All Things Netgalley…
When I started blogging I was amazed at the people saying they were booked up(ha) months in advance for reviews. Now just over two years later here I am about to share my ARC schedule for 2021! For today I’m focusing solely on my pre-agreed Netgalley reviews.
I have a little method when it comes to requesting on Netgalley. I have to admit I don’t always stick to it but most of the time it keeps me in check. I know some of you have hundreds in your backlist! At the time of writing I have 17 and a NG ratio of 82%.
5 rules for requesting:
- Spend no more than 30 minutes once a fortnight browsing books. I even set a strict timer.
- View my favourite publishers sorted by latest publication date first and never request anything due for release before next month.
- Allow myself no more than 4 unread ARCs at a time due for release in each upcoming month.
- Never request a book for the sake of it. It must be something I believe will be a 4+ stars for me.
- Put myself on a Netgalley ban if my ratio dips below 70%
My intent is always to publish my book review on this blog the day of it’s release. I then try to remember to upload that review to Amazon and Goodreads a week or so later.
My NG review goes up the moment I finish reading, partly to keep my ratio accurate but also to contribute for those checking NG reviews before they request.
Last year I had a slump during first lockdown which left a few books in arrears, these I tend to then leave to one side for a spare moment in my later schedule so that I can continue to meet the deadlines I set myself for my unpublished ARCs.
So here is where I stand today:
My Spring ’21 Netgalley Schedule:
The Eighth Girl – Maxine Mei Chung
The Last House on Needless Street – Catriona Ward
All The Murmuring Bones- A G Slatter
The Library Of The Dead – T L Huchu
The Castaways – Lucy Clarke
Dark Lullaby – Polly Ho Yen
Shadow In The Glass – JJA Harwoo
Mirrorland – Carole Johnstone
Her Last Holiday – C L Taylor
Sorrowland – Rivers Solomon
Circus Of Wonders- Elizabeth Macneal
The Decagon House Murders- Yukito Ayatsuji
But of course even the best laid plans fail. I’m ashamed to admit I have four titles in long term arrears, some even over 12 months since request. Luckily I always immediately download any books I’m accepted for. They may be locked in the Netgalley archive vault but they still patiently await my attention on kindle…
A Witch In Time- Constance Sayers
Descendant Of The Crane- Joan He
Bone Harvest – James Brogden
Incendiary – Zoraida Cordova
And that’s where I am right now for the period of March to May. I have two more lined up in June ready to begin my summer schedule but I’m desperately attempting to stay away from any more requests for now. My poor owned books TBR has been ever growing whilst the ARCs distract me, which gave rise to my new frequent post, Topshelf Tuesdays! Stick around the blog to see more.
If you haven’t overfilled your review schedule as I have, don’t forget to join up to the BBNYA panel, or there are loads of fantastic tours you can sign up to with Dave over at The Write Reads
Are you a Netgalley user? Tell me, what’s the oldest ARC on your shelf? Are your arrears worse than mine?
Have you read any of these titles? Drop me a comment, link me your review, share the book love.
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An Average Life 
Those are some really good rules. I remember how addictive requesting can get on NetGalley! I’ll definitely have to remember your rules if I decide to rejoin NetGalley, especially not requesting anything that doesn’t feel like at least a 4 star!
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You are so much better at restricting yourself with Netgalley than me! My only ‘lucky’ strike is that as an international reader, lots of books are wish only… It has definitely saved me from having an exploding pending shelf haha. I’m currently at 15 pending ARCs and both Mirrorland and Her Last Holiday are on it too. Good luck with these!
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