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I created a profile on netGalley a little while ago and have been receiving quite a few emails from them saying that such-and-such a book is available for review, or that they have a ton of new books on their list, etc. I haven't actually quite dared to go and request anything yet, though, as I'm well... extremely new, and want to bide my time and get some reviews/blog posts out there before I check to see if there are any titles I would like to ask for review copies of.
OK, now for my question... can anyone tell me their experiences with netGalley? I'm a bit intimidated by the whole thing, to be honest! Do I need to have huge numbers of reviews out there to even stand a chance of being considered to get a book to review? Will it hurt to ask, should I wait until I have more of an impressive profile/reviewing presence to show them? Any other tips?
I hope this isn't too much of a threadjack, but wasn't sure if I should start a new netGalley thread or not...

No, I don't think you need to have a ton of reviews before you will get requests. I don't really think they take too much time to research you. As a matter of fact, I think it is a pretty good place to start getting some reviews built up!
If I were you, I would choose a few books that you are EXTREMELY interested in, whether they have approached you looking for a review or you search the list and find something to your liking.
It really is set up well over there, IMO. It satisfies my OCD organizational side ;-)...
I haven't submitted any reviews yet, because I am still pretty new there and I have a ton of other books on my list :-). I have downloaded a few children's books that I plan to get through pretty quickly and get reviews up for, so after that I will know more about the whole process.
Not sure if that helps you at all...


NetGalley delivers secure, digital galleys to professional readers. If you are a reviewer, blogger, journalist, librarian, bookseller, educator, or in the media, you can use NetGalley for FREE to read and request titles before they are published.
I have done quite a few reviews for NetGalley. The only tedious part is copying the links to all the places you submitted the review to. Other than that, it really is pretty easy. It keeps track of the books you request, who has approved it, and which ones you have completed. I just don't have the time to do anymore on there right now. But NetGally only gives you the books for a certain amount of days, so be sure once you accept them that you read them and review, or they will disappear on you! :)

Do you know about the ones they email to your Kindle? Will they disappear too, or just the protected PDF's?

- 100 KB file size max
Make sure it fits those specs before trying to upload. I had issues at first too, but it then I noticed that it will reject the photo even if it's 60 by 121 pixels and 50kb because it's over 120 pixels tall.

I've been active as an online reviewer for under 2 months and very seldom get rejected for a book I want to review. The guidelines say they'd prefer you'd been blogging for 6 mos etc but I've request a bunch anyway and still got approved. I've got tons to read from major publishers. The one thing I don't like about it is without a kindle you have to use Bam reader on the ipod and you can't enlarge text size in that reader with the Adobe DCM downloads so I have to sit at my computer to read those which frankly sucks. But if it's the chance to read and review the Iron Knight months before it's published as well as other great titles by authors like Gena Showalter and Michael Grant it's worth the discomfort.

Yes but you can re-download the galley and reset the day count with a new download and continue to do that until the publisher archives the title if you're having trouble getting the book read within the 55 day Adobe DCM time allotment so it's not strictly only 55 days unless the title gets archived before you get a chance to re-download and reset the day count.

Cassie, I had to resize a few times before they'd accept it. It didn't work the first three times and I gave up for a few months and tried it recently and it worked.


At first, it did tell me the file was too large... But then I got the permission denied error.

WOO HOO!! But this was a great post to have up here, because now many of our reviewers have been made aware of NetGalley! How many of you out there have tried it? What you think of it?

Edit: Couldn't wait until tomorrow. I've spent the last hour (or two) scouring netGalley for for some good books. The pages are very slow in loading, but that's okay. There is a book by Julie Kagawa, one by Arthur Conan Doyle, and one by Jennifer Donnelly! SQUEEEEE! Crossing my fingers and hoping I get one.
Edit: My request for Ashes by Ilsa Bick was auto-approved. Awesome! I've heard a lot about this book, and can't wait to read it!

They also refuse to add a "horror" category just for me. *sniff*
From what I have been able to tell, all of the titles that I have received are all DRM'd. They are adding new publishers all the time, there may be a horror category for you soon!! (I'll keep my fingers crossed for you!!)



Just curious!

Re the photo size: It's got to be really small bit-wise. Send them an email and let them know your problem if you don't find anything in the FAQ to help.
Re the # of days you can have books. I read on a Kindle and haven't had a problem with that but I only download what I'm going to read and review in the upcoming month.
Hope this helps. It led pretty quickly to publishers approaching me directly, so it's been a great experience!
I don't have a book blog, and many publishers let me read for them. The only one who was huffy about it was Harlequin. :)

Looks like I'd better get reading. EEEK!!! Some of them have publication dates way out in the future, though, so I suppose I don't need to hyperventilate just yet. But I will certainly be getting a steep learning curve at this reviewing thing!

Hi, I have recently joined netgalley and some publishers dont require loads of review experience where some seem to want you to write for a magazine,or work in a library etc Its just a case of trying I think. They can only say no! Also there is the odd book on there thatr has been made available as "read now" so you literally just have to request it and you are automatically accepted.......hope this helps
I have had a lot of knockbacks as very new to it all but I have also had a few yes answers too and am reading one of them at moment and its really good ;) my blog if you fancy dropping by and boosting my followers (shameless plugging lol!) is http://www.jeanzbookreadnreview.blogs... and my daughter has also started her own blog so please check hers out also at http://www.rai29bookreadnreview.blogs...
I've emailed them, but I was curious if anyone else had this problem...