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NetGalley Shelf App Complaints & User Negative Comments 2024
NetGalley Shelf app received 112 complaints, negative comments and reviews by users. Have you ever had a bad experience using NetGalley Shelf? Can you share your negative thoughts about netgalley shelf?
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NetGalley Shelf for Negative User Reviews
✓ Audiobook won’t downloadI’ve tried multiple times to download the audiobook for The Switch by Beth O’Leary, none of them successful. It’s disappointing, I hope it doesn’t affect my feedback score..Version: 1.0
✓ Latest update glitchThe latest update crashed the app. It’s logged me out and nothing happens when I press sign in or click on any books..Version: 1.3
✓ Good app, could be betterThis app is good, but not great. There should be an option to change the font or at least a sliding scale type of page zoom option, and once you zoom the first page of the book it should carry over to every page of that same book so you don’t have to manually zoom in on every single page. I also wish there was a “dark mode” option for the actual pages of the book. The app background is dark, however the pages of the actual book are still left white, thus making it hard to read at nighttime even with my brightness being turned all the way down..Version: 1.2
✓ Disastrous audiobook downloadI was so excited that audiobooks were being added but the download design for them is a disaster. Once a download has begun it should complete unless cancelled, which this definitely does not. That being said, if you want ordinary books it downloaded instantly..Version: 1.0
✓ Need font enlargerThere is no way to enlarge the font. It’s very difficult to read books on it..Version: 1.2
✓ Certain books won’t loadFor some reason, some books won’t load at all and I just see blank pages. Shows up fine on my phone but not on the iPad for some reason. I can’t do reviews if I can’t read the books..Version: 1.2
✓ Could be betterI’m having trouble reading my current offer on the App. The “banners” at top and bottom of the page block the text I need to read. Is there a Fix for this problem?.Version: 1.2
✓ DisappointingI thought it would be great to have the Netgalley app on my iPhone, but I haven’t tried reading any books with it, as it can’t even get my shelf right. It’s got some of my current books (the ones I’m about to read), then it’s got a random selection of my previous books that I’ve submitted reviews for. It’s not even the last 20 books, it’s just a totally random selection..Version: 1.1.1
✓ Such a shameThis is the only way that I can listen and review audiobooks, which I do mostly on NetGalley. The shelf deletes the books if you haven’t downloaded it by the archive date, if you do download an audiobook it uses so much data it’s ridiculous! Surely there’s a better way to share audiobooks to review?.Version: 1.1.1
✓ Lots of bugs. Can’t scroll properlyNeeds lots of revisions..Version: 1.1.1
✓ Underdeveloped appWas so looking forward to audio books on netgalley but can’t download them to my phone so useless..Version: 1.0
✓ Can’t see my booksI’ve tried this many times and can’t see the books on my shelf so can get no further. Not sure why this app is out when it just doesn’t seem to work..Version: 1.0
✓ Won’t download or playI can’t seem to download the books and when it did download, it played for 10 minutes and won’t play anymore. I’ve deleted and reinstalled the app but the same thing is happening. This could have been such a good thing Netgalley, you need to sort it out!.Version: 1.0
✓ Fix your update!The update from today logged me out and won’t let me log back in. It just keeps sending me back to the sign in page every time I click it. This app is the only way to listen to my ARCs. It’s absolutely useless to me now! And I now have an ARC that I’ve promised to review but I can’t!.Version: 1.3.1
✓ Sign in Button not workingI was so excited to try the app after signing up for Net Galley but the sign in button won’t work. I’ve uninstalled, reinstalled the app and nothing is working. I’d love for this to be fixed so I can use the app..Version: 1.2
✓ Horrible Audio QualityThis app is the only way to access audiobook from NetGalley, but the audio quality is so horrible that it’s hard to even listen to them. The narration always sounds robotic and echos. If you try to increase the speed, these issues become noticeably worse and the audio will start to jump. It makes listening to audiobooks, something I normally love into a chore that hurts my ears. When reviewing audiobooks through NetGalley, the website always asks for feedback on the narration. I never felt like I can give any because this app warps the sound so horribly that my experience with the narration is nothing like what an actual reader will experience when listening through a better app. If I was an audiobook narrator or an audiobook publisher, I’d be hesitant to have my work on NetGalley simply because this app makes the experience so horrible for the listener and that is bound to effect reviews. As a reviewer, I find myself hesitant to request audiobooks simply because the listening experience through this app is so horrible..Version: 1.1.1
