Blogger Confession: 2 months later without NetGalley

Posted May 22, 2014 by Felicia S in Blogger Confession / 59 Comments

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Blogger Confession: 2 months later without NetGalley

NOTE: I love NetGalley and that is why I had to step away. I had no restraint. Everything I have listed below is because I was asked what it was like not have NetGalley in my blogging arsenal anymore.

So it has been two months since I cancelled my NetGalley account and here is what I have learned (* I still have my edelweiss account but that is only for submitting reviews to publishers since you can submit even for books that you don’t get through them):

  1. After the first month and letting blog tours know that I no longer have NetGalley, the amount of blog tour requests have gone way down.  Evidently paperbooks are a bit of a fossil type of perk for doing blog tours these days. Since I am not really a fan of cover reveals or excerpt posts that kind of counts me out. That is actually a plus in my book.
  2. I feel “free” as audiobook obligations are a little different than ebook/book reviews.
  3. I get to listen to more audiobooks now that I don’t have many “print” obligations. Which means that I have been doing more crafts and more changes around the house.
  4. I am getting to my TBR more. Though to be honest that has nothing to do with NetGalley. I made a firm rule this year that every other book I read will be a “want to” book.
  5. I do miss knowing what is coming down the pike. I used to use NetGalley as a barometer for my “want” list.
  6. I do miss getting my next Harlequin’s through them. That was my main source of Harlequin reads!
  7. I am getting more and more ok with not being in the “current” where romance is concerned.  Though sometimes I am like “man that would have been cool to read early”.
  8. I am actually paying attention more closely to reviews since now every ebook/paperbook come out of the book budget instead of for review.
  9. I am finding my friends have excellent taste! I have found that my library(s) have an excellent stock of books that I have gathered from my friend’s reviews to read.
  10. In the end, I am doing good without NetGalley though after 5 years it was a little hard to walk away.  I am glad that I did though.

Many people have asked me if I would suggest this to anyone else and the answer is no. I think one of the best things about being a book blogger (outside the community) is the ability to get your hands on books early, to try new authors, and to be part of the “buzz” surrounding a book. Walking away from NetGalley worked for me at this time because I was getting burnt out on the obligations PLUS I was leaning more and more towards audiobooks as my main type of book to review.  Instead of quitting blogging or not fulfilling my “review” promises, I decided to refocus my energy and know my limits. I have a hard time not clicking on books in NetGalley so walking away was the best choice for me.  Trust me when I say, it wouldn’t be the right choice for everyone! 🙂

What choices have you made that renewed your love of blogging?

Felicia S
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Felicia S

Felicia is just your average gal from Texas that loves Audiobooks and Libraries with a passion! She can wine them, dine them, and love them forever. Her eclectic reading tastes include: Cozy Mysteries, Thrillers, Swoon-Worthy Romance of all kinds, Zombies, Urban Fantasy, Historical Fiction, and the occasional YA read.

During her non-reading time you can find her hanging with her rescue furr children named after book characters: Lizzie a beautiful cattle dog mix (Pound Pup), Cinder a beautiful Shep/Pitt mix (Pound Pup), and Minerva a beautiful Shep/Pitt mix (Foster Fail). Gathering with friends and family, attending conventions, watching movies/tv shows, rooting for the 49rs, and crocheting.

If you want to follow her DIY, Health, and Life adventures check out Mess to Best

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59 responses to “Blogger Confession: 2 months later without NetGalley

  1. NetGalley is like my kryptonite. I don’t want to give it up, so I’ve been putting myself on a strict diet. I occasionally fall off the wagon, but I get right back on. At least, until I get my % up. lol

  2. I actually deleted my netgalley account a few days ago. I Was so overwhelmed with it. I made a new one. And that is only for blog tour purposes. I will not be downloading or requesting unless it is for a blog tour. Sticking to that new rule has been difficult but I have tons of books to review without using that particular site! I wish you the best and completely get where you were coming from!

    • Now that is a good idea! That actually is a great plan for those that enjoy participating in blog tours. I know the hosts sure do appreciate it! Good luck sticking to your guns! You can totally do it 🙂

  3. I discovered Netgalley last year and totally understand your reasoning, it has a bit of a “kid in a candy shop” effect. I’ve tried to restrain myself and even if I don’t request every single book out there, it helps keep me relavent as to new releases. and stocks my Amazon wish list.

    • LOL I actually think it serves a great purpose, keeping relevant is the one thing I really miss! Will power is awesome and something I missed when they were handing it out 🙂

  4. Ashley Montgomery

    Great discussion! I really have to curb myself when it comes to NetGalley as I want to read everything. Sometimes I’m thankful for the rejections as I realize I’ll never get to them all anyways.

  5. I feel that blogging is like a relationship. You are conatantly having to evaluate the changes and adjust to remain content. Although I have not deleted my account I try to be extremely picky about what I request. I just begin to feel
    So overwhelmed and too bogged down with deadlines. I have really been enjoying audiobooks too. 🙂

    • You hit it right on the head! What might have worked at the beginning won’t necessarily work in the future. I know that I have definitely changed the way I blog and shifted my focus as my reading preferences has changed. Next year (as I try to Dave Ramsey) myself it will even change a little more 🙂

      That whole deadlines thing drives me batty at times. I am learning (not quite there yet) to say no more often 🙂

  6. Great overview. I have thought about not going on NetGalley and for the most part I avoid it when I feel overwhelmed already, but lately I’ve been a little “click happy”.

