If you’ve spent time browsing books on NetGalley, you’ve likely noticed that some books seem to have different options when it comes to accessing them. To help you in your book advocate journey, we break down the differences between a request, Read Now/Listen Now, widget, and a wish.
Publishers
Before we dive into the various ways to access books on NetGalley, let’s talk about who grants that access. Every book request is approved by the publisher of the book (or the PR firm or author who is hosting it on NetGalley).
Every publisher operates differently, depending on their own internal workflows and strategies. But generally publishers consider your member type, Feedback Ratio, and Profile when deciding to approve a request.
Request
The request option is likely the one members are most familiar with on NetGalley. With the touch of a button, members can request books they’re interested in reading and reviewing.
This request will be reviewed by the publisher. The publisher looks at a member’s Profile and may decide to approve or decline the request based on a number of factors.
Find more information in our article: Everything You Want To Know About Requesting Books on NetGalley—including what to look for on a book’s page before requesting a book, how to withdraw a request, and more—and our Quick Tips: Requests video on YouTube.
Read Now / Listen Now
A Read Now or Listen Now button means that when you click on the button, you will be instantly approved for that book.
You can see a full list of Read Now books and Listen Now audiobooks by going to Find Titles, and then under Browse, click Read Now/Listen Now. You can also click on any Category to find Read Now books in that specific category.
Just press the Read Now or Listen Now button and you’ll see the book added to your Shelf. Once added to your Shelf, the book will count towards your Feedback Ratio.
Some publishers opt to enable Read Now or Listen Now for books that they want to promote widely, or for special content like samplers. You’ll also see these options for any books available for request from publishers you’re auto-approved for.
Widget
If you received an email from a publisher containing a “widget” link, that means you have been pre-approved to access and download that book on NetGalley!
Follow the link in the publisher email to the book’s page on NetGalley.
If you would like to accept the invite, click the Read It! or Listen to It! button and then you’ll be able to select one of the reading options to start reading or listening. Once you accept the invite, it will count towards your Feedback Ratio.
Publishers often use widgets to place books in the hands of book advocates they believe would enjoy the book or that they have a working relationship with.
Wish
Members may also see the option to “wish” for a book, indicating to the publisher that they are interested in accessing it.
Publishers have the ability to “grant wishes” to randomly selected members, if they choose to do so. If you are one of the lucky recipients of the book, you will receive a special email notifying you that your wish has been granted, and you’ll see a call-out on your Dashboard.
If your wish hasn’t yet been granted, but the book becomes available to Request or Read Now, you will be notified in your Weekly NetGalley Checklist email (check your Profile to make sure you’re subscribed!).
An unfulfilled wish does not count as a declined request, but if your wish is granted, the book will count as an approval, and will count towards your Feedback Ratio.
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