✓ Audiobooks won’t downloadLike everyone else I was excited by Netgalley creating an app. Now all I need is for the damn thing to allow audiobooks to download. I have an iPhone and the app just won’t do an audio download. I hope this is fixed quickly.Version: 1.0
✓ Needs notes and ability to read on iPadI can only download it on my phone instead of my iPad, which is a shame because I really dislike reading on my phone and much prefer a larger surface. I also wish there was a place to write notes. What is the point of having an app to review books if I cannot take notes on it?.Version: 1.0
✓ GlitchesIncreasingly more often the app will not allow the book to open. You download the book and then are unable to open it. The app frequently jumps all over the place when you are reading and you lose your place in the book. Also, since the reader is to review the book when finished, it only makes sense that she can do so directly from the app once finished - instead she has to go back online, find the book and then write the review. Not convenient..Version: 1.0
✓ Needs fixingIt’s impossible to read on this app as the books keep jumping pages. Unfortunately some publishers are only providing books in this format (and not on kindle) so this needs fixing to enable reviewers to respond to publishers promptly. I’ve been putting off one particular read because of this problem..Version: 1.1.1
✓ Bluetooth Play/Pause Capabilities Desperately NeededIt’s would be extremely beneficial to be able to play/pause from our Bluetooth devices rather than having to locate our phones to pause when our listening is interrupted..Version: 1.2
✓ Nothing on the appI downloaded this app and logged in. There is absolutely nothing on the homepage except a user guide. The user guide says you will find carousels of books on the home page, well I have downloaded it 3 times and the homepage is blank. Shame I was looking forward to using this app..Version: 1.0
✓ Tedious to useSome of the books are excellent but this app makes it almost impossible to read them! The font is the problem: the only way to enlarge it is to zoom in on each page individually and even that is not always a viable fix. NetGalley is great but their app leaves much to be desired..Version: 1.2
✓ The audiobooksIt appears I am not the only one having issuing downloading an audiobook via this app. I have tried for several hours a day for the last couple days to download these two audiobooks I was approved for, I tried with WiFi and without, nothing. They will get to a certain point and just stop and if you click on the screen it will stop the download and you have to start over. I hope this issue will be resolved soon so I am able to put my reviews in for these books. NetGalley please fix this issue so we can download!.Version: 1.0
✓ Play stops after each trackWhen an audiobook track reaches the end the audio stops and the only way to resume is to close the app and relaunch it again. This is especially troublesome when I’m driving as I need to stop and attend to this app in order to continue listen. It should be a basic function that one track plays after the next..Version: 1.0
✓ CrashesNew IOS update causes Netgalley app to crash anytime I try and download a book. I’m so frustrated.Version: 1.2
✓ App is okThe app lets me read or listen books already in my shelf, but I can’t browse or look for new reads. Additionally, it doesn’t show any of the archive dates so I don’t know when the books are due, it would be better if we’re integrated with the Apple calendar to set reminders..Version: 1.3.1
✓ Needs more reading toolsWhile reading, it’s very hard to scroll down a page without either going a page behind or a page forward. There’s also no zoom in or zoom out, so you’re stuck with reading the same size page, which I know isn’t ideal for everyone..Version: 1.1.1
✓ Waste of time - so disappointing for audio booksI totally agree with the other reviews - terrible App as you can’t listen and review the audiobooks as they don’t download both to iPad and phone..Version: 1.0
✓ Can’t readWhile I fully understand why netgalley want their own reading platform they need to make it usable . Cannot change font size , to difficult to read . Am unable to review so many books because they are no longer available on my kindle.Version: 1.1.1
✓ Needs improvementI only downloaded this app to listen to audiobooks since they won’t send to my Kindle. Unlike others, I don’t have many issues with the audio quality. I don’t like how the playback feature when on my Lock Screen only shows how much time is left in the chapter. I much prefer to see how much I have left in the book. I think this app should follow Libby’s format.Version: 1.1.1
✓ This App is dysfunctionalI was randomly logged out of the app, and I cannot get logged back in to where I can read books. My account is still active and I can log in and out of the website, but when I use the same password in an attempt to login through the app, it says I am using the wrong password. That would be impossible. This app is terrible..Version: 1.2
✓ Terrible appThis app is awful it’s impossible to read the books on the app if only it were like the Kindle app but even iBooks is nightmare to read on too.Version: 1.1.1
