TGIF @ GReads #3: Book Appeal

TGIF is a weekly meme hosted every Friday at GReads, asking reading/book-related questions which are fun to answer. This week's question is:

Book Appeal: When you're browsing goodreads, the library, or another blogger's reviews, what grabs your attention to make you want to read it?

The library: The cover. And the blurb on the back of the book. I will bypass a book whose cover doesn't impress me. I've missed out on many good books that way (Patricia Briggs' series), but I can't help it. If I don't like a cover, I'm most likely not picking the book. And the section. I am usually in the Romance/Fantasy/Science Fiction section. So unless I am looking for a specific book, books n other sections pass me by.

Goodreads: When I'm looking at a random book on Goodreads, the first thing I do is look at the average rating. If 1, 000 people have read it and the average rating is 4.30, then I'll take a closer look at it. I'll look at some of the reviews. More importantly, I'll look at what my friends and people I follow have to say about it. If I get a positive vibe, I'm much more likely to attempt to acquire the book. If I get an intensely enthusiastic vibe from them, I'll get the book and start it right away (that's what happened with Dragon Bound, by Thea Harrison).

Another Blogger's reviews: What they have to say. I am not much for detailed synopses and book report-ish reviews. I want to know how the reader felt, whether they liked it, loved it, curse it with fire and brimstone...you know, that sort of thing. And if the feelings expressed are strong either way, I'll take a second look at the book.

If it's a book I really want to read anyway, then all bets are off. If it's a book I'm leaning towards not reading, the opinions of friends and people I follow are more likely to play a bigger role.

Because I'm feeling rambly, I've left you with some examples.
1. I autobought - if that's a word - Dragon Bound because ALL my friends on Goodreads were raving about it and the average review was really high. I didn't really enjoy the first 50% and I was tempted to give up, but so many of my friends encouraged me to continue - "it gets better," they said. And so I did. I am glad I did because  I majorly enjoyed the second 50% - enough to rate the book 5 stars.

2. Wicked Lovely Series, by Melissa Marr. I got the first book from the library. I read a bit, and wasn't sure I was enjoying it, so I checked out the blurbs for the other books. I wasn't sure I liked where the series was heading, so I looked at my friends' reviews on Goodreads. One particular review, by a person who I follow, was thoughtful, and which pointed out issues she'd had, made me realize I was better off spending my time on other books. I don't regret choosing to DNF the first book and not continuing with the series.

3. Pride Series, by Rachel Vincent. I love Ms. Vincent's work, but usually I want to smack sense into her characters. I was trying to decide whether to start this series, but readers' opinions about Faythe's attitude gave me pause. I looked around and saw another thoughtful review of the whole series by someone I follow whose opinions I respect. Her analysis of Faythe's character made me decide it was better to leave the series alone instead of trying to assess it for myself. And again, I haven't looked back even once: not in the face of glowing reviews or negative reviews. I am content with choosing not to experience this series for myself.