# NetGalley Shelf vs Book Lovers App

The clearest difference is rating: Book Lovers App at 4.0 against NetGalley Shelf's 2.1. Book Lovers App also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 6 months) and review sentiment (34% vs 20%). NetGalley Shelf's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10) and chart position (#194 vs unranked). On price, ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Book Lovers App sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. NetGalley Shelf asks for nothing beyond the download.

Book Lovers App holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 2.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 87 and 148 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 20% of NetGalley Shelf's written reviews are positive against 34% of Book Lovers App's.

NetGalley Shelf ships an update every 6 months, Book Lovers App every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | NetGalley Shelf | Book Lovers App |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.1 (87 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/netgalley-shelf/id1499581600/reviews) | **[4.0 (148 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/book-lovers-app/id1561098513/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 87 | **148** |
| Positive reviews | 19.9% of reviews | **34.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#194** | — |
| Size | 24 MB | 23 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **12.4** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [NetGalley, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1499581599) | [Book Lovers Corp.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1526710811) |

## What reviewers say

### NetGalley Shelf

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/netgalley-shelf/id1499581600)

**Currently charting:** #194 Top Free · Book (US App Store)

Access and review digital books and audiobooks provided by publishers and authors. Discover new titles, download them for offline reading, or stream audiobooks directly within the app. This platform is designed for book advocates and industry professionals to provide valuable feedback.

**Highlights:** Access digital review copies, Listen to audiobooks, Download books for offline reading, Stream audiobooks, Discover new titles, Request and review books

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Works fine for some users
- 👍 Keeps user logged in
- 👍 Audiobooks work well
- 🚀 Able to read ebooks

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Narration speed issues
- 🐛 Confusing interface
- 🔒 Login issues
- 🐛 Bookmarks and positions don't sync
- 🐛 No built-in dictionary

**Reported bugs**

- Login issues
- Downloading issues with audiobooks
- Books disappearing from shelf
- Inability to remove expired books
- Inconsistent behavior when opening books

**Requested features**

- Add ability to write reviews within the app
- Improve audiobook playback controls
- Add font size adjustment
- Implement dark mode
- Sync reading progress across devices


### Book Lovers App

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/book-lovers-app/id1561098513)

This app provides a dedicated community for fans of African American literature. Discover exclusive stories, engage with authors and fellow readers, and explore a curated selection of Black writers, both contemporary and classic.

**Highlights:** Community for Black readers, Explore African American literature, Exclusive stories, Author engagement, Peer interaction

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Membership | $9.99 | per month |
| When Eve Met Adam | Free | one-time |
| Butterfly 4 | Free | one-time |
| Butterfly 5 | $4.99 | one-time |
| AGDAFN | $7.99 | one-time |
| Twin Flame | $7.99 | one-time |
| Birds of a Feather | $7.99 | one-time |
| The Invitation | $9.99 | one-time |
| Butterfly 5 | $9.99 | one-time |
| Butterfly 4 | $14.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 💖 Love the concept of the app
- 🌟 Lots of content and potential
- 📚 Great books available
- ✨ App is pretty
- 💯 Author goes above and beyond

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Perceived as money-hungry
- 📉 Expensive books
- 📚 Short books
- ✍️ Many typos
- ⏳ Pre-orders with no release date

**Reported bugs**

- App does not work
- Cannot create an account
- Never receive email replies
- App rarely works
- Constantly have to log in/out

**Requested features**

- Search by author, book type, or paid books
- More details in story time section
- In-app merchandise purchasing
- Adjustable font size
- Bookmarks for reading progress


## Frequently asked questions

### Is NetGalley Shelf free?

NetGalley Shelf is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Book Lovers App free?

Book Lovers App is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, NetGalley Shelf or Book Lovers App?

Book Lovers App is rated higher. NetGalley Shelf averages 2.1 out of 5 from 87 ratings, while Book Lovers App averages 4.0 from 148 ratings.

### Do NetGalley Shelf or Book Lovers App have ads?

Neither NetGalley Shelf nor Book Lovers App shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, NetGalley Shelf or Book Lovers App?

NetGalley Shelf ships an update every 6 months, and Book Lovers App every 2 weeks. Most recently, NetGalley Shelf was updated on November 7, 2026 and Book Lovers App on November 3, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*