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Erica Robyn Reads

a horror book review blog

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[Book Blogger Hop] Using NetGalley

March 15, 2019      Erica Robyn      31 Comments

Book Blogger Hop is a weekly meme hosted by Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer, where you answer a question and join a “hop”. The purpose is to help bloggers discover and get to know one another.

For this week’s Book Blogger Hop question, Elizabeth @ Silver’s Reviews asked:

Do you use NetGalley, Edelweiss, both, or neither?

Since I first heard about the platform, I have used NetGalley only here and there.

I’ve requested and been denied for 7 titles.

However, I did get approved for 4 titles including The Nightmarchers by J. Lincoln Fenn, The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager, Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys: The Big Lie by Anthony Del Col, and From Ant to Eagle by Alex Lyttle.

I do really love the platform. It’s so fun to browse to see what you can request. Of course it’s a bummer to get declined, but it’s also really exciting to get approved!

My only irk with NetGalley is that I have already run into issues when the books aren’t formatted properly. This was a huge issue with the Nancy Drew book. The copy I was sent through this platform was totally unreadable. To keep up my feedback ratio, I ended up purchasing the book.

Thanks for reading!
What platforms do you use to request books for review? I’d love to hear about them below!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Candyce says

    March 15, 2019 at 7:05 am

    I only use Netgalley. Edelweiss is an interesting platform, but not very user friendly in my opinion.

    Reply
    • Erica Robyn says

      March 15, 2019 at 11:28 am

      Good to know! I’ve never tried using it, so maybe I’ll just stick with Netgalley.

      Reply
  2. deanna says

    March 15, 2019 at 7:42 am

    I use netgalley a lot, I’ve had some formatting issues, but I kind of just managed with it. I think they are getting better with being able to just send it right to your kindle. I have stopped getting upset when I get denied, because I’m always swimming in ARCs.

    Reply
    • Erica Robyn says

      March 15, 2019 at 11:29 am

      That’s awesome! Formatting is HUGE for me. And right?! I’ve been so careful about what I request after going overboard once… lol!

      Reply
  3. Laura says

    March 15, 2019 at 7:43 am

    I use only Netgalley, too. And I’m with you. It is so excited to get approved and it’s a bummer to get denied especially about books that you really like and maybe they belong to a series that you are reading, but when you get the “approved” email is a party! And yeah, I decided to read only in pdf format when I can because of the formatting sometimes.

    Have a nice weekend!

    Reply
    • Erica Robyn says

      March 15, 2019 at 11:29 am

      It’s always such a good feeling to get approved!! 🙂 Have a nice weekend as well! Thanks for stopping by!

      Reply
  4. chucklesthescot says

    March 15, 2019 at 8:05 am

    I don’t use either of them because I don’t read ARCs. I’m not interested in reading unfinished books and review deadlines!

    Reply
    • Erica Robyn says

      March 15, 2019 at 11:30 am

      <3 Review deadlines can certainly be overwhelming! It's like being back in school!

      Reply
  5. Megan @ The Hungry Bookworm says

    March 15, 2019 at 9:20 am

    I only use NetGalley. I did try Edelweiss once (maybe twice?) but had even more issues with the formatting and getting the books onto my Kindle.

    I’ve reviewed over 20 books with about 15 waiting in the queue… I need to work on my ratio! I probably actually just need to stop requesting or choosing the “Read Now” options. I don’t usually get requests, but when I do it’s always exciting!

    Reply
    • Erica Robyn says

      March 15, 2019 at 11:31 am

      Oh no, that’s never fun. Formatting is huge for me. If it’s not formatted well, I get so angry! WOW! That’s awesome! Good luck with the ratio 🙂

      Reply
  6. Tânia @MyLovelySecret says

    March 15, 2019 at 9:54 am

    For e-ARC requests, I only use NetGalley since my requests on Edelweiss are always denied (I do download from Edelweiss books whose access is open). It’s annoying when the books aren’t formatted properly. It has happened to me a few times on NetGalley. Most times, I sacrifice my eyes to be able to read the book. However, once, I wrote in the review box that I could not read the book because of the format.

    Happy readings! 😉
    Tânia @MyLovelySecret

    Reply
    • Erica Robyn says

      March 15, 2019 at 11:31 am

      Right?! You’d think the person in charge of uploading the ebook would triple check the formatting… Thanks for stopping by!

      Reply
  7. Dena @ Batch of Books says

    March 15, 2019 at 10:18 am

    I’ve used both. I had formatting issues with both. I almost never use either one anymore. I have so many books and ARCs that it would take me YEARS to finish them, so I don’t see the point in requesting more! Sometimes I will use NetGalley to download an ARC if I’m working on an article, but that’s few and far between.

