2025 Update: I did not want to scrap this post, as there is a lot of valuable information in it that is still accurate. However, I have learned more and there have been some changes over the years.
NetGalley can be a boon for readers. Digital ARCs (Advanced Reader Copies) mean that you can read upcoming books for free, which is all a reader can really ask for. If you don’t have any particular books that you want to request, NetGalley is pretty straightforward. However, if you want specific books in certain genres, it can be quite difficult to get approved. These are my NetGalley tips and tricks to make the most of NetGalley as an individual and improve your chances of being approved!
Note: These tips are for using it as an individual, and not as a bookseller/librarian.
NetGalley has been fantastic for me. I’ve been able to stretch my book budget much further- NetGalley books make up at least half of my yearly reading. (And given that in 2020 I read 160 books, that is quite a bit of savings!) I’ve also discovered some of my now favourite authors through NetGalley. Something to remember- if you really enjoy a book on NetGalley, you can always purchase it. Authors appreciate it, and you can reread it!
Who Is NetGalley For?
Anyone can use NetGalley, but I would recommend using it if you are a consistent book reviewer. You don’t have to have a book blog, you just need to post reviews somewhere. (You can post your reviews on Storygraph, Goodreads or Amazon if you want.) A lot of publishers have guidelines for who they will approve based on where they review. (I’ve heard anecdotally that some publishers/books are also based on the reach of your reviews but I haven’t had any confirmation of that.) NetGalley is for spreading the word of upcoming releases, and you need to share those reviews with people to help share them.
Note: Whenever you share a review of a NetGalley note, you need to specifically state you received it from NetGalley.
NetGalley Tips and Tricks
NEW: Using Your Kobo for NetGalley ARCs
It only took me several years to figure out how to use my Kobo for my NetGalley ARCs, but I did it! The large majority of people who talk about using their eReader for their eARCs cover using your Kindle- using your Kindle is very straightforward, NetGalley has built Kindle specifically into the process. However, for those of us who use Kobos or other alternative readers, there are a few other steps.
You will need to authorise your Kobo through Adobe Digital Editions, download the eBook on your computer, and then physically/manually add the book through Adobe. (Meaning you need to use your USB cord to plug it in and add it, rather than wirelessly sending it.) While I wish that the book industry would stop treating Kindle like the be-all, end-all, I’m glad that I got it together and finally figured it out.
Complete Your NetGalley Profile
This is included on pretty much every post on NetGalley tips and tricks ever, but make sure that your profile is complete. Share a bit about your reading life; include what genres you like to read, whether or not you take part in book clubs, and preferred formats. (NetGalley has ebooks, audiobooks, and graphic novels, so format matters- publishers will often focus on one format or another for a particular book.) Include the links to your blog or any profiles where you regularly share book reviews and recommendations. And if it changes or you have a new place to post them, go back and update it!
Do Your Best to Maintain Your 80% Ratio
Your NetGalley ratio is determined by the number of your reviews on NetGalley divided by the number of your approvals. You want to maintain at least an 80% ratio, meaning you download and post reviews for at least 8 out of every 10 books you are approved for.
You have to download a book to read and review it prior to the archive date- the archive date is listed on the NetGalley site on your shelf, but not on the NetGalley Shelf app. If you miss downloading it before the archive date, it will go into the “Archived, Not Downloaded” section of your “Not Active” tab, and you cannot give feedback on it. You can however, post the review of a book downloaded after the archive and publishing rate. (I will admit to downloading a book, having it expire because I forgot and then purchasing it to be able to review- try to avoid this if you can.)
If you cannot download a book due to technical difficulties, you can choose to formally not provide feedback, and then explain that there were technical difficulties. (NetGalley support confirmed that this is taken into consideration when publishers look at your profile.)
Don’t Request Every Book
It can be very tempting to request every book listed on the off-chance that you might enjoy it. When you first join NetGalley, there is definitely a rush when you get approved for a book. However, as I explained above it is best to keep your approval ratio at at least 80% or higher. All of a sudden, you might be approved for several books that are being archived at the same time. We all have missed downloading books because several of them were all “due” in a cluster.
And something that I didn’t know before using NetGalley? You can be approved for a book after the archiving/publishing date, so it may be available to you months later. (My best guess is that they want more publicity/reviews for another boost.)
Keep a Spreadsheet of Your Archive/Publishing Dates
Unless you are very specific with your requests, you will quickly come to a point where you have 10-20 books waiting for you to read and review. (I’ve seen some book bloggers say they have 50+ but thankfully I’ve not been there… yet.) The easiest way to keep track of them is to keep a running spreadsheet of your books. You can sort your books by ascending or descending archive date on your To-Read Shelf, so you can easily grab them to add. And once it is made, you simply have to add new books.
Provide Specific Details for Negative Reviews
Realistically, you will not love every book that you read, and authors and publishers know that. Negative reviews are a part of books! However, if you are going to post a negative review on NetGalley (or anywhere else), include specific details. I do not like graphic descriptions of blood/gore or violent sex, and do my best to avoid those books. It isn’t always clear in the description, though. If I dislike a book because of these things, I specifically state that it was because of unexpected gore (or whatever it was.).
You should do this for two reasons. Firstly, authors are people, too, and deserve the respect of an actual review- not just “I didn’t like this”. Secondly, publishers want detail, and giving vague negative reviews may affect your chances of being approved in the future. (That doesn’t mean that you should not leave a negative review- you should be honest- but it should be constructive criticism.)
Add Links for All Reviews (No Matter When Published)
Always make sure to add your links to other places you’ve shared your reviews. Your own blog, Goodreads, retailers, your newsletter, anywhere. Publishers want to know where you can and are sharing books! My reviews for books aren’t always posted immediately after it is published; I often keep books to include in themed lists or later newsletters. Always, always, always go back to your feedback and add additional links!
If you want to know my thoughts on the NetGalley Shelf app, you can find my review here!
What are your favourite NetGalley tips and tricks? How do you make the most of NetGalley?
Cheers,
The Historian
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