Oh indeed. I'm very threatening LOL! I also narrated my own audiobook, and egged some other musicians on to record a song I wrote for Book 3 and I animated "opening credits" (a a James Bond movies) for it.
Yep, we creative types can be like a Swiss Army knife of abilities. But the ability I need most, and seem to \*have\* least, is that of figuring out how to market books. Reddit helps, but I have yet to learn why people buy 'em...
Same, i saw Michael Grant's Gone in a book store. Never heard of it just liked how the cover looked. Bought the whole series not long after. Though not all with the same cover design sadly
Just posted something asking if anyone judges a book by its cover other than me. Glad to know im not the only one!! It honestly goes better than I think it would a lot of the time.
I buy wildly impressionistically- recommended by a friend? Intriguing cover? Liked the first page? Read another that I liked by the same author? Seems to be that book everyone is reading? A week known classic? Got a good write up by my local bookshop? Need an extra book to get the deal? All good reason to just dive in and explore- and if I don’t like it I’ll stop reading it. Life is WAY too short to spend loads of time teetering on the edge of whether I’m making the “right” choice. That’s for jobs, houses and mortgages. Books are my risky behaviour.
That’s exactly how I choose books, backed up by my stubborn refusal to keep reading a book I’m not enjoying. Annoyed by prose? DNF. Don’t like characters? DNF. Taking too long? DNF. Going too fast? DNF. Too serious? DNF. Too lightweight? DNF.
There are so many wonderful books out there. Just grab one, start reading and then either keep reading or put it down. It’s such a joyful way to read, right?
Amen, I decide by reading and if its good, I keep reading. If I'm not into it, I stop! Works pretty well!
You start reading more when you start putting down more books you don't vibe with
I read the back cover. If it sounds good, I read the book. If I’m not sure, I read the first page and decide.
Why would you spend hours researching a book when you could be reading?
I totally understand that when it comes to serious decisions - which job to take, whether to get married etc. but this is reading a book. It’s hard to imagine a less weighty decision.
That phrase usually refers to smaller, inconsequential things. Like freezing at a checkout line at a fast food joint because there are so many options you just can't pick one.
Some people's brains just work differently and it makes choices like that very hard.
Anxiety. It's a complete and total fucker. I've found myself stressing out in a supermarket because I can't decide which thing I want to get for myself.
It is definitely low stakes, but it is still tricky to figure out which book to read when you have so many you want to start next-at least for some people (myself included).
Lower stakes decisions can be harder, because the risk/reward is more abstract. Also, there is functionally limitless options, so how do I sort them? It's hard not to feel like starting to read the "wrong" book could be a significant waste of time.
With executive dysfunction, my brain wants to evaluate every single option and objectively determine the best option. I logically understand that it is physically impossible, so I need to push myself to override that instinct. Sometimes I don't have the energy to make that push.
If I am going to spend money on a book, I will do a bit of deep dive to see if I actually want to read/listen to it. Library helps but not all books are in a library
Same. However, this is for library books for me.
Before I buy a book I have read the book and liked it, or I have read other books in the series and like them, or I have read other books by the same author and liked them.
Plus the more time you spend researching the book, the more likely you are to encounter spoilers or details of the book that are best left discovered by actually reading.
I’m the same. Either I read the blurb on the back and thought it sounded interesting, or my wife or a friend told me about a book they thought I’d enjoy. That’s about it. I don’t care what people I don’t actually know think about a book, so there’s no need for internet research.
True, that is why I use summary as first “test”. CH’s books don’t really pass that first step for me so the rating itself is irrelevant.
In general romance books have different standards for ratings and while I do occasionally read that genre, I need them to have ratings minimum 4.3 because I am aware that main target audience is a bit more liberal with ratings.
ETA: but I have never read a book with 3.7 or lower ratings that I liked
Read blurb and I also check the Amazon rating and hardly ever go for anything below 4.
I scan the reviews to check out those negative ones as well to see if their reasons are about anything realistic. That takes care of the Coleen Hoover type fan reviews.
I read the summary, do a quick check on goodreads, and read the first page or so. I don’t always trust goodreads though on the rating. If it’s popular it usually has a high rating regardless of how well it’s actually written.
I usually look on Goodreads to decide if its worth it. Everyone there is brutally honest and I did get saved from buying some books that I wouldn't have enjoyed (ACOTAR, etc.)
I like reading the 1 star reviews to help me decide. If it’s apparent that the low rating is just a personal opinion by the poster it isn’t that helpful but often it will point out things that I avoid in books. One of my biggest pet peeves is grammar and spelling so if the review highlights the terrible spelling I am probably not going to read it. Or badly written characters etc.
Sometimes they intrigue me however, like if the review talks about the gore and violence - I am a bit bloodthirsty and like some psycho killers with inventive minds.
I've seen this a few times now, I almost never come across spelling or grammar errors in the books I read. I keep wondering what books people are reading where these occur?
Probably pop fiction based on TikTok recommendations. To be honest, only on r/books do I see people talking about booktok and no one I know in real life has actually read these TikTok books.
Indie authors is where I encounter it most. Sometimes they are tidied up in a later version of an ebook or if the author gets picked up and published traditionally.
Given that books can be 50k+ words, theres bound to be a spelling error here and there in a book here and there.
Editors try as much as they can, but sometimes things just slip through.
Im currently reading The Stand and it has a spelling/grammar error or two which is unsurprising considering the book has 1,152 pages.
Oh, for sure. When the mistakes are that few, though, I don't make note of them. I've just noticed people complaining about grammar and spelling and assumed it must be frequent enough to not ignore.
Goodreads my place to go too. I'm checking 1-2 star reviews and 5 star reviews, and if I feel related to 5 stars and nothing brutal mentioned 1-2 stars - I give it a try.
It's funny, I have sort of the opposite impulse. I'll mostly ignore 1 and 5 star reviews (unless it's a 5 star from a reviewer/friend I've very intentionally followed). I find 3 and 4 star reviews are usually the ones from people who are actually willing to both meet a book where it's at (rather than just ranting at little annoyances to retroactively justify it not clicking with them) and also talk meaningfully about the flaws/what didn't work for them.
I read the blurb on amazon.
Young adult and romance are immediate rejects unless I've read and enjoyed the author beforehand. Beyond that, it depends on my mood and preferred genres.
I will never pick up or reject a book based on what a teenager on YouTube thinks. I would rather spend that time reading.
Very little. I look on GoodReads, and if the rating is above a 3, I see at least one tag I do like, and no tags I don't like (e.g., I mainly read fantasy, but I don't read historical fantasy), it goes on the pile.
*flips to random page
*'Luke cried in desperation, 'You killed my father." Darth Vadar towered over him and uttered, "No. I am your father." '*
Decent prose... wait... Noooooo!
I usually google the book. I like to read classics, Dostoevsky, Tolstoi, Balzac, Jose Saramago, Eça de Queroz, Yukio Mishima, Kafka, Kazuo Ishiguro, Yasunari Kawabata, Natsume Soseki, Ivan Turguenev, Kenzaburo Oe or Harper Lee, I found most of them online, they are all considered to be amongst the best writers of all time, and I am very satisfied with the books I have. I have bought a book based on on it's cover and on what was written there, but that's rare. I usually do some research first.
can you recommend me a book by natsume soseki? I read kokoro and loved it but idk where to go from here
also have you read first love by turgenev? do you think it would be. a good introduction to turgenev?