    It is a bummer when you get denied, though. I think with time, it gets less disappointing because as other people have already pointed out, you soon get swamped with review copies and requests and it’s almost a relief to get denied for a book on NetGalley.

    I’ve also had to purchase books to complete a review on NetGalley. But sometimes instead of actually reviewing the book, I’ll leave a note to the publisher telling them that the formatting was too bad and I couldn’t read the book. It keeps my rating up and absolves me of deciding whether to power through it or buy the book.

    Reply
    • Erica Robyn says

      March 15, 2019 at 11:32 am

      Ugh formatting is such an issue! I never thought to just comment that it was unreadable. I will have to do that if it happens again. Thanks for stopping by!!

      Reply
  8. Literary Feline says

    March 15, 2019 at 1:40 pm

    I generally have good luck with the formatting, but I have run into a problem on occasion. It can be such a pain, so I can relate. I do get a thrill when I am approved for a selection. It’s like winning a prize. 🙂

    Reply
    • Erica Robyn says

      March 15, 2019 at 2:23 pm

      <3

      Reply
  9. Nicci @ Sunny Buzzy Books says

    March 15, 2019 at 4:22 pm

    NetGalley is my preference.

    Reply
  10. Lauren @ Always Me says

    March 15, 2019 at 7:06 pm

    I do enjoy using NetGalley – even just looking through their catalog.

    Reply
    • Erica Robyn says

      March 15, 2019 at 8:18 pm

      Yeah! Their catalog is organized pretty well!

      Reply
  11. Nicki J. MARKUS says

    March 15, 2019 at 7:56 pm

    I mainly use NetGalley, as I don’t find Edelweiss user-friendly. I am fairly lucky with my approvals; however, I have had a couple with formatting issues, and it’s annoying how that can affect your percentage rating. I think if you didn’t read for technical problems, it shouldn’t be held against you. I only had one I absolutely couldn’t read, though. The others I alerted the publisher and they amended the file, and when I downloaded the new copies, it was fine.

    Reply
    • Erica Robyn says

      March 15, 2019 at 8:38 pm

      I agree! It’s not fair if the formatting is off. Oh that’s great they they were able to fix the file!!

      Reply
  12. Erica Watkins says

    March 16, 2019 at 9:51 am

    I use both platforms. While formatting is always an issue with proofs, I do find it slightly annoying.
    While NetGalley is very easy to use, Edelweiss+ requires a little more time. But, after a few years, I actually enjoy the professional vibe.

    Reply
    • Erica Robyn says

      March 16, 2019 at 10:18 am

      😀

      Reply
  13. Lory @ Emerald City Book Review says

    March 16, 2019 at 8:23 pm

    Oh ugh, I hate that about the bad formatting. It’s so unfair there is no option to check “unable to read” or something and remove those titles from your ratio! I have done as others did, posting a “review” that just says I couldn’t read the book.

    Otherwise I have found NetGalley is easy to use and it’s fun to browse for new titles. I have to stay away these days because I’m trying NOT to read new books. I need to read the ones i already have!

    Reply
    • Erica Robyn says

      March 17, 2019 at 9:19 am

      Right?! Having that option would be great! And same here! I’m still trying to work through the books I own 🙂

      Reply
  14. Heather's Reading Hideaway says

    March 17, 2019 at 11:46 am

    NetGalley is always a great source to go to for new books but I am drowning so much with the books I own I always forget it’s an option haha! Anytime I read an ARC or a library book I can just feel my stack of owned books judging me 😛

    Reply
    • Erica Robyn says

      March 17, 2019 at 5:53 pm

      😀

      Reply
  15. Dinh says

    March 19, 2019 at 9:44 pm

    I’ve used Netgalley once. I don’t usually do ARCs so there’s no need for it.

    Reply
    • Erica Robyn says

      March 20, 2019 at 8:17 am

      😀

      Reply
  16. Olivia Roach says

    March 23, 2019 at 1:31 am

    Yes, it’s always so exciting when you get approved and can read something. I don’t use Netgalley because I am trying to read through my backlist titles and get approved way more on Edelweiss so yeah, not my mode of choice. But I am glad so many people love it!

    Reply
    • Erica Robyn says

      March 23, 2019 at 1:05 pm

      Yeah, I’ve been holding off on requesting recently too. My physical TBR stack is way too big! lol!

      Reply

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Erica Robyn of Erica Robyn Reads
Hello! I’m Erica, a Mainer living in New Hampshire who runs on hot tea, good books, and loud music. Join me as I seek out amazing horror tales and help support the indie horror community!
 

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