SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion

i'm not sure it this ought not to be a poll, but that's a bit restrictive, since you, the reader, can only answer the choices i've offered.

i'd like to start a discussion on what makes you choose and buy a book? we all hear about the following:

marketing
word-of-mouth eg my friend said to read it
because it's been traditionally published and not indie published
because it's been indie published and not traditionally
have to read it for school, university, whatever
known author
unknown author
it's on the bookclub list
the cover looks great
the blurb hooked me
i opened up on page 69 and that got me in
i know the author, etc.

what does it for you, and how important (particularly when it comes to parting with your hard-earned cash) are any of these factors?

for me, it isn't just the hook, it's whether i zone out within the first few paragraphs and forget where i am. if i have to jump ahead because i'm getting impatient, that's a good reason not to buy the book (when reading an extract online or standing in the bookshop).

the tag from the bookstore employees hasn't been enough yet to buy a book. enough hype will make me go and look at a particular book, but 9/10 times i won't buy it unless it pulls me across the attention threshold. the exception is stieg larsson's millenium book 1, which i'm planning to buy when i'm next in civilisation. i somehow got a result on google with something about this author, and looked him up, so last time i was in a bookshop, read a few pages. i liked the clean prose, and the easy-to-imagine setting.

my suspension of disbelief is very thin, so if the blurb/extract/first few pages aren't substantive, i won't buy it.

my process of choosing a book might be, heard about it, looked up reviews (in gr, of course), read an extract, and got hooked.

for someone else it might be, never heard of it and saw a pop up ad that looked interesting, clicked on it and decided to buy the book.

or, because it's the genre you only ever read, you're always on the lookout for anything sci-fi/fantasy, and will read whatever you can find.

what does it for you?

I don't know that I can answer this question. I do get a lot of recommendations from friends, and I've had good success with the scary-accurate recommender from amazon.com. I have recently been getting a lot of free-for-download books through amazon for the kindle, through which I've been introduced to a number of authors I'd never have tried out otherwise.

Kindle sampling can be hit or miss. I nearly didn't read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo because of all the tedious financial stuff that goes on in the early chapters.

I select a lot of books based on pure whim, and sometimes read books that my boyfriend finds abandoned in train stations.

Being familiar with the author is often a huge plus for me. It's usually a pretty good bet I'll enjoy anything written by an author I particularly favor.

As for finding new authors - its largely, I think, a matter of mouth (more like word of blog, since I get most of my book info via the 'net). I like to have testimony from familiar names, bloggers I like, that an author new to me is good, and why.

Although, Last spring I met a marketing guy from a sci fi book publisher and he's periodically been sending me books from various authors I'm unfamiliar with since. Obviously I am grateful and feel obligated to read those. So far its 50/50 on them being good vs., well, not so good. :p Least I can do is read em and give em a review on here, though.

For authors I've read previously and enjoyed, I'll usually just grab whatever new book they come out with.

For authors I've never heard of, I'll read a blurb about the book somewhere and if it sounds interesting I'll look up more detail of it here(not reviews, since they normally don't sway me, unless it's from a good friend). If it still intrigues me, then I'll probably pick it up.

And of course, there's the usual impulse buy due to the cover grabbing my attention...

Ala wrote: "For authors I've read previously and enjoyed, I'll usually just grab whatever new book they come out with.

For authors I've never heard of, I'll read a blurb about the book somewhere and if it sou..."

Like you, if it's an author I've already read, it's as simple as waiting for the next. I love wandering thru a book store and checking out book jackets (interesting looking covers grab my attention), reading the inside to see if it sounds interesting. I sometimes follow recommendations, but tend to just follow my gut feel.

Bill, I love wandering around book stores, too. I could spend hours just walking through the shelves and picking up the books.

I don't always buy something, but I get an idea of new books that I should keep an eye out for.

I can't seem to be able to go into a bookstore without buying something

For me the biggest thing is that I know the author -- any author I enjoy two or three books by (or one if it's a really, really impressive one) I will go out and acquire everything they have ever written.

Second to that is all the stuff that I assume falls under "word of mouth" -- recommendations from friends and family, good reviews on sites I frequent (SF/F sites, not usually something general like Amazon), an author I know and love is reading/has read the book, etc.

And then significantly lower is probably the cover in conjunction with the first few pages; when I'm browsing in a bookstore I am drawn to certain types of covers, and then I pick them up and read the blurb on the back, and if that's interesting I'll open them up and read the first few pages, and if that's still interesting (very few books are at this point, but there have been a few) I'll grab it and read it and usually enjoy it (the first few pages test has a very high success rate for me).

