Red flags? Green lights? We're all about being colour-coded here.
Considering we're having a blast saying what will immediately turn us off a book. How about we also look at this from the other side? What will immediately get your interest in a book blurb?
Are there words, phrases that serve as a magnet?
For me - unlike some others in the other thread - recommendations do actually make a difference. However, I usually prefer it to come from a review site/publication.
Additionally, if there is reference to an award won or even a nomination for an award, this will draw my eye.
Words like "dystopia", "dark", "controversial" all work to varying degrees and a post-apocalyptic feel usually works unless there's reference to EMP or zombies. I particularly like it if there's no real reference to the event itself because the event is far less interesting to me than the reality it has created.
Covers will work for me. It's not blurb-specific, but it's an aspect of how the book is presented to me and a good cover will definitely draw my attention.
Feeling like a book is going to force me to look at a issue from an angle with which I'm unfamiliar intrigues, even if it promises to be challenging. Most obvious and well-known example this year would probably be
Lolita. This links back to the word "controversial" I guess.
Where references to page numbers (especially equating a book's size with its value) fails completely for me, sales figures and the word "best-seller" can sometimes grant a book a little extra time from me to make a decision. It's a cheap tactic, but it will sometimes work with me.
What tactics work for you?