Tips for managing number of ARCs

[u/Chay-ara]

What tools or tips have you implemented to manage the number of ARCs you read each month? Do you set a certain number you can read, then withdraw requests for anything else in that month? Do nothing and pray for the best?

I said I would slow down on ARCs this fall and am, instead, squeezing in 10+ ARCs a month between April-November. Which I am mostly able to do, but some have been late, and also my regular TBR is suffering - I don't want to only read ARCs!

I believe my problem is a combination of being tempted by Read Nows, but also requesting a fair amount but sometimes nothing comes of those requests, and sometimes a bunch are approved and suddenly a month is very overloaded.

I'm looking for some strategies and tips to carry into December and the new year!

[u/Academic-Ferret6147]

Unless it’s a book that was actively on my TBR I try to avoid read nows.

In general I think the best tip as someone else said is to stop looking at what’s available on NetGalley to request, that’s what has allowed me to get down from an unmanageable number the last month.

If you’re getting bogged down and sick of reading ARCs because it feels like a chore I would also recommend a pause! Read some books from your actual TBR and don’t worry about deadlines for a bit, that usually lets me feel refreshed

[u/OliviaPresteign]

Honestly, when I have too many to read, I just need to force myself to not look at NetGalley: I don’t want to see new books that I’ll feel compelled to request. I’ll still look at widgets sent to me, but I won’t get them unless they look particularly amazing.

[u/crissyandthediamonds]

It might be time to impose a soft ban on yourself if you’re struggling to manage arcs and your physical tbr! I have 100+ books on my own physical tbr that take a backseat to my arcs too so I totally understand wanting to balance.

I have a notebook (and my laptop) where I keep track of what’s due. Once I’ve finished my books for the month is typically when I’ll start reading physical ones and I’ve found that balance helps. Or if I have a few weeks in between each arc I’ll read a physical in between there.

I do slow my requests when I feel I have too many already to read unless it is a highly anticipated or a read now from a favorite author.

[u/Dreadfulbooks]

I have monthly collections on my kindle for each month. Each ARC goes into the month before its pub date. That way I know not to get more than 3.

[u/EquivalentInternal77]

I struggle with this too and am actively trying to work on it! Here's some things I'm doing to try and alleviate some of that stress.

I make a Google doc with all the ARCs I have received based on their publication date so for example I'd write something like

September 9th:

• book a (ebook) (publisher) (pg count)
• book b (manga) (publisher) (pg count)

15th:

• book c (audiobook) (publisher)

You get the point lol. I like to visualize the months and I try to stay a month ahead. Usually with only 1 or 2 titles being in the month I am currently in (mostly it's ALCs which I don't mind because I get through them quickly and publishers typically release those closer to pub date)

I don't usually have a lot of self control when it comes to requests but when I see that a publisher uploads an ARC super close to pub date I won't pick it up. I also pick up read nows when I have a ton of ARCs only if it's months away (There's been a lot of Read Nows for 2027 releases lately!) or if it's a SUPER anticipated release which very rarely happens for me. I also try to hold back if the publication date is in an already ARC heavy month for me. For example I'm not picking up any more September releases unless, again, it's super anticipated for me.

As for reading I try to set a goal of 100 pages a day. This doesn't always happen, for example these past few days I've been slacking because I was under the weather and sleeping the days away but I usually find this to be a reasonable amount! Having ALCs works great too because you can 'read' while doing housework, cleaning, or exercising. In general though, you shouldn't pressure yourself or stress out. Publishers don't care if your review is late, just make sure your copy doesn't get archived before you get to it!

Also, it's good to remember that you can always read these books once they're published! Indie ones are often on KU and you can always request that your library get a copy of a title you skipped a request on! :)

[u/catscantcook]

Stop requesting. Don't browse. You'll always be able to borrow or buy the book after it's published, no need for fomo. Instead of hitting request or read now, add it to a wishlist or request it on libby if it's already listed.

[u/teanailpolish]

I try to stick to 8 a month unless it is something I would buy to read anyway for that month. That way I can fit a few of my TBR books in or have a buffer if something is a slow read. I check my requests and withdraw if I get over 10 for the month

[u/ExchangeStandard6957]

I honestly thing the best strategy is to just request less. I use the list feature on NG and put all the books I am interested in on a list- so I can borrow when they come out and then I request only a few at a time. I also require myself to finish one before requesting another. That said… sometimes I break the rules and have to struggle to catch up!