    Perhaps it’s not a bad thing to have let this go and use you library more and audiobooks more. 🙂 Sounds like it was a good thing for you overall!

    • Click Happy happens. I did learn that as long as you submit something “I didn’t get a chance to get this before it was archived” that the publishers will be happy knowing. It also will keep your percentages up.

  7. I understand your reasons, but I could never give up on NetGalley. I read way too much and those books are getting way too expensive for me. You can check the library, but that’s not an option for me. So NetGalley is perfect, especially for those romances from Harlequin. Precious.

    • I actually wouldn’t suggest anyone go to this extreme! It does hurt just a bit (like a band aid off a hairy arm)! 🙂 🙂 Also if your library isn’t great then there is no way this would work!

  8. *claps* congrats for holding out 😀 I used to have NetGalley on my bookmarks bar and would therefore check for new books multiple times a day. When I took it off the bar so that I’m not constantly reminded to check, I’ve found that I check once a week or so and that is okay. I also have a hard time resisting requesting all the books, so it’s for the best that I miss some. If they end up being really awesome, I know I can trust my other blogging friends to let me know 😉

    • Oh that is a Brilliant Idea! Not having it handy means you have to think before clicking. That is a great way to refrain. I also read someone was bookmarking for a week before requesting. Those are all good plans 😉

  9. Thank you so much for sharing. I think is great that you know what works doe you! I think that’s really hard to do as a book blogger. Free books vs paying for books is a hard choice to make! I’m so glad it’s working out out for you. 🙂

  10. finley jayne

    Since I only read books that come from my local library, I don’t really know what Netgalley even is, though I keep hearing about it on other blogs 🙂 I’m really content doing it this way (and I’ve always gotten all of my books from the library, since I was a kid 🙂 ). Glad you figured out what works best for you!

    • I love that you only read Library Books! Next year my goal is to not buy a single book (other than use my 2 audible credits). I have too many books on my shelves and a great library! No reason to spend the money 🙂

  11. I don’t think I could give up NetGalley but I do limit myself. It’s easy to go overboard with requests, that’s for sure. Especially with auto-approve. I probably browse the Romance section about once a week or so to see what’s been added.

    I like how every other book you read is a “want to” book. Once I get caught up on my reading, I think I will do that 🙂

    • That auto-approve is evil LOL You work hard to get it then curse it the rest of the time LOL 🙂 🙂

      I have to many books on my shelves not getting love so I had to do something 🙂

  12. I really really need to stop requesting so many books, I have been doing better, but I can’t help myself somedays. I was going to email you the other day and tell you the new Jess Haines book was up on NG, good thing I didn’t. I need to be like you and start reading more books that I want to read, I have been this year, but I still need to do more. I am also doing lots more audiobooks while I walk with my kids and that is helping with keeping up.

    • It is hard to quit requesting and if you are fulfilling your obligations then you probably aren’t doing anything too bad 🙂 Besides you probably only request books your interested in and I was bad about requesting books that looked semi-interesting or had awesome covers. I heard that the Jess book was there this will be the first one that I am going to read with the masses but I will be reading it LOL

  13. I try to be really, really particular about what I request from Netgalley. Mostly stuff I already planned on reading or is an author on my “to try” list. I don’t think I could give it up completely.

  14. This year I’m only requesting books I really, really like to read, most of them from authors I know, and I’m reading more “want” books than review-books.
    I didn’t know you could submit reviews on Edelweiss, thanks for the info. 🙂

    • ^5! Isn’t it fun to read the “want” books. Also good plan on the requesting. If I could refrain then I would be right back on because that would be a great deal 🙂

  15. I can totally understand that! Instead of walking away, I reduced my requesting, which has helped a lot. I still have too many books but at least it’s a relatively manageable “too many”.

  16. Felicia — I’m so happy for you! I’ve sort of been doing the same thing. I didn’t get all crazy & cancel my account or anything but I’ve stopped requesting anything that I wouldn’t but and I only browse books monthly. It’s helped a lot. I was feeling so overwhelmed.
    Congrats!! It’s time to start reading for FUN again!!

    • I may have taken it a bit “extreme” but I couldn’t resist clicking. I finally clicked the “other” button LOL Sometimes you just have to rip off the band-aid. WTG on only browsing books monthly. That is super smart 🙂

      Reading for fun has been wonderful 😉

  17. Bravo to you! While I haven’t disconnected my NetGalley account, I’ve certainly established some constraints this year and noticed a change in my attitude. My downloads are considerably lower and my TBR shelf reduction is way up. Thanks for sharing the highs and lows of your decision. I’m really most grateful that it’s made you a happier blogger.

