You guys know I ran across a review yesterday amongst the new releases that made me raise an eyebrow and go… “hmmm…” maybe I wanna read this? Two brothers that hate each other? She’s “mated” with one (I think for alpha-political reasons), but really wants the other and things get “hefty” in the bedroom?
First Beast by Faye Avalon <— THE LESS-THAN-STELLER REVIEW KINDA MAKES ME WANNA READ IT. LOL!! It has only one review so far and not a favorable one, yet the review actually makes it sound super-steamy-tumultous-good.
Well. *waggles eyebrows*. LOL!!!!! 😛
So I took it to Facebook, and it looks like I’m not the only one swayed (positively) by “bad” reviews.
Maryse’s Book Blog: I just came across a less-than-stellar review for a new book, that actually kind of made me want to READ it. LOL!! How often does that happen to you?
Heather: A lot.
Sophie: Heaps. If I’m on the fence about a book I always read the low rated reviews and 9/10 times its what makes me pick up the book and read it.
Maryse’s Book Blog: There have been quite a few “bad reviews” that had me wanting to pick up the books. Things that other readers might not like can be right up my alley! 😀
Cindy: I have had it happen once. The ranting in the bad review had me laughing so much I had to read the book. I ended up liking the book which was a bonus (the book was Shooter by Dahlia West)
Maryse’s Book Blog: WOW I love that!! 😀
Author Sadie Grubor: A lot more than it probably should. LOL Does this say something bad about me?
Maryse’s Book Blog: Naahhhh it’s actually fun!
Louise: It’s happened to me…more than a few times….
Suanne Laqueur: If a someone gives a low review because the book has too much graphic sex, I download immediately.
Maryse’s Book Blog: that was the case in this one!!! LOL!!!
Suanne Laqueur: “Tsk, I just don’t know that I approve of all that anal play so soon in a relationship. And that she had sex with both him and his brother? At the same time? No, not for me…” (Trips over self to buy the book) What page? WHAT PAGE?!
Lisa: What book?!?! Lol
Suanne Laqueur: Is there a sequel?!
Tara Sivec: I use my bad reviews to promote Seduction and Snacks on my website LOL! Hello, my name is Tara, and I’m an a**hole.
Maryse’s Book Blog: THAT IS AWESOME!!!!! 😛
Suanne Laqueur: OMG, I love this. Hi, I’m Suanne, and I write verbose, flowery crap that just drags on and on.
Maryse’s Book Blog: Suanne I love your verboseness. And I love your flowery crap. It’s AMAZING. Just sayin’ 😉
Suanne Laqueur: Hey, how about a spinoff of “Celebrity Mean Tweets” but for authors – you read your bad reviews to the camera. Could that be a thing?
Maryse’s Book Blog: Suanne OMG SO CLEVER!!!!!! YESSSSS
Emersyn: That’s how I find a lot of my favorites! ^^ Like from the person who commented above me! LOL <3 Tara!!!
Stace: That’s how I ended up buying Beautiful Disaster…read a 2 star review but the person posted quotes from the book…bought it and LOVED it.
Alicia: A friend once made fun of a book on facebook about a cowboy millionaire who wanted to knock up his love interest and jokingly mentioned that it was free on amazon. I of course downloaded it and found it pretty fun.
Maryse’s Book Blog: LOL!!!!
Elizabeth Reyes: I remember cringing way back when I’d get a 1 star review of my very first book Forever Mine (The Moreno Brothers) from someone who was APPALLED by the amount of GRAPHIC sex! It always stumped me because the love scene in the book is fade to black. confused emoticon But I’d cringe because it never failed after those one star reviews I’d see a spike in sales and think “Oh boy. These readers who just bought it based on that review are in for a surprise!” But yep those kinds of reviews especially when they hated something I LOVE in books like “The hero was just too over the top alpha.” I’m like “Yes please!” lol
Maryse’s Book Blog: I love an author’s perspective!!! I’m the exact same way!! I’m all… “Oh you hate that he’s an absolute jerk, and can’t stand how she can love him anyway?” MINE!!!! LOL!! 😛 ‘Cause sometimes… there’s SO much more to it than that, and I love discovering that. I just gotta know why she loves him anyway… LOL!
Anyone else enjoy the bad reviews (and end up tempted by the book… or even LOVING the book) like we do?
YES!!!! Here are more super-fun responses!!! 😀
Jessica Hawkins: So great. I’m guilty of 1-clicking some!
Amanda: Love this lol!
Hilaria: I love Suanne Laqueur, Author’s idea of “Celebrity Mean Tweets” for authors!