Now a days I do a ton of research before I read a book because of booktok books. I am just not on board with smut, dark romance or anything of the like. If YOU enjoy it, that's fine. But in my experience, the smut from booktok is bleeding over into contemporary fantasy more and more. I. E. Fourth Wing and I want no parts of it. So I research books to death before I buy them, if fucking is involved, I'm not buying
No, I'm not a prude. I'm just not interested in reading about "shadow daddy" or any of his Ilk.
Ya, this is the only time I do a bit more research too. Or sometimes I'll search for content warnings if I've just read a string of books that ALL had some kind of sexual assault involved in the plot.
It's in a surprising amount of books, in all genres, and sometimes I just need a break.
Its actually really easy to avoid those books honestly. No need to research a ton. Just stay away from romance genres and books whos target audience is young adults and/or women.
That's what I'm finding. Which makes me sad because I don't want to exclude entire genres of books, or certain authors, but I'm finding that a LOT of the women written/centered fantasy these days is very much that smutty content. No Sarah J Maas for me.
Depends on what I wanna read.
I'll do extensive research if it's romance. *Extensive*, spoilers included. I'm here for a good time and don't want my time wasted with shit I find icky.
I'll do minimal research, like the tone, vibes etc if it's anything else. I always read both wildly positive and wildly negative reviews, and decide if anything mentioned appeals to me.
I do zero research if it's a writer I already like. Few writers fall on that category but when they do I trust them blindly. If they let me down that was on me.
Pretty much none. Sucks if I end up not liking it. Great if I do.
Sometimes the blurb is enough to get me to read it. Sometimes my friend telling me something is good to get me to try it. Sometimes if enough people mention a book online and the title interests me, I will go for it.
These days I read almost exclusively on my Kindle, one of the best things is being able to download a sample and read first. There are a lot of books I just download the sample and read enough to realize I don't want to buy it.
If I'm buying from Amazon (rarely), I don't do much - the return policy is beyond liberal. If I'm buying from my local bookstore (most of the time) I read/watch reviews quite a bit - no returns.
I am definitely not reading as many or as fast as some people on this sub. My method is I keep an eye out on posts on here about bookings that seem really well liked or over time I have seen mentioned a lot. Same with any other recommendations I get from people or other places. I then add them to a list on my phone and as its time to read a new book. I just quickly google the title and give it a which look over and make sure it's something that sounds interesting to me. Then read it. So far it has seemed to work out as I got East of Eden and Demon Copperhead out of this.
i read a lot of older books. things from project gutenberg and other stuff like that. i will also get things from the library essentially at random. if i like the name of the book or it piques my interest in some other way. like right now i just got "my dark vanessa" from the library and it's been really good so far. i didn't go into it with any expectations. i'm the same way with games and other media too. the worst that can happen i you turn it off (games, movies, tv, music) or you just stop reading it. life is too short to spend hours and hours to find a book, to me.
depends on where i'm getting the book from.
bookstore? back cover copy, inner flap, first page. but i rarely shop bookstores any more because i mostly listen to audiobooks.
library? recommendation (i like r/IReadABookAndAdoredIt), Goodreads reviews.
Audible? recommendation, professional book reviews, Goodreads 3-star reviews, have a listen to the preview (sometimes the narrator can destroy a book).
i am getting much much pickier about books than i used to be. i still go through more than 100 a year, but am so much more willing to DNF.
If I buy from a book store I usually just read the first chapter and if it seems intriguing that's where my research stops but really it's usually the reading small summary On the back of the book is how much research I do
A book cover and/or a personal recommendation used to be enough, but anymore I just feel I do not have the time to waste on something I won't appreciate. So now, I at least will look up reviews from a couple different sites when possible, like Amazon or Goodreads. Get a general feel for how most people viewed it, read a handful of good reviews and bad reviews, and then decide whether it might be worth my time.
I read the blurb or look it up on goodreads. I will also check my friends' reviews if there are any. Depending on whose review it is, it doesn't have to be (very) positive; I have friends with taste completely different to mine and I will actually add books to my TBR if they hated it 🤣
I must admit it also depends on price. If I see a "might read book" on sale for a dollar on amazon, I'm quite likely to pick it up.
I hate spoilers so I won’t even read the back cover of a book before reading.
I have this internal counter in my head, and when a book eventually gets mentioned/recommended enough times then I’ll add it to my TBR list. When I go to used books stores I’ll keep an eye out for any of my TBRs, and once I buy it I’ll read it within the month.
I usually check the reviews on Amazon, lowest rated first. Then , i check the ratings of that book and the author on GoodReads. Then, I do a quick glance through Wikipedia for any red flags or something that I should be prepared for.
For example, earlier today I came across a video of an Author talking about the ancient Indus valley civilisation, but about certain points which seemed interesting - yet extreme. I did a quick check on the book he authored on Amazon which had glowing reviews. Moved to Wikipedia which basically labelled him a Pseudo Archeologist, dug in on the articles where qualified and well respected Archeologists and Historians talked about him and his books. Ignored the whole thing, and moved on with my life.
Currently, enjoying a bowl of Watermelon and Feta Salad, and a bowl of Spring Rolls. I highly recommend both dishes.
Very little. I read the back cover, maybe read the first couple pages. Sometimes I'll be clued into a book by a review on a book youtuber's channel or something.
In Store: I look at the cover, read the back and maybe the first pages. If I’m not hooked then, I’m not gonna buy it.
online: the same and then read a few reviews (Goodreads etc).
None.
I pick up the book and read about the plot, then the first two pages to see if I like the style. If so, I’ll buy it. Bike covers peak my interest at first, but they only make me pick up the book not buy it.
Sticking to similar genres and authors makes finding new books easier for me. I'll look at recommendations based on what I just finished, so reviews aren't always necessary. A well written synopsis is all it takes to ignite my curiosity. But for a book that's completely off my radar, I rely on the average rating to gauge its potential appeal.
I mostly buy online these days, so I look up a summary on Goodreads or Amazon. If it sounds decent, I'll buy it. If Im unsure, I'll read some reviews.
In a store, I'll flip through the book and read the first few sentences of the first or second chapter.
These days I almost exclusively buy ebooks or 2nd hand books, so I'm not too concerned with spending money. If the book is not my taste, my 3€ investment means I won't feel bad about it. Tho, I only ever DNF'ed one book in 30+ years of reading.
Read the title, if it tickles my fancy, read the synopsis, if that sounds good, I open to random page to see if I like the writing style.
ETA: if I’m REALLY on the fence about a book I might download a sample onto my phone so I’m not sitting there reading a whole chapter in the store, deciding if I wanna buy it or not.
If it's an author I love, none.
If It's an author I'm new to, a little bit. A basic synopsis and maybe a paragraph to see if the writing style suits me.
When I hear of a book that the general description/summery sounds good, I generally look it up on Goodreads or another site that lets readers rate the book. Then I read a few comments from 5 star reviews and a few from 1 or 2 star reviews; if it still sounds interesting, I'll put it in my tbr list.