✓ Audio books won’t downloadWhen attempting to use this app for the audio book listening l found it won’t download the content. I tried with two separate books. I have tried on WiFi and data. I have deleted and reinstalled. And still the audio books won’t download. This is extremely frustrating and makes the app pointless..Version: 1.0
✓ Needs ImprovementDisclaimer: I have only used this app for audiobooks, not ebooks. First, let me say that I am THRILLED Netgalley is now offering audiobook ARCs. However, this app needs improvement. Alternately, I’d like to be able to listen to them in an app of my choosing. My biggest issue is that speeding up the audio makes it sound digitized. None of the other audiobook apps I use have this issue. Anything past 1.25 just sounds awful. I also have an issue where the audiobook just completely stops at the end of some chapters. I have to completely exit the app and get back in to make it start playing again. I’d also like a bit more functionality. In order to go back a chapter, I can’t just rewind, I have to open up the chapter menu..Version: 1.0
✓ Needs font size changesThis app makes it much easier to get books on my device, but it needs a way to increase the font size. I make do by reading in landscape mode and zooming in but it is inconvenient.Version: 1.2
✓ Too smallWhy on earth wouldn’t you include an option to make the text larger? I can’t read books in this app. I’d need binoculars to do so!.Version: 1.2
✓ Doesn’t workCan’t sign in. Once I put in my sign in info (which works fine on PC) I just get a white box..Version: 1.1.1
✓ InconvenientWord to the wise, don’t let your phone go to sleep while downloading a book or audiobook. It will totally stop the download and you’ll have to start from scratch. And did I mention the download time is very long?!?! Once you get your audiobook don’t just pause it- otherwise the program will stop working and you’ll have to quit and restart. I had to do this multiple times. Very annoying.Version: 1.0
✓ ShameI read my book on this but found it very difficult as pages kept going down by themselves then was difficult to scroll back to as kept going back.Version: 1.1.1
✓ Doesn’t work!I’ve downloaded onto my iphone and ipad and nothing will download on either. I get a small green dot at the left-hand side of the bar - and that’s where it stays. For hours..Version: 1.0
✓ Cannot read on itI bought a new, larger iPad in hopes that the pages would be more stable. Instead of most reading apps that turn pages right to left this app the pages are arranged up to down. They skip all over the place making progress nearly impossible. It does work well for audio books but not for print..Version: 1.1.1
✓ Can’t sign inSigned me out randomly and I can’t sign back in. Doesn’t even give me the login page. Hoping it gets fixed.Version: 1.2
✓ Can’t download audiobooksI was so happy that NetGalley had started offering audiobooks but I haven’t been able to actually download them on my phone, so they are absolutely useless so far. I waited hours yesterday and only ever got to a quarter way downloaded before the download vanished. Sometimes the download doesn’t get past a little pip showing. I even tried leaving it over night to no avail..Version: 1.0
✓ Scrolling Not WorkingI will be scrolling down to the next page and then all of a sudden it takes me back to the previous page or the page after. Very confusing..Version: 1.1.1
✓ Update needs workWith the latest update, the books are out of order and the expired ones still show up on recently read section. What I recently read isn’t there. The book I’m currently reading had to reopen instead of just being at the correct page. Also books I sent to my Kindle to read are shown and they have been read. There is no way on the app to reorganize or reorder anything. Please do better..Version: 1.2
✓ Unable to read graphic novelsManaged to finish downloading the graphic novel but it’s all a white page with no buttons to go back to main menu. Downloaded the app just to read them, but might have to figure a way to get it on my kindle instead..Version: 1.0
✓ App is uselessThis app is awful. I have been able to download one book and open it once. Now every time I try to open that book or download others the app just crashes. I have no idea how I am supposed to follow through on my commitments for these books now..Version: 1.2
✓ Updated and won’t let me sign inOne update later it won’t even let me sign in to the app. I need to use it to access audiobooks. This is just frustrating!.Version: 1.3
✓ Enlarge the print?I’m unable to find anywhere on the app how to make it actually readable Help.Version: 1.0
✓ Need a microscopeAbsolutely ridiculous that there are no reading settings within a downloaded book! To have to enlarge screen messes up the scrolling and you have to move the screen back and forth to read- should be able to increase font size per book and have it adapt to page like every other reading app! I won’t be picking books that don’t offer kindle or epub options again!.Version: 1.1.1
