17 Best Side Hustles for Book Lovers

Do you want to know about the best side hustles for book lovers?

I read 70 books last year, and so far in the last week, I have read 6, so reading is definitely a passion of mine. If you’re a fan of reading like I am, you may be interested in learning how to make extra money with this hobby.

In this article, I’m sharing:

• How to make money as a book lover
• The easiest side hustles for book lovers to start
• How much money you can realistically make with these gigs

And more!

If you want to make extra cash or turn reading into a full-time income, this post shows you how to make money while reading. 

Recommended reading: 16 Best Ways To Get Paid To Read Books

Best Side Hustles for Book Lovers

Here’s a list of the best side hustles for book lovers.

1. Start a book blog

If you love books and have wanted to start a blog, running your own book blog can be a fun side hustle for book lovers. 

You can monetize a book blog in many different ways, such as through the Amazon Associates affiliate program and by sharing affiliate links to books you mention. For example, you could write an article about your top 10 favorite books and then include referral links to them – here’s an example of what that looks like on this blog 15 Best Money Books To Help You Change Your Life.

Other ways to make money blogging include display ads, sponsored posts from publishers or authors, and even selling your own digital products like reading trackers, book club guides, printable bookmarks, or reading journals.

I have been blogging for years and so has my sister. While I now run my blog part-time, my sister (and the owner of the blog you are reading right now) has been blogging full-time for over 10 years. So, there are definitely options if you want to make a part-time or full-time income!

I recommend reading How To Start a Book Blog and Make Money if this is a side hustle you are interested in.

2. Library

Working at the library is one of the best jobs for book lovers if you love reading and connecting with people.

There are all kinds of jobs you can get at the library, including jobs as a library clerk, assistant in the various departments, scheduling specialist for the special events, running the children’s program, and obviously, a librarian (which requires a master’s degree).

My local library district has over 100 positions for all kinds of jobs, and it’s really quite interesting to see what’s required to run a library.

I’m actually currently interviewing for a library position as a library clerk because I’ve always wanted to work at a library, so wish me luck!

3. Sell book-themed printables

If you want to take your side hustle online, you may want to try selling book-themed printables like reading trackers, reading challenges, and printable bookmarks.

There’s a huge community online of people who purchase and love printables, as these can be bought once and used again and again. This is also a great side hustle because you only have to make the printable once, list it online, and then it can be purchased again and again. 

I recommend signing up for the How To Earn Money Selling Printables free training. You’ll learn printable ideas, how to get started on Etsy, and how to actually make sales.

Recommended reading: How I Made $6,161 in Just 4 Months With a New Etsy Printables Shop

Free Training: Earn Money Selling Printables

Do you want to make money selling printables online? This free training will give you great ideas on what you can sell, how to get started, the costs, and how to make sales.

Sign Up Here Example of bookish merchandise available on Etsy (this search results page can be found here). 4. Sell bookish merchandise

One of the most fun bookish side hustles is probably selling bookish merchandise like print-on-demand mugs, shirts, tote bags, and stickers with funny and cute bookish sayings.

I recommend browsing Etsy and other online creative shops to get an idea of things you can make into merchandise and what customers like. Here’s an example of bookish merch that you can sell on Etsy.

Since these are print-on-demand, you don’t need inventory, as these special platforms do all of the heavy lifting for you. However, you need to have some sort of audience and do marketing to get people to buy your stuff from these platforms. 

You can learn more at How I Make $7,500 Monthly Selling Print-On-Demand Gifts.

10Make Money With Print-On-Demand Free Workshop

Want to learn how to make money selling print-on-demand products on Etsy? Check out this free workshop and learn how Emily made $500,000 in just two years.

Sign Up Here 5. Proofreader

Proofreaders get paid to read through articles, books, manuscripts, and more. They’re in charge of finding errors in spelling, grammar, and punctuation and correcting these before they get published. You don’t need a degree to get started in this field, just a strong attention to detail and training is good to have too.

You can find proofreading jobs on platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, and other freelancing gig websites, and once you get some client work going, it’s easier to get jobs through word of mouth.