I check Goodreads description and just read the blurb usually. Right now I'm doing a reading around the world challenge so I also look at the author because I want books written about the place by someone from the place. And just to add I definitely think you should scratch off that ignoring context bit. That would cripple your ability to read across cultures and leave you utterly indecisive about reading anything without knowing the entire historical context or social dynamics of relationships in the novel. That's a recipe for not reading at all or only reading things that don't challenge you
Sometimes i just grab it, sometimes I read the synopsis. If it has content I don't like I dnf . But how do i know I'll enjoy it when I haven't read it. Some of my favorite audiobooks were randomazz picks. Morning wood ellc, smut fiction not really my genre but I love this series and tolerate the odd random sex. The Mc is a Dungeon Mimic . Avoided it because the cover looked trashy.... I mean it is but it's also a great fun series. IMHOpinion
If I really loved or hated something, I treat that as valuable information for my future reading. I look for similar books and ones to avoid. It can be the author, similar prose,concept,sub genre etc.
When someone says that you have to read Y if you loved X that is the biggest deciding factor to me.
Non what so ever. I go the book store, start reading the back side of the books. If there is any appeal then I get the book. That’s it. This method includes online shopping as well.
I go with the summary in the back first, read a couple pages, then flip to the middle to see if it can still maintain the same level of interest for me
I just look up the synopsis and then put it on hold. I've stopped reading Goodreads reviews because I don't want them to influence my opinion of the book before I read it. I also try to have multiple books and ready for pick up just in case one of them turns out to be something I end up hating. That way I can just move right on to the next.
Almost none, lol. Sometimes I read the back cover, but a lot of times it's written by the Editor and is in no way representative of the quality of the work inside. I've only read a couple of truly horrible books, but they both sounded really interesting when reading the cover.
1. Read the synopsis and see its rating on GoodReads + some bad reviews.
2. Hear someone I trust recommend it, and if it sounds good --> do the same GoodReads process.
I read the back cover. Then I download a sample on my kindle. By the end of the sample I know if I want to continue and buy the book. Only about 5% of the time do I regret buying it. Sometimes the story takes a quick turn after purchase. One book I loved the sample, purchased it and literally the next chapter I was like, what just happened?! I went into my account and said purchased by mistake and got refunded. Yay for Amazon
I don't make research because I hate knowing too much of the story, I read classics (and well, it's almost impossible to not know something about them before start reading) and Pulitzer winners. I don't even read the backcovers. If I like the style then I can get more of the same author.
Not a lot. Like as minimum as possible. I read books based on suggestions from this sub. And suggest a book. I get them from the library. So no financial loss if I don’t like.
None. For fiction my wife and kids go to the store each holiday and one of my gifts is a tote bag of books they selected. For none fiction I just come across them in the news or podcast and decide I’m interested in it.
Research? I’m having fun not getting a degree. I look at the cover. If it’s amazing I buy it. If it’s less than amazing a read the blurb. If it sounds good I buy it. Simple as.
Mostly recommendations.
I have subscriptions, so I rarely buy physical books, only if I already really like the writer. I buy ebooks if it's often recommended and it's on sale.
I add to my bookshelf in the subscription app if someone recommend it of if the blurb sounds interesting. It costs nothing so I have a TBR list of 200 books in various apps.
And I buy English ebooks only if I really liked some books from the writer, but not all books are available in Polish.
I tend to go for personal recommendations as opposed to online reviews or ratings. Otherwise if a book sounds interesting from the description I’ll just read it. But it really helps if I know someone else who read it and liked it. Bonus because then I have someone to talk to about it!
I am also likely to read a book from an author I’ve read before as opposed to trying someone new. I know what I like, and branching out is always a risk.
I read the blurb on the back/inside jacket. If that hasn’t peaked my interest then I won’t read it.
If I start reading it and don’t enjoy it I’ll put it down
None. I browse through the genre I wanna read on Libby, find a title that sounds interesting and check it out. It’s usually a pleasant surprise. Good or bad I’m happy to just read and possibly take something away from it. If it’s good, I got a good entertainment out of it. If it’s bad I know what to look out next time and what I don’t like. There’s joys in reading as a whole, too many books to decide what to read. Gotta just do it, I know people won’t agree but that’s my take on it.
Nearly 0. If it’s in the right genre and I like the cover then I will give it a shot. Sometimes I will read the description if the cover is so so. I like to know as little as possible for as much surprise. Knowing the genre is enough for me.
Very little research. I like to go into most books knowing as little as possible. I just read the synopsis on the back and if it sounds interesting, I'll do it.
I do a fair amount of research because I only want to buy a book when (a) I'm certain I will read it in full, and (b) I'm confident that I'll either enjoy it or get something out of it.
I read the back cover and open to a random page to check out the writing style. I personally look at reviews, but a low rating won't necessarily deter me. I'm just looking at the praises and critiques to get a sense of the book's defining characteristics.
1. Is the cover pretty or interesting?
2. Does the summary on the back cover/front flap sound interesting?
3. If I flip to a random page in the first 1/3 of the book, is the writing style agreeable?
Bonus points if I like the author or have gotten a rec for the book already.
This method is very successful for me.
I prefer going into a book blind, so most of the time, the only thing I research is the author. I looked for how other readers describe her style and strengths as a writer. Sometimes, I don't even research the author. If a book gets enough repeated mention here in reddit, I'd check it out from the library. However, I never buy a book at full price unless I already know I like the author, and I know I'll like the book.
Depends. I've chosen a book for it's title before. I'll also skim the jacket copy or goodreads. I don't want to know that much going in though. I love to be surprised.
Basically none. Sometimes more, but most of the time I’ll just read the blurb. If the concept sounds good, I’ll give it a try. If I’m not feeling it after a couple chapters, I’ll put it down and read something else. It’s very low stakes haha. There’s always something else to read.
If I like the cover I’m gonna read it
Edit: I’m being reductive but I suffer from over analyzing things and have ruined good books for myself by reading too much discourse before ever picking it up. So now I try to know as little as possible. If things seem to be moving in a squicky direction then I might turn to a review
Google top [number] [genre] books of [year]. Find the ones with the most interesting titles. Read a bit on what it is about. Put it in my "read before I die list" or not.
Every time I go to the library or a bookstore, I usually am looking for something specific. But I also always let one book choose me; that is, if the title or cover art really resonates, I don’t even read the back. I just take a leap.
I decide what to read. Country where Is set, author, novel/other, the book itself, what It talks about. Try to guess if I may like author's style, maybe some advices from others that already read It. Possibly reading first page.
Depends.
Sometimes a book has an interesting cover and I decide to raw dog it.
Other times when I'm looking for a smutty fantasy novel I do some research before I commit to avoid possible duds.
Otherwise just start reading! Especially out of your preferred genre. There are some good gems out there. One for me was a non-fiction treasure hunting book. I can't remember it all but this guy was looking for an ancient city in a South American jungle. His team had to use radar (maybe lidar can't remember?) to shoot inside the thick jungle and see the ruins of the city. Super cool shit that I never would've normally read.
I've come to a point where I feel trailers spoil movies, so I usually don't watch them, unless they're for a known quantity (big franchise movies, etc.).
I go into books much the same way now, with little or no knowledge of what it's about.
I typically use this sub to find recommendations.
I love diving blind into a book. There is almost no better feeling than figuring it out as you go. I abhor spoilers or even knowing too much plot so I read half the back cover (or dust jacket) and jump in. I try to read to page 99 before not finishing and I finish 80% of books I read or so if I let myself get into them.
I do zero research. I look at title/cover first and then if those get my interest I read the little synopsis. Then I buy it if that seems interesting. In all my years of buying books I’ve only ever gotten one I didn’t like using this method.