✓ Audio quality issues do serious disservice to authors/readersWhile I greatly appreciate what the app offers re: access to audiobooks, the significant audio quality issues are doing a disservice to the content creators. Audio always sounds robotic, and often echoey. It gets noticeably worse at faster playback speeds, often to the point of distraction or not being able to understand what is being said. I am leery of even providing feedback on the narration in the current book I am listening too, because I am having a very hard time distinguishing whether issues are from the narration or audio quality. Will still use it because I love audiobooks, but publishers should be cognizant of how the quality of their product is impacted by this when using the feedback they receive..Version: 1.1.1
✓ Jumping pagesI have two complaints. One, if I’m not SUPER careful as I’m scrolling it jumps to the page before or after depending on where I’m touching the screen, so the text is constantly jumping around as I’m trying to read and pulling me out of the story. Also, because I can’t change the text size, it would be REALLY nice if I could turn my phone to landscape mode to read to make the text bigger, but the app doesn’t allow for that. I may have to use kindle until this is fixed..Version: 1.1.1
✓ Can’t download audiobooksI have an iPhone 11 with iOS 13.6.1 and great internet download speed and the audiobooks just won’t download. Has anyone been able to actually download an audiobook yet? Really frustrating as I was really looking forward to the new Sophie Hannah.Version: 1.0
✓ Audio portion is a painI was extremely excited to see that we could get audiobooks as I listen to/from work every day. Started a book and have had to restart the app numerous times to get the audio going. This is an app problem not phone as I’m able to listen to audible and Chirp books just fine. Hope NetGalley becomes aware and this gets a fix..Version: 1.1.1
✓ No books?No books available on the app!!.Version: 1.2
✓ Hard to scroll and stay on the same pageThe app glitches and jumps pages all the time which makes it hard to read uninterrupted..Version: 1.0
✓ Audio options limitedSpeed options are so limited. Can go 2x or 2.5x but not in between? Need to be able to fine tune depending on narrator..Version: 1.2
✓ Please update for user interfaceThis is a frustrating app to use in general. It jumps pages easily, doesn’t allow the reader to take notes and won’t allow any copy and paste for my own notes. Since I use it in order to write reviews for books, it’s a frustrating process. I will use a different app which will take extra steps just to avoid the clunkiness of this app. The only pleasant aspect of the app is it is the easiest way to read Net Galley literature..Version: 1.0
✓ Fair to MiddlingIt is a decent app but has a LOT of room for improvements. The app does not hold your place so you have to remember to bookmark your place. It’s an annoyance but does have a workaround. The worst part about this app is that you cannot take notes, highlight passages, or copy text in the app. And that is a huge mistake as far as I am concerned for an app that is designed for people reading ARCs. It makes note-taking for the review difficult at best..Version: 1.1.1
✓ Poor interfaceWhen reading a story, it’s almost impossible to get back to the main menu without scrolling back and forth through the pages multiple times..Version: 1.2
✓ Need to update audiobook functionalityAudiobooks take an unusually long time to download and do not continue to download in the background, so they monopolize your device for upwards of a half hour until you can use the device or listen to the book. Has options for increased listening speed, but caused an oddly digital sound, even at 1.25, which is unusual as most audiobook and podcast players players can manage that without too much sound distortion. EBooks don’t always save your place, often reopening 5-10 pages behind last read position if you leave the app and return later. Seems to be some sort of delay? Otherwise a pretty convenient app..Version: 1.0
✓ Would be great to have a sleep timer for audiobooksWould love to be able to use a sleep timer when listening to audiobooks. I always listen to one to fall asleep, but I can never do this on Netgalley Shelf because I’ll listen to the whole thing in my sleep🤷🏼♀️.Version: 1.1.1
✓ App needs severe work.Look to Kindle, look to Libby. People want to read their Netgalley books and leave publisher reviews and promote and connect, but this app is basic and needs to support all the formats netgalley allows its authors to submit.. mobi, ePub, PDF, etc — we should be allowed to add notes for our reviews even if we can’t share or highlight or whathaveyou. A few notes to remember what we read?.Version: 1.1.1
✓ Problems when listening to audio ARCsMy biggest problem with the app is that the audiobooks are difficult to listen to. Frequently the audio quality isn’t great, with echos or tinny sounds. The app also frequently hangs when the novel should advance from one chapter to another. It’s problematic if you listen while driving. I frequently have to close and then reopen the app in order to advance to the next chapter, which means I have to pull over if I’m listening while driving. Also, the poor resolution and overlapping of title text mean it’s difficult to use any screen captures of the audiobook for SM promotion..Version: 1.0
