How much do online reviews shape what you pick up next?
Reviews mainly make me aware of books that I might want to pick up. If a person who generally likes the same type of books as me enjoyed a book, that may make me more likely to pick it up.
More often, if I’m interested in the book from the blurb, I won’t read reviews. I don’t want to risk getting spoilers or getting influenced in how I should feel about it.
If I’m really not sure if I want to put the time into a book, I may look at reviews to get an overall sense if people liked it. If it trends negative or brings up plot points that will annoy me, I may go to something else.
Yesterday I wrote about a friend who gets upset when I rate books poorly that she wanted to read. I definitely don’t let other people influence my opinions that much.
Overall, I think people are getting less interested in reviews overall. Do you agree?
