Readers! Benefits & Drawbacks of the Free Book Glut
- 16 hours ago
- 7 min read
The internet today offers an overwhelming number of free books, also known as freeloads. Platforms like Bookbub, Freebooksy, Fussy Librarian, and ARC (Advance Reader Copy) services flood readers’ inboxes with free titles daily. Authors often offer free books hoping for reviews, while some opportunistic sites charge authors thousands of dollars to promote these giveaways. What does this mean for readers?
Are readers truly benefiting from the inundation of free books, or is it creating new problems? This post explores the benefits and drawbacks of the free book glut, including AI-generated books and how readers feel about them.
Why Are Free Books So Common?
Authors and publishers use free books as a marketing tool. Giving away a book can attract new readers, build mailing lists, and generate reviews. Sites like Bookbub charge authors up to $2,000 to feature their free books, hoping to boost visibility. Advance Reader Copies (ARCs) are also distributed for free to gather early feedback and reviews before official publication.
Reedsy offers "possible" reviews for free books, by unpaid reviewers (working for "tips" of $1-5) at a $50 cost to the author, cleverly using the illegality of paying for reviews to give authors a modicum of hope but no guarantees. Authors may have to pay to apply to this service several times before their books are accepted. Ostensibly, this "curates" books to ensure the reader gets a pleasant experience, while lining corporate pockets.
The statistics are well known. Only 5-10% of free books are ever read, and just 2% of readers leave reviews. This means the great majority of freeloads sit unread, falling into the deep dark depths of readers’ limitless digital libraries, without engagement. Often it's easy to pick up a read just by scanning a QR code. Most phones allow you to store over 50,000 books.
Benefits for Readers
Access to a Wide Variety of Books
Free books open doors to genres and authors readers might not try otherwise. For example, a reader who usually avoids science fiction might download a free sci-fi novel and, assuming it's read, discover a new favorite. This variety encourages exploration without financial risk.
Building a Personal Library
Many readers enjoy collecting books, and free titles help build a large and often overwhelming personal library. This can be especially valuable for avid readers who want to have a wide selection ready at any time, but a) many avid readers continue stocking up on books regardless, and b) books downloaded with intent to read are easily lost unless specifically catalogued by the reader.
Early Access Through ARCs
Advance Reader Copies give readers a chance to read books before their official release. This can be exciting for fans of specific authors or genres, allowing them to be among the first to experience new stories.
Cost Savings
The most obvious benefit is saving money. Readers can enjoy thousands of books without spending a dime, which is especially helpful for those on tight budgets or who read frequently. Many readers have more books than they will read in a lifetime.
Readers - The Activity Trends of Cataloguing
Active Catalogers (Small to Large Libraries): Many readers with significant physical or digital libraries (500–5000+ books) use dedicated apps like LibraryThing. On LibraryThing, primarily books on Amazon or in large public libraries, like the Toronto Public Library, are found in search results when seeking a book.
This is because the site began as a library catalogue service, and since then has gone into partnership with part-owner Amazon. LibraryThing allows book imports from Goodreads, which is also owned by Amazon and now being abandoned by many authors and readers, for various reasons.
Like Goodreads, LibraryThing fundamentally acts as a herding site to Amazon. I've had an account there for a while and have personally tried it out.
Example: when I enter the ISBN for my Strange Vibes Weird Fiction Anthology digital version, LibraryThing says it does not exist, despite the book being fully available on Bookshop.org, Barnes & Noble, Google Play, Kobo, and a wealth of other online bookstores and libraries under that ISBN. I had to change only the Amazon ISBN due to publication difficulties with the distributor.
If I enter an ISBN for any book published on Amazon, it appears no problem, but does not list any other sites where the book is published under the same ISBN. So, readers beware if searching for books through this site - you'll get only Amazon and large physical public library results. If this is okay with you as a reader, carry on.
It rather sucks for authors who use multiple platforms, or who are not on Amazon (they do exist). Cataloguing sites not personally tested include Libib, BookBuddy, or CLZ Books.
Methodology: Readers use barcode scanners, often via phone apps, to log books, with many, ironically, paying premium prices for unlimited storage.
Spreadsheet Users: A number of readers prefer to create their own catalog using Excel or Google Sheets to track title, author, and whether the book is read, often for managing their To-Be-Read (TBR) piles.
"Bulk File" / Unorganized Storage: Many readers, especially those who stack up a multitude of freeloads in eBook or audiobook forms, keep them in a "bulk file" or simply in their digital libraries without detailed tagging or categorization. This is certain death for a vast number of freeloads, just like all those photos on your phone you've been meaning to organize.
Drawbacks for Readers
Overwhelming Choice and Hoarding
The sheer volume of free books can overwhelm readers. Many end up hoarding titles they never plan to read, cluttering their devices and making it harder to find books they actually want to read.
Quality Concerns
Not all free books maintain high quality. While some platforms charge authors high prices to give away books, under the guise of curating "quality" reads for readers, it's not necessarily so. Many free books have minimal editing, while others may be rushed or incomplete. The rise of AI-generated books adds another layer of uncertainty, as these publications, churned out at the rate of up to 20 per content producer per day, vary widely in quality and originality.
Review Fatigue and Lack of Feedback
Since only a small percentage of readers leave reviews, authors may not get the feedback they hope for. Readers might feel pressured to review books they didn’t enjoy or never finished, which can reduce the overall usefulness of reviews.
This happened to an author who used a free ARC service. The author was responsible for getting the books to the readers and reminding them about leaving a review, and instead of even a mediocre response, received only a bad review from a disgruntled reader who felt pressured.
Impact of AI-Generated Books
AI technology now allows for rapid creation of books, some of which are offered for free. Readers have mixed feelings about AI books. Some appreciate the novelty and accessibility, while others dislike the lack of human creativity and depth. The influx of AI books can make it harder for readers to find authentic, well-crafted stories, if that's the goal. For those who just want a quick read for a plane flight, it may not be an issue.
Are ARCs Beneficial for Authors and Readers?
Ideally, ARCs serve as a bridge between authors and readers. For authors, they provide early feedback and potential buzz. For readers, ARCs offer exclusive access to new content. However, since many readers obtain ARCs without leaving reviews, authors may not receive the engagement they expect.
From a reader’s perspective, ARCs can be a double-edged sword. They offer exciting early reads but also add to the growing pile of unread books. Readers who want to support authors may feel conflicted if they cannot commit to reviewing every ARC they receive.
How Readers Can Navigate the Free Book Glut
Set Reading Goals: Focus on reading a set number of free books each month to avoid accumulating unread titles.
Be Selective: Download free books that truly interest you rather than grabbing everything available.
Organize Your Library: Use folders or tags to keep track of books you plan to read soon.
Support Authors: When possible, leave honest reviews to help authors improve and gain visibility.
Stay Informed About AI Books: Decide if AI content fits your reading preferences.
Final Thoughts
The glut of free books online offers clear benefits like variety, cost savings, and early access to new titles. Yet, it also creates difficulties for readers, such as overwhelming choice, quality concerns, and review fatigue.
The rise of AI-generated books adds complexity, with readers divided on their value. To make the most of this abundance, it's best, as we all know, to be selective and organized, focusing on books that truly interest you. By doing so, you can enjoy the advantages of free books without falling into the habit of digital hoarding.
However, readers are busy people, and grabbing books with the intention of cataloguing them later remains a common M.O. Every day is like Christmas on the free book market, and for many enthusiastic readers, hoarding will never go out of style.
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