You can learn more about becoming a proofreader in this free training by clicking here. This free workshop answers all of the most common questions about how to become a proofreader.

Recommended reading: How To Start A Proofreading Business And Make $4,000+ Monthly

10Proofread Anywhere

This free 76-minute workshop answers all of the most common questions about how to become a proofreader, and even talks about the 5 signs that proofreading could be a perfect fit for you.

Sign Up Here 6. Sell short stories

If you love not only reading but also writing, selling short stories is a great way to make money.

You can write stories for magazines and online platforms that pay for fiction. Many publications pay for short stories in the romance, sci-fi, mystery, and fantasy genres, with payouts ranging from $25 to a few hundred dollars.

You can also publish short stories on Amazon Kindle, Wattpad’s paid program, or sell them as digital downloads on your blog or website. 

You can learn more about this in 14 Places To Sell Short Stories For Money.

7. Make bookmarks

If you want a simple and low-cost side hustle to get started in, you may want to try making bookmarks. You can make bookmarks from crochet, cross-stitch, and more, and you can find patterns for bookmarks on Etsy. 

You can also design your own bookmarks and include inspirational quotes, cute and cozy illustrations, seasonal themes, or genre-specific designs.

8. Sell used books

If you want to make money selling items, one way is by selling used books.

You can resell your own books or source books through garage sales, library sales, Facebook Marketplace, or thrift stores. Genres that sell the best include romance, fantasy, self-help, and newer textbooks.

You can list used books on platforms like eBay, Poshmark, Amazon, Mercari, and even locally through apps like Facebook Marketplace and OfferUp. You’ll want to take high-quality, well-lit photos and price competitively to sell items quickly. 

You can learn more at 16 Best Places To Sell Used Books For Cash.

9. Write romance novels

If you enjoy writing, writing romance novels is one of the best ways to make money through self-publishing. People love reading love stories (and there’s a huge demand for them right now!), which means there’s an audience ready to buy your book.

You can start writing short novels or stories and publishing them on Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing, where you’ll get royalties anytime someone checks out your book on Kindle.

Many authors decide to go all in on one subgenre, like cozy small town romance, enemies to lovers, travel romance, second-chance romance, or fantasy romance. 

Recommended reading: How to Make $3,000 Per Month (or More) Self-Publishing Romance Novels – Without Writing a Word

10. Become a book reviewer

A book reviewer is in charge of writing honest reviews for blogs, magazines, websites, or even their own blog. Certain publishers and companies pay for reviews (like Online Book Club), while others offer free books (such as Netgalley) for writing reviews on platforms like Goodreads. 

You can also make money reviewing books by sharing your affiliate links when you talk about said books on your social media or blog. It’s a fun way to make extra money just by helping others find new books. 

Recommended reading: How To Get Paid To Review Books (14 Sites That Actually Pay)

11. Narrate audiobooks

Do you have a clear, engaging voice? If so, you may be able to make money as a narrator.

With audiobook narration, you turn books into audio recordings that people can listen to and enjoy on platforms like Audible and Spotify. You don’t usually need professional experience to start, just a few things like correct pronunciation, a quiet place to record, and good pacing.

Many beginners start on platforms like ACX, Findaway Voices, or Voices.com, where authors and publishers go to connect with narrators. As you build your experience and skills, you can take on bigger projects and negotiate higher rates. 

You can learn more in How To Become A Voice Over Actor.

12. Host a paid book club

Hosting a paid book club can be a creative way to make money as a book lover, especially if you like connecting with people and building community.

You can run a virtual or in-person paid book club and charge a small fee for access to group discussions, Zoom chats, reading guides, printable content, and bonus content.

You’ll want to pack as much value as you can into your book club so people stay in the book club and get excited for the upcoming months to come.

13. Work as a virtual assistant for an author

If you want to work behind the scenes, work as a virtual assistant for an author. Authors need extra help all the time, so if you have a love of books, then this could be a fun job to have. You can find jobs for this on platforms like Upwork and Fiverr by typing in “virtual assistant for author” and seeing what kind of jobs come up.

You can also work for a publishing agency, which my friend once did and loved. She found her job through Upwork.

