Petra X > Status Update

I’ve a compulsive fear of spoilers for books there is even the slightest chance I’ll one day read so I generally only read full reviews for books I’ve already read. I do make exceptions for in-person friends, a super catchy first line that I couldn’t help but read, or folks like you who write interesting reviews about books I know I’ll never read (our overlap is truly tiny).

Rod wrote: "or folks like you who write interesting reviews about books I know I’ll never read (our overlap is truly tiny)...."

I'm the same. I like to read interesting reviews in any genre. But also I need to read reviews of books that I wouldn't read because of buying for my bookshop.

I haven't done any drive-by likes as yet, actually ;))) I read the review first - and the reasons for reading can vary; the author, the genre, the first few lines, or I just know that I like this person's reviews.

It's a mixture but pretty methodical: What captures my attention first usually is the cover, actually. Next, I'll look at who wrote the review (friend, second-degree-friend, friend for a specific genre or reading variety, etc.) and if the first few sentences still keep my interest up, I'll read the review closely and possibly add the book to my TBR - if I do the latter, I invariably like the review at least.

And I have a few friends whose reviews I always read.

I don't generally do drive-by likes. I either like the book or what the reviewer said in the review. I generally research books I'm going to buy before I buy them (too much crap and books are too expensive for too many drive-by book purchases) so will read reviews for specific books starting from the 1 stars and going up. I will also read reviews of random books if the book sounds interesting (might want to read it), or the first line of the review sounds interesting.

"We all do drive-by likes on the update feed..."

Not all!

"... what makes you go and read the full review? Is it the genre, the title, the first few lines or you like how that GR friend writes?..."

The friend and the title/author. I don't notice the genre. There are a few friends whose reviews I always look at, and some books and authors, too. When at the review, I may read it carefully, or just skim. If I comment, I make sure to like it (even if I am disagreeing). Sometimes, I just click to follow updates so I'm reminded to come back and maybe comment when I have more time.

I sometimes get notifications for new comments on reviews I've commented on before and see I've not liked it. That's not my MO, and although I may occasionally slip up, it happens often enough that I think GR loses likes sometimes.

Rod wrote: "I’ve a compulsive fear of spoilers for books there is even the slightest chance I’ll one day read so I generally only read full reviews for books I’ve already read..."

I understand that. Fortunately, most of my friends are careful with what they write. I do read review of books I've not read - some of my favourite reads in recent years have arisen that way. But I tend to forget the details pretty quickly anyway, so as long as I don't read a book immediately after reading a review, it's not a problem for me.

Usually the first line or so really catches my attention, I'll read all of it.

I don't do a lot of drive-by unless it is someone I know writes really fun/well thought-out reviews and I just do not have time to read it.

I will however, always read my friends' reviews of a book I am looking at before any others because those are people whose views I appreciate and trust.

Something at the start catches my eye. Also read it when I'm thinking about borrowing or buying it, or just curious if it's worth putting on my shopping list.

- After I read a book, I'll check out some reviews to see what others think. Even if I disagree with them, reading reasonable reviews from other POVs is interesting. Books are very subjective.
- When I see low stars rating with reviews, I'd read them to see whether the readers justify the ratings. While there are unjustifiable (mean-spirited) ones, there are also many constructive insightful, low-star reviews out there. Solely low ratings don't deter me as a reader.
- This is just me, but I try to always compare books with those who like my reviews, even when we are on different sides of the spectrum.
- Reviews done by reviewers that I enjoy.
- Reviews that seem interesting or made with good effort that appear on my feed.

Mostly I am just like you. Sometimes I am interested in a book that doesn't have many reviews and then I will read all of them and like any that are remotely helpful, which may be a purely emotional reaction outside the content. This could be along the "she always makes me laugh" or "he's always angry about" sorts of things. Mood matters more than topic or plot for me, and way more than "lyrical writing"

The combination of the genre and the person for me!

Alexandra wrote: "I haven't done any drive-by likes as yet, actually ;))) I read the review first -..."

This is because you have a manageable number of friends. I used to do that, keep the numbers down so I could read everything friends wrote but it sort of grew, especially the last few years. I rarely accept friend requests now, partly for that reason.

If it's a book I'm interested in, or by a GR friend I know to be an insightful and engaging reviewer, I'll read the whole thing. If not, I'll skim the first line, at best. I have only so much time to live, and GR already absorbs too much of it.

Petra back to life, back to reality or GR anyway wrote: "This is because you have a manageable number of friends. I used to do that, keep the numbers..."

That sounds like a very valid reason, yes!

Wulf wrote: "And I have a few friends whose reviews I always read..."

What is it about their reviews that makes them so compulsively readable?

There are some people where I'll read most of their reviews, but mostly it depends how likely I am to be interested in the book. This kind of goes with the first since with some people there's a lot of overlap and with others it's more niche topics I might be following them for while the bulk of their reading doesn't interest me. And also, honestly, how long the review is. If it's short I might read it even if I'm not super interested in the book, but long reviews tend to get thrown off into tabs to read later, and a lot of time later never comes, or I end up stressed about all the tabs I've opened to "read later".