And I have to say that marketing, the author being well-known, and the book's presence on a book club list actually work against me buying a book; I hate feeling like a sheep. ;)

Ala wrote: "I can't seem to be able to go into a bookstore without buying something"

The problem isn't getting into the bookstore. It's getting back out again. :D

Julie wrote: "Bill, I love wandering around book stores, too. I could spend hours just walking through the shelves and picking up the books.

I don't always buy something, but I get an idea of new books that I..."

My wife bought me a book, "Books I've read, Books I want to read'. I bring it with me when I go to book stores. That way I can add any new books that strike my fancy. Better than trying to rely on my memory. :0)

stormhawk wrote: "I don't know that I can answer this question. I do get a lot of recommendations from friends, and I've had good success with the scary-accurate recommender from amazon.com"

friends, scary-accurate recs, free-to-download, and whim. That just about covers it all! Thanks for the insight, Stormhawk.

Samantha wrote: "Being familiar with the author is...a pretty good bet I'll enjoy anything written by an author I particularly favor.

As for finding new authors, it's largely...word of blog..."

Which blogs are your favourite for scoping out new authors, Samantha? Do you really review all those freebie books, even the not-so-good ones? I'm impressed. The most I can manage is one star and no text.

Ala wrote: "For authors I've read previously and enjoyed, I'll usually just grab whatever new book they come out with.

For authors I've never heard of, I'll read a blurb about the book somewhere..."

Like you, a review might flag a book for attention; I still have to be able to look inside it to buy.

Bill wrote: "I love wandering thru a book store and checking out book jackets (interesting looking covers grab my attention), reading the inside to see if it sounds interesting. I sometimes follow recommendations, but tend to just follow my gut feel"

What i find is that somehow the book covers all seem similar at the moment. When i was last in a bookstore, looking at the sci-fi/fantasy offerings on the shelves, all the spines were black/dark, with poison green or corpse grey writing. And eyes. Every second book cover has someone's eyes staring out of it.

Julie wrote: "Bill...I could spend hours just walking through the shelves and picking up the books.

I don't always buy something, but I get an idea of new books..."

me, too. Usually i can't help myself and i'll buy something, even if it's a classic.

Phoenixfalls wrote: "For me the biggest thing is that I know the author - I will go out and acquire everything they have ever written...marketing, the author being well-known, and the book's presence on a book club list actually work against me buying a book; I hate feeling like a sheep. ;)"

That happens to me too, Phoenixfalls. I fall in love with the author and go on a binge. Although I don't mind if other people discover something I like, and add it to their 'to-read' shelf.

Random wrote: "Ala wrote: "I can't seem to be able to go into a bookstore without buying something"

The problem isn't getting into the bookstore. It's getting back out again. :D"

oh yes, i know that feeling.

GN: well. I haven't QUITE gotten around to reviewing all the freebie books yet, but I'm determined to. If I get a book for free, I feel its the least I can do to offer some public input on it. (Although if a book is really, really bad, maybe not so much).

As for blogs: I've had success with authors I've discovered from tor.com and Boingboing.net.

Ala wrote: "I can't seem to be able to go into a bookstore without buying something"

Try working in a charity shop that took over a second hand bookshop that gives you a 50% discount on top of all that... HARD.

As for what wins me over, first of all, it depends where I'm buying it from. If I'm in a book shop, then the cover initially (something needs to grab your eye), if I'm specifically looking for it, I've heard it's good from friends, forums, TV, word of mouth, wherever. In the end, I'll look at the blurb, if the idea of the story grabs me, if I'm able to, I'll check the first few lines of the story to see if the writing style is.. readable. If it ticks those boxes I tend to grab it assuming I have enough money :D

For most of my life, since about 1957, I have to admit that the SFBC (Sci-Fi Book Club) largely guided my SFF reading. And, overall it was a good guide. Of course word of mouth has been important too, as it is for ~everyone.

But it is word-of-mouth, that has changed for me. It used to be friends (in the traditional sense), but now it is largely Goodreads friends and their links. I think I have bought more books in the last 2 years since joining GR than the previous 20, almost all from finding new authors/series/books on GR. And my TBR stacks are bigger then ever.

I used to love browsing bookstores when I lived in The-Big-City, esp the giant ones. But there are none near me now and browsing Amazon is just not the same.