✓ Doesn’t work for audiobooksI have emailed about the issues that I (and others here) have experienced with the app - namely that downloading audiobooks doesn’t work - it looks like it will and then it fails. Audible works for me and the preview from the NetGalley site worked fine - it’s just the download from here!.Version: 1.0
✓ Can’t sign inJust downloaded this app and already having trouble signing in.Version: 1.1.1
✓ What an appalling app!I can’t believe that NetGalley expects people to read book in this app. It’s seriously bad. I did finally figure out how to change the font size to something that I could read. BUT no matter the font size, it cut off the bottom of every page in dual page mode. It did the same thing in scroll mode at the end of every chapter! So I used scroll mode to read most of it, and when I got to the end of each chapter, I switched to dual page mode to read the last few lines. But when you switch, it goes back to the beginning of the chapter, so you have to scroll through to get to your place!! There was also the problem of inadvertently going to the next chapter if you touched the side of the screen, when you’re in scroll mode. Honestly, could NetGalley have made it any harder to read books from them? The only other option is to download to a computer, which doesn’t work if you want to read in bed, as I do. I’m certainly not going to use NetGalley to get reviews for my books again! Nobody is going to use this app from choice!!!.Version: 1.2
✓ Not worth itThe app has nothing on desktop version, it should work like the kindle app. It’s not easy to use, very slow and not up to date - always showing books I had already reviewed. Really poor effort in terms of app development..Version: 1.1.1
✓ Way too glitchyEven just trying to swipe *oh so gently* to go to the next page rebounds me right back to the start of any given chapter. It’s literally impossible to read anything on this app it’s so glitched..Version: 1.0
✓ Can’t download audio booksAs with other reviewers, I’ve been unable to download audiobooks. I’ve followed instructions to the letter but still no luck..Version: 1.0
✓ Some glitches for audiobooksI love being able to use the app for audiobooks, it’s frustrating when it crashes between chapters, especially in thrillers with short chapters. The sound also distorts if you go above 1.5 speed, so I have to decide between listening to it at the speed I want (2) but have it sound strange or listening to it without distortion at a speed that feels too slow..Version: 1.1.1
✓ Won’t Download AudiobookI’ve tried several times over the last few days to download an audiobook onto my iphone and it just won’t do it. Such a shame the app doesn’t appear to work..Version: 1.0
✓ OK, but improvements neededThe app is Ok. I’ve read about 10 books on the apps and listened to 2. I’ve only had 1 book that was a pdf only and was hard to read on the phone. I chose to read that on a tablet instead, without the app. I’d like the option to sort books on the shelf by expected publication date or archive date, not just last read, currently reading and the other available filters. I like the option for displaying book covers on the shelf. Also the availability to change page color, font, size and page/scroll options..Version: 1.1.1
✓ Audiobooks have some technical glitches, but overall not bad!Audiobook seems to take a while to download - longer than other apps - but not too bad. Audio sounds overly distorted when reading at a faster speed (e.g. 1.25x and faster), which can be disconcerting. Also, app tends to freeze when starting a new chapter; the timer keeps going but no sound is heard, and the problem is only fixed when the app is closed and reopened, which is inconvenient (and dangerous when driving). Conveniently, the app does faithfully recall the last location listened to when opened back up. Note: I have an iPhone that has the latest software update (NetGalley recommends 13.0 or later, which I have)..Version: 1.0
✓ Why does this not function on a basic level ?If you read a book every time you open that says same book it cannot keep your place . I am a reader that sneaks reading in while doing other activities . On a good day so might open this about 20 times a day . Every time it has certain spots it opens up to and finds those same spots to open the book from. My spouse is a professional book formatter so he even knows why this is happening but you guys don’t seem to care ? Why let reviews of books from readers be tainted with frustration with an app ?.Version: 1.1.1
✓ Worst reading app EVERWorst reading app EVER. I can’t stand reading on this app. Worst reading app EVER. So sensitive… so glitchy…. Jumps pages … loses place. Come on NetGalley. You can do better..Version: 1.1.1
✓ Audiobook GlitchesThe app has glitched multiple times. It’s really quite annoying while trying to listen to an audiobook. If I pause the book, I often have to delete and restart it to get it it play again. If I use the table of contents to navigate to a new chapter, it stops playing. It’s basically a process to get it to play again once it freezes - turning the app on/off, clicking random chapters until one works, making sure my wifi is on. The app clearly still needs some work..Version: 1.1.1
