Getting Reviews with NetGalley
Here are the top 10 ways to get the best results on NetGalley, based on strategies used by successful authors and publishers.
1. Perfect Your “Storefront” (Cover & Blurb)
Before a top reviewer ever clicks “request,” they judge your book by its cover and description. On NetGalley, this is non-negotiable.
Professional, Genre-Specific Cover: This is the single most important factor. If your cover looks amateur, it signals an amateur book. Top reviewers, librarians, and booksellers will scroll right past it.
A Reviewer-Focused Blurb: Your description should be more detailed than your retail blurb. Influential readers want to know what they’re committing to. Include:
Strong, Specific “Comps”: (e.g., “For fans of The Thursday Murder Club and Lessons in Chemistry.”)
Key Tropes/Themes: (e.g., “enemies-to-lovers,” “locked-room mystery,” “found family.”)
All Metadata: Ensure that the page count, ISBN, and publication date are all completed. Reviewers with a packed schedule often prioritize shorter ARCs (under 350 pages).
2. Choose the Right Availability Strategy
Don’t just make your book available to everyone. Use the settings strategically.
| Setting | What It Is | Best For… |
| Available for Request | The default. Reviewers must request it, and you approve/decline each one. | Most books. This allows you to vet reviewers, check their “Feedback Ratio” (aim for 80% or higher), and view their member type. |
| Private / Invite-Only | The book is not listed in the public catalog. It can only be accessed with a special link (a “widget”). | A “soft launch” to your hand-picked street team, or for targeting VIPs (top bloggers, librarians) without being flooded by requests. |
| Read Now | Anyone with a NetGalley account can instantly download the book. No approval needed. | Achieving a high volume of downloads quickly. Best for a book near its release date, a free sampler/novella, or when you need a quick burst of activity. |
3. Master the “Widget”
A “widget” is a pre-approved link that lets you bypass the request queue. This is your most powerful tool for targeted outreach.
How to Use It: Create a “Private” listing (see above) and generate a widget link.
Who to Send It To:
Your existing author newsletter and street team.
Book bloggers and influencers with whom you have a relationship.
Reviewers who loved your previous books.
Librarians and booksellers in your personal network.
This makes your contacts feel like VIPs and significantly increases the likelihood that they will download the book.
4. Be a Strategic Gatekeeper
When using the “Available for Request” setting, don’t approve everyone. Your goal is quality reviews, not just a high download count.
Check the Profile: Look at their “Feedback Ratio.” A ratio below 80% indicates that they rarely review most of what they download.
Check the Member Type: Prioritize members who will have the biggest impact before launch. Many publishers approve in this order:
Librarians & Booksellers: Their internal reviews influence stocking and “Staff Picks.”
Educators & Media: For professional reviews and potential press.
Top Reviewers/Bloggers: Those with high-traffic blogs, BookTok/Bookstagram followings, and “auto-approved” status.
5. Build Your “Auto-Approved” List
When a reviewer with a great profile and a high feedback ratio requests your book, don’t just “approve” them. Click “auto-approve.”
This adds them to a special list. The next time you list a book, it will be automatically approved (or you can send them a widget to your “Private” title). This is how you build a loyal, reliable team of high-quality reviewers over time.
6. Set a Realistic Timeline
One of the biggest mistakes authors make is listing their book too close to the publication date. Reviewers are swamped and plan their reading schedules months in advance.
Ideal Window: List your book at least 2-3 months before its publication date.
Archive Date: Set the “archive date” (when the book is no longer available) for on or just after your publication date. This gives reviewers time to read and post their reviews for your launch day.
7. Target Librarians and Booksellers First
Reviews from librarians and booksellers are gold. They lead to library orders, inclusion in “Indie Next” lists, and in-store placement.
Target Them: Many publishers run campaigns specifically for members of the American Library Association (ALA) and American Booksellers Association (ABA).
Auto-Approve Them: NetGalley often “badges” these members. Make them a priority in your approval queue.
8. Don’t Fear Bad Reviews
You will get them. It’s a normal part of the process.
Do Not Engage: Never, ever respond to a negative review or contact the reviewer about it. This is highly unprofessional and can damage your reputation in the community.
Look for Patterns: If you receive 10 reviews and 5 of them mention that the pacing in the middle drags, that is valuable, actionable feedback you can use for your next book.
9. Invest in a Paid Promotion (If It’s in the Budget)
NetGalley offers paid marketing to get your book in front of thousands of members. These are often available as add-ons to a per-title listing or through author co-ops, such as the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA).
Dedicated eBlast: This is the most effective option. It’s a solo email about your book sent to a targeted list (e.g., “all members who love Sci-Fi & Fantasy”). These can have open rates over 50%.
Category Spotlight: Your book is featured at the top of a high-traffic genre page (like “Mystery & Thrillers”) for a week.
Featured Placement: Your book appears on the “Find Titles” homepage, which is visible to most members who log in.
10. Follow Up and Say Thank You (In General)
After your book launches, send a general thank-you message to your author newsletter and social media, acknowledging the hard work of early reviewers. You can pull positive quotes (and credit the reviewer) to use in your marketing. This builds goodwill and makes those reviewers more likely to pick up your next book.