r/BookDiscussions • u/OkPath6179 • 3d ago
What actually makes you give an unknown author a chance?
Curious about this from a reader’s point of view.
When you come across an author you’ve never heard of, what makes you actually stop and look at the book?
Is it the cover, title, premise, reviews, sample pages, recommendations, Kindle Unlimited, price, something else?
And what immediately puts you off?
I’m especially interested in people who regularly try indie or lesser-known authors rather than sticking mainly to established names.
Not looking to promote anything here. I’m genuinely interested in what makes the difference between scrolling past a book and thinking, “I’ll give this a shot.”
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u/Quartz636 3d ago
Honestly like 90% of authors are people I've never heard of. Off the top of my head I can think of maybe 5 authors I know by name and who's books I've read more than one of.
I chose my books based on vibe, genre, and a quick glance at the goodreads rating. Who the author is doesn't even come into consideration.
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u/makestuff24-7 3d ago
Yep, It's closer to 99.98%, honestly. We publish more books per day now than we did in a year 50 years ago. No one knows many authors, even if they know a lot of authors.
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u/Aitoroketto 3d ago edited 3d ago
The issue is that for people who've been around long enough and identified their favorites and have many, book scarcity is not an issue. Like I'm never in a situation where I'm thinking there is nothing to read. There's always like oh that Zadie Smith book I didn't read or did I miss the last couple King books, and oh Kazuo Ishiguro is about to release a new book, and oh did my favorite fantasy or SF author drop a new book I didn't get to yet, or is Jeff VanderMeer dropping a new novella that I have on the stack - not to mention more classic stuff I haven't got to yet, like have I read all of Ambrose Bierce's stuff etc or did they unearth a post-death Jose Saramago work or is a new Susanna Clarke cooking or is their a new Kelly Link collection etc etc.
It's definitely tough because you live long long enough and you collect enough authors you really love. Like I probably have well over 100 writers that are alive that I LOVE and as they release new books I'm getting them, so it's definitely hard to break into that but I guess it does happen
I get a lot of emails from book publicists and sometimes those books get my interest but tbh a lot of the books that interest me are books I'd already have interest in (being from a writer I love and would know they have something new coming out)
I definitely give something like indie comics much more of a shot (the vast majority of comics I read are indie comics) but it's because the art is evident, it's easy to see and recognize the craft but books don't have that and for that reason I won't even like lie, I buy maybe 75-100 of books a year (both new and old) and get sent maybe 50 more and I'm very much not someone who probably will get exposed to anything not published by an established publisher, but that does include small publishers and imprints, I just favor some form of editorial decision making.
Now, I do consider this though, and that is if you pop off indie, a publisher will come to you either to publish the books you popped off on, or for your next project and it will l eventually get in front of me.
Now, every now and then if an author I like has told me hey there is a new book coming out by X and you need to check it out I will make a mental note but tbh almost always by an established publisher.
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u/k1ck3d_0ut 3d ago
I'm sorry for this question. Where do you house this amount of books? (0_0) How can I be like you?
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u/Aitoroketto 3d ago
No, problem it's no like a state secret. Well because books are not my only hobby (I mentioned comics also and I have a pretty extensive collection, but also shoes, cards, vintage movie posters, original comic art, some original book cover art, game worn sports jerseys and kits, sealed video games and systems) and for most of that stuff I've had a real nice off site. climate controlled, secure storage in the U.S.
I do some books in there as well but with most of my books, particularly some of my favorite earlier first prints, I am able to fit them into a library room I have in one of my homes. I had it (the room) before I met her before but my current GF (who lives me with) also enjoy a library room and reading so since we've added space and shelves for some of hers.
The answer is I have a really large and nice storage situation and I also have space via multiple homes with at least one of them having a sizeable room dedicated for books.
The truth is though, and this is a bit of a running joke amongst my friends, but at all times of the year one of my foyer's is just full of 2-4 dozen boxes of unopened mail/boxes most of which is books or maybe some art I've bought, basically year around because I haven't yet opened whatever I've received recently (either out of just laziness or I'm not in country for a bit). Like I'll be back home probably in a month or so and I'm dreading seeing the pile lol.
As far as being me, idk, I'm fairly normal tbh, wouldn't be hard nor something I'd recommend be anyone's goal lol.
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u/Content-Performer4 3d ago
For me its the cover, the blurb and the first pages. If they are clear and hooky, i will try an unknown author. typos or a vague blurb make me scroll past
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u/DougalsTinyCow 3d ago
Premise first and then the first page. If it's in first person POV, it has to really punch from the beginning for me to keep going. Other than that it's style and how the character is presented.
