently I have signed up for BookSirens and have found many good things on there, one of which is We Should Not have Come Here which releases on January 31, 2026. If any of you guys have more tips and tricks for receiving ARC's please share them in the comments below, I would love to hear them!

    I did want to mention that all of the ARC's that I have received so far have been digital, it is uncommon I have found that authors send out physical ARCS due to cost, the chance of the book not being reviewed etc. So be prepared when applying for ARCS that the odds of obtaining a physical copy for free will be low!

   Another website that I have recently started utilizing is NetGally. This has so many amazing titles and authors. I have also noticed that they carry more mainstream authors/titles. Such as Nevessa Allen or Jodi Picoult.

Wrapping Up:

    Being an ARC reader has been so rewarding in so many ways. And if I had one piece of advice to give it would be just take the chance and apply for that ARC, whether it be by your favorite author or one you have never heard of before. The worst they can say is no. So in the words of Ms. Frizzle "Take chances, make mistakes, get messy!" Maybe not the messy part, we don't want to damage any books, or our kindles now do we?

 — From the shadows with love, MorallyGrayGhoulette