Welcome to Tuesday Book Chat. This is where we encourage book lovers to answer our bookish question of the week.
Today’s question is:
Do you read book reviews before buying A book?
We look forward to hearing your thoughts. Please join in the conversation by commenting on this post or on the blog post shared in our Australasian Christian Writers Facebook Group.
Let’s chat!
Not often unless I am unsure of the author or book. Sometimes I will read if there is talk about a book and I am not sure if I would like it or not. I often read after especially if I couldn’t finish a book.
Your turn.
I look forward to reading your comments here or at the FB group. Remember all comments go into the monthly drawer for a gift voucher.
Not always. Sometimes a book title might catch my attention and I might read the review. If it sounds really good I might buy the book. I guess it depends on how many books I have lined up to read!
True. I am finding many reviewers don’t want to give lower ratings and reading some 4 star reviews you can read between the lines especially when they point out issues with a book but give it a 4 or 5 star. I tend to read 3 star reviews.
I do if it’s a book or author I’ve never heard of before. Or it’s an author I love but I’m not sure on the content of that particular book. Otherwise, not usually until after I’ve read it.
I agree
Yes, I’m always on Goodreads haha. With two little ones, I don’t get as much time
to read as I’d like. I need to make sure I’ll enjoy them before I start 🙂
thanks for commenting that makes sense.
If I’m not familiar with the author, and I’m shopping online, I do usually look at reviews on Amazon or Goodreads before buying. I also usually click on the ‘look inside’ feature on Amazon to see if I like the writing. I also recently discovered that you can download a sample on Kindle before buying, so I’ve done that a couple of times. Though there’d be plenty of times when I’ve also bought a book from a bookshop without reading reviews. But then if it’s in a bookshop, I would also flick through to see if it’s something I think I’ll like.
I will read them for other items and often go to the 1 stars first. for example recently got a new laundry trolley and decided the dearer option was better cos the cheap one had so many bad reviews. the one I got had mostly 4 stars and I agree with them. I am also learning giving 5 stars cos you don’t want to offend isn’t fair for others. If you give 5 stars it basically means its the best of the best and many items and books are good but not the best of the best. (If you read 50 books and all are 5 stars it really devaules the best of the best ones). 4 star actually means good.
Yes, I jump straight to the lower stars first! They normally explain more thoroughly what they liked and disliked. One convinced me to buy the book because the reviewers complaint was how much Christianity had been stuffed in there. 🙂
If it’s a book I want to read. No, I’ll skip reviews. Yet I might read them after to see if I agree. . .
I agree too.
On Amazon, yes. For physical books in a bookstore, only if I’m really unsure I’ll like the new author.
true. often in a bookstore there isn’t the oportunity.