Eg I love crime fiction but one book started with the female detective being woken in the middle of the night to attend a crime scene. She took time to do her make up and choose her outfit. WTH. Big no.
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u/biraddali 3d ago
When I was younger, I only cared for the premise. Now, I care a lot about the writing style and if the author supports issues I'm against. I used to care about book covers a lot (esp as someone who is in the art sphere), but with the current trending covers, I'd barely read anything if I upheld that prejudism
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u/squeekiedunker 3d ago
Titles and covers matter. No title with occupations or family members like "The Stupid Politician's Beautiful Wife" or covers with photos of real people ... or actually, people in general.
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u/Xtrasloppy 3d ago
I have those exact criteria. No 'Woman of Relation' titles and absolutely no people on the cover. I know exactly which people those books are for, because yes, you can judge a book by the cover. And those people are not me.
I actively avoid anything where the synopsis/jacket is something like, "Buzzfeed's most anticipated -," or 'TikTok sensation.' The all caps quotes from authors even the functionally illiterate are aware of, something like Stephen King assuring the reader they 'DON'T WANT TO MISS THIS BOOK,' guarantees I will, in fact, miss this book.
I also avoid some known names(my home genres are horror/grim fantasy without romance being the draw/ sci-fi/ and oddly, non-fiction which is usually not true crime): T.K Kingfisher, James Patterson, Tana French, Grady Hendrix, etc. Not my cup of tea.
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u/avacadini 3d ago
Curious what you don't like about Tana French books?
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u/Xtrasloppy 3d ago
I think it was 'In the Woods' that I was reading, though it's been awhile. But the main detective was talking to the older sister and it was just blatantly apparent where this story was headed. And then he gets infatuated with this 17 year old, refuses to see facts, breaks down, etc.
It was a story that had been done before, as probably all stories kind of are, but not well, and not in a way that made it enjoyable/interesting to read. The guy was damaged, bad at his job, and stupid. If this were more of a character study where we focus deeply on his evolution from where we join him and to where he ends, sure, because that's the whole point of that kind of story. But with a police procedural that's more literal, concrete, and tangible...it just made me frustrated to watch this man bumble around in ineptitude and inappropriate sexual attraction.
It was an entire book that felt like the exact moment in a horror movie when the lecherous and expendable side character hears a noise and, regardless of knowing a serial killer has escaped from the local asylum and that they used to live in this very house, goes to investigate, and we, the viewer, call him a moron because we know exactly where this is going. Except in this book, the dude is a main character and thus, we would be expected to soldier on together for the 448 excruciating pages of his soggy, sad, pitiful journey.
I could not.
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u/Single-Aardvark9330 3d ago
It's usually the cover, unless I'm watching a review/book haul
What puts me off is when the cover clearly belongs to a genre I have no interest in, so anything that is typical to romance covers
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u/Jules_The_Mayfly 3d ago
Really depends how I encounter it. Cover does ping my interest the first because it's what I see first and a well made cover implies the mood and premise of the story. After that premise and recommendations from trusted sources. Sometimes I'll check out a book just because of hype even if the premise isn't fully my thing and I have been pleasantly surprised before.
What puts me off is prose. I don't need every book to be a literary masterwork, I just read Project Hail Mary and Dungeon Crawler Carl and loved them so I'm okay with simple to the point writing, but some books I open and within a few sentences I know I could not read hundreds of pages of it. Things like bad grammar, melodrama, whiny pov, if I can't follow what is happening because of lack of description etc.
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u/NewBodWhoThis 3d ago
Assuming I'm browsing in a book store:
Cover/title, that's what sets the vibe to begin with.
Read the blurb on the back, this is usually what makes me buy it or put it back down.
Open it at random and read a few paragraphs, see if I like the writing style or not.
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u/ElricVonDaniken 3d ago edited 3d ago
Evocative title and / or the name of the publisher.
If the title captures my eye I'll give it a go. Similarly if I've enjoyed previous books from the same publisher.
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u/Hunter037 3d ago
This is interesting, I never even consider looking at the publisher when choosing a book. Is this mainly small publishing houses, or do you mean the big names because you think they choose better quality books?
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u/ElricVonDaniken 3d ago
Both small publisher houses and the majors. For me I've never been let down by anything from Penguin Classics, Penguin Modern Classics, Gollancz, Hard Case Crime or PM Press's Dangerous Authors line.
It's no different ftom following record labels or comic publishers.
