I usually home in on the three star reviews, as those are usually the most balanced and honest in my opinion. I don't really trust either the gushing five star reviews or the relentlessly negative one stars. It's kind of weird that I don't trust five star reviews as I've left a five star review myself. Lol.
I've also found that what some reviewers see as a negative aspect of a book, often serves to pique my interest.
A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on.” ― Anonymous
Post by Banana Boat on Oct 12, 2017 16:02:05 GMT -7
I tend to look at the 5 star reviews and the 1 star reviews. If someone dislikes a book enough to only give it a 1 star review I want to know why. Sometimes its not even for the content of the book but because they felt it wasn't in the condition it should have been (used pb books) or so other silly reason 🎃.
Does anyone else find that many times it's the negative reviews that make you want to read a book? Often times, the very thing that someone else hates, I look for in books.
"The H was too controlling". Click! "The H was a stalker!" Click! "The H was too possessive." Click! Click! Click! - lol.
My first thought was -- Have you read Anne Cleeland's Acton and Doyle series? I think you may enjoy it. The first is Murder in Thrall.
My first thought was -- Have you read Anne Cleeland's Acton and Doyle series? I think you may enjoy it. The first is Murder in Thrall.
I have the book, started it loved Doyle's awesome OTT'ness and then was distracted by something. (I can't remember now what, though, lol.) I need to get back to it. I have like 3 books I'm reading, 1 I'm listening to and I'm thinking of starting another. I'm weird, I know. Sleep? Who needs it when I can read. 😉
Last Edit: Oct 14, 2017 17:43:38 GMT -7 by Samantha K
My first thought was -- Have you read Anne Cleeland's Acton and Doyle series? I think you may enjoy it. The first is Murder in Thrall.
I have the book, started it loved Doyle's awesome OTT'ness and then was distracted by something. (I can't remember now what, though, lol.) I need to get back to it. I have like 3 books I'm reading, 1 I'm listening to and I'm thinking of starting another. I'm weird, I know. Sleep? Who needs it when I can read. 😉
Sleep is vastly overrated. Although I should add that some sleep is necessary, if only so I can stay awake at work. Since I'm not independently wealthy, I really need to keep my job, so I can, you know, actually afford to buy books and add to the ever growing, threatening to topple over and bury me, TBR pile.
A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on.” ― Anonymous
Sleep is vastly overrated. Although I should add that some sleep is necessary, if only so I can stay awake at work. Since I'm not independently wealthy, I really need to keep my job, so I can, you know, actually afford to buy books and add to the ever growing, threatening to topple over and bury me, TBR pile.
I have the book, started it loved Doyle's awesome OTT'ness and then was distracted by something. (I can't remember now what, though, lol.) I need to get back to it. I have like 3 books I'm reading, 1 I'm listening to and I'm thinking of starting another. I'm weird, I know. Sleep? Who needs it when I can read. 😉
I'm happy to know I am not the only one who does this.
Beta heroes are not decisive enough for my taste. Also they let the heroine slip through their fingers, and don't fight for her. I avoid clergy heroes b/c they are too preachy & not s8xy. Too vanilla too. Sorry if anyone here wed a preacher, no offense intended.
Beta heroes are not decisive enough for my taste. Also they let the heroine slip through their fingers, and don't fight for her. I avoid clergy heroes b/c they are too preachy & not s8xy. Too vanilla too. Sorry if anyone here wed a preacher, no offense intended.
Sometimes a negative review tips off readers to a TSTL character, domestic violence, cheating: some elements which you want to avoid in a romance. ML.
Yep, exactly. And sometimes they're just damn good entertainment. Some of the very best reviews I've ever read have been for absolute zero or 1 star books.
Sometimes a negative review tips off readers to a TSTL character, domestic violence, cheating: some elements which you want to avoid in a romance. ML.
Yep, exactly. And sometimes they're just damn good entertainment. Some of the very best reviews I've ever read have been for absolute zero or 1 star books.
After you see a certain # of book reviews by the same person, you may decide you trust them. That was the case w/ OLT, Judge Tabor, and Danker reviewing on Amazon. Others also. I recently did a 2 star review on GR, where most folks gave the book a 4 or 5 star. It was only my opinion, but to me the h got on my last nerve & the hero was in lust, not in love. I don't expect perfection in a love story, but I want an emotional pay-back.
To borrow from The Bard, " to review or not to review, that is the question."
I always appreciate when a reviewer mentions the triggers. I hate to buy or start a book that I'll DNF. 🎃
Howdy BB----
I might see a H or h as obnoxious or shallow, while another reviewer might see the back-story? Or a good rationale for this behavior? @ times it is difficult to review a book, w/o giving away the whole story.
The one I'm re-reading now, The Duke's Holiday, has the H and h being rude to each other, and making assumptions from the start. But I know the transformation to come. Sigh!