Quote:
Originally Posted by Rev. Bob
You are, of course, free to do that. To repurpose your metaphor, I see posting a review based on a preview as akin to judging a five-course meal based on the appetizer. For instance, I've seen several books where the editing gets noticably worse in the sex scenes - a problem that you probably won't see if you go by a front-of-book sample.
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To be clear, I don't look at the "Look Inside" to review it. I look at it because I am considering reading (i.e. purchasing) the whole book.
If I read the "Look Inside" and just don't feel inspired to buy it, I will stick it on a "tried, didn't buy" shelf - that's enough to remember that it didn't grab me, in case I'm browsing around and the synopsis grabs my attention again. There's a world of difference between "Just not for me" and "Oh dear, this preview is awful, and here are the reasons."
The kind of thing you describe, if they didn't show up in the preview, I've already bought the book and read a substantial part of it. To me, there's also a world of difference between someone who writes "This book sucks" and "I couldn't finish it, it started out well but...." and gives some reasons.
Besides, negative reviews aren't always total downers from an authors point of view. I loathe love triangles with a passion, and I've put down books before that sprang one on me halfway through the book. I hate unexpected cliffhangers that leave the primary plot unresolved (sure, set up the next book, but at least wrap up the main points of this one). That's why I don't read much YA, and I don't buy serials unless they're already complete. But there are a
lot of readers who actively like both those things. My reason for not finishing a book can as well be someone elses "Oh that sounds good." while also warning off other people who don't like love triangles and cliffhangers. I've picked up books based on the reverse--"It's too hard sciencey", or "I don't get the worldbuilding, you have to figure it out as you go along, there's no exposition" - both being things I tend to like, but that aren't for everyone.
A good part of marketing for an author is getting the book in front of the
right audience. Negative reviews can help with that more than a sycophantic "OMG OMG OMG it's so amazing" review with no content. I really wish authors would stop obsessing over their average ratings and how many stars things have, and worry about what the reviews actually say.