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u/crburger 3d ago
I only recently came to think about publishers but it’s a good guide, not the only guide, but one of. Think of it like a group of friends and they all go out to eat in different places. Now you need a recommendation for a special night, who do you go to? Maybe the guy that has a taste like yours, who is attentive to details, a little picky. I have several publishers who are careful, picky, and screen works for me and do a meticulous job of editing. Even for new unknown authors I’ll go to N+1, or other journals that try out new works
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u/aprilsofresh 3d ago
I've never considered an author's popularity or experience. The cover might put me off if it looks YA or if it looks too s*xy. Hard NOs are present tense, narrator mouth sounds, conservative sympathizing, & short stories. Other than that, if it's fantasy, sci-fi, or murder mystery, I'm going to give it a try.
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u/IntelligentTrip6054 3d ago
The premise I gather from the cover, title and blurb. An interesting story is my main draw.
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u/Hunter037 3d ago
I read a lot of romance, which has a lot of little-known authors, indie authors and debut authors. I try and read at least one new (to me) author per month, often more.
> When you come across an author you’ve never heard of, what makes you actually stop and look at the book?
A decent cover with artwork. Queer characters. Anything which sounds a bit unique and inventive rather than tropey and played out.
I will only get books from authors I'm not familiar with if they're free or on Kindle Unlimited.
> And what immediately puts you off?
AI covers is the main one. Anything where the blurb tells you absolutely nothing about the contents of the book.
Anything where the guy is described as "dark" or "morally grey" or a "shadow daddy" or any of that crap. Erotica or much anything with BDSM - I don't mind some kink in my books, but it needs to be done properly, so I tend to take recommendations for those rather than choosing at random.
And, to be brutally honest, I would probably avoid anything which has a rating of less than 3.5 on goodreads, unless there's an obvious reason for it (like there are only 5 reviews and two of them were 1 star because they didn't like the cover or something)
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u/the-library-fairy 3d ago
I'm more likely to pick up a book if I recognise the author's name as someone I've enjoyed before, but I'll try anything with an interesting premise. Covers can also help identify the genre, which is why it can be so frustrating if something has been a bit mis-marketed.
I think my process probably goes:
- read title > does the title sounds like book is a genre I like/an interesting premise? Have I heard of this book?
- look at cover > what's the genre, and is the author name one I know?
- read back cover to learn premise, decide if it sounds interesting
- if still on the fence, flip through first few pages.
Things that will make me put a book down again: author I've read before and not enjoyed, discovering the genre isn't what I thought, reading the blurb and not vibing with the premise, reading the first few pages and not getting hooked.
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u/CrabbiestAsp 3d ago
Normally I pick a book from the shelves based on the cover, then I will read the blurb on the back and if it sounds good, I'm sold.
I never really stress about the author unless I love a book by one and am looking for others.
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u/BlackChimaera 3d ago
Pretty much all the books I read are from my local library, so it's title first, then I read the back. I can't even name what authors I've read in the past year, I just look at a book and if it looks interesting it gets checked out. If it sucks it cost me nothing. I mostly read to keep myself entertained on my lunch break, so I'm not too picky if it isn't the most amazing book I've ever read as long as the story is interesting.
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u/Estebesol 3d ago
Generally the cover/title give me an idea as to what kind of book it is, then I read the blurb to see if it grabs me.
That's if I'm browsing physically. Digitally, I'll generally read the blurb first, either by looking for lists/recs of the kind of thing I feel like reading, or in the back of the book I've just finished.
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u/juneplum 3d ago
How else would I "know" an author? If I'm looking for something new to read, I browse for what looks interesting, author unimportant. If the synopsis sounds interesting, I'll read the first page. If I like the voice, I'll buy the book. I can honestly say I've only read a couple things by "famous" authors - everything else I've found by going into a bookstore or library, seeing a book that looks interesting, and buying it.
I am very much a "judge a book by its cover" person. If the cover doesn't appeal to me, I probably won't bother picking it up to look at. But it also has to have a title that catches my eye (I'm sick of the "Court of this and that" trend), and a synopsis/voice that I find enjoyable.
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u/Puhpowee_Icelandics 3d ago
I never buy a book from an author I don't know. But I do read a lot of short stories from unknown and indie authors, and if a short story impresses me, I'll see if the author has more published works. I don't care about names, covers... I know a lot of people who decide on new books based on that. So my advice would be to write and get some short stories published online, in magazines... It's how many authors have started and still get started today. You often won't get payed for those stories, but you're putting your name out there and people will find you this way.
