(This post is in no part sponsored or endorsed by NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.)
For most readers the thought of receiving an ARC (Advanced Reader’s Copy) of a book is a dream come true. NetGalley is one way that readers can actually make that dream happen.
NetGalley is a platform that allows authors and publishers to give readers digital ARCs in exchange for reviews. This expansive platform has thousands of books in all different genres that reviewers can request to read.
But before you go on a requesting spree, here’s a few things to know.
1. Know What Kinds of Books You Like
Before you even start your account, make sure that you know exactly what you do and don’t like in a book. This will help you find books that you will actually enjoy instead of books that you won’t.
NetGalley has it set up so that you can actually can choose which genres you prefer. They divide them up as categories and you can update them at any time.
2. Write A Great Review Bio
One of the most important parts of setting up your NetGalley is writing your review bio. Don’t freak out. Writing your bio isn’t that big of a deal. Think of it as a job interview. Why are you the right person to review this book?
NetGalley provides resources on helping you write you bio so that you make it the best bio it can be.
Here’s mine.
Cassandra Stinger is a blogger and book reviewer who loves the feeling of falling in love with a story. A former teacher and magazine staffer, she knows that real life can be stressful, but the best cure is often a good story.
My Netgalley Bio
As you can see I mentioned that I am a blogger which helps establish credibility. I also mentioned that am both a former magazine staffer and a teacher which again proves credibility, but it also shows authors and publishers what kind of person I am.
3. Add Your Review Links
So as part of the process you will be asked where you primarily post your reviews and you also can add links to your social media channels and your blog if you have one.
You don’t have to have all the social media pages or a blog to be a reviewer though, you can just post reviews on your Goodreads.
4. Build Up Your Review Base
Once your account is set up, you can start looking for books to read.
Most books on the platform require you to request them, but there’s also an entire section of books that you can download and read, no requesting required.
Most people suggest that start out by reading and reviewing the “read now” books, but if you see a book up for requests that you really want to read, then go for it. I starting requesting books when I first started and I actually was able to read several that were amazing.
5. Start Slow
Don’t request 300 books at a time, please. There’s no possible way to read that many in any decent amount of time. Only request the books that you really want to read and don’t bite off more than you can chew.
Before you click that request button, ask yourself if you really want to read this and if you have the time to. Always check the page count and the publication date before requesting a book.
6. Be Mindful Of The Archive Dates
Almost every single book on NetGalley has an archive date. After these archive dates you will no longer have access to the book.
Because of this, it’s important to get the book read sooner rather than later.
7. Read The Book
Now that we have all that out of the way. It’s time to read the book. There are couple of different ways to read your book, you can download it to your computer or there’s a NetGalley reading app you can download on your phone or tablet. (You can only read books that are already on your NetGalley shelf on the app. You will still need to request books through the website.)
As you read, make sure to take notes so you don’t forget any important details.
8. Write The Review
The review is one of the most important parts of this process, but it shouldn’t be a frustrating one.
When you write your review remember to give brief synopsis or summary of the book without any spoilers. Then talk about what you did and didn’t like. Don’t forget to rate the book when you’re finished!
For more book review tips, check out this post.
After you finish your review and submit it to NetGalley, they will usually ask you few questions like “Would you recommend this book?”.
If you really didn’t like the book, or DNF’ed it, you can say that you will not be giving feedback. Your feedback percentage will not be affected by this.
Remember to note that you received an ARC when writing your review and thank the author, publisher and NetGalley.
9. Sharing Your Thoughts
Authors always appreciate it when reviewers share positives reviews of their books. So share on social media or post your review on your blog if you have one.
Some authors request on the ARCs that you don’t put out your review until release day, so be mindful of that.
If you posting about the book on social media in a positive way, remember to tag the author. (It’s okay to have a negative opinion of a book, but don’t tag the author in it.)
Final Thoughts
It’s rewarding to be able to read and review new books. NetGalley is a great platform for both beginning and established reviewers.
Have any NetGalley tips of your own? Let me know in the comments.