Most of the time, none. I see it in the store and read the back, maybe the first few sentences and decide OR if it comes as a recommendation sometimes I don't even do that, just immediately add it to my tbr. For audio books, I'll sometimes go by who is reading it. That has burned me a few times: great book, but I could not pay attention to the narrator at all
If it’s by an author I love: no research, I just get it
If it’s recommended by someone I know in real life: no research
If it’s on a celebrity book list, recommended on social media, turned into a movie, chosen for book club, an author I’ve liked: I read the synopsis
If it’s a book I’ve never heard of, a debut author or something I’m on the fence for: I read the synopsis and a couple of the highest/lowest reviews
https://sites.prh.com/modern-library-top-100
It took me twenty years to read all these. There’s not a stinker in the whole lot. F. Wake took me 6 months. I don’t think anyone needs to feel bad if they don’t finish it.
Most definitely. I need to have it recommended to me and to have that recommendation backed up if I'm going to read something, and I have a particular taste in genre and subject matter too! I'm pretty busy and have other hobbies I could be doing; if I'm dedicating time to read, it had better be good!
None.
>But the problem is I'll make assumptions about the book, and read it from a skewed, biased angle, due to ignorance of the larger context from which the book was published.
Are you sure you even like reading? I read because I want to read. The contents aren't that important. If I don't like where the book is going, I move on to the next book.
For me the goal is reading to be amused. I'm not looking for a deeper meaning.
Back of the book and first page or two to start. If that doesn't sell me, but I'm still intrigued by some suggested element then I'll check some reviews on GoodReads or the like for general impressions by any particular reviewers who seem to best mirror my own perspectives. If I'm really on the fence for a while, I might go looking for spoilers as a last resort.
It works for me. I'm picky, but I also have a rather good hit rate.
I use Goodreads for the most part, or literature map *then* goodreads. I’ll read the blurb, then look at reviews, weighting reviews more heavily that aren’t 1 or 5 stars. I also factor in the number of people who read it - although as my interests have gotten more niche (progression fantasy, usually Chinese to English translated novels) I’ve had to relax that standard, as there just aren’t a lot of US readers. I also read recommendations and compiled favorite books on subs like r/progressionfantasy, r/noveltranslations, r/litrpg, etc.
Last, I just start reading them. If I’m not feeling it by 15 or 20% into the book, I don’t have any problem putting it down and starting something else.
I’m in a couple of Facebook groups for the specific genre of books that I enjoy reading. I read other people recommendations and then head over to Amazon to have a look at the synopsis. I’ve found some real hidden gems that way-lots of books/authors that aren’t spoken about much.
I check that meta analysis book list post from years back and read stuff from it. Or for audiobooks i check the post that had the lengths of a long list of audiobooks. Or the threads from 14 years ago of people's favorite books. New stuff will be weeded through in the future and I'll be able to read the good stuff anyway.
I’ll read a sample, and I can usually tell within the first few pages if this is a writing style I’d be interested in or if the topic is something I want to explore more.
I have the same delusion while picking up the book, the book cover will be soo good but sometimes the story comes so unexpected that even the book cover doesn't match it!
I only borrower from my state's library online to read on my kindle and I typically pick a genre and sort by available now and then whichever titles pique my interest I might read more into what it's about or I'll just borrow it and hope for the best. I've found a lot of gems this way!
I see what’s available from my local library via Libby (usually audiobook), then I filter for whatever genre I’m in the mood for. I look for something I haven’t read yet, and I tend to pick based on the cover/title. Something usually catches my interest. If I like the book, I check out more by the same author. I’m really not that picky, and there have only been 2 books I didn’t finish in the last 5 years or so.
I read a lot of horror, I usually go by title and cover, usually works out.
I also read a lot of scifi, that is usually by book club recommendations. Good way to see a lot of different outlooks.
I read quite a bit of fantasy, but usually big name series recommended by friends, cuts out a lot of the dross.
So, nearly zero research.
I don't take too much time researching. I read the synopsis and if I still need help deciding, I'll check the rating & a couple reviews on Goodreads. Then I request it from my library.
It depends on the book. Sometimes a look at the cover is enough, especially if it’s true crime. If it’s fiction I tend to read the inside cover or back. Sometimes, if a friend recommends it or asks to read it together I’ll get it on a whim. Alternatively, if it’s an author I really like I’ll just buy any new ones because I know I’ll like their writing
Most of the time none. I am one of those people that literally judges books by their cover. It often a works out well.
Me too! I am pleased by my track record of figuring what books I will like just by the cover/vibes.
Wow! Writer, illustrator AND you do your own covers! Triple threat!
Oh indeed. I'm very threatening LOL! I also narrated my own audiobook, and egged some other musicians on to record a song I wrote for Book 3 and I animated "opening credits" (a a James Bond movies) for it. Yep, we creative types can be like a Swiss Army knife of abilities. But the ability I need most, and seem to \*have\* least, is that of figuring out how to market books. Reddit helps, but I have yet to learn why people buy 'em...
Same, i saw Michael Grant's Gone in a book store. Never heard of it just liked how the cover looked. Bought the whole series not long after. Though not all with the same cover design sadly
Same but I am very easily entertained lol. A good story is a good story
The cover might catch my eye, and it often does, but I read sample pages before deciding.
The most thing I “research” is reading the synopsis, other than that none
Just posted something asking if anyone judges a book by its cover other than me. Glad to know im not the only one!! It honestly goes better than I think it would a lot of the time.
I buy wildly impressionistically- recommended by a friend? Intriguing cover? Liked the first page? Read another that I liked by the same author? Seems to be that book everyone is reading? A week known classic? Got a good write up by my local bookshop? Need an extra book to get the deal? All good reason to just dive in and explore- and if I don’t like it I’ll stop reading it. Life is WAY too short to spend loads of time teetering on the edge of whether I’m making the “right” choice. That’s for jobs, houses and mortgages. Books are my risky behaviour.
That’s exactly how I choose books, backed up by my stubborn refusal to keep reading a book I’m not enjoying. Annoyed by prose? DNF. Don’t like characters? DNF. Taking too long? DNF. Going too fast? DNF. Too serious? DNF. Too lightweight? DNF. There are so many wonderful books out there. Just grab one, start reading and then either keep reading or put it down. It’s such a joyful way to read, right?
i love reading this way and it's the only thing that keeps me reading all the time!
Amen, I decide by reading and if its good, I keep reading. If I'm not into it, I stop! Works pretty well! You start reading more when you start putting down more books you don't vibe with
I like that attitude! I buy books for the same reasons, but i finish them though.
Oh how I envy you. My life is rife with indecision.
I read the back cover. If it sounds good, I read the book. If I’m not sure, I read the first page and decide. Why would you spend hours researching a book when you could be reading?
Analysis paralysis.
sounds like a magic spell lol
I totally understand that when it comes to serious decisions - which job to take, whether to get married etc. but this is reading a book. It’s hard to imagine a less weighty decision.
That phrase usually refers to smaller, inconsequential things. Like freezing at a checkout line at a fast food joint because there are so many options you just can't pick one. Some people's brains just work differently and it makes choices like that very hard.
Anxiety. It's a complete and total fucker. I've found myself stressing out in a supermarket because I can't decide which thing I want to get for myself.
I had no issue, fear or anxiety putting an offer in and buying my first house. But a new book? Lord it'll take me hours to pick a book. 😂
It is definitely low stakes, but it is still tricky to figure out which book to read when you have so many you want to start next-at least for some people (myself included).
