What do you look for in a book?
With The Heir on sale at the moment, I’ve been considering what usually motivates me to buy a book.
Price is definitely a motivating factor. If a book’s on sale I am tempted to buy it, especially if it’s a Kindle sale. I am buying most of my books on Kindle at the moment simply because it’s so much cheaper than buying the physical book. After all, if I fall in love with the book I can still buy a copy for my bookshelf.
The cover is another big selling point for me. I can be tempted to buy a book by cover alone and a crappy cover has stopped me buying one many times. If the cover is generic and contains simply one boring image that says little about the book then I will pass it by. Be in no doubt that covers can make or break sales.
I think the biggest thing that gets me to buy is recommendations from friends. If a person I know recommends a book I’ll definitely look at it, especially if that person has similar tastes to me. What better recommendation than a friend who loved a book you loved and says, ‘Try this. It’s just as good!�
One thing that definitely turn me off is other authors spamming me about their books constantly or doing it on sites I visit regularly. I can’t stand being bombarded with constant messages telling me I MUST buy this book. Nothing turns me off an author and their work quicker or more permanently.
All these factors I have experienced a lot lately as I am in the middle of a book buying frenzy after receiving a good quantity of Amazon gift card money for Christmas. So I continue to look at and ponder on many books out there. Which parts of a story sell it for me? I like romance but prefer it clean. I like sci-fi and fantasy so look as it’s not too technical. Lately there have been most YA books on my reading list, which is good, since I write for that genre!
What about you? What are make-or-break deals for you when you are buying a book? Let me know in the comments.
