Foresters are a community of readers who receive advanced reader copies (ARCs) of upcoming books from Winter Forest Press in exchange for honest reviews. They may also provide feedback on a book prior to publication.

Foresters also get access to bonus content and exclusive groups for discussion and behind-the-scenes looks at books.

Foresters aren't obligated to read every book from Winter Forest Press. Joining the community means having the opportunity to be an ARC reader for any books of interest. Foresters may be asked to provide feedback to help refine a book before publication.

The Process

You can apply to become a Forester here. Your application will be reviewed within 48 hours, and if accepted, you will receive an email with a link to set up your Forester account on the Winter Forest Press website.

Foresters have access to Groups, private forums for updates and discussion about books from Winter Forest Press.

One to three months before an upcoming book is published, Foresters will be invited to receive ARC copies for review. Foresters will have access to an online copy of the book, which can be read through a browser, as a PDF, or sent to an ebook platform like Apple Books or Kindle.

Foresters are encouraged to leave their reviews immediately upon the book's publication, or if still reading the book, as soon as finished.

Requirements

Foresters who join the ARC team for a particular book are required to do the following.

• Leave an honest review of the book on at least one of the specified platforms (including Goodreads, YouTube, Instagram, and blogs). The review must express an opinion and be at least 50 words in length.

• Engage with communication from Winter Forest Press. This helps ensure a smooth and efficient ARC reading process. After leaving a review, Foresters must share a screenshot or link in the book's Group or to books@winterforestpress.com to verify that they have reviewed the book.

• Bring a respectful and honest voice to the community. This applies both to interactions within the online Forester Groups and to reviews.

Below are the minimum length requirements for specific formats of reviews.

• Written review (e.g. Goodreads, Instagram post, blog post): 50 words

• Long-form video review (e.g. YouTube video): 1 minute

• Short-form video review (e.g. Instagram Reel, TikTok video): 20 seconds

• Audio review (e.g. podcast episode): 1 minute

Creating a dedicated video, blog post, or podcast episode is not required. The review of the book can be included in a longer piece of content, like a wrap-up of recently read books, as long as the segment discussing the book meets the minimum length requirement.

We value honesty in reviews. If so inclined, Foresters can include a disclaimer in their reviews, such as "I received a free copy from Winter Forest Press in exchange for an honest review."

If a Forester has any questions or feedback to share, they are welcome to email books@winterforestpress.com.