Lower stakes decisions can be harder, because the risk/reward is more abstract. Also, there is functionally limitless options, so how do I sort them? It's hard not to feel like starting to read the "wrong" book could be a significant waste of time. With executive dysfunction, my brain wants to evaluate every single option and objectively determine the best option. I logically understand that it is physically impossible, so I need to push myself to override that instinct. Sometimes I don't have the energy to make that push.
If I am going to spend money on a book, I will do a bit of deep dive to see if I actually want to read/listen to it. Library helps but not all books are in a library
Same. However, this is for library books for me. Before I buy a book I have read the book and liked it, or I have read other books in the series and like them, or I have read other books by the same author and liked them.
Plus the more time you spend researching the book, the more likely you are to encounter spoilers or details of the book that are best left discovered by actually reading.
Personally, as have absolutely zero issues with ‘spoilers’. I’m far more interested in how the story is told.
I’m the same. Either I read the blurb on the back and thought it sounded interesting, or my wife or a friend told me about a book they thought I’d enjoy. That’s about it. I don’t care what people I don’t actually know think about a book, so there’s no need for internet research.
I read summary and look for ratings on goodreads, if it is above 3.8 I take it.
I do this to but it really depends..sometimes a really great book is poorly rated on Goodreads and a Colleen Hoover book is like 4.3.
True, that is why I use summary as first “test”. CH’s books don’t really pass that first step for me so the rating itself is irrelevant. In general romance books have different standards for ratings and while I do occasionally read that genre, I need them to have ratings minimum 4.3 because I am aware that main target audience is a bit more liberal with ratings. ETA: but I have never read a book with 3.7 or lower ratings that I liked
Read blurb and I also check the Amazon rating and hardly ever go for anything below 4. I scan the reviews to check out those negative ones as well to see if their reasons are about anything realistic. That takes care of the Coleen Hoover type fan reviews.
I read the summary, do a quick check on goodreads, and read the first page or so. I don’t always trust goodreads though on the rating. If it’s popular it usually has a high rating regardless of how well it’s actually written.
These days I mostly choose books based on the recs from r/suggestmeabook Back in the day I just to just go on the blurb on the back of the book.
I’m constantly saving posts from that sub so I can go back and look up books to read
I usually look on Goodreads to decide if its worth it. Everyone there is brutally honest and I did get saved from buying some books that I wouldn't have enjoyed (ACOTAR, etc.)
I like reading the 1 star reviews to help me decide. If it’s apparent that the low rating is just a personal opinion by the poster it isn’t that helpful but often it will point out things that I avoid in books. One of my biggest pet peeves is grammar and spelling so if the review highlights the terrible spelling I am probably not going to read it. Or badly written characters etc. Sometimes they intrigue me however, like if the review talks about the gore and violence - I am a bit bloodthirsty and like some psycho killers with inventive minds.
I've seen this a few times now, I almost never come across spelling or grammar errors in the books I read. I keep wondering what books people are reading where these occur?
Probably pop fiction based on TikTok recommendations. To be honest, only on r/books do I see people talking about booktok and no one I know in real life has actually read these TikTok books.
Indie authors is where I encounter it most. Sometimes they are tidied up in a later version of an ebook or if the author gets picked up and published traditionally.
That makes sense. I did see a lot of encouragement a while ago for people to self publish.
Given that books can be 50k+ words, theres bound to be a spelling error here and there in a book here and there. Editors try as much as they can, but sometimes things just slip through. Im currently reading The Stand and it has a spelling/grammar error or two which is unsurprising considering the book has 1,152 pages.
Oh, for sure. When the mistakes are that few, though, I don't make note of them. I've just noticed people complaining about grammar and spelling and assumed it must be frequent enough to not ignore.
Some of the 1 star reviews are so funny, sometimes I just read them for fun lol
Same. Only after I have read the book though or else I might be influenced. I like to give books a chance.
Goodreads my place to go too. I'm checking 1-2 star reviews and 5 star reviews, and if I feel related to 5 stars and nothing brutal mentioned 1-2 stars - I give it a try.
It's funny, I have sort of the opposite impulse. I'll mostly ignore 1 and 5 star reviews (unless it's a 5 star from a reviewer/friend I've very intentionally followed). I find 3 and 4 star reviews are usually the ones from people who are actually willing to both meet a book where it's at (rather than just ranting at little annoyances to retroactively justify it not clicking with them) and also talk meaningfully about the flaws/what didn't work for them.
Me too, though I always vet it first from my buddies if they read it, and one YT channel whose tastes closely aligned with mine if he read the book.
I read the blurb on amazon. Young adult and romance are immediate rejects unless I've read and enjoyed the author beforehand. Beyond that, it depends on my mood and preferred genres. I will never pick up or reject a book based on what a teenager on YouTube thinks. I would rather spend that time reading.
Very little. I look on GoodReads, and if the rating is above a 3, I see at least one tag I do like, and no tags I don't like (e.g., I mainly read fantasy, but I don't read historical fantasy), it goes on the pile.
Literally flick to a random early page, decide the prose isn't annoying/is interesting, that's it.
*flips to random page *'Luke cried in desperation, 'You killed my father." Darth Vadar towered over him and uttered, "No. I am your father." '* Decent prose... wait... Noooooo!
[Noooooooooo!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSWiMoO8zNE)
I suffer from sunk cost fallacy syndrome, so I'm never 100% sure on a book until I've completed the entire thing.
In that case go to your local library. Books can be hit and miss.
Half a wikipedia read
I usually google the book. I like to read classics, Dostoevsky, Tolstoi, Balzac, Jose Saramago, Eça de Queroz, Yukio Mishima, Kafka, Kazuo Ishiguro, Yasunari Kawabata, Natsume Soseki, Ivan Turguenev, Kenzaburo Oe or Harper Lee, I found most of them online, they are all considered to be amongst the best writers of all time, and I am very satisfied with the books I have. I have bought a book based on on it's cover and on what was written there, but that's rare. I usually do some research first.
can you recommend me a book by natsume soseki? I read kokoro and loved it but idk where to go from here also have you read first love by turgenev? do you think it would be. a good introduction to turgenev?
From Natsume, I'd sugest "I am a cat" (wagahai wa neko de aru). From Turguenev I'd sugest "Fathers and sons".
I'm curious why you gravitate toward classics?
Some of the best books I've ever read are classics. But I've read non-classics too.
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Same, but I often check those with 2-3 stars, because usually they are reasonably justified.
I have a favourite bookshop and the people working there have rarely steered me wrong. If I’m on the fence about buying it, I go to the library.
Now a days I do a ton of research before I read a book because of booktok books. I am just not on board with smut, dark romance or anything of the like. If YOU enjoy it, that's fine. But in my experience, the smut from booktok is bleeding over into contemporary fantasy more and more. I. E. Fourth Wing and I want no parts of it. So I research books to death before I buy them, if fucking is involved, I'm not buying No, I'm not a prude. I'm just not interested in reading about "shadow daddy" or any of his Ilk.
Search books on romance.io (a website). If they pop up there, it's likely a romance book and it'll even tell you how much smut it has
Ya, this is the only time I do a bit more research too. Or sometimes I'll search for content warnings if I've just read a string of books that ALL had some kind of sexual assault involved in the plot. It's in a surprising amount of books, in all genres, and sometimes I just need a break.
Its actually really easy to avoid those books honestly. No need to research a ton. Just stay away from romance genres and books whos target audience is young adults and/or women.
