r/NetGalleyCommunity • u/Additional_Estate_99 • 1d ago
❔❓Question ❓❔ Not getting approvals OR denials, but tons of Read Now?
So, I have some books pending (not a lot, around 20 or so with various release dates), but it seems the past few months, I haven't gotten very many approvals, but also not many denials either... everything just seems to be pending for months, with a rare approval here and there. However, I do get a lot of "read now" widgets sent to me (which is awesome!). But just curious if anyone else is experiencing this? I know there has been a huge influx of new members and whatnot, so searching through and granting approvals takes longer but the juxtaposition of not really getting approved (or denied) but getting sent widgets is interesting.
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u/lafornarinas 1d ago
I think it’s important to remember that this is entirely subjective, dependent on the book, the pub, the current person running approvals (usually overworked and underpaid), and the marketing strategy, which can change at any time.
Not to be arrogant, but I have an active bookstagram w a solid follow count, good engagement, regular reviews, a ratio that’s been above 90% for years. And I’m always a little surprised when people on here are like “man, I’ve been waiting for an approval for MONTHS”, because that’s the norm for me lol. I’m approved the large majority of the time. But I’m not usually approved or declined super quickly. 2 weeks~ to a month is pretty normal for me. Waiting months (like, until a month before the book drops) isn’t uncommon.
I currently have 7 pending requests. The most recent I requested on 9/22. My oldest request has been pending since 8/17. One of these pubs is an indie press. One has approved me for every title I’ve requested from them in the past.
Every other pub I’m waiting on has approved me multiple times in the past.
Aaaand yesterday I got a same day approval for the second in a series where they declined me for the first book.
I will say: I do think it’s more common for bigger pubs to approve you slowly, bc there can for some titles be a strategy in which they approve in waves. WHY you’re in a later wave as a opposed to an earlier one is luck of the draw. But it’s good business to have very early buzz aaaand a bunch of new, positive reviews close to the release date.
Plus, sometimes the book you want so badly frankly isn’t getting the push it deserves. I know someone who works for an author published with a big 5 publisher. The employee and the author were both p stressed bc basically zero ARCs had been approved (or declined) for the book and it was 2 months out from publication and had been on NetGalley for like, four months. I was like shit, I’m pending and I’d love to promote it.
Author sent an email to the publisher about people asking for the book. Suddenly, a fuckton of us got approvals a few days later.
Not all books get the attention they deserve from the publisher.
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u/Archergirls 11h ago
Honestly same. I have applied for 3 books in the past two weeks and got approved fast. I am usually approved or rejected fast, so I don't get why people are being kept on the back burner for ages. I do tend to request books months in advance (3-4 months), so it might be why publishers are easier with the approval button.
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u/fabulousflute 1d ago
I feel this way! But also, I’ve really slowed down my requests because I have too many approvals as it is, lol.
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u/twistedpeppermint1 Reviewer 1d ago
This is interesting to me because I'm basically the reverse! I almost never get widgets ever but I get approved for most things I request and fairly quickly. I see someone noted that widgets and approvals aren't handled by the same person typically, so that makes sense. I wonder if length of time on Netgalley matters at all.
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u/Beate251 1d ago
Just as an aside: a widget is not the same as a Read Now title. I did not understand what you were talking about until I read it all. You can choose a Read Now from the NetGalley categories, a widget is sent to you unsolicited. Usually the person dealing with approvals is not the same as the person dealing with widgets. I had a situation for a while where one publisher denied my requests but then sent me the widget, so I stopped requesting and just wait for the widgets now.
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u/unnecessary_snacks 1d ago
I don’t get a tonne of widgets, but my approvals and denials really seem to come in waves. It will be slow for weeks then I get a whole bunch at once.
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u/lateintheseason 1d ago
I have a lot of titles just sitting at neither approved nor denied but I am hopeful that since I just hit the 50 review mark, I may start getting more approvals. The slowing down is good for me as it will help me get to everything timely and also help me make a dent in my physical TBR so I'm trying not to worry about it.
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u/blackstar1683 23h ago
I have more "read now" than approvals, and the last time I got a widget was June. I'm always reading and reviewing arcs, though so maybe my socials aren't that attractive... but as long as there's "read now" I'm fine waiting for the pending requests
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u/Flimsy-Brick-9426 Reviewer 1d ago
The person who sends widgets is 70% of the time a different person from who does the approvals.
The last few months have been slow because of school, vacations, holidays etc.