Elentarri wrote: "I don't generally do drive-by likes. I either like the book or what the reviewer said in the review.e..."

Nice to know that you, and others, read the reviews before hitting like. But I don't want to imply that there is anything wrong with liking reviews after reading just a few lines in the update feed. GR is set up for us to do that, and sometimes you read the title, read a few lines and think great, but for various reasons (time, going to read it later maybe, not quite enough interest, reciprocity) it gets a like and the whole review doesn't get read, or at least not then.

I look at the genre and the title first. But when a GR reviewer is intelligent, funny, and a good writer, I ALWAYS want to read their review!

Cecily wrote: "If I comment, I make sure to like it (even if I am disagreeing)......"

I do that too. I hit like for all reviews I read (exceptions: racist or hate-filled stuff) even if I don't like the review or opinions. It's a kind of thank you for writing it. There are sites that have massive PR campaigns to persuade us that they are better than GR, like Storygraph that has substituted tags for reviews, but to me nothing substitutes for even a line or two of someone's experience of reading a book, so I like to say thanks (drive-bys are thanks too).

I happen to read extensively some GR users too! Some reviewers are so articulate in expressing and linking up works and drawing perspectives with contemporary matters it's bordering on spooky :D

Chelsea wrote: "Usually the first line or so really catches my attention, I'll read all of it. .."

There are some reviewers who always put in a headline in bold and separated from the main body of the text by an a blank line. Do these attract you more, less or neither?

7jane wrote: "Something at the start catches my eye. Also read it when I'm thinking about borrowing or buying it, or just curious if it's worth putting on my shopping list."

I wonder if you can narrow down that 'something' that catches your eye?

Your questions always make me think about things in a way I've never thought about them before... I have identified three reasons for seeking out and reading full reviews (I tend not to do drive-by likes, because so few of my Goodreads friends write reviews). 1. If I absolutely adored a book, I want to read reviews to see why other people liked it. 2. If I loathed a book, I want to read (and savor) other people's catty comments about it. Okay, I also want to see why people may have liked it. 3. If I'm on the fence about reading a book. Normally it's a pretty snap-judgment decision for me. I have a long, long TBR list, so I don't tend to waste time on a marginal titles that come to my attention. Sometimes, though, there's an element that I find appealing, surrounded by several red flags, so I go see what other people thought about it. One of my favorite guilty pleasures is reading absolutely savage reviews, so I probably spend the most time on those. They're usually so much more eloquent than the glowing reviews.

Sotto wrote: "- Reviews that seem interesting or made with good effort that appear on my feed..."

That begs another question what makes a review interesting in its first few lines?

Petra back to life, back to reality or GR anyway wrote: "That begs another question what makes a review interesting in its first few lines?"

Hee, if I could answer that, I would be getting paid.

It depends on if I'm in a hurry. Some people write very thoughtful or entertaining reviews; sometimes it's a book I'm interested in. If it's a book I've read, I'm more interested in what others thought of it.

Linda wrote: " One of my favorite guilty pleasures is reading absolutely savage reviews, so I probably spend the most time on those. They're usually so much more eloquent than the glowing reviews...."

Me too! A really 'good' 1-star review can be very enjoyable.

My list is very small so I can read almost all the reviews. My likes go out for lots of reasons; making me laugh will definitely get one, just reviewing a unique book that I find interesting might get one, saying something interesting about a familiar book (good or bad) will often get one. I prefer short, honest reviews whether I agree with the assessment or not.

Reading savage reviews of Sarah Maas books is a guilty pleasure of mine.

If the book is within a genre that I normally read then I will check out the full review.

Noel wrote: "I prefer short, honest reviews whether I agree with the assessment or not ..."

Lots of people don't like reviews they don't agree with and like to make that known in comments. They should just write their own review instead.

First few lines are my hook to read the rest. Also, I like to read personal experiences with a book, rather than summaries of the story. I can find summaries on the backs of books, but personal experiences are unique to each reader.

I thought about your question about whether I subconsciously have a certain 'recipe' to click on a review. So I went to the home page and noted which ones I was interested in (not counting reviews from those readers I enjoy, but 'strangers.' I don't know how the algorithm works, I just happily scroll by)

1. 'This is not a book to read for fun, not a book to read frivolously.
Instead, this is the kind of book to read to your child if an elderly relative has come to live with you, a relative with dementia.' (5*)
Dementia, imho, is the saddest disease humans can have. I don't always have the energy for emotionally-heavy book reviews, but when I do, especially since this one is a picture book about such a profound matter, it gets me curious.

