Bitten by Books
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If it’s an author I already read and love I don’t need to read reviews otherwise 1-3.
I do not allow reviews to persuade my book purchasing… I tend to feel differently than most people. Books I love others tend to hate. So…
I read reviews for books by authors I have not read previously but am hearing good things about. I will read both pro and con, a minimum of 6 to make sure I get some feel for the responses and why readers feel the way they do about the book.
It depends. If it’s an author or series I already read, I only quickly glace at the number of reviews. I generally will check 4 or 5 reviews if it’s an unknown. I read a couple of the “love it”and I’ll check the ‘don’t waste your time” reviews as often what they loved or hated is what I hate or love. I look for the reasons behind loving or hating it more than the gushing reviews. I also frequently see if it’s one that has a free chapter available on Amazon. It kind of gives me a feel for the way the author writes and will often hook me or send me running.
If it’s a new author to me, then I usually read a few reviews. If it’s an author that I know, I’m going to buy the book!
If it’s an author I already read, none…someone new to me: 1-3 plus an excerpt, if available. Then I make my decision.
If it is part of a series I currently read- I do not read any reviews (unless they are early ones, because I love spoilers!)
For new books/authors it depends- I will generally read a few of the lower ratings and a few of the higher ones. Of course if we have a review here at BBB- I will read that.
Having said that- I am pretty cautious with reviews. If a reviews just says the reader didn’t like it, that does not cut if for me. I look for super specific things (especially in negative reviews)- personal attacks, bad grammar/spelling, and vagueness will generally make me dismiss a review.
That is part of the reason I tend to prefer reviews at reputable sites (like ours!) over Amazon or Goodreads. It helps when I can also read several reviews from the same reviewer so I can get a sense of what types of books and literary devices/troupes they like to see if their tastes run similar to mine.
If the author seems to be moving away from romance I will read several reviews before buying. Other authors though, I generally go with cover, blurb and sample.
I normally read reviews only for new authors
I will go with Viki S. and her vote. If it is a new author or series, I will read one or two and then either get book or not get book depending not on reviews so much as my familiarity with the genre and the synopsis of the book. the synopsis can be biased, of course so I will normally check BBB and Goodreads and sometimes the publisher take on it or Amazon. Sometimes it can be a crap shoot and I get one that I say enough within a few pages and sometimes I get one that I truly love and then follow the series or author.
Just really a couple I think… in the end, if it is a book that I’m on the fence about, I just might catch a review here and there until I hit one that doesn’t give their opinion so much as a better summary than the back cover gives. Likes and dislikes will always vary, but sometimes I just need to know more.
I voted for none. I try really hard to avoid spoilers so I usually skip reviews for fear they’ll reveal something that would have been a surprise.
I only look for reviews if it’s a book by a new author that I’m looking to buy. Then it’s a combination of the reviews (both good and bad), the book synopsis, friend recommendations and basically my gut reaction to everything.
I hate to admit it, but I am a sucker for the cover of a book! That is always the number one thing that draws my attention first. Then I read the blurb about the book. and finally I read a few reviews. If it is one of my favorite authors I don’t usually pay too much attention to the reviews.
I don’t count flailing fangirling friends shoving books into my hands yelling “You’ve got to read this!!!!!1!” so much of a review as a directive.
I tend not to read many reviews period. The idjit who used to write the reviews for books for the local paper put me off them. (And yes, the guy was an idjit - I should know, I took a year-long English course from him where he said maybe 30 words at most, letting the loudmouthed ninny in the front row do all the talking for him. Too bad she didn’t have a clue what in the name of Cthulhu she was talking about. Everyone who answered their final exam based on what she said *failed…)
Frankly, it depends how expensive the book is, a lot of the time. If it’s a pricey hardcover, I’ll definitely seek at least three reviews out. Otherwise, for ebooks, I don’t always actively seek reviews out-I’m on enough review sites that I just sort of run into them. I’ll probably read at least 3 if I don’t know the author already, or if the premise hasn’t convinced me.
I’ve never really been someone to read reviews. Does that sound arrogant? Like a lot of people, if I already know I like a writer, I just grab the new book. If a book catches my attention, it’s usually because of the title or the cover. (I seriously want to read QAUEEN MAB because the cover is so great.) I’ll read the description of the book and if it sounds good, I’ll go for it. Because as a writer, I know that a lot of things influence reviews. (For my vampire Cinderella novella BRIDE OF THE MIDNIGHT KING, I once had a reviewer give me a terrible review because “This is basically Cinderella with vampires.” The reviewer’s problem wasn’t that it was badly written, her problem was that she’d somehow missed the subtitle and the fourteen times I say, “This is a vampire fairy tale based on Cinderella.” Sigh.) So, reviews for books get about the same attention as reviews of movies. I’m going to see AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON on Friday no matter what the reviewers say.
I read reviews when the book’s blurb is to vague or if I’m not sure if I’ll like the book. I usually read about 3 reviews.
If the author is new-to-me I read 1 to 3 reviews. For authors I enjoy I buy the book without checking reviews.
I DISLIKE 1st person writing & since 50 Shades of Gray came out, more & more are being written. I always do a review & HOPE for no I or ME.
I look for rev I news posted by friends.
Anywhere from 0-6 depends on whether it is a new author to me or a new series that I haven’t tried yet….
If any, I typically read 1-3 reviews for a book.
I voted 1-3
but that only on authors that I don’t no well
I do think a good cover is important. It draws me in and than i read about the story and see if I want to read it.