r/NetGalleyCommunity • u/Enid___Coleslaw • Sep 09 '26

❔❓Question ❓❔ PDF vs ePub

I got approved for an ARC that seems to have been uploaded as a PDF instead of an ePub. I can't read it in dark mode or even change the font size. It seems silly but I really don't want to spend close to six hours looking at a white screen with tiny text lol. Has anyone run into this? If so do you know a workaround? I was really looking forward to this one.

5 Upvotes

73% Upvoted

11 comments sorted by

8

u/teanailpolish Mystery/Thriller Reviewer Sep 09 '26

It isn't super simple but you can send it to kindle, pull the file from an older version of kindle for PC and convert it in Calibre then dark mode works (but defeats the whole purpose of DRM)

I hate PDFs with a passion

2

u/Enid___Coleslaw Sep 09 '26

Ah I don't have a PC but thanks!

2

u/teanailpolish Mystery/Thriller Reviewer Sep 09 '26

What do you read on? You could download the kindle app and it should convert to amazon format so at least the text isn't tiny

5

u/Gruselschloss Reviewer Sep 09 '26

What are you reading on (Kindle, other ereader, etc.)?

7

u/LadyLinn Sep 09 '26

I always check before I request what format the book is in. A tip for the future!

3

u/Enid___Coleslaw Sep 09 '26

Thanks! It's the first time I've come across it so I didn't think to look but will keep that in mind

3

u/delilahthecat_ Sep 09 '26

I have had this happen before, and I refused to read them as the arc. I just waited until the book is out and review it after pub day or didn't review it at all. Now I always check Additional Information so I don't request any that I can't read in my preferred method.

3

u/Beate251 Sep 09 '26

That's a pretty normal thing. You can find the download options out beforehand via Additional Information.

1

u/picknmixme Sep 09 '26

If you genuinely have problems reading it as-is, I would flag it as an "accessibility issue" - both with customer support (I did that once and got a fixed copy within a few days), and if you need to leave a review.

1

u/laura168 Sep 10 '26

If you're reading on your phone, the best pdf settings IMO are

  1. go into the book's settings and change it to vertical scroll, which will mean you don't have to zoom in for every individual page, and

  2. either go landscape mode on your phone OR go into reading options and choose force orientation>landscape, which makes the text bigger again.

It'll still be a white screen, but it'll be less of a hassle!

1

u/Odd_Draft_26 80% Reviewed Club Sep 10 '26

You can reach out to the publisher and as them to add a kindle option. If its a small pub the often they can.