Hannah wrote: "Try working in a charity shop that took over a second hand bookshop that gives you a 50% discount on top..."

Eeeiuw! Do you ever get your head out of a book?!?! Lucky girl.

Kate wrote: "I like to be told a good, absorbing story"

Don't we all...and it's true that I've bought the whole bunch of books and realised afterwards that not all were those good, absorbing reads.

Kernos wrote: "But it is word-of-mouth that has changed for me...now it is largely Goodreads friends and their links...I have bought more books in the last 2 years since joining GR than the previous 20, almost all from finding new authors/series/books on GR. And my TBR stacks are bigger then ever. I used to love browsing bookstores when I lived in The-Big-City...browsing Amazon is just not the same"

Just goes to show how useful/influential GR is becoming.

When I'm in a bookstore, I mostly choose authors I've enjoyed before, but I also can't help but buy pretty covers. I always look up the book on GR mobile and check the first page of ratings before I buy though.

hah, the "ooh look, shiny!" method of book buying has yet to fail me

LOL lucky you. That method has contributed the most to my donation box. And I still can't help myself!

Summoning this thread back from the dead in response to conversations we're presently having. How do you choose what book to read next or to buy?

All too often I read something, like it, and then add everything else by the author to my shelves.

My GR friends' reviews are also key, both in being alerted to new titles, and to choosing among them.

Then there's random stuff, as I just mentioned in another group:
Just for something completely different, I'm going to be reading Bendigo Shafter next. The thing is, I'm a huge fan of Michael Perry and in his latest (which is also one of his best), Montaigne in Barn Boots: An Amateur Ambles Through Philosophy, Perry mentions that the MC in Louis L'Amour's novel carries a copy of Michel de Montaigne's book in his saddlebag....

marketing - maybe, but i don't see much except from Amazon and their selections don't appeal to me

word-of-mouth eg my friend said to read it - too many bad books this way (The Horse Whisperer is a case in point - I did not like it)

because it's been traditionally published and not indie published - I like Independent publishers (Universities, Poetry, Scholastic, Chess book publishers, Open Road Media, etc), but I tend to avoid Self-published (they call themselves Indies, but they're not by my definition) books

because it's been indie published and not traditionally = No

have to read it for school, university, whatever = No

known author = only certain ones

unknown author = depends

it's on the bookclub list = Maybe

the cover looks great = Maybe

the blurb hooked me = More often

i opened up on page 69 and that got me in = no

i know the author, etc. = No and I did know an author, but she was OK and her books were not something I would normally pick up

------ and I'll add --------

reading about it on reputable blogs (for sci-fi & fantasy boingboing is good)

recommendations on Amazon

and before ebooks, I was getting to the point where I could go into a bookstore and find absolutely nothing I wanted to read. Ebooks have opened up the books available to me.

I will purchase a book based on the following criteria (in order):

1) Author I've read before and always like.

2) Author I've read before and sometimes like, if the blurb and sample of the book are appealing.

3) Author I've never read before if a) the cover is interesting enough to make me click, and b) the blurb is appealing and not blatantly amateur, and c) sample of book reveals a professional and appealing style/content.

4) A book recommended by a friend if the blurb and sample of the book are appealing. (I put this one at #3 instead of #4 because it so rarely happens...even my close friends have a poor track record predicting what I will like.)

I decide what to read next (I always have several in the TBR pile) based on what I've just read. Even though I read SF almost exclusively, I try not to read too many books in the same style/sub-genre in a row. And sometimes if I've read a string of well known authors I'll reach for an author I've not read before. And rarely I'll venture out into nonfiction science or classic mysteries/detective stuff.

Necrothreads are always interesting in that they are little time capsules, showing us people who no longer post. Scribble Orca, holy frijoles!

One day people will say that about you Trike lol

I’m an AI.

Well, have to say, PRICE figures into my trying a book out. I'm pretty familiar with authors in the fields I read, so if it's someone I've never heard of and I pop over to Kindle and it's $12.99, it's a no go. For an author I regularly read, I'll do it but not to try someone out with rare exceptions (did for the Bear and the Nightingale but watching the whole group read thing pushed me to that one).

I lurk on quite a few forums here, click on the books mentioned in the forums or by friends in my feed, read the blurb, sometimes check reviews - I try not to read the ones that don't think they're spoilers but still tell you the basic story line - I prefer to uncover it as I read. Mostly go by the blurb, reviews lately tend to turn me away more than sell the book. So, most new to me authors are from Goodreads and the reviews here do color my choices.