And there are a lot of one-star today:
2. But the worst offender of the last twenty years has to be the uniquely meretricious drivel that constitutes "Angela's Ashes". Dishonest at every level, slimeball McCourt managed to parlay his mawkish maunderings to commercial success...(1*)

3. Terrible writing. Seriously, terrible. I walked away from this mad that I even spent any time on it, and feeling compelled to rate it just to add some realism to goodreads reviews.(1*)

The reviewers are passionate and put effort into writing about why they don't like it. That is respectable instead of just throwing a one-star, and usually, I understand their justifications. Books are subjective, and these kinds of reviewers mostly have valid reasons. I have to find out.

4. So, here I sit in a bit of a conundrum. On the onset, given all the shining star reviews this one had, I thought I would feel the same glow. I didn't. It wasn't until I started the dreaded skim that it picked up -three quarters through. (3*)

Most reviews I chose are considered 'meaty,' and about books I'm not planning to read or have read because even small things could be a spoiler for me.
Sorry for the long answer.

Audrey wrote: "Reading savage reviews of Sarah Maas books is a guilty pleasure of mine."

Why Sarah Maas in particular? Did you buy a box set of her books and hate them all? lol

A very good friend of mine here on Goodreads writes some excellent reviews and also adds citations and notes at the end of it. He is also known for adding images of paintings or works of art that he found to be complimentary to the book that he liked reading. A very, very intelligent reviewer, this fellow.

Any review longer than three or four paragraphs, I give it a miss. Short to the point on what someone liked or not does it for me, no interest in reading a long detailed summary, rather just read the book.

I agree with John. Any review that goes on and on about the story and plot is a miss.

If I have read/would like to read the actual book, then I will most likely read the full review. If I have heard of the book in any capacity I am more likely to read the review. I also like humorous reviews, so if I know that GR user to be funny I will also likely read the full review. I like negative reviews, so if I see that it's 1 or 2 stars I'm more inclined to read it.

Wow, there are quite a few things that drive my decision to read a full review or not. If I have read the book, I usually read the full review. If I enjoy a particular reviewer, I read the whole review unless it is part of a series that I have not read but plan to. If the topic of the book is one that interests me, I read the full review. There are some reviewers I really like but sometimes the reviews are too long & detailed, that I quit reading. I really dislike fiction reviews that give too much of the plot away. I only read reviews of books in a series if I have already read that particular installment. I must admit I don't like reviews with a lot of profanity in them. Books in my TBR lists if they get negative reviews, I usually read those reviews.

John wrote: "Any review longer than three or four paragraphs, I give it a miss... no interest in reading a long detailed summary, rather just read the book."

Elentarri wrote: "...Any review that goes on and on about the story and plot is a miss."

Totally understandable. However, as someone who is incapable of writing short reviews, and who often enjoys longish reviews by others on GR, I would say the good ones are not just a long detailed summary, but raise questions, and reflect aspects of the reviewer's life and how they connected with the book. They are as much about prompting discussion with those who have read the book as enticing (or warning!) those who have not read it. But as I said, if you don't like long reviews, that's absolutely fine.

Marie wrote: "If the book is within a genre that I normally read then I will check out the full review."

So you read them to do with the book, that maybe you would be interested in getting? I read reviews of any genre because I like reading reviews, but then I often get books out of my genre for the shop. Perhaps I would only read books in the genres I like if I didn't have a bookshop.

Sarah wrote: "First few lines are my hook to read the rest. ..."

Do you like it when people put a headline in bold?

Kaethe wrote: "which may be a purely emotional reaction outside the content. This could be along the "she always makes me laugh" or "he's always angry about" sorts of things. Mood matters more than topic or plot for me, and way more than "lyrical writing"..."

I enjoy reviews by people with strong personalities and views, but tend to clash with them and then I tend to get a really critical PM and am blocked! Happens quite a lot. I get over it.

There are a select few I try to read every time. Maybe twenty or so friends. There are many more that I read based on genre, title, and first few lines.

Michael wrote: "The combination of the genre and the person for me!"

Are you friends with many people who don't review books in your genre?

Most of the time it is the title, I’m just more interested in some subjects than others, nature for example, so I will usually read those.

I like to read reviews of books that I have read to see how others felt about that particular book. Those reviews can vary greatly. However, if the reviewer decides to write a college term paper length review, I will probably skip it. The shorter the review the better.

Skallagrimsen wrote: "If it's a book I'm interested in, or by a GR friend I know to be an insightful and engaging reviewer, I'll read the whole thing. If not, I'll skim the first line, at best. I have only so much time to live, and GR already absorbs too much of it"

Excellent answer!

Daniel wrote: "long reviews tend to get thrown off into tabs to read later, and a lot of time later never comes, or I end up stressed about all the tabs I've opened to "read later"...."

I use the extension One-Tab to send all the tabs to when I get stressed. I tend to look at them when I want to waste time rather than do something important. Takes the stress off!

Matal “The Mischling Princess” wrote: "I look at the genre and the title first. But when a GR reviewer is intelligent, funny, and a good writer, I ALWAYS want to read their review!"

That's the best sort of friend, intelligent, funny, writes well - and writes a lot of reviews!