Maryse’s Book Blog: I’m willing to host the videos!!! grin emoticon
Suanne Laqueur: We’re gonna be on Jimmy Fallon!
Rebecca: This just made me LOL!!! Yes- I am the same way- for some of the same reasons- but, I’m going to let Suanne take the credit for the specifics. hysterical! P.S. Immediately one-clicked “Fire Beast” First. Fire. Whichever.
Maryse’s Book Blog: Rebecca Dix *snort* 😛 !!!!!!!!
Amanda Dick: LOVE it! I’m so glad you posted this! Reviews are just ONE person’s opinion, after all – what they may not have liked, someone else may love 🙂 That’s why, as an author, I always try to encourage people to post honest reviews. As a reader, it’s sometimes the thing that makes me buy the book, regardless of the star rating 🙂
Maryse’s Book Blog: YES!!!! 😀
Bink Cummings: I was thinking about this the other day- I was also wondering, if someone started writing glowing 1 star reviews about how great the book was? Would that garner the same attention…Hum…. I don’t read 1 star reviews on books unless I’ve already read the book. However, I do read 3 star. — But I agree, they can give some interesting insight… lol.. Great post. 😀
Yvonne: lol just like Stace in your post I bought Beautiful Disaster after reading a really bad review! Loved it!
Maryse’s Book Blog: I was attracted to the “he’s SO scary” type reviews. I had to read it!!
Jen McConnell: On a review of my fairy tale romance Ever Mine, they titled it ‘Fairy Porn’. My first thought was–That is SOOO going on all my promotion from now on! Who wouldn’t want to read fairy porn?
Maryse’s Book Blog: LOL!!! That’s priceless!!!! 😛
Lindsay: If someone slams a book for graphic sex, too much sex, etc., that tells me more about them than the actual book. What works for some doesn’t work for others, THAT is nothing an author can control. They can control the typos and grammar errors, weak or one-dimensional characters with little development, and non-existent plots. If I see those things in a review I’ll think twice before buying. But yeah, saying a book is too graphic that just makes me one-click!
Lucy: This made me laugh out loud resulting in a coffee-spew moment! I rarely read the 4 & 5 star reviews… always click to the lowest ones. Usually good for eye rolling and chuckles. Not to mention, supplementing my TBR list. 😉
Jeannine Colette: This post is hysterical!
Lisa: The only times a ‘bad’ review might sway me is if more than one post describes the h as having a weak and pathetic character. Or if the review outlines things like domestic violence, rape or excessive cheating that is not necessary to the storyline…all trigger warning for me. I want my protagonists strong and kickass, not depicted as victims, but that is all personal to me. And as Lindsay says….is more about personal taste than the quality of the writing.
If the one star reviews are complaining about too much explicit stuff…..sign me up. Why read this genre if you don’t want the saucy bits?? Nipple clamps and butt plugs anyone?? *winks*I’ll still read a book if there are editing issues, I can over look this cos most if my favourite books began as indie books without the polish.
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That moment when you find yourself doing anal on a public blog post….
WAIT! That’s not what I meant!!!!
*snort* <--- I totally actually did!!! 😛
If someone slams a book for graphic sex, too much sex, etc., that tells me more about them than the actual book. What works for some doesn’t work for others, THAT is nothing an author can control. They can control the typos and grammar errors, weak or one-dimensional characters with little development, and non-existent plots. If I see those things in a review I’ll think twice before buying. But yeah, saying a book is too graphic that just makes me one-click!
This made me laugh out loud resulting in a coffee-spew moment! I rarely read the 4 & 5 star reviews… always click to the lowest ones. Usually good for eye rolling and chuckles. Not to mention, supplementing my TBR list. 😉
If someone says something about it offending their religious beliefs, I usually take a second look. because WHY READ this genre and then preach to me when it’s a bit too hot? I’ll give that book a chance. But mostly, I believe bad reviews.
Now THIS review? I won’t red it because I personally don’t like the brother sharing storyline. never have. But anal play too early in the book? Sign me up!
This post is hysterical!
The only times a ‘bad’ review might sway me is if more than one post describes the h as having a weak and pathetic character. Or if the review outlines things like domestic violence, rape or excessive cheating that is not necessary to the storyline…all trigger warning for me. I want my protagonists strong and kickass, not depicted as victims, but that is all personal to me. And as Lindsay says….is more about personal taste than the quality of the writing.
If the one star reviews are complaining about too much explicit stuff…..sign me up. Why read this genre if you don’t want the saucy bits?? Nipple clamps and butt plugs anyone?? *winks*
I’ll still read a book if there are editing issues, I can over look this cos most if my favourite books began as indie books without the polish.