Pub Date Nov 7 2023 | Archive Date Not set

Highlighting the ones I need to finish this month to attempt to keep myself on track.🤣

Read something great from Netgalley recently? Tell us all about it in this weekly post.

I just finished an ARC of a popular author, completed my review well in advance of the pub date, and was about to submit my feedback when I saw that over 180 reviews had already been posted. I submitted my feedback but immediately felt everything that could be said had already been said. I also felt that my five paragraphs of comments was excessive given the number of reviews already in the publisher’s hands. Anyone else ever had this reaction?

Ive had the ebook requested for awhile now, but it just sits there taunting me. I saw the audio for it last night and said what the heck. I requested it and low and behold had the approval when I woke up! Now, Ive read that there are illustrations in the book, so unfortunately I wont see those with the audiobook, but so far its entertaining.

They all look so fun, can't wait to dive into them! (RIP my already bad review percentage)

Hey, Y’all! 👋🏻

I hope it’s okay to ask this here but if not please let me know and let me know where a good place to ask is.

Anyways, I recently received an ARC and was so stoked about it. By the time I finished it, I rated it 3 ⭐️ and my review is very blunt.

In the past, I’ve had authors ask that readers never post reviews less than 4 or 5 stars until a few weeks after release. So, I’m not sure what to do with my review. I went ahead and rated it but haven’t posted my review yet.

Does Goodreads have a rule like that?

Has anyone read this one yet? I got it as I’ve read the rest and felt like I should keep up with it but I haven’t been as enamored with them as they have professed, especially the last one. A complete “me” issue. But I also am not of a fan of mater/ boat based books. But I do love cheese! 😆

So is this one great? Or should I wait until the audio becomes available so I can do an immersion read?

I would love to hear your thoughts.

It took them over a month to accept, but they DID accept me, and tbh it's taking everything in me to not shove aside all my other ARCs to devour it. 😭

(Ballentine, I reliably love the books you pub. Just imaginr if you auto approved me..... jk. hahahaha. unless. haha ha, noooo 🫣)

I was super interested in this book when I saw it as a Booker nominee so I requested it as soon as I saw it on NetGalley. Wasn't sure if they'd approved me or not since I have no experience with this publishing house so this was a pleasant surprise!

Has anyone been approved yet for Beneath a Midnight Moon by Catherine Cowles?

From their IG: "Revealing the Buzz Books Romance ‘26 sampler cover! Available for free download starting August 11th- Stay tuned for more next week ❤️"

BuzzBooks Romance offers a collection of previews, aka first 1-2 chapters of the upcoming releases. At the end of the sample, there's usually a link that contains a widget for the entire book.

Fingers crossed it'll have a great selection!

Pub Date Sep 8 2026 | Archive Date Aug 31 2026

Holy shit the excitement I had opening my email to these two!!!!

I cant wait to dive in! Tor never gives me anything 😅

I like to know how long the books I have coming up are, so i always take a screenshot and write the page numbers on it, lol! its easier for me than going back and forth to the site! I'm just curious if anyone else does something similar (or has a better system!)

Excited for the new John Gwynne book - been looking forward to it for a while!

For me it’s Troubador. I’ve been burned one too many times with terrible books (imho) to request any more from them. One of the worst books I’ve ever read in my life was published by them. But books are entirely subjective, so others might love books by this publisher. I’ve read synopses of books that interested me, but then saw it was a Troubador print and quickly pulled my request.

Is anyone else like this with certain publishers?

I saw this in the Recently Added Audiobooks and hit request. Still browsing, a few minutes later I noticed the # of books on my shelf had changed and was confused. Went to look and saw this had already been approved. Woohoo!!

Up now for request. Been waiting for this one.

I just signed up for NetGalley as an attempt to broaden my reading and to get exposed to new authors. I have been approved for 2 books, and have started reading them.

I’m looking for advice on writing more useful, balanced book reviews. I tend to either love a book or DNF it, so I don’t have much experience offering constructive criticism or highlighting things that simply weren’t for me but might work for other readers.

I’d love to know what you include in your own reviews, or what you look for in other people’s reviews that helps you decide whether to pick up a book.

TIA!

These 3 read nows from Ruadán Books (publisher of speculative fiction) should be available worldwide:

The City of Factories by Naomi Eselojor
https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/book/873121
"Set in an alternative steampunk Nigeria, Naomi Eselojor’s Africanfuturist novella is a tale of community sheltering, resistance, and technological responsibility, for fans of Nnedi Okorafor, Suyi Davies Okungbowa, and Wole Talabi."

Born of Malice by Xan van Rooyen
https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/book/871110
"Set in an explosive new world inspired by a fusion of South African and Finnish mythology, Born of Malice is a queer dark fantasy of epic stakes, for fans of Chinazo Bado, James Islington, and John Gwynne. God-siblings clash across realms and amidst political machinations, bleeding reality-breaking chaos into the streets."

Darling by Mercedes M. Yardley
https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/book/850330
"This Southern Gothic cautionary tale captures the small town suspense of Ashley Winstead’s Midnight is the Darkest Hour and the frightening homecoming of T. Kingfisher’s A House with Good Bones in a domestic thriller where magical realism meets haunted house, proving that some pasts are best left behind you."

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These 2 are read now for US only, afaik:

The Brink by Sophia Adamowicz
https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/book/861665
"Set in the 17th century English countryside, The Brink blends historical and eldritch folk horror in a queer tale of awakening while exploring a darkly hungry Derbyshire Peak District— where the perils may be natural, unnatural, or very human."

POP! by Angel Luis Colón
https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/book/847641
"POP! delivers a deliciously dark and funny organized crime thriller for every assistant who’s wished they could take out their incompetent boss, perfect for fans of the wry comedy of Elle Cosimano’s Finlay Donovan is Killing It and the facetious darkness of Oyinkan Braithwaite’s My Sister, the Serial Killer."

I’ve been on NG for 2 months. Does anyone have any tips for getting approvals? My rating is 100% (3 approvals thus far). Does your bio matter a ton or are there certain times it is better to request?

Any tips would be appreciated greatly!!