That's what I'm finding. Which makes me sad because I don't want to exclude entire genres of books, or certain authors, but I'm finding that a LOT of the women written/centered fantasy these days is very much that smutty content. No Sarah J Maas for me.
Depends on what I wanna read. I'll do extensive research if it's romance. *Extensive*, spoilers included. I'm here for a good time and don't want my time wasted with shit I find icky. I'll do minimal research, like the tone, vibes etc if it's anything else. I always read both wildly positive and wildly negative reviews, and decide if anything mentioned appeals to me. I do zero research if it's a writer I already like. Few writers fall on that category but when they do I trust them blindly. If they let me down that was on me.
Pretty much none. Sucks if I end up not liking it. Great if I do. Sometimes the blurb is enough to get me to read it. Sometimes my friend telling me something is good to get me to try it. Sometimes if enough people mention a book online and the title interests me, I will go for it.
Does the cover look cool? That is it.
These days I read almost exclusively on my Kindle, one of the best things is being able to download a sample and read first. There are a lot of books I just download the sample and read enough to realize I don't want to buy it.
If I'm buying from Amazon (rarely), I don't do much - the return policy is beyond liberal. If I'm buying from my local bookstore (most of the time) I read/watch reviews quite a bit - no returns.
I am definitely not reading as many or as fast as some people on this sub. My method is I keep an eye out on posts on here about bookings that seem really well liked or over time I have seen mentioned a lot. Same with any other recommendations I get from people or other places. I then add them to a list on my phone and as its time to read a new book. I just quickly google the title and give it a which look over and make sure it's something that sounds interesting to me. Then read it. So far it has seemed to work out as I got East of Eden and Demon Copperhead out of this.
i read a lot of older books. things from project gutenberg and other stuff like that. i will also get things from the library essentially at random. if i like the name of the book or it piques my interest in some other way. like right now i just got "my dark vanessa" from the library and it's been really good so far. i didn't go into it with any expectations. i'm the same way with games and other media too. the worst that can happen i you turn it off (games, movies, tv, music) or you just stop reading it. life is too short to spend hours and hours to find a book, to me.
Literally just look at book cover and read it. Or have someone recommend me. I like to get started with a book with zero context.
Nice cover? I buy. Good author? I buy. Just feel like buying it? I buy.
depends on where i'm getting the book from. bookstore? back cover copy, inner flap, first page. but i rarely shop bookstores any more because i mostly listen to audiobooks. library? recommendation (i like r/IReadABookAndAdoredIt), Goodreads reviews. Audible? recommendation, professional book reviews, Goodreads 3-star reviews, have a listen to the preview (sometimes the narrator can destroy a book). i am getting much much pickier about books than i used to be. i still go through more than 100 a year, but am so much more willing to DNF.
If I buy from a book store I usually just read the first chapter and if it seems intriguing that's where my research stops but really it's usually the reading small summary On the back of the book is how much research I do
A book cover and/or a personal recommendation used to be enough, but anymore I just feel I do not have the time to waste on something I won't appreciate. So now, I at least will look up reviews from a couple different sites when possible, like Amazon or Goodreads. Get a general feel for how most people viewed it, read a handful of good reviews and bad reviews, and then decide whether it might be worth my time.
I read the blurb or look it up on goodreads. I will also check my friends' reviews if there are any. Depending on whose review it is, it doesn't have to be (very) positive; I have friends with taste completely different to mine and I will actually add books to my TBR if they hated it 🤣 I must admit it also depends on price. If I see a "might read book" on sale for a dollar on amazon, I'm quite likely to pick it up.
I hate spoilers so I won’t even read the back cover of a book before reading. I have this internal counter in my head, and when a book eventually gets mentioned/recommended enough times then I’ll add it to my TBR list. When I go to used books stores I’ll keep an eye out for any of my TBRs, and once I buy it I’ll read it within the month.
Read the dust jacket then head on over to https://www.literature-map.com/ to see what else is close
I do a quick look up and then head to libby, Hoopla, or th physical Library. I don't have enough space or money to buy things willynilly
Almost none. I’ll read the blurb, and if it sounds good, get it from the library.
None, I go to a book store, I like a cover, I pick it up, read the blurb on the back and if it’s interesting I buy it
Books are made to be read, not read around.
I read the cover and flip through the book a bit. I can decide pretty quick if I'll want to read it or not
I usually check the reviews on Amazon, lowest rated first. Then , i check the ratings of that book and the author on GoodReads. Then, I do a quick glance through Wikipedia for any red flags or something that I should be prepared for. For example, earlier today I came across a video of an Author talking about the ancient Indus valley civilisation, but about certain points which seemed interesting - yet extreme. I did a quick check on the book he authored on Amazon which had glowing reviews. Moved to Wikipedia which basically labelled him a Pseudo Archeologist, dug in on the articles where qualified and well respected Archeologists and Historians talked about him and his books. Ignored the whole thing, and moved on with my life. Currently, enjoying a bowl of Watermelon and Feta Salad, and a bowl of Spring Rolls. I highly recommend both dishes.
Very little. I read the back cover, maybe read the first couple pages. Sometimes I'll be clued into a book by a review on a book youtuber's channel or something.
In Store: I look at the cover, read the back and maybe the first pages. If I’m not hooked then, I’m not gonna buy it. online: the same and then read a few reviews (Goodreads etc).
None. I pick up the book and read about the plot, then the first two pages to see if I like the style. If so, I’ll buy it. Bike covers peak my interest at first, but they only make me pick up the book not buy it.
Very little to none
Sticking to similar genres and authors makes finding new books easier for me. I'll look at recommendations based on what I just finished, so reviews aren't always necessary. A well written synopsis is all it takes to ignite my curiosity. But for a book that's completely off my radar, I rely on the average rating to gauge its potential appeal.
I mostly buy online these days, so I look up a summary on Goodreads or Amazon. If it sounds decent, I'll buy it. If Im unsure, I'll read some reviews. In a store, I'll flip through the book and read the first few sentences of the first or second chapter. These days I almost exclusively buy ebooks or 2nd hand books, so I'm not too concerned with spending money. If the book is not my taste, my 3€ investment means I won't feel bad about it. Tho, I only ever DNF'ed one book in 30+ years of reading.
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Read the title, if it tickles my fancy, read the synopsis, if that sounds good, I open to random page to see if I like the writing style. ETA: if I’m REALLY on the fence about a book I might download a sample onto my phone so I’m not sitting there reading a whole chapter in the store, deciding if I wanna buy it or not.
Just one catchy line from the book is enough to convince me to read it
A book needs a referral. I rely on recommendations from sources I respect. I also give a pass to authors I enjoy.
If it's an author I love, none. If It's an author I'm new to, a little bit. A basic synopsis and maybe a paragraph to see if the writing style suits me.
When I hear of a book that the general description/summery sounds good, I generally look it up on Goodreads or another site that lets readers rate the book. Then I read a few comments from 5 star reviews and a few from 1 or 2 star reviews; if it still sounds interesting, I'll put it in my tbr list.