✓ Audio books aren’t functionalI downloaded this to listen to a review copy of an audio book, but discovered you cannot listen to them sped up without awful distortion (it sounds like a robot or someone talking through a box fan). The audio books also freeze after every chapter, forcing you to close and reopen the app, which completely breaks immersion in the story. Downloading the audio was also a pain. If my screen went to sleep, the download stopped. If I tapped or bumped my screen at all, the download stopped. If the app was minimized or interrupted in any way, the download stopped. It took 20+ min to download one book, and I had to turn my screen to never go to sleep and was unable to use my phone the whole time it was downloading. The only reason to use this app (I use my kindle to read DRCs) was to access the review copy of an audio book, but the app is unusable in the regard. I’m very disappointed!.Version: 1.0
✓ Not able to sign in on iPadI’d love for this app to work but I cannot seem to sign in on my iPad. After I put in my username and password I get a blank screen. I have the latest update on my iPad and have room for the app. I’m able to sign in on my iPhone, but who wants to read a book on a tiny screen?.Version: 1.1.1
✓ Audiobooks not downloading.The app is not allowing me to download the audiobook I have been approved for. It will start but stop downloading after a few seconds. I have tried leaving it a while but it makes no difference. My book shelf is also showing books that I have sent feedback for..Version: 1.0
✓ Utter shamblesThis is as if someone started to design an app at 9 o’clock in the morning and went home at 5 and thought ‘that’s it, can’t be bothered with any more’. It’s not just incomplete, it’s barely out of the design stage. Can’t find my books—or at least, only six of them, and I have many, many more. Take it off the App Store, design something usable and then come back to us. Total waste of space..Version: 1.2
✓ Audiobooks need work, would like for kindle fireIt’s been said a million times, but here’s a million and one: audio books often stop at the end of a chapter and won’t play again without me fully closing and restarting the app. It’s enough to make reviewing audiobooks not worth it. As far as print books go, I would rather read them on my kindle fire than on my phone (much larger; especially for graphic novels), but this app is not available for kindle fire. Boo..Version: 1.0
✓ Mostly goodI like having an app that automatically gets my ARCs. I just have a few things they could update in it that would make it more usable. 1 - Put the publish dates in the app so I know when I have to read them by! Seems like that would be a priority in an app like this. 2 - Give the ability to split the text into two columns when the app is turned sideways. There’s no point in reading in landscape mode when it’s one long gargantuan line of text..Version: 1.1.1
✓ Where are the books?Downloaded the app, but all I’m met with is a black, empty screen when I open it. There are no books to browse or select from, so it’s going to be deleted..Version: 1.2
✓ DisappointingI love using NetGalley on a web browser and I frequently review books, however the lack of a user friendly app is shocking. I can view my books and download them to read on my phone but that’s absolutely it. I can’t rate a book after reading, see what my deadlines are for other books, look at other ratings, or anything else I can do on the website … I can simply just see the books and download them. The app is pointless if it isn’t going to allow you to do everything else the website does. Please make a more user friendly interface..Version: 1.1.1
✓ Could Be Better But Will Still UseI will be praying for improvements with this app. I just downloaded and can feel like I should just use my Kindle app the read these books. But I thought this app would help me differentiate between the books I’m reading for Netgalley and the ones from other sources. When you are downloading the book, a little window pops up and it says “Start downloading the book.” I feel like it should just say “Downloading” I was really confused at first because when I read that, it made me feel like I should click on it to download. Also, when you are flipping the pages, should it be like the kindle where you feel like you’re actually reading a book and not a document? Scrolling makes it feel unnatural. I haven’t tried the audiobook feature yet, but the reviews make me hesitant to do so. Sooooo many improvements are needed for this app. I was so excited for it when I read it. Anything that can be done on my phone makes for convenience. I hope there will be a better update soon..Version: 1.0
✓ Could be betterFind a way to change the font size on all books. Also keep track of the page number between devices. Often the page skips back to the beginning of a chapter..Version: 1.2
✓ This app does not workI’ve had this app for one day and it’s incredibly glitchy to the point of being unusable. It won’t let me continue listening to audiobooks I’ve started saying that I’m not authorized when I started listening earlier today. The app is not easy to navigate or user friendly in any way. Very dissatisfied ..Version: 1.2
