I officially joined NetGalley in late 2020 but I didn’t request my first book until early April. During two months since I’ve been active on NetGalley, I’ve requested a lot of books, been turned down for many, received a bunch and reviewed half of those. It’s been fun and definitely is something I plan to continue. Here’s a summary of the six books I’ve had the pleasure to read so far and the 6 I’m approved for and plan to read soon (or at least by their publication dates).
Books I’ve Read so Far
The first ARC I received and first ARC I read was If the Shoe Fits by Julia Murphy (will be published August 3, 2021). This is a contemporary romance retelling of Cinderella. Cindy is a plus-sized girl and shoe designer who ends up on a reality dating show. This book was adorable and incorporates pieces of the classic tale so well and creatively. I gave it 5 stars. Read my full review on Goodreads.
Next up was a “read now” selection, But for the Mountains by Erin Riha (published June 2, 2021). This is a dark dystopian novel about a girl who is abused and then is whisked away to a “school” that is really a venue for girls to meet and compete to marry the prince. It’s like The Selection but darker….WAY DARKER. Make sure to look up the trigger warnings before picking this one up, there are TONS of them. Overall, the plot was lacking on this one and I just never wanted to pick it back up. I ended up at 3 stars because I did like the characters and it was fairly interesting, just needed more action. You can read my full review on Goodreads.
Then I read A Girl Made of Air by Nydia Hetherington (published June 1, 2021). This one is billed as a historical fantasy about the world’s greatest funambulist. However, this was a slog and the fantasy portion was largely absent. Add a cast of characters that I did not like at all and a weird timeline, and you get a 2-star read. You can read my full review on Goodreads.
Then I read Wendy, Darling by A.C. Wise (published June 1, 2021). This is a dark Peter Pan story that explores what happened to Wendy and Neverland after the Darling children went home. It has multiple storyline with very interesting premises and perspectives. I was totally loving this one until the ending really let me down, there were just so many better ways that could have made this an awesome read. Nevertheless, it was an interesting and really unique read and I gave it 4 stars. You can find my full review on Goodreads.
Then I read The Momentous Expiration of Tremmy Sinclair by Michael F. Stewart (will be published June 14, 2021) and wow, this one really surprised me. This is the story of Tremendous “Tremmy” Sinclair who is 17 years old, rich, hot, the captain of the drone wars team, and dying. This is not your typical book about someone dying, this book manages to twist this sad tale into an almost humorous story using a bizarre backdrop to really dig into these issues without the book just being a sob-fest. I gave this book 4 stars. You can read my full review on Goodreads.
My most recent NetGalley ARC was Saving Seymour by LN Loch (will be published June 15, 2021). This is the adorable love story of Ivan and Winston who, like the rest of their world, are unable to see in color until they accidentally bump into each other (i.e., their soulmates). Winston is an activist determined to free Seymour (an Ocra) from Galaxsea amusement park but Ivan works for Galaxsea. This is a very amusing story with some interesting discussions and A WHALE! Very enjoyable and self-published, I gave it 4 stars. You can see my full review on Goodreads.
Books Left on My NetGalley Shelf
I have 6 books on my NetGalley shelf left to read and review. Stay tuned for full reviews of:
- Skye Falling by Mia Mackenzie, Publication Date June 22, 2021 (currently reading)
- Flash Fire by TJ Klune, Publication Date July 13, 2021
- The Sinful Lives of Trophy Wives by Kristin Miller, Publication Date July 20, 2021
- Bright Ruined Things by Samantha Cohoe, Publication Date October 26, 2021
- The Last She by HJ Nelson, Publication Date December 7, 2021
- The Gaps by Leanne Hall, Publication Date February 8, 2022
Thank you NetGalley, publishers, and authors for all of these ARCs!
Susan Lyn Knits and Reads 
I was afraid to request books at first, but now I’m addicted. I am 666 reviews and still counting. Your first approval was from Disney. They always reject me, so I’m impressed. Glad to hear you enjoyed When the Shoe Fits too. I love Murphy’s books and cannot wait to read it.
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I was scared too,I still get more rejections than anything but every approval is exciting. If The Shoe Fits is adorable, no idea why they approved someone who was a total newbie but not complaining!
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