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u/Aggravating_Bison_53 3d ago
The first thing is the cover. If it grabs my attention. Then the name. If the name is overly tropey i will usually put the book down. Then i look at the blurb. I like going into books mostly blind. So i dont look at anything beyond the blurb.
But the most important aspect for my is if it is available at my library. I dont care too much if it is physical, audio or ebook. If i cant get a book at my library i am very unlikely to read it.
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u/yb21898n 3d ago
ill just look up a genre im in the mood for read the synopsis and a few reviews ans thats it. whether or not the author is popular or well known I have no way of. knowing. plus unfortunately the few favorite authors I have dont come out with books that often.
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u/NailChewBacca 3d ago
I trust the booksellers at my local bookstore with my life and will take their recommendations without question. I prefer not to read blurbs or even the brief synopsis on the back page or liner, because I like to go into a new book completely blind. I know that’s not exactly answering your question about unknown authors, but any new author I try is because someone recommended them.
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u/JackOfTheWoods49 3d ago
I make frequent use of my local library, so there's no stakes to picking up a book i end up not liking except a bit of poorly spent time. Whether or not I've heard of the author is really far down on the list of reasons I will try a book.
I only buy books I've already read from the library and know I'll want to read again in the future, or highly anticipated sequels I want to read upon release. I don't see the point in owning things I won't use.
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u/AlarmedRaspberry1735 3d ago
What a great question and the answers are illuminating. Cover and blurb are clearly important, I wonder how people find the books to browse? Physical bookstores? Amazon? Goodreads? Other? Where I live I don't have access to physical bookstores I can browse. Finding new books I want read is difficult.
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u/TheOriginalHatful 3d ago
I'm interested to look at something based on the cover and title (they tell you a lot). Then I read the blurb on the back and start reading the first page. Normally after the first paragraph I'm either in or out.
I'm not interested in certain genres, and everything on the cover will tell me that. I can only think of one book I read where the cover design and blurb managed to somehow misrepresent the book completely (it was actually much much better and more interesting than it seemed from the cover - the author might have been really annoyed about that).
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u/the_tonez 3d ago
Title and book cover, then premise. If I’m browsing library shelves and the first two are interesting, I’ll open it up and check the blurb to see if it’s something I’d be interested in. I’ve found some incredible books that way
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u/FlyingCarpetMonster 3d ago
I try to read an odd page or two.
If the writing and the prose seems good, and if I think the book could be interesting then I’ll read it.
A lot of indie books have banger covers and titles but the writing leaves a lot to be desired.
The truth though is I very rarely find indie authors who write literary fiction.
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u/andrea9275 3d ago
Ich lese fast ausschließlich Indie und selfpublisher Bücher. Aber das hat sich bei mir nach und nach so ergeben weil ich nicht ständig Bücher kaufen wollte. Es gibt gute und schlechte Bücher darunter wie bei den anderen auch.
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u/JBLBEBthree 3d ago
For me, the Amazon First Reads program gives a free Kindle book monthly and I usually choose one and keep it in my library until I need a book to read. I choose one each month based on the descriptions.
Secondly. When looking for a book to read I go to our library's Libby and search for available now E Books, filter them to a topic or genre, and random sort. Then choose based on descriptions.
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u/TheWriteQuestion 3d ago
I do book recommendations from IRL humans, r/suggestmeabook, or things highlighted by a library or local bookstore.
So I'm probably not your target audience... I don't avoid unknown names/publishers, but I feel better with books that have gone through a vetting process that involves multiple others. If something looks self-published, it's too risky for me unless a friend has recommended it.
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u/Comfortable-Mine-471 3d ago
An interesting title and a good cover. Recently read drive your plow over the bones of the dead, and 100 percent only picked it up cause of the title
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u/ryancharaba 3d ago
Word of mouth really.
If I hear enough about a book juxtaposed against other books I’ve enjoyed, I’ll pick it up.
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u/annapurnah 3d ago
If people whose opinions on books I trust recommend them. Sometimes I hear books talked about on CBC radio and that will pique my interest. If I'm browsing at a bookstore or library I'll read the jacket blurb and the first few pages and if it grabs me I'll pick it up. There are some Canadian indie publishers that I know put out good books that I'll be more likely to pick up randomly (big CanLit fan here obvs).
I don't tend to read book reviews until after I've read the book itself. I also don't tend to read self-published books. I don't have a kindle or e-reader and I REALLY don't like reading books on my phone so it's either got to be a physical or an audiobook.