    • WTG on the constraints! It does help tremendously on the attitude. It helps make it fun again. I had forgotten how fun it is to just read 🙂 🙂

  18. You have good restrain..I am trying really hard not to use netgalley so I can get my percentage up and get caught up but it’s hard, especially since I have the auto-approved thing going on for Harlequin..lol. Though I have did pretty good in the last month I have only got like three or four new books..when the norm was probably about 5 or 6 new ones a week. 🙂

    • I did learn (before I quit) that you can submit that you didn’t get to the book before the archive the date. That will help with your percentage and from what I hear the publishers appreciate knowing. I miss the Harlequins! I may cry a little when a new Linda Leal Miller comes out LOL

  19. It is way too easy to click on those books on Netgalley. I’ve been bad to click and then not read the book. I’m trying not to request as many books now.

    I think instead of deleting my account I’ll take the summer off from looking at Netgalley and focus on the books I’ve already requested from there.

    Plus I’m more into audiobooks too and most of my reading this year has been audios.

    • Now there is a plan! I may come back towards the end of the year but since it is getting easier (not harder) I might not.

      Good luck on taking the summer off!

  20. I’m so glad it’s going well for you! I don’t know if I could walk away completely, but I have really cut back on NG in the past year. I wonder if they’ll ever have audiobooks…

  21. I’ve stopped logging into NG though I still have an account. It got really bad, I had been requesting hundreds of books. Who can read so many books? Not me. So I don’t login anymore and that has helped me a lot. I still have an account so if I need to get a specific book for a rare tour that I still participate in, I can do that, but I don’t allow myself to browse. It is really hard though heh.

    • LOL you are better than me. I don’t think I could have an account and not browse. I would be to tempted! I applaud your restraint 🙂 That is a brilliant plan though to just sign in for blog tour books!

  22. For me, I’m definitely not ready to pull away from NetGalley. I thought maybe I was, but I took your advice and replied to the publishers whose books had expired and that removed this huge weight. Now I feel like I can look at netgalley without stress about how low my percentage is and all the books I need to get too. And now that I know what I’m doing, I know not to request books without being sure I can read them before they get archived. Which makes me really stop and make sure I want to. Thanks for sharing your experience – I’m glad its working for you 🙂

    • Yeah! I know that had to take a load off and honestly it is something I wish I had done sooner. I think by the time I figured that out, I was already at my tipping point 🙂

  23. Oh the horror! I’m totally at NetGalley addict. LOL But, I try to visit only once a week to avoid requesting too many titles. I did not know that bit about being able to submit reviews on Edelweiss, so thanks for bringing that to my attention.

    • Yep! I love that about Edelweiss it is a great way to get reviews to publishers (since most of them on there) without having to know (remember) each of their email. PLUS, you can submit to Indie Next 🙂

  24. I used to do the every other read was one of my choice but the past couple of months have been difficult. From NetGalley I try to only get ones from authors I’ve read before or sequels in a series I’ve read but it’s not always easy to stick to that.

    • I think as long as you are requesting only books you want to read then it is kind of the same thing. I was requesting books that I was sorta interested in, they had great covers, or they were authors that I had heard good things about. I was the bad one not netgalley!

  25. Angela

    When I quit blogging that obligation being lifted really helped renew my love of reading.
    I’ve thought about coming back now that I’m back into the reading groove, but along with a few other small reasons, I don’t think I want that pressure of HAVING to post something.
    Glad this worked for you because your one of my first blog stops!

    • I think the moment something interferes with the MAIN reason that any of us got into it in the first place then it is time to step back. Seriously if I ever lose my love of reading, this blog is going and I am getting my mojo back LOL

  26. I use Netgalley pretty infrequently now and only really get the books that I would cough up money for anyway rather than every shiny. My options are a bit more limited as an Aussie rather than an American which also helps keep the number low. I totally get where you are coming from though with getting off the hamster wheel – cover reveals and blog tours were an easy way of adding content but I gave them up as I was essentially promoting a product without knowing if it was any good.

    • I feel bad for y’all not having all the choices at the library. I am so glad that I lucked into an area that has an awesome library both online and in person.

      The Cover Reveals and Excerpts I get from a marketing perspective but honestly when 30 people have the same post on the same day, it is a bit of a turn off for me.

  27. I honestly don’t think I could give up NetGalley…. yet. I’m sure the day will come but I’m not buried under review requests right now. Most of my requests still come via Indie authors.
    I’m also super picky about the books that I pick up. I only have a couple of genres/authors that I pick from, so again, not so overwhelmed. I’ve also realized that most of the books that I request are either books or authors that are already on my TBR pile. I have very few books that I feel under the gun to read.
    I’m proud of you for making the decision though. I know it was tough, but it obviously worked out. 😉

    • It was freaking gut wrenching LOL That being said, it has been easier as time has gone on. Next year is going to be my big test, I am going to go a year without buying a book (other than my 2 audible credits a month)!

  28. It’s really interesting to read your experience. I use Netgalley very sparingly since I’ve seen other blogger experiences with going a bit “book crazy.” But I can see why it’s so difficult to both belong to that site, and to quit it.

    • It is but I think for those can show restraint it is an excellent tool to have in the book blogger toolbox. I, however, have proved myself lacking in the restraint category 🙂
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