If you’re like us and love to read, then click here to score tons of free and discounted ebooks.
Reading new books and authors can be stressful—the wrong choice may result in losing the chance to read a fabulous book or may condemn you to slog through (or give up on!) a poorly executed novel. Sometimes taking a chance on a new author may not seem worth it. How do you decide whether to buy a book?
Here’s my (sometimes illogical) process.
When deciding whether to buy a book, I . . .
1. Look at the cover
Today, everyone judges books by their covers, especially me. To me, a good cover means the author cared enough either to spend time creating the cover or to pay someone good to do it. A cover also tells me what the book is about and if I’ll like it.
2. Smell it (if it’s a print book)
Yeah, this is actually my second test to determine whether to buy a book—and I’m positive other people do it too! I would like to pretend I’m a connoisseur of paper and binding glue and can simply tell the quality by smelling the book, but that’s not the case. I just like how some books smell.
3. Read the description.
If the description bores me, then I’m sure the book will bore me too.
4. Check out the reviews (if I’m buying online).
This one is a bit farther down, because I know some people leave bad reviews just to be malicious, and some people leave good reviews just because they know the author. I like to check out the four and two star reviews because I feel those people are usually the most honest. That being said, if the book’s overall star rating is below 3.5 stars, I’m wary about buying the book.
5. Read a little bit of the book.
If I like the sample I’ve read, I’m hooked. In fact, if the cover is great enough, I’ll sometimes skip directly to this step. Yep, I told you my process isn’t completely logical, but it works for me!
How do you decide whether to buy a book by a new author? I’d love to hear! Let me know by posting in the comments below.
Do you have a blog idea or topic you know our readers would love? Contact sarah@mybookcave.com to learn how you could get your blog featured.
My decision to purchase a book depends on the type of book I’m shopping for. There’s a big difference in purchasing an e-book as opposed to a physical book.
If I’m e-book shopping I usually click over to my favorite genres and begin to browse. It’s the e-books title that usually catches my attention first, and then the cover. The cover is usually always secondary; with this exception….if the picture on the cover is sexually explicit, vulgar, or trashy I automatically eliminate it from consideration. If I’m interested in the e-book I’ll check out the author, read the initial brief synopsis, take note of the ratings and the price. Very often I will read the additional, more detailed, synopsis and the authors bio. I never thought I’d be the type who could be swayed by the opinions of other readers – but I am. If the e-book has received several negative comments I put the brakes on – -even if the e-book is free. If the book still holds my interest I will download a sample of the text, read the excerpt, and then decide.
I’m the type of person who can spend hours in a bookstore. If I know the specific book I want to purchase I will seek it out first, put it in my basket, and then begin to scout around the store. As with e-books, I am naturally drawn to my favorite genres first. If a book catches my eye it’s usually because I’m familiar with the author or the topic is one I am currently studying or interested in. I read all the information on the books cover, front and back. I read the storyline on the front flap and the authors bio on the back flap. I’m guilty of sitting down on the carpeted aisles to survey the book further. I typically scan the Forward, Prologue, Table-of-Contents, etcetera. I have used my smart phone to check out more info about the book, compare prices, etcetera.
If a book is expensive I prefer to own a hardcopy of the text.
Very Similar Points, but something that will Always Throw me over to buy decision Is the author’s who recommend or back it. Especially if it’s a Fav author,Thanks
I use similar criteria depending on the book’s format. One thing you did not mention is the price. The books of well known, successful authors will be priced a little higher than new, self-published, indie authors. Reviews play a bigger part than covers for me since I read mostly e-books, I don’t always even pay attention to the covers. Before the days of digital books, I used to always look at the covers – especially when at the library since reviews weren’t readily available.
I don’t read reviews until after I have finished and written mine. I know they are suppose to help you decide if you want to read a book or not. I think it is because so many reviewers rewrite the synopsis.
One, I’ve already read the book description.
Two now that I’ve read their version, why should I buy the book? They obviously thought I needed to know the ending or major plot twists to determine my interest level.
Three I have seen far too many reviews that were obviously written by friends, family or reviewers who felt obligated to give a good review because they received a free book.
I do, however, enjoy knowing what others thought of the book. After I post my review I tend to go read several reviews. I think I am checking to see if anyone else thought like I did. Haha.
Here is how I choose my books.
1. Cover. I feel exactly as you do. If a cover is good it will draw you to the book and invite you to investigate further.
2. Description. The description should wet your appetite. I know with shorts like novellas that can be a challenge. You want it to tell you something but not everything. Description is an intimate dance of prose that leaves you wanting more.
3. Do I know this author? If so, do I want to read more from them? If not, do I want/need something comfy or something new and unknown?
4. I’ll open the book to a page in the beginning, to a page midway and then to a page close but not too close to the end. I check to see if the author has caught my interest and then was able to keep it. After reading each sample, I ask myself am I interested? Does the writing in the last two samples maintain the magic of the first, (or did they improve upon my first impression)?
It’s not a requirement but yes I do it. When I’m in the store browsing I smell the interesting ones. It’s like I feel they are imparting some great secret to me. In used bookstores, where you can find treasures, this is even more important. I imagine those who went ahead of me. Did they sit down with tea, coffee or hot chocolate that was promptly forgotten then drank lukewarm without a thought of it? Were they snackers? Did they get lost in the book world in the same spot I did? Were they held captive to the end? Did they love/hate the same characters? Did their emotions rise and fall like mine? I have no idea why I think smelling the book will answer these questions but there I am, book in my hands, furtively looking around as I bring the book closer to my nose, my imagination soaring.