I do. All the time. However, I do not buy based on publisher reviews. I also don't care about the reviews at AAR, two lips, Joyfully, romance junkies, CK2S, etc. Those reviews mean little to me. (Especially the last one, as every book is the best book ever.) I only buy based on reviews from other bloggers. People like me :)
I went to Chapters today and I bought Dead girls are easy by Terri Garey, based the review I read at Paperback Reader. I also bought the rest of Lisa Kleypas's Wallflower series based on what Ames had to say. I even bought Highlander Untamed by Monica McCarty because of this review that Casee wrote at Bookbinge. Speaking of Casee, I also ordered Caines reckoning from eharlequin. I wasn't going to bother with that book, but Casee's review sold me. Harlequin is really great when it comes to shipping, so I expect to have Caine in my hands by the middle of next week.
Thats just what I bought today. There are countless books that I have bought because of Nath, Dee and Dee, Shelly at the Bewitched by books and more.
Sure there are books that I buy based on my own tastes, favourite authors, etc. But most of them are bought because bloggers I trust liked and posted about them. It should be said though that I don't always love the books my friends reviews. *ahem* Ames, I'm talking about this book. You liiiieeeeed! (LOL)
For the most part, bloggers don't steer me wrong.
How about you? Do you buy (or avoid) based on what fellow bloggers say?
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I used to get stuff based on reviews, as a librarian I had access to all kinds of review journals/magazines. This was before I started blogging. Now I pretty much read what people suggest. Although I usually steer clear of historical, but Ames' review of Ride the Fire made me read it...and I LOVED it. Also had to read DIW and DOY to take part in the Rumble. Ya'll have good taste, for the most part ;)
I'm like you Chantal. I buy my books mostly based on bloggers' reviews. I agree with you though, I don't care about reviews sites such as AAR and I don't buy based on their reviews because I've quickly come to realize that we don't have the same tastes. After a while of bloggers' reviews, you know who have the same tastes as you and it's become even easier to buy books on their recs and reviews.
That is why I don't even mind if the authors' review site that I've posted about today only give glowing reviews. Because I'm just curious what they are going to say or think of a book :P Esp. if it's one I liked :)However, like other review sites, I won't be buying my books based on their reviews.
I definitely add books to my TBR list based on reviews from fellow bloggers, and usually I am not disappointed!
In fact, my worst reads of this year have either been review books that I have been sent or a book that I read because it won an award somewhere!
i buy books based on bloggers's reviews.
Ditto! I'd rather buy a book based on a blogger's review than a regular review site.
I never buy based upon the "professional" reviews. If I buy based upon a review, it's the reviews of my fellow bloggers or trusted friends.
I also get tons of email newsletters, so I take what looks interesting and read excerpts and make my decisions from there.
um... I was going to jump in with my two cents but then realized that it would sound either a) like I was slamming the "competition" or b) like it never occurred to me that I'm now an "official" reviewer. Although TGTBTU could be considered a hybrid between blogs and review only sites, I guess.
So, I'm gonna ignore all that and answer as someone with their own blog. I have been dropping review sites when nearly all their reviews say that every author is one of their favorites and/or every book deserves 4.5 to 5 clovers, stars, hearts, flowers, or any other Lucky Charm marshmallow symbol. I can understand that reviews are skewed towards books that reviewers read because they interest them, but if a book has some definite flaws (continuity, etc.) and they are not even mentioned, then I don't consider it a well written review. You can like a book despite it's flaws, but you have to at least acknowledge those major flaws or it appears that the review is written with the author in mind instead of the reader.
I dropped one review site when I started hearing rumors that they are paid reviews and I strongly suspect a couple of others are too.
But nonetheless, I still visit some review sites to research what I want to buy. Often, I can get a better "feel" for what the book is about that way since the cover blurbs aren't always that helpful.
Oh, and I apologize for being such a blog hog with that answer. *blush*
Mollie, I'm eager to see who gets my vote in the rumble.
Nath, I had the same thoughts about that site you posted about. I'll skim the reviews they post, but nothing they write is going to make me buy what they rave about.
Marg, one of the worst books I read this year won a bunch of awards at AAR. Go figure.
Hi Izzy, *waving*.
Hi Mad!
Lori, I also like newsletters. Especially when recipes are added. Yum.
Tell me how you really feel, Bev. LOL. Hey, don't apologize, I liked getting comments!
I liked this part the best...You can like a book despite it's flaws, but you have to at least acknowledge those major flaws or it appears that the review is written with the author in mind instead of the reader.
I agree, I agree, I agree. Like you, I feel that a lot of those sites are for the author, rather than us readers.
It's like many of them have no filter for whats good or bad. Harriet Klausner is a good example. *every* book is 4/5 or 5/5. I saw that Brenda Joyce has a quote from HK on her website. It was painful to see that.
I also am one who goes by blogger reviews. While I read the reviews at AAR and like them - it's more for the story outline than the grade. With bloggers, you usually get more than the original opinion since we also get other bloggers thoughts too.
And as far as Amazon goes - fffftt - don't give them a moment's notice
Hi Kristie, gosh, I feel the same way about Amazon. Meh.
I add books to my wishlist based on blogger reviews, but I don't usually buy them unless a trusted friend tells me to (meaning, one of you who I know likes the same stuff as me, or one of the girls I blog with) because I'm UBER anal and have major issues. LOL
As for those other review sites..meh. I'm like QB, I don't think they're writing reviews for readers and that's what I am. If I ever publish a book, however, I'm sending it to Harriet Klausner (or whatever) and AAR, and not you mean bitches.
:P
I'm like you, trusted sites I lurk at influence me. But it does scare me hat Dear Author brought up the issue of authors PAYING for people to go and comment on blogs. Yikes, that's just scary. But I do trust some of my fellow bloggers to steer me in the right direction!
LMAO!! Well I liked it!! hehe