I wish I could go more by covers, but so many books I like have absolutely horrid covers that I barely pay them attention.

I have picked up new to me authors also by checking the sale notices (Bookbub, Goodreads, Amazon) then checking the reviews here and taking a chance for the discounted book. I'll also take a chance more likely on Kindle Unlimited. I have a few purchased in queue but have found more through the forums on KU and have enough now in TBR KU to sign up for a month.

I should add, I purchase almost nothing. The public library lets me try so much for free* that I have no compunction about picking up any interesting book,** and putting it back promptly if I don't care to finish it.

*Well, except that my taxes help fund it.

**They love the circulation numbers, to take to the board to ensure funding.

So my criteria are a lot less strict than many of yours.

Yes Cheryl - I've thought of making a TBR Library list for the ones I don't want to purchase. I live rurally, we have interlibrary loan - and I need to check that out more. I prefer eBooks to physical copies We have limited eBook lending that I also need to get better with - a couple of years ago there was a fee for both, but checking now I see they've changed providers and it's free. Delved into it a few years back and there was little new fantasy, but with the new providers, it may be better.

Cover works for getting attention, but blurbs is what most often decided if it'll go to my TBR or not. I usually have a look on the rating and a few reviews, but some other things (popularity, who published it, etc.) are completely irrelevant to me. If I believe it'll be good, I'll read it even if I was alone in the whole world.
Sometimes recommendations work as well (both here and on Amazon), or browsing lists here with book I just finished.
Also, I am going exclusively for kindle e-books, because space is precious and I save the trees.

I only really find new books through word of mouth (friends or Reddit or Goodreads), Amazon's 'customers who bought this also bought', and when I spend an hour in a bookshop while my wife is shopping and I just pick up and look at random books that catch my eye! (but this is rare, it's mostly the first two)

I buy books a few times a month, but they are usually inexpensive e-books. In order to buy in print, I'd have to be convinced that it's a masterpiece or that there's someone I know who will love it.

The cover rarely attracts my attention. It would have to be absolutely exquisite. Titles are more likely to attract me if they are unusual or reveal that the book is likely to be of particular interest. Since no one's taste completely overlaps with mine, recommendations aren't usually a successful strategy with me. The description is what either seals the deal or eliminates the book. I do check reviews to make sure that there isn't something really wrong with the book such as numerous errors. There is no such thing as an author whose work I always like. I often skip books in a series if that particular title sounds formulaic in the description. I prize originality above all things.

Maggie wrote: "Well, have to say, PRICE figures into my trying a book out..."

Yeah, I didn't mention that. I pretty much buy eBooks exclusively now and I can't see paying $11.99 or more for an eBook, especially if the paperback is only $0.03 more expensive, no matter what the book or who wrote it. That's just plain outright robbery; I know how much is involved in producing an eBook (hint, less than a day's work once you have the cover art) and it's nothing like the costs/time spent formatting and printing physical books.

I cap out purchases at about $9.99 for known authors (if I REALLY want to read the book) and $7.99 for anything else.

I don't buy many books anymore, because both my county and city have their own e-book lending, which gives me two places to borrow books online. They also let people suggest books to be purchased, and they'll purchase books if enough people suggest them. I've been able to suggest multiple books that got purchased, so that is always nice.

I decide what book to read on a lot of factors. The biggest one is author. I don't think I've ever read one book by an author and hated another. I've definitely enjoyed some by the same author more than others, especially if they switch genre, but I will always give a book a chance if I like other works by the author. I will often read every book an author has written if I like them enough and it is feasible.

I don't have very many friends who like reading, and none who read even half as much as I do. However, my parents read just as much as I do (it's where I got it from). They don't always read the same types of books I do, but they are good about recommending any good sci-fi or fantasy books they come across.

Actually this group has given me a lot of good options lately. I just joined in January, so I have been looking at the group shelf and adding things to my tbr list, along with the group reads.

I also use Book Bub, but mainly for indie authors who I wouldn't have heard about otherwise. I've found some amazing books that way. I would get the book for anywhere from free to $2. Then I would love the book and purchase the rest in the series. There are more misses than hits on these, but I've found several really good stories I might have otherwise not known about. There is one author I found this way, and I liked his books so much that I have since purchased everything he has written, and been extremely happy with them all. I've read every single one of his books at least twice, and I eagerly anticipate everything he releases.