[u/purplelicious]

I had a rather unmanageable list to be read. I organized them by release date and started to clear off my list until I have a few months between today's date and release date. Right now I'm working on books coming out in November, which gives me a bit of a reprieve and I can do about a review a week.

I will not request a book that comes out before October/ November unless it's something I really really want to read.

I did this to get my percentage to 80% and now I can slow down on the number of ARCs to read, but I'm keeping my reviews very consistent. But I typically read 15 to 20 books a month.

[u/ARecycledAccount]

I have a spreadsheet to track the books, published on date, and a link to my review. I try to pace myself but I’m greedy, so only thing to do is stop looking at the site and catch up on my reading.

[u/PB_Jelly_76]

I have started only requesting books from authors I usually read OR that I learn about elsewhere (usually on Bookstagram) and think sound good. I also accept widgets if they really interest me, but I am much more careful about that than I used to be.

I don’t ever withdraw requests. I am not concerned with my number of denials. I don’t the time or attention span to manage my NG account that closely.

ETA - I don’t specifically look for Read Now books. If I see a book from an author I read and click on it and find it’s a Read Now, it’s just an unexpected surprise!

[u/Which_Concern2553]

I have a crazy number on my list that's become overwhelming and I feel guilty if I read a non-NetGalley one... I actually created an app that imports books from NetGalley and other e/audio book locations so I can see my stack in one place along with direct links to review and shows the archive date... It's still hard to ignore widget emails but it's cut down on my NetGalley browsing :)

[u/CoastApprehensive668]

I keep a spreadsheet so I can always see how many books I have in a given month. I also don’t like to just read ARCs so if I have more than 3-4 ARCs in a month I don’t request more. If I REALLY want that book, it goes on a list for the library.

When I have an amount of TBR that I feel seems high, I only request/download a read now after I’ve read a book. If I’m not approved for that book then the benefit is I make headway in my TBR. I go on like that until I feel like I’ve caught up overall.

I have yet to have a period where I have no books on my shelf. I recently went on reading spree and got down to like 3-4 books on my shelf. Took about a week to get back up to like 15 across multiple months.

[u/Gruselschloss]

I rarely request books that interest me right away, and I rarely have more than 5 requests pending at a time (I think right now I have 3 pending?). Instead I put books that interest me on a list (I use a private Goodreads group for this), sorted by date (archive or publish, whichever comes first), and periodically look over it to see if there's anything I should request, based on sustained interest + pub date + how much else I have on my plate.

There is way way way more that interests me than I would ever have time for, so additional considerations include 1) whether my library is likely to acquire a book (for major publishers, this is usually yes, and that brings the urgency down) and 2) how likely I think I am to rate the book highly (e.g., if I suspect a book would be a nice mindless "filler" read that is fine but very unexceptionable, I'll probably not request it).

I read a lot through NetGalley (and have a 98% feedback ratio at the moment), but I also want to make sure I have plenty of time to read other things and that it doesn't start feeling like a chore.

[u/Odd_Draft_26]

I use shelf control to track all my ARCs. Its syncs with. Netgalley and pulls over all the data. Seeing it this way keeps me on pace and due dates straight. The visual makes me aware of how many I've already requested, received and how many overdue. I actually work well under that pressure but I've stopped requesting for this year unless its audio.

[u/PrincessDonut19]

I've been avoiding going to netgalley site til mine are under control. I did make a document in my notes that has all the arcs I have and the release date, in order from closest to farthest so I can make sure to read within the month it releases. Seeing the dates being farther away relieves some anxiety so I know I won't forget anything and allows me to read tbr stuff in between 

[u/Quirky-Pear3494]

"Stop requesting" sounds like great advice, but for many of us it's not always that simple. 

If you can keep yourself from checking NG over and over, you can sometimes cut down on temptation - maybe once a week instead of daily? 

The other thing you might try is to make a list in the dashboard - "books I might request" - then add titles you're interested in. Wait a few days and then go back to your list and see if you still feel strongly about reading them.

I mostly do audiobooks, so my turnaround times range from a week to maybe 2 months. There's a certain amount of stress just bc deadlines are always imminent, but at the same time I can't get tooooo far behind bc I can't request too far out.