✓ Needs to fix the glitchesI am trying to use to listen to an audiobook. Basically I have to delete the app after every chapter and reinstall to get it to play the next chapter. Can you please update the app so that audiobooks play automatically..Version: 1.0
✓ Poor AppWhat a poorly built app. Shocked they don't put any time or effort in this.Version: 1.1.1
✓ Need to reboot at chapter breakI loved that audiobooks have been available and the app does lots of things well. I’ve no quarrel with features and sound quality, but the known issue of only being able to play 1 chapter at a time and then having to reboot my phone to continue is making me nuts. I certainly can’t listen to anything while driving due to this. At home, it takes a while for the audio to start going to my earbuds instead of the phone speaker— meaning that when listening at night, getting started with a new chapter means unexpected noise that wakes my husband, so listening to more than a single chapter then is out, too, although this may not be an app issue— this is the only audio I’ve played recently on my iPhone XS. Seriously, I’d prefer to rank this a 1, but hate to discourage NetGalley. I’m running the latest iOS, 14 something.Version: 1.0
✓ UselessThere’s no way to log in (and sync my NetGalley account) so this is kind of useless..Version: 1.2
✓ Dreadful AppI’ve used Netgalley for some 10 years and was delighted to see they have an App. I expected a slick way to check my shelf, see what’s new, submit reviews etc etc. Thought it would also make the new Audio downloads easy. In practice, it’s dreadful. Cumbersome to navigate, downloads are horribly slow and the user interface is clunky. I’m using it only for audio and that’s because I can’t find a better way to download new books. App needs a lot of work..Version: 1.0
✓ Audiobooks sound odd sped upIt’s nice the app can do audiobooks, but when you speed them up, even slightly, it inserts a weird tin-like sound, which increases the faster it gets. Of course, every other app does not do this..Version: 1.1.1
✓ The App will not let me sign inI’ve tried for weeks to access my books through this app, but it will not let me sign in. I keep getting a message that I have the incorrect password. Even when I change my password I still cannot get in. This is so frustrating being that I read a lot on the go. It is extremely convenient to be able to access the books from my phone. Now I can only access the book from my KindleFire. But the books do not go to the Kindle app on my phone. Therefore, I cannot read the books on my shelf from my phone at all. This is highly frustrating. I should be able to send my books this app like I once did in the past. I don’t understand what is going on but I hope it will be fixed soon!!!.Version: 1.1.1
✓ Confusing directionsUgh! I go round and round trying to log in, only to be told that there’s an error. Correct errors, still no luck! I’ve put in the Kindle as directed, still no book shows up in Kindle on my iPad. Total frustration in trying to access any book! I have asked for help, but no email advice has helped to get to the books..Version: 1.2
✓ Audio is terrible!!Considering that the only way to listen to audiobooks is through this app, the audio quality is a massive issue. The audio is echoey—like listening to every word spoken in a multi-octave chord. Speeding up the audio makes it even worse. I can’t listen faster than x2 speed (which is slow for me) or else the audio actually skips and is unintelligible. It is difficult to concentrate and definitely has a negative affect on my experience with the book, which in turn hurts my review. I am constantly busy with chores, so audiobooks are my biggest percentage of my reading consumption. Having a bad experience with this audio makes me not want to use this app / give reviews this way. This needs to be fixed as soon as possible..Version: 1.1.1
✓ Poorly designed and not user friendlyI love NetGalley and have used it since 2012 but this NG Shelf app needs a lot of work. You can’t adjust the font size and all you get is a cheap PDF file to scroll through. There’s no ability to make notes like on a Kindle and the book disappears after a certain number of days. I will be only requesting books with kindle-friendly formats from now on..Version: 1.1.1
✓ Can I just read?!This app is super glitchy! I ‘bookmark’ a page and that bookmark just disappears when I come on next. If I stop reading part way through a chapter, when I come on the app next it has gone back to the start of that chapter. A couple times now I have just swiped to go to the next page and it has jumped ahead like 5 to 10 pages for no reason. Also why isn’t highlighting/note taking an option for the eBooks? You would think considering this app is purely used for books that are to be reviewed that you would have the option. Highlighting so we can mark parts or making notes for when we want to go back when writing our review should be a given. Really not happy with this app. Also downloading the eBooks takes way longer than it should..Version: 1.0
