TGIF 4: Book Blogger Influence

hot trends in fiction

I'm joining TGIF again today. This meme is hosted by the lovely GReads. 

This week's question: has a particular review or blogger ever convinced you to pick up a book?

My answer: This happens to me all the time!! All of us who love to read face the same problem: so many books, never enough time. 

In an attempt to choose which books to read, I make snap judgments based on a million different things, some of them valid and others ridiculous. So I'm always happy to hear a lot of other opinions.

Here's some personal examples:


One of my favorite book friends, Caitlin, loves angel books. I find a lot of them formulaic: good vs. evil, fallen angels, yada yada. But because Caitlin loves them so much, I'm going to try again! She recommended The Fallen by Thomas E. Sniegowski. I'm going to try it!

If you're a regular reader of this blog, you know I don't like zombies. Aliens aren't high on my list either. But Amy @ BookLovingMom has great taste in books and she LOVES Obsidian by Jennifer Armentrout. So even though that book seems to have an alien or two, it's in my TBR pile too. 

I put Wanderlove way down on my TBR list. But Heather @ TheFlyleafReview wrote a great review of it. So I tried it, and I really liked it!

Have you ever given a book a second chance because of a review, a blogger, or a nagging friend? Tell me which book it was!

Then be sure to scroll down and enter Freebie Friday and Divergent Trivia!!




Comments

  1. I would probably have never given the Vampire Academy books a lot of thought, I love vamp books but the covers put me off and they just didn't seem my style. But the reviews were all awesome so I gave them a try. Ended up loving all of them:)Same with Anna and the French Kiss.

    I'm with you, I don't like zombie's either, actually I had no idea that Obsidian was a zombie book, but maybe I'll check it out too (thanks for the heads up!) The only other zombie book I've read and liked is Dearly Departed. But it's heavy in the romance dept., so that's probably why I like it so much (Bram the zombie is actually quite HOT:)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Obsidian is aliens. No zombies. At least I don't think so. Maybe I should edit that to make it clearer!

      Delete
    2. ohhh. well I didn't know that either. Actually I don't think I have ever read any of her books. I may need to remedy that. I'm a science fiction geek to the nth degree:)

      Delete
  2. I'm terrified of zombies. Since they aren't real I've decidd I have a fear of cannabolisim...lol Jonathan Mayberry was the key note speaker at backspace and wrote a ya zombie book called Rot n Ruin..he was so awesome I almost bought it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know they're not real, but they're just so gross. Dangly eyeballs, skin falling off. Yuck.

      Delete
  3. I remember a while ago I was started to read the MAZE RUNNER and I lost interest in it. Then a few weeks ago my friend kept telling me I HAD to read it again and give it a second chance. I was hesitant but I started to read it over again.And guess what? Now it's one of my favorite books and recommmend to my other friends.

    Lisseth @read-a-holicz.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have not tried that one yet. But if you love it that much, I'll give it a go this summer!

      Delete
  4. I swear to you, you will love Obsidian!! If you don't you can hunt me down and I will endure your wrath!! It's seriously super awesome!! I would not steer you wrong!! Did you read Dearly, Departed btw? It's a zombie book, but not creepy gross zombies. I think you might like it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ha ha -- I will hunt you down like a mindless flesh-eating zombie!
      Okay, if I need to gauge the gross-out factor of any zombie books, you are my go-to girl!

      Delete
    2. Hehe!! There are some totally non gross zombie books out there. :) As far as Aliens go, you don't get hotter than Obsidian!

      Delete
    3. Hahaha, I think everyone loves Obsidian. I should pick it up, too...

      Patricia // My Hop

      Delete
  5. I have a few friends that read different genres than I do but know which books might work for me.
    For example I don't usually like historical romance but Carrie from In the Hammock has recommended a few that have more humor that I do enjoy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's fun to get to know book friends, cause then you can better recommend book to each other.

      Delete
  6. Great post Jen! Your reviews usually convince me and thanks! And don't you just love getting recommendations from friends?

    Also Jen, my blogaversary!
    http://wwwthebookshelves.blogspot.com/2012/04/my-blogaversary-swag-pack.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Happy Blogoversary! Just stopped by your blog to send you good wishes!
      So sorry about your computer virus -- that sucks!
      Glad you're back in the blogosphere!!

      Delete
  7. I don't remember one specific blogger begging me to read something. I just follow the hype sometimes.. Or I find new authors thru giveaways.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I feel into the hype a few times and it caused me to forget what I love to read. Blogging has helped me find alot of good reads too!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree with you -- I try not to just follow the hype. I know what kinds of books I usually love. Still, when everyone is raving about a book, I'm curious. Sometimes I'm so glad I tried books out of my zone and sometimes I read one and think, okay, well, that was just not for me!

      Delete
  9. As well as reviews & blog posts, my daughter has influenced my reading. I've read a wider range of books, then I would have otherwise.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My kids have definitely expanded my reading horizons -- and I hope I've done the same for them. They both refused to read Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh -- one of the best books ever -- so I brought it on a vacation to a lodge where we had no TV and no internet. Read it aloud to them and they LOVED it. Yay, success!!

      Delete
  10. OK...I'm totally late to the party (LOL!). First I just want to say that I totally agree with Amy: READ OBSIDIAN! I LOVED that book! As far as your question goes, I will say yes that a review/blogger has definitely convinced me to pick up a book. You know I have added many, many books to my TBR based on your reviews & recommendations :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are never too late :)
      Promise I will read it as soon as I can!!!!
      And thanks so much for the kind words! I appreciate them!!

      Delete
  11. You made me reconsider the Chemical Garden Trilogy, which I had thrown out of my TBR pile based on my sheer dislike of their cover art! Thank you for helping me overcome my pettiness!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aw, thanks....
      I don't think Chemical Garden is for everyone, but I'm glad you liked it. Or have you read it yet??

      Delete
  12. It's back in my TBR pile, which is definitely wasn't before!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Thanks so much for stopping by. I hope you will share your thoughts on this post!