Despite all of my methods for finding books, the bottom line is always the blurb. I don't really care about the cover, but it's nice when it gives you an idea of what will happen in the book. No matter how much I love an author, or how much I respect the opinion of the person who recommended something, if I'm not interested in the description of the book, I won't read it. I do look at reviews, but mostly just for any glaring things that jump out of me. For example if the book is totally different from the blurb, then it is likely that people will mention it in reviews.

I tend to get attracted by shiny covers, and then I'll read the blurb. The blurb plays a rather large role in whether or not I'll decide to give a book a shot.

Since I don't do a lot of irl shopping, the covers I see are usually via goodreads, amazon, or the "people who read this also liked this", or discussions in forums. Also the New Release and YA emails from goodreads.

Word of mouth does play some role, and I accept recommendations sometimes - but, still, that's usually just a way to bring the book to my attention and it's still the blurb which will ultimately decide me.

I'm also likely to perk up if I see a New Release from an author I already like and have good results from - such as Gaiman, or Rowling, or a few others. I do like the "Authors You've Read" section of the New Releases email, and probably pay more attention to those than other sections. (I just wish it was a bit more discerning and didn't include authors I've rated 2 or less stars!)

If I'm on the fence, then I'll read a smattering of reviews - generally the 2 and 3 stars - to try and get an idea of whether I think it'll be for me.

I don't pay any attention to number of ratings or average rating, since a lot of books that get raved about I'm sort of meh about. (I've also come to the conclusion that, by-and-large, epic fantasy just isn't my cuppa - though I will try some sword-and-sorcery from time to time.)

I get almost all of my books from the library, and will only buy books if I liked it well enough that I'm likely to reread it, or I might buy a future book in a series that I've already established that I like.

Everyone once in a blue moon I'll buy an ebook on a whim - usually if I have giftcard money to spend, and if I need a gym book. I have been better at reading samples before actually paying for a book, though.

It's rare that I actually buy a physical book. With the exception of a few favorite authors whose books I will buy without question, I typically never buy a book unless I've already read it for free from the library and enjoyed it enough to want to potentially reread it. Occasionally if a book sounds intriguing enough I'll buy it without having read it first, but mostly I'm too poor to do this regularly.

Kindle books on the other hand, I buy a lot more of. If it's on sale for two or three dollars and I find it interesting I'll buy it in a second. I've ended up with quite a library of books this way. Similarly I have an audible subscription and if the book sounds interesting and the narrator sounds good in the sample I will spend my credits with abandon. I also pick up my fair share of their daily deals.

In general there are some authors that I will read anything they publish, either bought or through the library depending on my level of love for them and how numerous/expensive their books are. Past that I primarily base it on the blurb, though covers and reviews also have some amount of influence on my decisions. I also tend to pass up indies unless I have heard great things about it from sources I trust.

Most of the books I have been buying in the last few years were needed by me in order to research a subject I needed to know about in order to write a book. So, most of them were of documentary or biography style and few were fiction. When I do want to read fiction, I mostly choose a book because (in decreasing order of importance): The blurb (interesting); the author (if known and appreciated by me); online revues of the book.

Allison wrote: "Summoning this thread back from the dead in response to conversations we're presently having. How do you choose what book to read next or to buy?"

Hooray for threadcromancy!

The OP covered most of the reasons, for me. I kind of feel like I've answered something like this on the group board before, but if *I* can't really remember, I suspect no one else will either:

marketing:
Feels low, but is probably higher than I think. For example, I was regularly visiting tor.com for a while, and realized a few months later that I was buying an awful lot of Tor books...

word-of-mouth eg my friend said to read it:
In real life: rarely, except when visiting my reader family.
Online: constantly!

because it's been traditionally published and not indie published
because it's been indie published and not traditionally:
I need a solid recommendation to buy an indie (if indie = self-pub) because their level of vetting, editing, and/or proofreading can be low.

have to read it for school, university, whatever: N/A

known author
unknown author:
The former much more than the latter, although of course reading unknown authors transforms them into known ones!

it's on the bookclub list:
This or a buddy read. Absolutely.

the cover looks great
the blurb hooked me:
The former more than the latter, and others' reviews over either.

i opened up on page 69 and that got me in:
I don't go to bookstores or libraries as much as I used to, for various reasons.

i know the author, etc.:
I only know one author, whose books I've read and enjoyed a lot.

I guess that non-native English speakers have it easier for self-published works. Since English is most likely our second language, we can overlook some smaller mistakes.
Truth is, there were books I've read with awful (and by that I mean really terrible in one case) spelling, yet good story. It was pain to read, but I pressed on because I wanted to see how it goes...