✓ UselessThis doesn’t work. I try to login to net galley through the app and it continues to deny access to “my shelf”. On desktop, the same login allows me to log in fine, but through the app it continues to say it’s incorrect after trying for 20 minutes..Version: 1.2
✓ NopeNot even letting me log in.Version: 1.0
✓ 6 hours and audio book still not downloadedI don’t know why the iOS app is so bad but I’ve yet to be able to download and listen to audio books, even after multiple times trying. I’ve tried over WiFi and mobile network and after so long it gives up so when phone locks I have to start again. It’s a complete waste of time and so disappointing as I’ve 3 audiobooks to listen to for review and can’t..Version: 1.0
✓ Super glitchyYou’d think that netgalley would want us to have an easy reading experience to promote these author’s new releases, but this app is so bad. it’s glitchy and doesn’t let you zoom in properly..Version: 1.1.1
✓ Terrible audio quality, and not available on laptopFirst, I very much appreciate what NetGalley does - especially for the authors, but also for me as an audio-ARC reviewer. That said, I am disabled, and absolutely need the audiobook version of the vast majority of books. The NetGalley shelf app is only very slightly better than text-to-voice for computer documents - and that is saying a LOT. I can imagine that they don’t want advanced copies leaked before publishing dates, but listening to all NetGalley audio-ARCs through my phone (rather than the much better set up that I have on my computer), is doing a massive disservice to everyone involved. Please make BETTER QUALITY AUDIO ARCs accessible! And while you are at it, please ensure that the software you use for print ARCs is available for text-to-voice use. Many disabled folks are available to review new books, but the barriers are many and really inexcusable!.Version: 1.1.1
✓ Audio Stops FrequentlyI love that NetGalley has recently begun offering audiobooks. I have been an long time user of audiobooks and have never had an issue playing books until now. The audio play on NetGalley Shelf is very intermittent and frequently stops. Once it cuts out it is nearly impossible to restart until I turn my phone off and reboot. It is not a WiFi, Bluetooth,cell service or device problem. The problem lies with either the audiobook or the application. Very frustrated!.Version: 1.0
✓ Needs some workI love the idea of the app. I don’t have an issue with the audiobooks like other people have mentioned. I have an iPhone, maybe that’s why. My problem is that I have books on my shelf that go back to 2017! I have long ago provided feedback on those. I can’t get them to go away. The option of pressing down to delete them doesn’t work. It’s a small thing, but it irritates me as it seems like I have more books to review than I do. Being able to sort them out by date of release would be nice and helpful as well..Version: 1.0
✓ Incredibly disappointing!Well this was a massive disappointment! I was thrilled when I heard NetGalley was releasing its own app. I thought it would be brilliant to have easy access to all the ebooks and audiobooks in one place. However unfortunately this hasn’t turned out like that at all! I have an iPad mini 2 and although it says it should be compatible apparently it is only available on iOS 13 which I can’t get! Why?!! It’s not as though there’s anything particularly cutting edge about what is essentially a book and audiobook library!!! My iPhone has iOS 13 and yes I can install it there but for some reason out of the 32 books on my bookshelf this app can only find 1!!!!! I’m sorry but this is utterly ridiculous and a waste of time. Hi back to the drawing board and produce something fit for purpose please!!!!!.Version: 1.0
✓ Glitchy but a necessary app for all netgalley usersThis app is extremely glitchy. One wrong tap here or there on the screen and it jumps forward or backward a page instead of scrolling nicely like it should. Some improvements would make the app better but since some netgalley arcs can only be accessed through this app, I have to deal with the glitches and continue to use the app..Version: 1.1.1
✓ Not working properlyTakes ages to download an audiobook and once downloaded, it stops after every chapter and thw app needs to be reloaded..Version: 1.0
✓ Audiobooks sound horribleAt first I thought I was having horrible narrators but reading reviews it seems to be an issues with the app playing anything higher than 1.25 speed. The app locks up all the time and I can’t find a way to only delete a download. I don’t want to delete the books but just the download because the files take up so much room on my phone. I wish there was a way to stream them instead. Finally deleted app today after being so frustrated, I won’t request any more audiobooks..Version: 1.0
✓ Love the idea, but not the realityI loved the idea of this but cannot download the app on my tablet. It’s on my phone but there the screen is too small to read the font and I can’t find a way to increase the size of it. ☹️.Version: 1.0
🙂 NetGalley Shelf Positive Reviews
NetGalley Shelf works most of the time. If it is not working for you, we recommend you excersise some patience and retry later or contact NetGalley Shelf.
⛔ NetGalley Shelf Problems
