Let’s just jump right into this.
Edelweiss hates me. It’s the only explanation I have. I’ve never been approved for anything through them – at least not on this account. Having previously no luck with my first account (minus one approval, but that’s a whole other story), a fellow blogger told me to create an account directly tied to my blog.
I did. Created a blog email and everything.
Still, nothing.
I’m constantly declined.
I honestly don’t know why I even bother at this point. Whenever I’m feeling like a glutton for punishment, I request titles on EW.
I’ve been denied within a handful of hours, but I’ve also had titles pending for almost 200+ days.
Over on NetGalley, I have a much better success rate. I currently have the Golden 80% – 82% to be specific, even though it seems to mean absolutely nothing in terms of approvals. It seems to be just some arbitrary number and holds no weight on whether or not you get approved for titles. I was sitting at an 88% for weeks, and I was in pending limbo.
All of the sudden, NG went on a declining spree, so that was fun to see. Tons of titles that I would have loved to have read, denied.
But let’s take a look at what I’ve been approved for:
Denied for:
Probably forever Pending (I’m looking at you Midnight Lie):
And Edelweiss, where hopes go to die:
As you can see, I’ve been pretty freaking lucky on NetGalley. I’m not sure how, but I’m super grateful. I’m bummed that some of the titles I’m super excited for, were declined, but I guess it happens. I’m also absolutely geeked that I got approved for titles that Edelweiss denied me for. It feels like a giant F U to them. Now, if NetGalley would just approve me for Blood & Honey that would be perfect!
What do your NetGalley and/or Edelweiss accounts look like? Do you have the coveted 80% reviewer rating? Does Edelweiss love you? Let me know! What book do you want to be approved for so badly, that you would sell your soul if that were an option?
I really want Blood & Honey, Crush and A Vow So Bold And Deadly.
Writing The Universe 
Great post! My feedback ratio is 99%, and I try to keep around that. Though as you said, it doesn’t really do much for getting more ARCs, I just get rejected just as much as when I had 40, or 70, or 80. Edelweiss… I only use that one for books that are instant downloadable. While I often know why I want a book, it is hard to put it into words and since that is a big key point in EW, not to mention that when I tried.. I got rejected. So I gave up and just decided on staying with NG. I love NG and how easy it is to use and how despite living in Europe I still get accepted for quite a few things.
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99% WOW! I’ve been trying to get into the 90’s, but every time I’m just about there, That’s when I get approved for stuff.
I’ve tried every trick under the sun to get approved on EW – nothing works. So I don’t go out of my way to request on there. It’s just not worth the disappointment.
I love NG as well! It’s so easy to use, and feels like there is less pressure. I padded out my bio, and I let that speak for me. I’ve been auto approved by one small pub! I’ve really enjoyed just about everything I’ve been approved for, so that’s good. I just wish they were a tad less picky with some of the bigger titles, and I wish stuff wouldn’t sit pending for months after its release.
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For some reason no matter how many books I get I keep staying at 99%. I currently got around 4 new books, which gets my total to 8, but it is just sticks to it. Guess when you reach a certain number of reviews it is hard to go down, so you will get there as well! Just keep on requesting/reviewing. 🙂
No, then it is definitely not worth the disappointment. It is a shame though as EW does have some great books that don’t go on NG. 😦
I also have that feeling. Though the padded bio… I sometimes doubt publishers even look at it, or at my blog. Given how I have gotten rejections for series in which I already read earlier books, or GN/Manga.
Congrats! That is an amazing feeling when you get auto-approved!
I wish that as well, I do have the feeling at times that if you aren’t in the US (or UK) then good luck getting a big title. Oh Lord, I wish that as well. I got one book from last year, still sitting there and a couple from early 2020. 😛 Two of the books I already got for myself, and the others… I am just not interested in them any more. Would be nice if we could cancel the request.
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I think I have like 14 books on NG to read, so once those get done, I should be close to 100 % lol
EW is just nearly impossible to use unless you’re in the industry. Yeah, idk if the padded bio really works, but it can’t hurt, right? lol and I agree, I think it’s all just a giant game of chance, will they approve, or won’t they.
I WISH you could un-request books. omfg that would be the best NG update, besides a little note as to what form the eARC is going to be in. The Midnight Lie has been pending on my NG account for who the hell knows how long, but the book is out.
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Oh, you are so close then! Now don’t get tempted by new releases. 😛 It can definitely not hurt and so even though those experiences I keep updating it when I can. 🙂 Russian Roulette, just now with books.
Oh, man I would love a little note with what form the ebook is going to be in! I have a hard time reading on a PC/Tablet, I can handle GN/Comics (if not too long), but sometimes I get a normal book… which is only readable on PC/Tablet, doesn’t work for me. 😐 That would make my decisions much better.
Urgh, hopefully you still get some word on that ARC then, but I guess if you are like me you just buy the book when it is out. 😛
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I keep getting approved for books I wished for, that I don’t remember wishing for lol. There needs to be a shelf of “wished for books” so i’m not surprised if I get approved LOL
It’s killing my rating. I’m grateful, but 🙃
ooof, that sucks. I read all my eARCs on my new kindle and I’ve not really had any problems. But i’ve definitely requested books in the past and they can only be downloaded as PDFs. ugh.
I’ve resigned to just waiting until release for most of the ARCs I want. My hopes are not high lol
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Oh yes! There definitely needs to be a shelf for that. I don’t get many wishes granted, but if it does it is quite a surprise. 😛
I understand it fully.
Lucky you! But yes, the urgh when you discover it is a PDF… Converting those is possible, but I have gotten some really Frankenstein results. 😛
Aww, sorry to hear that. I will hope for you, maybe that helps!
Also, I have thought about doing a Netgalley post to show peeps my current shelf, but I thought I would ask, is it OK with you that I also do this thing? It may seem silly of me to ask, but I just don’t want you to think I stole your idea. 🙂
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NG just needs to do a little overhaul of their site.
I’ve never converted a PDF, because of the Frankenstein results people end up with lol. I just download them in iBooks and read from there. It’s kind of annoying I can’t then read on my Kindle, but it works.
And of course! I’d love to see what’s on your NG shelves! You don’t have to tag me or anything, because I’m not the one who came up with the idea. A fellow blogger and friend does them monthly, and I do them when I need a filler post lol. So, feel free to do a NG Update post! 🤗
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I’m reading Firefrost right now (liking it so far!), and Fable is next. And I was denied for Ever Cursed too. Super bummed about that.
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I’m behind on all my eARCs due to work, but I’m glad you’re liking Firefrost, and I’ve heard really good things about Fable! I’m a tad wary for it though, since I haven’t been the author’s biggest fan when it comes to her books, but someone I trust said it was very good and better than her last release. I’m trying not to judge too harshly.
I’m bummed every time I’m denied for something lol
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Me too! I finished Firefrost and moved on to Fable. I’m about halfway through and am loving it so far! This is my first book by the author though. 🙂
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YAY! I’m looking forward to Firefrost even more now – I’m assuming you enjoyed it?
yay again for Fable! The Girl the Sea Gave Back was very lack luster, and I never read her debut. But a lot of fans of hers, didn’t really care for her second book, so it might’ve just been a Bad Book.
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I did enjoy it! It has cool fantasy elements and an enemies-to-lovers romance, which I love! 🙂
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Well, I’m sold. You had me at enemies to lovers.
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I actually had an opposite response and literally just got approved for Julie Kagawa yesterday. Is it the type of books your requesting perhaps ?
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Nice! And maybe, I don’t know. I really don’t try to request on there unless NetGalley has denied me. It’s just not worth it.
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