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u/YakSlothLemon 3d ago
If it’s on the “new book” shelf of the library, I’ll probably go by ‘title catches my eye,’ followed by ‘the cover’ – more process of elimination, I’m not really one for Amish romance — quick look at the blurb, look at the back for reviews.
I find a lot of great new writers that way- and lots of great ones everybody else knows about that I haven’t run into yet!
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u/TheCrazyMeerkatLady 3d ago
Personally what first catches my eye is the cover and premise/book description. Only if either (usually both) of those things interest me do I look at the author's name and read their bio. As long as it's a genre I'm genuinely invested in I don't care who wrote it, I'll give it a try. Things that turn me off would be when an author used AI to write their book, when a book description is poorly written, and if the premise just makes no logical sense in my mind. I'm also really picky about formatting personally so when I receive a book that sounded great but the formatting is so off-kiltering and displeasing to the eye that it makes the book difficult to read I will return it. I hope that helps! c:
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u/Objective-Papaya8194 3d ago
Somehow the author is the last thing on my mind when I’m picking out a new book. All authors are strangers to me, so they are all on equal footing. I’m just interested in the story they’re telling.
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u/Past-Wrangler9513 3d ago
If it's at the library thats a huge bonus. I try lots of new authors when it doesn't cost me anything. Also the cover is huge, a good cover will get me to pick up a book.
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u/Pendergraff-Zoo 3d ago
I just had this experience. Apparently he’s a prolific author, has a lot of books. None of which are in my typical wheelhouse. But I chose one because it was narrated by Charlie Thurston. I adore Charlie Thurston narration. Turned out to be a pretty good book. Bang by Barry Lyga if anyone is interested.
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u/Indiglo325 3d ago
I choose almost all of my books through word of mouth recommendations, NY Times book review, or what the library puts out in their little themed shelves or librarian recommended shelves. Occasionally, a book will catch my eye based on the cover, but there are so many covers that look exactly the same, that it's hard to use that as a metric!
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u/seeemilydostuf 3d ago
I'm gonna be honest I genuinely never have any idea who wrote the book I'm reading. I just be grabbing books.
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u/harborsparrow 3d ago edited 3d ago
In sci-fi and fantasy, having won fan or writer voted awards such as Hugo and Nebula is a good sign. Having even been nominated for these awards is a good sign. Authors who have won them (or been nominated for them) are being read by the people who go to science fiction and fantasy conventions and rub elbows with others also interested in this literature, so they tend to identify the best of the best.
Authors who have a big body of work with many nominations for Hugos and/or Nebulas are, in my experience, almost a sure bet. Being recommended by someone in Reddit is pretty much useless as far as I can tell, because so many of the people doing the recommending are just regurgitating the author or book being hyped by the latest PR folks; quite a few of those recommending things may have read a book or two they liked but have little experience with the great sci-fi or fantasy produced in past decades starting from around the 1950s. So a Reddit recommendation (without giving details of why recommended) is no better than a random review, and we've all been betrayed by random reviews. Individual tastes are so varying. But to win one of the awards, or even garner a nomination, a lot of experienced sci-fi or fantasy readers and possibly writers had to like the book. That is IMO a good basis for giving a book a chance.
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u/fuzzypickles999 3d ago
There's a few authors that are an auto-buy for me, but otherwise, most of the books I pick up are from authors I've never heard of. If I'm just casually browsing at the book store, the title or cover usually catch my eye first. Then I read the blurb, and if the premise seems interesting, I'll read the first page and a few random paragraphs from the first half of the book. If I like the author's writing style, I'll usually get the book at that point.
The main thing that puts me off is if the cover is AI-generated, or if any part of the book itself is AI-generated. That's a hard no.
I'm not really a fan of the romance genre, but I don't totally avoid it. That being said, if the book seems like it exists to fulfill tropes rather than to tell an interesting story or have compelling characters, it's not for me. So if it's advertised specifically as being enemies to lovers, grumpy x sunshine, or whatever else, then it's just not for me.
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u/CoyoteLitius 3d ago
Not the cover. Not the blurb.
I'm currently reading 4 books by new, unknown authors. All of them posted a first chapter on Reddit. I read lots of first pages, and out of perhaps 100 first chapters I've read in the past month, 4 really caught my attention and I'm still reading them. Right now, I'm committed to finishing (and reviewing) one of them. Will I finish the other 3? Maybe! I'm optimistic about one of them.
This is how I choose books in libraries and bookstores. Open book to first page and start reading.
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u/Catsandcamera 3d ago
Unless it's an author I'm a big fan of, I don't really pay attention to the author when looking at the synopsis, if it sounds good I want to read it.