A virtual assistant job includes a variety of tasks, including administrative work, helping manage a newsletter to their readers, scheduling author readings, connecting with customers and answering questions via email, managing social media profiles, email marketing, and so much more. 

14. Write your own book

While not easy, you can write your own book, which is one of the most rewarding ways to make money from your love of storytelling and writing.

You can publish your book through Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing or other self-publishing platforms. Each time you make a sale, you earn a royalty. You can also sell digital, print, and audiobook versions to increase your income. 

Recommended reading: How I Made $2,000 in 1 Week by Writing an eBook

15. Design book covers

If you love art and illustrations, a creative way to make money in the publishing world is to create eye-catching designs for authors. You can create illustrations and covers using platforms like Canva, Procreate, or Adobe Illustrator. You can sell these as custom designs or premade templates for authors.

Authors love finding covers that match their genre, so niching down can really help you stand out.

You can sell your services on sites like Etsy and Fiverr, or even on your own website. And, don’t forget to build a portfolio, gain experience, and slowly raise your rates.

16. Work at a bookstore

If you like connecting with people, working at a bookstore is a classic way to make money doing something you love. Keep in mind that this job requires a lot of customer service and working with all kinds of people. You’ll also be stocking shelves, organizing events, helping customers find their next read, and working the cash register.

Many stores give employee discounts for bookstore employees, early access to new releases, and the chance to connect with a community of book lovers. This is a great job for someone who enjoys working with the public and in a bookstore setting.

17. Start a book-themed Instagram account 

If you love social media, starting a book-themed Instagram account is a fun way to talk about your favorite books.

You can share book reviews, book hauls, bookshelf decor, reading challenges, and themed photos of your current reads. When you slowly start building an engaged following, you can make money through affiliate links, brand partnerships, or even sponsored posts with book publishers.

I recently came across a social media account where the person travels to different places mentioned in her favorite books – and she’s built a loyal audience who loves following her literary adventures. It just goes to show that when you combine creativity and passion, there are so many ways to make money as a book lover.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are answers to frequently asked questions about the best side hustle gigs for book lovers.

Can you really make money as a book lover? 

Yes, but how much money you make depends on a lot of things. You can expect to make anywhere from just earning free books to a few thousand dollars a month, depending on the side hustle you start, how much experience you have, and how much time you put into the side hustle. 

What jobs can I do if I love books?

If you love books and reading, there are so many jobs and side hustle opportunities for you! You could get an entry-level position at a library, work at a bookstore, or start your own business selling bookmarks or other book-related items.

What’s the easiest side hustle for book lovers to start?

The easiest side hustle for book lovers to start is likely creating book-related printables, bookmarks, selling used books, or working at a bookstore. All of these have a semi-easy entry level to get started. 

Do I need a degree in English or literature to start these side hustles? 

You do not need a degree in English or literature to start these side hustles. In fact, none of these side hustles require a degree other than becoming a librarian (but there are plenty of other library jobs where you don’t need a degree that you can apply for).

How much money can I realistically make from a book-related side hustle?

The amount of money you can make from a book-related side hustle depends on the side hustle and how much time and effort you put into it. A proofreading or editing job’s starting pay is around $20 to $30, whereas starting a book blog can take a while to turn a profit, but it can be worthwhile if you enjoy blogging. I recommend choosing a side hustle you enjoy, as it will make working easier if the pay isn’t quite enough yet. 

Can I start a book side hustle with no money?

Yep! There are tons of book side hustles you can start with no money, including getting a job at a local library, selling used books you already have, working as a virtual assistant for an author, or working at a bookstore. All of these jobs require zero upfront pay.

17 Best Side Hustles for Book Lovers – Summary

I hope you enjoyed this article on the best side hustles for book lovers.

These side hustles give you the ability to make money while doing something you love – reading. And, with all of the different options above, you can probably find a job with some flexibility that works for your schedule.

There are so many great side hustles for book lovers, and I hope you find one that you really enjoy!

Do you want to make money reading books? Are you an avid reader?

Recommended reading: 

• 13 Ways To Get Free Books Online And Sent To You
• 18 Ways You Can Get Paid To Take Pictures

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