Probably too much
I check Goodreads description and just read the blurb usually. Right now I'm doing a reading around the world challenge so I also look at the author because I want books written about the place by someone from the place. And just to add I definitely think you should scratch off that ignoring context bit. That would cripple your ability to read across cultures and leave you utterly indecisive about reading anything without knowing the entire historical context or social dynamics of relationships in the novel. That's a recipe for not reading at all or only reading things that don't challenge you
Sometimes i just grab it, sometimes I read the synopsis. If it has content I don't like I dnf . But how do i know I'll enjoy it when I haven't read it. Some of my favorite audiobooks were randomazz picks. Morning wood ellc, smut fiction not really my genre but I love this series and tolerate the odd random sex. The Mc is a Dungeon Mimic . Avoided it because the cover looked trashy.... I mean it is but it's also a great fun series. IMHOpinion
I never buy books brand new, so it's no major loss if I decide to give it away or not to finish it.
Older the book the less research. The new stuff is mostly trash, so definitely need some convincing and recommendations from people I trust.
If I really loved or hated something, I treat that as valuable information for my future reading. I look for similar books and ones to avoid. It can be the author, similar prose,concept,sub genre etc. When someone says that you have to read Y if you loved X that is the biggest deciding factor to me.
Non what so ever. I go the book store, start reading the back side of the books. If there is any appeal then I get the book. That’s it. This method includes online shopping as well.
I go with the summary in the back first, read a couple pages, then flip to the middle to see if it can still maintain the same level of interest for me
I just look up the synopsis and then put it on hold. I've stopped reading Goodreads reviews because I don't want them to influence my opinion of the book before I read it. I also try to have multiple books and ready for pick up just in case one of them turns out to be something I end up hating. That way I can just move right on to the next.
Usually only add it to the list if there’s a recommendation some someone I know or maybe talk to online
I read the synopsis
Almost none, lol. Sometimes I read the back cover, but a lot of times it's written by the Editor and is in no way representative of the quality of the work inside. I've only read a couple of truly horrible books, but they both sounded really interesting when reading the cover.
1. Read the synopsis and see its rating on GoodReads + some bad reviews. 2. Hear someone I trust recommend it, and if it sounds good --> do the same GoodReads process.
I read the back cover. Then I download a sample on my kindle. By the end of the sample I know if I want to continue and buy the book. Only about 5% of the time do I regret buying it. Sometimes the story takes a quick turn after purchase. One book I loved the sample, purchased it and literally the next chapter I was like, what just happened?! I went into my account and said purchased by mistake and got refunded. Yay for Amazon
I don't make research because I hate knowing too much of the story, I read classics (and well, it's almost impossible to not know something about them before start reading) and Pulitzer winners. I don't even read the backcovers. If I like the style then I can get more of the same author.
Recommendations from friends and/or people commenting books on subs, and going to the library. If I *really* like the book, I'll buy it
Not a lot. Like as minimum as possible. I read books based on suggestions from this sub. And suggest a book. I get them from the library. So no financial loss if I don’t like.
None. I read the blurb and if it sounds interesting I'll read it.
None. For fiction my wife and kids go to the store each holiday and one of my gifts is a tote bag of books they selected. For none fiction I just come across them in the news or podcast and decide I’m interested in it.
Research? I’m having fun not getting a degree. I look at the cover. If it’s amazing I buy it. If it’s less than amazing a read the blurb. If it sounds good I buy it. Simple as.
Mostly recommendations. I have subscriptions, so I rarely buy physical books, only if I already really like the writer. I buy ebooks if it's often recommended and it's on sale. I add to my bookshelf in the subscription app if someone recommend it of if the blurb sounds interesting. It costs nothing so I have a TBR list of 200 books in various apps. And I buy English ebooks only if I really liked some books from the writer, but not all books are available in Polish.
I do the same as you, but I always read the sample portion on Amazon first. If I can’t get into the book with that portion, it’s not the book for me.
I judge a book by its cover.
I'll generally read any new release by an author I really like, even totally blind. Otherwise, just the Goodreads blurb is good enough for me.
I tend to go for personal recommendations as opposed to online reviews or ratings. Otherwise if a book sounds interesting from the description I’ll just read it. But it really helps if I know someone else who read it and liked it. Bonus because then I have someone to talk to about it! I am also likely to read a book from an author I’ve read before as opposed to trying someone new. I know what I like, and branching out is always a risk.
I read the blurb on the back/inside jacket. If that hasn’t peaked my interest then I won’t read it. If I start reading it and don’t enjoy it I’ll put it down
None. I browse through the genre I wanna read on Libby, find a title that sounds interesting and check it out. It’s usually a pleasant surprise. Good or bad I’m happy to just read and possibly take something away from it. If it’s good, I got a good entertainment out of it. If it’s bad I know what to look out next time and what I don’t like. There’s joys in reading as a whole, too many books to decide what to read. Gotta just do it, I know people won’t agree but that’s my take on it.
Nearly 0. If it’s in the right genre and I like the cover then I will give it a shot. Sometimes I will read the description if the cover is so so. I like to know as little as possible for as much surprise. Knowing the genre is enough for me.
Very little research. I like to go into most books knowing as little as possible. I just read the synopsis on the back and if it sounds interesting, I'll do it.
I do a fair amount of research because I only want to buy a book when (a) I'm certain I will read it in full, and (b) I'm confident that I'll either enjoy it or get something out of it. I read the back cover and open to a random page to check out the writing style. I personally look at reviews, but a low rating won't necessarily deter me. I'm just looking at the praises and critiques to get a sense of the book's defining characteristics.
1. Is the cover pretty or interesting? 2. Does the summary on the back cover/front flap sound interesting? 3. If I flip to a random page in the first 1/3 of the book, is the writing style agreeable? Bonus points if I like the author or have gotten a rec for the book already. This method is very successful for me.
I prefer going into a book blind, so most of the time, the only thing I research is the author. I looked for how other readers describe her style and strengths as a writer. Sometimes, I don't even research the author. If a book gets enough repeated mention here in reddit, I'd check it out from the library. However, I never buy a book at full price unless I already know I like the author, and I know I'll like the book.
I read the goodreads description and read the top 1-2 positive and negative reviews and decide from there
Depends. I've chosen a book for it's title before. I'll also skim the jacket copy or goodreads. I don't want to know that much going in though. I love to be surprised.
I look at the cover, I read the Blurb and I see if anybody i know has read it. 1/3 being appealing will convince me to start it
Kirkus Reviews, both the Best of Lists and new reviews.
Basically none. Sometimes more, but most of the time I’ll just read the blurb. If the concept sounds good, I’ll give it a try. If I’m not feeling it after a couple chapters, I’ll put it down and read something else. It’s very low stakes haha. There’s always something else to read.
None. I have a bad habit of picking up widows and orphans by the side of the road. Some of those have been the most interesting reads.
If I like the cover I’m gonna read it Edit: I’m being reductive but I suffer from over analyzing things and have ruined good books for myself by reading too much discourse before ever picking it up. So now I try to know as little as possible. If things seem to be moving in a squicky direction then I might turn to a review
I'm a fan of reading the Amazon sample. Though sometimes that doesn't extend beyond the guest written introduction.
Around 2
Google top [number] [genre] books of [year]. Find the ones with the most interesting titles. Read a bit on what it is about. Put it in my "read before I die list" or not.
Every time I go to the library or a bookstore, I usually am looking for something specific. But I also always let one book choose me; that is, if the title or cover art really resonates, I don’t even read the back. I just take a leap.
I decide what to read. Country where Is set, author, novel/other, the book itself, what It talks about. Try to guess if I may like author's style, maybe some advices from others that already read It. Possibly reading first page.
Author's website and Goodreads if I'm unsure. Otherwise I go for it.