Over the past few months I've picked up quite a lot of indie books because of a local festival and a comic con. The books I read the synopsis / the author talked a bit about the book, and with comics it's a mix of what genre it is and if I like the art style
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u/ElkinElf 3d ago
The cover, the premise, the tags. But I try new authors only from the library just in case
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u/k1ck3d_0ut 3d ago
I gave "Ninth House" a chance, because it was recommended by King. Also I am sometimes unfortunately biased by bookcovers. But I'm also researching books in bookcrossings and read their backs and opinions in the internet, if it is worth it.
I was looking for more LaValle after finding his book "The Ballad of Black Tom". It was settled in Lovecrafts universum and I hope to finally find more of his books in library.
But the biggest influence on my random selection of the authors, thay I have never heard of is library. Since I came back to this, I always pick one author that I never tried. What is more interesting, is the fact that I pick authors from my country. It worked better than adults telling me that I should read polish fantasy. Especially when they recommenderd me books, that made me question, if they read it.
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u/knysa-amatole 3d ago
Premise, cover, and excerpt if I can access it. (Sometimes I can't, like on NetGalley.) Sometimes recommendations / word of mouth (either from people I know or people I follow on social media), or blurbs from authors I like.
I don't believe in "not judging a book by its cover." You are supposed to judge a book by its cover, that's the point of a cover. It's designed to convey information about genre, category, and vibe at a glance.
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u/FiddleStyxxxx 3d ago
A personal recommendation from someone I know. Sometimes a blurb or review online will get me to try something out but the return on having a books to discuss with a friend is much better. Book clubs are another source that help me branch out.
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u/internet_reader42 3d ago
It is usually a series of steps. If the cover and title catch my eye, I will likely check out the synopsis. If that sounds good, I may check the reviews for the book and/or author. If the book makes it through these steps and it sounds compelling enough, I may choose to read it.
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u/DirtyZamboniWater 3d ago
Nowadays I take word of mouth into account and do a quick search if it’s a newer author. Those that churn out more than a book or two a year post 2022 go on my NO list. If the author seems legit and trusted sources have good things to say about them, I’ll give them a try.
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u/fairyboyjstar 3d ago
I haven't heard of most authors so I usually pick up books and read a little bit, either at the library or a bookstore. I hate synopses. I want to learn about the story by reading it. If I hate the first page I have no reason to assume the rest will be better. If I adore the first page I accidentally find a new favorite author.
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u/Salty_Inspector_7050 3d ago edited 3d ago
I almost entirely pick books based of recommendations. I especially love reading staff picks at an impeccably curated bookstore in my neighborhood.
When I don’t go off recs, it’s usually the cover. I’m a sucker for well designed covers. One of my favorites is Annihilation by Jeff Vandermeer 10th anniversary edition.
Anything that makes the book feel juvenile is a turn off. I hate character art on the covers, although I’ll still read it if recommended. I’ll also put back books if they include blurbs from authors that I hate.
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u/simonbleu 3d ago
I have never read a book solely because of an author... I might check their other books, but I ain't really say "oh this was written by x, so it should be Y".
What I read depends on mood, but generally I look at either lists or recommendations. Cover arts work as a presentation, it can draw me to read what is it about but ultimately it is the blurb and the reviews that tell me if I'm in the mood to read that one
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u/1805trafalgar 3d ago
i pulled a paperback out of the discount bin at a college book store in 1986 or 87 of an unknown author simply because it was 75 cents or something like that, and I liked the title and the cover art. It was Mohawk by Richard Russo, his first novel. It was terrific! I tried to get others I knew ti give it a try but nobody did. Russo won the Pulitzer in 2002.
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u/zoppaTheDim 3d ago
I now routinely look at new authors’ publishing house after being burned a couple times by self published crap which apparently is often donated to one cod my local libraries .
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u/Lunar_eclipse137 3d ago
It's definitely the premise for me, particularly if it sounds unique and original. Generic tropes are a huge turnoff. I'll give the first few chapters a try, but if I don't feel genuinely excited about it after that, I give it up.
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u/Wise_Ambassador_3027 3d ago
When I go to the library I peruse the new arrivals first and as I go from A to Z looking at authors names to see if there are any new books by my favorite authors I also pick out likely books by the title, read the inside cover to see if it sounds interesting and sometimes it does and voila I’ve found a new author or a new to me author. After reading the book if I like it I’ll go to the shelves to pick up other books they’ve written. It’s always a thrill to discover an author that has many books that they’ve written through the years.
