How to Get Free Books To Read

Reading is one of the most satisfying and life-changing activities that anyone can choose to do – and what’s even better than a good book? A free book, of course! Nowadays, with so much competition in the book industry, authors and publishers are offering readers the chance to get a hold of the latest books for free. One such platform, that has been helping avid readers to get their hands on advanced reader copies (galleys) and published books for over a decade, is NetGalley. Through this article, you’ll learn how to make the most of NetGalley to get free books to read and review on your favorite book review platform.

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What is Netgalley?

NetGalley is an online platform that helps publishers and authors connect with book reviewers. It’s as simple as that! Publishers, both big and small, create Publisher accounts where they share their latest books; reviewers, or Members, apply to read and review those titles. Once approved for a title, a Member can download the e-galley to the NetGalley app or to their Kindle account. Audiobook galleys can only be accessed using the NetGalley app.

How to apply to Netgalley?

Applying to become a NetGalley member is super easy and FREE! Just select the apply button and enter your information requesting to become a reviewer. NetGalley will request information about your preferred platform, so be prepared to link your Instagram, TikTok, or Goodreads account.

How to optimize your Netgalley account?

Once you’ve applied and been approved for a NetGalley member account, you’ll want to spend some time optimizing your account. First, you’ll want to add some basic information about your reading preferences to your profile, including your preferred genres (known as categories on NetGalley), authors, tropes, and themes. Next, you’ll want to favorite any publishers you want to follow and hope to work with. Lastly, you’ll want to link all your channels where you plan to post book reviews.

How to get started with Netgalley?

Now that you’re a member, you’ll want to start reading as soon as possible. My best advice is to find a few titles in the Read Now section that matches your preferred genre(s) or interest(s). These are books that publishers have made available to all members, so you don’t have to worry about approvals. Read and review Read Now books to build up your review history and your percentage which will help you get noticed when you start to apply for publisher approval. Read/Listen Now books are the best way to get started with NetGalley!

How to improve your percentage with Netgalley?

Your approval vs reviewed percentage is really important on NetGalley, so you’ll want to be mindful when requesting titles. Take it from me, it’s SUPER tempting to go on requesting sprees, but know that when you do that, your percentage often suffers. My best advice is to keep track of books you hope to request in the future and apply for only a few at a time. This can be hard with popular titles as publishers usually have only a limited copy of galleys to share. But you’ll want to be diligent about reviewing the books you request in a timely manner. I use a spreadsheet and Google Calendar to help me keep track of galley approvals and publication dates. This helps me plan my reading and keep track of when I need to review/share! My best advice: find a way to get organized before you get started.

Other helpful NetGalley tips

Luckily, NetGalley has a whole site dedicated to helping members make the most of their Netgalley account. Be sure to check out the NetGalley Member Knowledge Base site for all the support you need to perfect your profile and start reading books for free! For those looking for even more tips, don’t miss NetGalley’s Book Advocate Toolkit, which gives members tons more tips on how to optimize their NetGalley account as well as tips for blogging, vlogging, and social media. It’s a members-only resource, so be sure to look for the toolkit once your account is approved!

Before You Go

If you’re interested in joining the Book Influencer community, then you’ve come to the right place! I’m working on some great new resources for beginners that you won’t want to miss, starting with a FREE Bookstagram for Beginners Guide. To get instant access to the guide and sign up for future updates, simply enter your information below! You’ll be the first to know when my upcoming blog posts and freebies go live!