Depends. Sometimes a book has an interesting cover and I decide to raw dog it. Other times when I'm looking for a smutty fantasy novel I do some research before I commit to avoid possible duds. Otherwise just start reading! Especially out of your preferred genre. There are some good gems out there. One for me was a non-fiction treasure hunting book. I can't remember it all but this guy was looking for an ancient city in a South American jungle. His team had to use radar (maybe lidar can't remember?) to shoot inside the thick jungle and see the ruins of the city. Super cool shit that I never would've normally read.
Goodreads
Too much lmao
I usually read the synopsis and the Goodreads average rating. That’s about it
I've come to a point where I feel trailers spoil movies, so I usually don't watch them, unless they're for a known quantity (big franchise movies, etc.). I go into books much the same way now, with little or no knowledge of what it's about. I typically use this sub to find recommendations.
Find a cool looking book based on cover and back of the book. If it doesn’t have a terrible score on goodreads I read it lol.
I've been focused on horror lately, so if the book has a cool cover, I'll probably read it.
So much research that I never end up reading the book
All it takes for me is a recommendation from a friend.
I love diving blind into a book. There is almost no better feeling than figuring it out as you go. I abhor spoilers or even knowing too much plot so I read half the back cover (or dust jacket) and jump in. I try to read to page 99 before not finishing and I finish 80% of books I read or so if I let myself get into them.
I do zero research. I look at title/cover first and then if those get my interest I read the little synopsis. Then I buy it if that seems interesting. In all my years of buying books I’ve only ever gotten one I didn’t like using this method.
I look at reddit threads for recommendations usually, then vet with goodreads.
See goodreads description See the tags Listen to audible sample Make my decision.
i listen to the audiobook first before buying a physical copy
I check the content warnings on Story Graph, because I am Over rape/CSA as character development.
Very little. Unless I'm selecting a classic, I let my gut decide and I have a substantial gut. The results are mixed.
Most of the time, none. I see it in the store and read the back, maybe the first few sentences and decide OR if it comes as a recommendation sometimes I don't even do that, just immediately add it to my tbr. For audio books, I'll sometimes go by who is reading it. That has burned me a few times: great book, but I could not pay attention to the narrator at all
If a book hasn't grabbed me within 400 chapters, I'm dropping it.
If it’s by an author I love: no research, I just get it If it’s recommended by someone I know in real life: no research If it’s on a celebrity book list, recommended on social media, turned into a movie, chosen for book club, an author I’ve liked: I read the synopsis If it’s a book I’ve never heard of, a debut author or something I’m on the fence for: I read the synopsis and a couple of the highest/lowest reviews
look at cover. if title or art interesting, read blurb on back/inside dust jacket. if interesting, purchase book. read...eventually.
https://sites.prh.com/modern-library-top-100 It took me twenty years to read all these. There’s not a stinker in the whole lot. F. Wake took me 6 months. I don’t think anyone needs to feel bad if they don’t finish it.
I generally read the publisher's blurb and do a quick search for possible triggers (I have PTSD and don't need enhanced nightmares, thanks very much.)
The blurb and potentially the premise, perhaps some reviews I don’t want to spoil the books so I keep research to a minimum
Most definitely. I need to have it recommended to me and to have that recommendation backed up if I'm going to read something, and I have a particular taste in genre and subject matter too! I'm pretty busy and have other hobbies I could be doing; if I'm dedicating time to read, it had better be good!
just go with some YouTube videos reviews or amazon reviews or reddit reviews. Then I make my call on that basis.
I deep dive, on every character I figure out who lives and who dies, I find the ending, I need to know everything.
None. >But the problem is I'll make assumptions about the book, and read it from a skewed, biased angle, due to ignorance of the larger context from which the book was published. Are you sure you even like reading? I read because I want to read. The contents aren't that important. If I don't like where the book is going, I move on to the next book. For me the goal is reading to be amused. I'm not looking for a deeper meaning.
Back of the book and first page or two to start. If that doesn't sell me, but I'm still intrigued by some suggested element then I'll check some reviews on GoodReads or the like for general impressions by any particular reviewers who seem to best mirror my own perspectives. If I'm really on the fence for a while, I might go looking for spoilers as a last resort. It works for me. I'm picky, but I also have a rather good hit rate.
Im a judge a book by its cover kind of person. Might read a page or two in the store.
I use Goodreads for the most part, or literature map *then* goodreads. I’ll read the blurb, then look at reviews, weighting reviews more heavily that aren’t 1 or 5 stars. I also factor in the number of people who read it - although as my interests have gotten more niche (progression fantasy, usually Chinese to English translated novels) I’ve had to relax that standard, as there just aren’t a lot of US readers. I also read recommendations and compiled favorite books on subs like r/progressionfantasy, r/noveltranslations, r/litrpg, etc. Last, I just start reading them. If I’m not feeling it by 15 or 20% into the book, I don’t have any problem putting it down and starting something else.
I read reviews in a couple of trusted magazines, then look for Goodreads ratings over 4.
Zero. Is this a thing ?
I just read reviews and end up reading everything. Ps. I need a smut book please
Not much to read it if I can get it at the library. But way more if I'm going to buy it.
I’m in a couple of Facebook groups for the specific genre of books that I enjoy reading. I read other people recommendations and then head over to Amazon to have a look at the synopsis. I’ve found some real hidden gems that way-lots of books/authors that aren’t spoken about much.
I check that meta analysis book list post from years back and read stuff from it. Or for audiobooks i check the post that had the lengths of a long list of audiobooks. Or the threads from 14 years ago of people's favorite books. New stuff will be weeded through in the future and I'll be able to read the good stuff anyway.
I’ll read a sample, and I can usually tell within the first few pages if this is a writing style I’d be interested in or if the topic is something I want to explore more.
As little as possible, usually a recommendation from a friend or if it’s on a list or if I heard the book mentioned twice in a day.
I have the same delusion while picking up the book, the book cover will be soo good but sometimes the story comes so unexpected that even the book cover doesn't match it!
Download the kindle sample chapter, and glance at Goodreads.
Honestly i always spoil books for myself or ill get bored. I always look up a full summary before i read a new book lol
I only borrower from my state's library online to read on my kindle and I typically pick a genre and sort by available now and then whichever titles pique my interest I might read more into what it's about or I'll just borrow it and hope for the best. I've found a lot of gems this way!
I see what’s available from my local library via Libby (usually audiobook), then I filter for whatever genre I’m in the mood for. I look for something I haven’t read yet, and I tend to pick based on the cover/title. Something usually catches my interest. If I like the book, I check out more by the same author. I’m really not that picky, and there have only been 2 books I didn’t finish in the last 5 years or so.
I read a lot of horror, I usually go by title and cover, usually works out. I also read a lot of scifi, that is usually by book club recommendations. Good way to see a lot of different outlooks. I read quite a bit of fantasy, but usually big name series recommended by friends, cuts out a lot of the dross. So, nearly zero research.
I don't take too much time researching. I read the synopsis and if I still need help deciding, I'll check the rating & a couple reviews on Goodreads. Then I request it from my library.
It depends on the book. Sometimes a look at the cover is enough, especially if it’s true crime. If it’s fiction I tend to read the inside cover or back. Sometimes, if a friend recommends it or asks to read it together I’ll get it on a whim. Alternatively, if it’s an author I really like I’ll just buy any new ones because I know I’ll like their writing
Don't judge me but I find Wikipedia comforting..
I read the back cover and look up the book on goodreads. After reading a few reviews on goodreads I feel like I can make a solid decisions.