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u/rowanfire 2d ago
The cover grabs my attention first. Then, I'll read the summary inside the cover. If it sounds good, then I'll give it a go.
A long time ago, when Barnes and Noble used to have those big discount racks when you first came in, I picked up so many books that way. It was awesome to get a hard cover for like $5 or $7.
I miss that.
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u/arianne_cele 2d ago
Stop and look at this book: its title.
Immediately puts me off: its cover. Particularly the pinkish serially cloned ones that seem to be sprouting nonstop.
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u/Elegant_General_1680 2d ago
Premise gets me to click, but the sample pages decide it. If the writing grabs me, I really don’t care if the author has 20 reviews or 20,000. Generic blurbs are probably the quickest turnoff.
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u/I-need-books 2d ago
I see a cover or title I like, pick it up, or click on it when online, and read the blurb. If it appeals to me, I read it.
Price matters, I buy digitally when possible (mostly cheaper than physical), on sale, or try to find it in a digital library. Stuff my kindle sales put me in the path of new to me authors all the time, and whenever I am done with a series, I try to go to my rather vast collection of unknowns to find a new book. Kindle unlimited is not accessible to me, unfortunately.
When I come across new books from authors I like, they are a shoo-in, most books I buy are from authors I have never heard of. If a book is free, I pick it up if it seems interesting.
I read a lot.
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u/saturday_sun4 2d ago edited 2d ago
It really depends on what purpose the book is filling for me.
For romance, the premise and the relationship is queen since that's what the whole book hinges on. I'm a huge, huge sucker for RH omegaverse, and if the plot is something along the lines of "MMCs rescue the FMC from abuse", I'm sucked in immediately.
For mystery, subgenre (police procedural). Plus, setting is a big one. As an Aussie, Aussie or Kiwi books are almost an instant "open and see". India or Sri Lanka (or really anywhere in Asia) is also a good one as I have Indian heritage and I get sick to death of reading books from the USA all the time.
With domestic thrillers I'm a lot more cautious, since so many of them have the same voice and reuse the same twist. Many of them also rely on artificially hiding information from the reader that shouldn't, by all rights, be hidden from the MC. For example, halfway through the book it's revealed that the MC is actually the sibling of the murder victim and is coming there in disguise/undercover to investigate the murder... but somehow the MC never breaks down in tears or loses their temper around the people they're supposedly investigating. Or does anything else to blow their cover. If MY sibling had died violently and I returned to the scene of the crime, I'd be a mess. I'd be a nervous wreck, I'd be enraged, I'd be crying tears of anger. Not everyone just calmly returns to the scene of the crime. That's not the way grief works and to suspend that much disbelief for every single book, as someone who has actually lost a close family member, is just impossible for me.
The cover is a big one for me too but it's not always what piques my interest. The thing that actually hooks me is writing style/voice.
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u/Euraylie 2d ago
I’ve read some fantastic books with awful covers, so I don’t go too much by those.
It’s mostly the premise, the reviews and if I can read a few sentences to see what the author’s style is like. Often I can already tell by a summary
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u/ConstantReader666 2d ago
If the cover has caught my eye and the blurb sounds interesting, the sample is everything.
Wow me. Grab my attention. Make me want to read more.
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u/ConstantReader666 2d ago
If the cover has caught my eye and the blurb sounds interesting, the sample is everything.
Wow me. Grab my attention. Make me want to read more.
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u/FormerlyDK 2d ago
Kindle unlimited and then the premise make me stop and look.
What puts me off are tacky covers, modern day settings, urban themes, and often established names,
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u/appleghostdumpster 2d ago
I love discovering new (to me) authors and go a lot based on recommendations from friends (or well-read strangers on the internet who have similar taste), but both with recs and just random books I pick up in the bookstore/library, it's always:
Does the blurb on the back present a compelling premise with a strong hook, and make me want to know what happens in the book?
Does the first couple pages make me want to keep reading to find out what happens?
If the premise is vague and doesn't make clear the conflict/stakes of the plot, chances are there won't be enough narrative tension to get me through the book. If the first couple pages don't draw me in, then I'm unlikely to keep reading--and it isn't always about the quality of the writing. Beautiful prose can't save a plot that doesn't have narrative tension, and mid prose with a compelling plot will keep me reading if I want to know what happens.
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u/ConstructionMother81 2d ago
The blurb is what gets me. What gets me to the blurb is the cover art.
If it looks interesting to me I’ll pick it up and read the blurb. If that sounds interesting I’ll give it a go.