In Putin’s Russia, book chooses YOU.

I've got a short list of authors that I will automatically preorder new releases from. These are people I know well enough to be confident that I will probably like anything they write.

Beyond, that, its usually the write up or blurb that gets me to buy a book and read it. Do the story, setting or characters sound interesting? I will sometimes take reviews into account, but so many books I thought were really good still got some bad reviews, that unless I am familiar with the reviewer's taste in books and know its close to mine, I hesitate to put much faith in their reviews.

mood, inclination, barometric pressure, biorhythms and astrological positions...this is what informs my decisions

says "same in Ukraine! book choose you!".

Choosing a book can be rather daunting when you haven’t read any in 20 years (and even then it was only Diana Gabaldon, Robert Ludlum, James Clavell, Danielle Steel, Agatha Christie and a couple of others binge read in 6-12 months and then no more other than the kids books until last November so it’s probably closer to 35 years since I really had a passion for reading).

One of the main problems is that I have no idea about authors and who is good which is why I love Goodreads and am so glad an ex FB friend was a member and used to comment on Goodreads FB posts. That led me here.

Sometimes I go into bookshops with a list of books that people who seem to like the same books I do on here have recommended. A lot of the time though I just browse and look at every book on the shelves and read blurbs and check out the ratings on Goodreads and see if the above mentioned people who like the same books have read it and what they think of it. Sometimes a book screams out to me and I have to have it. Sometimes it’s because the cover is exquisite like the Birdman’s Wife. Other times I am just drawn to it even with the plainest of covers. It’s like an uncontrollable urge to own the book. The actual book I can hold in my hands. I have thousands of ebooks that I have downloaded but I still would rather own the proper book. Sometimes I go in and I come out with 5 and other times, even though I thought I wanted a book before I went in and had the money for it and it was there, I come out with none. This week I HAD to have The Belles and City of Brass. There was no way I could have walked out without them. I read the Belles in 4 1/2 hours yesterday. Loved it. Mostly do love the books that this happens with.

I do go to our local library but they never have anything I want which is why I usually end up at a shop. Usually the cheaper department store that sells new books at half of the price of the bookshops. And I justify my excessive book buying by telling my husband (and myself) that I used to spend more on magazines every week and books are a much better investment. Honestly a magazine nowadays is upwards of $10. Some are $15. It’s disgusting. I can get an new older book for $10-12 and a new release for $14-16. All of our new releases are in paperback form lately hence the cheaper price. The new release hardbacks are $24 from that shop and over $40 from the bookshop. Australia is very expensive when it comes to buying books....

Years ago I was browsing around in bookstores and getting inspired by cover, author, recommendations etc.

These days I primarily choose books from 2 sources:

1. Recommendations from friends (or friend’s friends) makes up the majority

2. New releases by favourite authors adds a few extra books

And as my To-Read pile is ever growing the system seems to be working

In terms of books to actually purchase - I choose based on the author. As in: this is a well known author and probably gets good money I don’t need to buy. If this is an up and coming author who I’ve already read and liked something I’ll buy the treebook to support that authors efforts, and help them to continue writing.

Ok, I didn't realize the OP had specific questions. Again, I don't buy, so fwiw, here are the ones from the list that matter to me:

marketing - have to admit, sometimes it helps

word-of-mouth eg my friend said to read it - how I get most of my suggestions, but isn't necessarily convincing

because it's been traditionally published and not indie published - yes, I usually prefer traditionally published because poor proofreading and editing cause me pain

known author - known *to me*
unknown author - perfectly willing to consider them
it's on the bookclub list - sometimes
the cover looks great - piques interest, of course

the blurb hooked me - Overrated!! Blurbs are hype that focus on buzzwords, often exaggerate how much drama there is ... and since I don't particularly like adventure and drama, I have to look at GR reviews to find out what the reading experience actually will be like, not what the book is *about*!!

i opened up on page 69 and that got me in - neat idea to try

and while not in the sci-fi/fantasy genre - if i see the word cozy on a mystery, it immediately generates a nope response from me

and too much exposition in the title does the same:

The Seventh Commandment: the twisty conspiracy thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat

When you're at that, "This is like [popular thing]" is often discouraging for me. Even worse is when it's "like [popular thing 1] and [popular thing 2]". Feels like someone wanted to take a ride on the hype train too much.

Never judge a book by its cover, but I always do....
*Sometimes*

“It’s like Die Hard... in a building!”

Dude, that’s just Die Hard.