Why Romance Authors Are Ditching Google Forms for ARC Platforms

If you've been using Google Forms to collect ARC readers for your romance novels, you already know the pain: endless spreadsheets, readers who ghost after signing up, manual email follow-ups, and starting from scratch with every single book launch.

It's exhausting. And there's a better way.

The Google Form Problem

Google Forms seem like the obvious choice when you're starting out. They're free, easy to set up, and you can share the link anywhere. But here's what actually happens:

You post your form on Facebook groups, Threads, or Instagram. People sign up—sometimes dozens of them. You manually email each person with your ARC file. Then you wait.

And wait.

Half of them never download the file. A quarter of those who do never finish reading. Of the readers who actually finish, maybe half leave a review. You've spent hours managing a spreadsheet and chasing people down for a handful of reviews.

Then your next book comes out, and you start over. New form. New spreadsheet. New chase.

What Romance Authors Actually Need

Romance authors don't need another form tool. They need readers who are actively looking for romance ARCs—readers who signed up because they love the genre and want early access to new books.

That's the fundamental difference between Google Forms and a dedicated ARC platform like Pen Pinery. With a form, you're hunting for readers. With a platform, readers come to you.

How ARC Platforms Work Differently

On Pen Pinery, readers browse romance ARCs they want to read. They apply for books that match their preferences—whether that's spicy contemporary, small-town cowboys, dark paranormal, or MM sports romance.

As an author, you list your book once. Readers apply. You approve them (automatically or manually). They download the file and leave reviews. No spreadsheets. No chasing. No starting over.

And because every reader on the platform is there specifically for romance, your applications come from people who actually want to read romance novels—not casual browsers who signed up on impulse.

The Real Value: Time and Targeting

The biggest advantage of using an ARC platform isn't just convenience—it's targeting. When you post a Google Form in a general book group, you're competing with thrillers, fantasy, literary fiction, and everything else. Your romance novel is one option among hundreds.

On a romance-only platform, every reader is a romance reader. Your book isn't competing with other genres. It's competing with other romance books, which means the readers who apply are genuinely interested in what you write.

Making the Switch

Moving from Google Forms to an ARC platform doesn't mean abandoning your existing reader base. Many authors use both: they share their platform listing in their newsletter and social media, while the platform itself brings in new readers they wouldn't have reached otherwise.

For romance authors tired of the Google Form grind, platforms like Pen Pinery offer a straightforward alternative: $10 to list your romance ARC with unlimited reader applications. No per-reader fees. No spreadsheet management. Just romance readers actively looking for their next book.

Your next launch doesn't have to be exhausting. Let readers come to you instead.

Pen Pinery is a romance-only ARC platform where authors list books for $10 and readers join free to discover new romance novels. Browse available ARCs or list your book at pennpinery.com.