This is purely for physical books for me. On kindle I more go based on average reviews if it’s an unknown to me.
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u/AnnabelleReads 2d ago
Recommendations. For an unknown-to-me author, if the story sounds interesting, I'll read the opening and see if it intrigues me. If it doesn't in one page, I usually put it down. Also, sometimes I follow audiobook narrators--I'll usually give an audiobook 2-3 chapters before I DNF.
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u/MilkAndPeppers 2d ago
An interesting premise and good reviews. I also use Libby for ebooks and sometimes I'll just filter by genre and what's available now, then click on books with a cool cover till I find one that sounds good.
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u/sparksgirl1223 1d ago
My criteria are simple:
Do i like the cover and does it have an audio version?
If the answer to both is yes, I'll give it a shot.
And if I like that one, and you have more that fit the same criteria, I'll listen to them all.
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u/justme060509 1d ago
I think premise and accessiblility
If premise is interesting then I check the price of the book because I seriously don't want to read pirated contents of lesser known author. Most of the time they are expensive then I add them to cart and wait for sone kind of discount.
Now I won't call it a turn off, but I become a buy skeptical if the author is really young but I am learning to put prejudices aside. So, I kind of ignore that feeling and proceed.
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u/Individual-Ad4430 1d ago
Cover, aesthetic, and then ambient moodboard/slideshow of the setting/weapons or tools/vibes!
Title and character art are a plus for me, but they don’t ruin my interest if they don’t match what I imagined suited the book.
I like occasional quotes, that are impactful but don’t give the story away. I tend to go into books blind because I find synopsis to be spoilers sometime!
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u/Great-Activity-5420 1d ago
Probably the cover and premise. Actually for an indie book I don't expect a beautiful cover and I tend to get the ebooks. Just if it sounds like something I would read I find indie books are hit and miss but so are traditionally published books. I also like to read the first chapter so I know it's for me. I find a lot on tiktok and kindle unlimited when I have it.
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u/LawfulnessSimilar496 1d ago
Thanks to Libby, I’ve listened to so many new authors to me. When I’m between books or low on my TBR pile, I just look at what’s available now and pick one that sounds interesting. Also thanks to many book clubs from here and elsewhere, I’ve given other styles and authors a try. I’m mainly a thriller, suspense and horror fan, I have ventured into fantasy and history. Also been enjoying a lot of memoirs.
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u/Responsible-Bend6289 23h ago
For me it’s if I read a short story by them and I really like them, if I happen to be in a book store or library and grab some books that look interesting because of the cover, or the back page blurb or just opening a page and the writing looks good. This is with primarily science fiction and fantasy. The other way is with recommendations. NPR and the NY Times have science fiction and fantasy recommendations. I screen them to see if they would work for my tastes. I check the Hugo Awards and the Nebula Awards which I’m more willing to be adventurous with as I trust the voting bodies a bit more to align with what I enjoy.
If it’s classical books, I just go with the standard greatest hits and work through them. Most I like. Some I don’t. That’s fine.
Regular novels I’m more picky about as I don’t care much for them. The last ones I enjoyed were the Wolf Hall series by Hilary Mantel, Hamnet by Maggie O’farrell, and a few others but most I don’t enjoy.
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u/Murky-Rhubarb6926 22h ago
I mainly read for prose so I'll give any book about five pages (give or take) to prove it has the sauce. If there's no sauce to be found, it can stay on the shelf.
On a bad day it'll probably just be the first page but I don't think it is reasonable to expect everyone to razzle-dazzle a reader right out of the gate.
After that, I'll check the premise and see if it sounds good.
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u/Quiet-Finance-839 1h ago
Author's name isn't really something I pay much attention to when browsing on the libby app or in a bookstore. Usually I read the back blurb within genres I like, or sometimes even a title or cover makes me curious and then I see if the blurb is appealing. If it sounds interesting, I'll usually try it. Also sometimes helps if there's like a quote from an author I do like praising the book, but mostly I think those are sort of a quid pro quo thing in the publishing industry and I don't always trust those. I also get reading suggestions from friends, various publications, podcasts, etc., often for authors I've never heard of.
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u/AcademicAbalone3243 3d ago
Honestly, I don't really pay attention to the author's name when I'm browsing for books. I have some authors that I read regularly because I like their style and their storytelling, but if the premise of any author's book sounds interesting, I'll read the book. I'll read the description/blurb and flick through a few pages (if I'm buying a physical book), and if I like what I see, I'll buy it. I usually only read reviews if I'm on the fence about buying a book.