I have been a NetGalley member since 2013.
In that time I have read and reviewed 424 titles using my Kindle.
Recently, I’ve come across two titles that did NOT have the option to ‘send to Kindle‘, so I had to download the NetGalley Shelf app to read them.
Today, I opened up the app to read one of the titles only to find that it had expired! As I take all my review commitments very seriously, I will now have to purchase the title.
Also, the other title has only a week left, so I will have to read that title pronto!
My first impressions of the app?
The font is very small and there is not way to enlarge it that I know of.
More importantly, as a reviewer I use the highlight feature on my Kindle constantly when reading a book for review. With the NetGalley Shelf you CANNOT HIGHLIGHT! Also, I can find no way to take notes. These two features are a deal breaker for me.
Have you used the NetGalley Shelf app yet? What are your experiences? Do you have any advice to share?
Fictionophile 
Yeah, it’s me–always late to the party. Anything new and I’m to be digging in my heels refusing to go there, so at the time, this was not something I’d looked at (the app). However, you are right on all counts: No highlighter?! Expired titles that I’m now on the hook for? I don’t want to be buying these titles. I wonder if I could download an audiobook of the same title if it’s already expired on the Shelf? I may try that..but as you said. No more shelf books.
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Sorry that you (and many others) have had negative experiences using the NetGalley app Virginia. It’s too bad that NetGalley did not put more effort into making sure its members were fully aware of its many drawbacks before rolling it out for all to get sucked in by…
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I only used the app for audiobook. At that time, the app won’t even let me log in, lol. It took 2 updates of the app before I was able to use it and finally listen to the book. I honestly thought it won’t ever work for me…😅
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It would seem that they have a lot of improvements to make. I have un-installed the app from my tablet.
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I used it for a couple of audiobooks, and let’s just say, I haven’t requested an audiobook since. It’s just too much trouble. Reading this doesn’t surprise me at all. Glad to have my suspicions validated–appreciate it!
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I’ve since uninstalled the NetGalley Shelf app from my tablet. It clearly needs work.
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Yes, I always take down my NetGalley ARCs immediately so they don’t expire on me. When I was using a Nook, the books would expire after 52 days from downloading them, so I had to be careful about when I took them down!
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I guess I’ve been spoiled with using my Kindle. I’ve never had a title expire from my Kindle… even the ones I read 5 years ago are still there if I choose to re-read them.
I won’t use the NetGalley Shelf app again if I have any other choice.
Thanks Davida.
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UGH! i would have exactly the same reactions as yourself and no, i haven’t come across any that couldn’t go to Kindle. i highlight all the time and take notes. if that isn’t an option, neither would be the shelf app.
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Thanks for sharing your opinions Virginia. It would seem that we are in complete agreement. 👍📚
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I don’t request any books that are not available as mobi for Kindle now, after trying the Netgalley Shelf app and finding it not at all good…
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I will be steering clear of the NetGalley Shelf app in future too. 👍📚
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I agree that my preference is to use my Kindle for my ARCs. There is a renew option as someone else mentioned in this thread, although it will not be an automatic approval. With your excellent NetGalley stats, maybe only buy the books if you really want them.
I think it is the publisher who decides how a reader can access the book. Maybe NetG can advocate for its users.
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I hope that the publishers who have chosen the NetGalley Shelf app take note of our feedback Joyce. Thank-you 😊📚
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I’ve only used it for audiobooks. If forced to choose, I’d rather use ADE on my desktop than NG shelf. Hope they listen to your feedback, Lynne!
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Thanks so much. It will be interesting to see if they update the app with improvements anytime soon…
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Like a few others, I’ve only used it for a couple of audiobooks and it wasn’t brilliant. Was there not an option to download a PDF version? If there was, then you could download to your laptop then send it to your Kindle from there. I haven’t come across this problem before but have heard others mention it too.
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There might have been an option to download a PDF version Joanne. I cannot remember. I guess I thought the NetGalley app would be better than that option as I’ve had formatting issues trying to read PDFs on my Kindle. Now I know better. Thanks for your comment.
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Usually if you send a PDF via email and put the word CONVERT in the subject line, it magically appears like a normal mobi file. I’m not sure if the capital letters are essential or not but that’s how I do it.
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Thanks SO much for the advice Joanne. ♥♥♥
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Not being able to highlight drives me crazy. They sent me a survey recently and that’s what I recommended.
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Great! I hope they’ll listen to our feedback. Thanks ♥
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Release a couple of reviews that state your reviewing process was hampered by above mentioned glitches. Many of these websites nowadays are turning into money grabbing devices and every change is usually meant to serve this purpose. Even when many reviewers would follow this suggestion, I don’t believe this will made the company reverse its policy, but may incite them to tend more seriously to the complaints. The only time I saw an internet giant reverse course was when WhatsApp was bleeding customers when they wanted to force people to connect their Facebook pages to their app.
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I hate it and try not to use it where I can. It is so badly put together and reduces the pleasure of the reading experience.
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Wow Cathy, you’ve mirrored my opinions exactly! Thank-you. ♥
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Is there any way you can contact the publisher and explain? I used the app for audiobooks before, but it didn’t always work properly and I just stopped requesting audiobooks because it drove me bonkers.
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I have never used it for audiobooks as I am not a fan of those. It is interesting to note that the app seems useless in either format. Thanks Kelly.
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You might be able to renew the books for another 54 days Lynne, even if it’s expired. You just have to hold your finger down on the title for a short moment and a small menu should appear allowing you to delete and sometimes renew.
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I couldn’t see a renew option, but thanks Nicki.♥
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No it’s not obvious Lynne, but I was a beta tester for the app and remember it from then. I’ve found some FAQs that might help. https://netgalley.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/sections/360009114633-NetGalley-Shelf-app-iOS-Android-
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Thanks Nicki. You are a star! ♥
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You’re very welcome Lynne!
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I have that app but I don’t use it because of the same reason. Can’t adjust the font! I think it’s best for audiobooks only. For that too I had some issue and I honestly don’t like listening audiobooks.
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Thanks Yesha. So far the opinion has been overwhelmingly against the NetGalley Shelf app. I hope NetGalley gets to read some of these comments.
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I haven’t used the netgalley app for ebooks, only audio. I find it’s good for audio but the things you’ve mentioned are very frustrating. I will remember about the expiration deadline if I use it in future though 👍
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I hope you have a better experience with it than I have had Lucy. I don’t download audiobooks, so that feature is moot to me. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
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Completely agree with you on this. Honestly I had the same feelings before the NetGalley Shelf app was even developed though as I came across a few titles back then that I had to read on my tiny little phone with I think it was the adobe app which I still disliked and wanted to use my Kindle then too. On top of ease and comfort of use with a Kindle the expiring file is definitely the nail in the coffin so I’d be right out the door with you too.
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Thanks Carrie. It is comforting to know that my opinion of the NetGalley app is shared by other reviewers. ♥
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Yes it definitely is. I never quite understood the expiring files anyway. People that are reviewing generally love to read new books and probably don’t return to them once read so it seems the only thing it costs them to not make them permanent are the reviews from those that missed finishing before it expired.
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Well stated Carrie 👏 Thanks 😍
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I found it frustrating as well. I had to use it for a how to book. I miss not being able to take notes and it expires on you. You have to make sure to review before it disappears. I had that happen to me as well. I have been a member since October of 2014. I have had 2597 books approved. I hope the send to kindle option never goes away. It is the best way to read books.
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Thanks Kris, I completely agree about the Kindle being the BEST way to read books. My Kindle Paperwhite goes wherever I go. It is like a fifth limb.
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I have only used the app for 2 books and there was a time limit but the time limit didn’t start until I actually downloaded it. I think once I downloaded it I had 3-4 weeks to read it I can’t really remember. I don’t really take notes or highlight all that much so that’s no a deal breaker for me. I’m not to happy about the time restraint though.
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Thanks for sharing your thoughts Misty. I can understand the time restraint, but wish they would warn potential readers about it BEFORE they downloaded the book.
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Yeah they definitely should warn people!!
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👍📚
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I’ve only used the app for 2 audio books and it was very glitchy for one of them and it made me leery of requesting another audio for that reason. I’m not sure if it was a publisher problem or an app problem….most likely the app.
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Thanks for you comment Carol. It sounds as though the NetGalley Shelf app needs some major improvements…
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I use the app for the audiobooks. There were some things that I had problems with and they were very nice in their reply indicating they were making changes based on feedback. So I would suggest you give the feedback for the ebooks. I would prefer my Kindle to read on rather than their shelf. If they go exclusively with their shelf, I probably won’t make requests in the future. To me there is no benefit to the shelf for ebooks. I don’t read on a tablet with an app. I do use an app to listen, so I’m ok with it for audiobooks. It doesn’t work as smoothly as the Libby app for Overdrive, though.
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Yes Mary, they could learn a lot from the Libby app. I’ve read two library books on that and all of the features I like (highlighting, notes, font size changeability) are all available on Libby. The only downside for Libby for me is that I have to read on my tablet which does not use eInk and I cannot read in bed with.
If NetGalley goes exclusively with their shelf, I will no longer be getting any new titles from them.
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I’ve also run into the issue of books expiring like just a day after receiving them. I try to always download to my Kindle but I have a Kobo and a Nook (for now) cause I am weird like that. And I like to read across all platforms.
If I can’t read on all devices I will most likely DNF. Sorry you experienced that!
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Thanks Colleen, for sharing your experiences. I too have 2 Kindles and a Kobo, so I’m frustrated when I cannot read the books on either of those.
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You are welcome. I also had another bad file experience today. Only one page showed and I had to mark it as a will not provide feedback. I even tried opening it on my Netgalley app. The book was Tacos for Two. I was sad I couldn’t read that one after all, it sounded like it was cute.
Also I now have a Nook and a Kobo. I sold my Kindle Oasis and returned my Kindle Paperwhite.
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Sorry about your bad experience with “Tacos for Two” Colleen. Good luck with your future eReading. Sorry to hear you returned your Paperwhite. I cannot imagine how I would live without mine.
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Thank you! I did that because of bills mostly. And because I keep hearing rumors that a new one is coming out. I wanted to wait to see if there would be another one soon.
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Pingback: The NetGalley Shelf app – Grrrrrrr #NetGalleyShelf #bookbloggers @NetGalley – Imobiliare 24
I have only used the shelf for audiobooks as I have only had one that I could not send to my kindle and yes, it expired before I got to it. I am hoping it shows up at my library. I also used it for some kids books and I did not like that I could not enlarge the pages to see them better. I sure hope they don’t get rid of the send to kindle option as I might bow out of netgalley if that happens.
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I agree Carla. If the day comes that they eliminate the ‘send to Kindle’ option, I will cancel my NetGalley account.
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