6 Reasons Why I'll Buy a Book

Fact: I don't like coffee. I just like saying Coffee Clutch in my best and deepest New York accent. Considering I'm a New Yorker, I'm pretty freaking good at it. So I've got my tea and I hope you have your heated beverage of choice, because it's time to gab the day away.

I, like all of you, compulsively buy books. That's pretty much what we're all here for, right? But this week I want to talk about what makes you (me?) pick up one book or another. Sure, there's a lot of advising that comes in the form of Goodreads and ratings, but even with all that, you're still the one who has to either pay up or walk away when it comes to buying a book.

So here are my 6 Reasons Why I'll Buy a Book:

1. My friends are RAVING
This probably falls under the Goodreads advising category, but it's totally worth noting. It's like when someone wants to set you up on a blind date. If it's someone you're just acquaintances with, you might be like: Uhmmmm NO. But if it's your best pal who's known you since you were in diapers, you'll probably be like: How soon can I meet the hunk? The same goes for books. If my bookish soul mate is all: YOU WILL LOVE, chances are, I will love. But if it's someone who doesn't know me so well and is just pushing what they love, not what they think I'll really love, then maybe not.

This is for YOU WILL LOVE moments, not any other.

2. Buzzwords
EVERYONE has buzzwords. For some people it's a specific place. For other's it's a time period or a natural disaster or MAGIC. But we all have them. I won't get into what mine are now, since this is the Top Ten Tuesday topic in a couple of weeks, but I will tell you right now: if New York City is mentioned in any capacity, I'll probably pick up said book, no matter what anyone else is saying.

3. Cover Love
Y'know those stunning covers you DROOL over? Well, yeah. I do. Sometimes I'll be not so sure about a book but the cover will keep me coming back for more. Occasionally, if a book has a REALLY GOOD cover, I won't be able to stop thinking about it and, even though I was at the store just the day before, I'll have to go back and get it before my head explodes.

4. Reading the first page
This, like all other tactics, can be faulty. I read the first page of Seraphina in the store and I dismissed it because I had no idea what was happening. Eventually I went back to it because of reasons number 1 and 2, but I was never quite sure until I plowed past that prologue and got to the good stuff. And MAN is it good. But sometimes reading the first page really does help me decide whether to buy a book or not. It lets me get a feel for the authors writing style and the pacing of the books - both of which are very important factors in my reading experience.

5. Trusting my gut
Sometimes I'll buy a book on impulse. Actually, I'm pretty indecisive on the whole, but every now and again I'll just buy something because my insides tell me to. I can't say I'm always right, but more often than not, I am. I think my most successful gut purchase was the first Maroon 5 CD - Songs About Jane. I was in Tower Records (I know, I know) and I had those giant headphones on and I was sampling something other than "Harder to Breathe" (which the radio would NOT stop playing) and I just wasn't sure. But then I was like, SCREW THIS I WANT IT. Needless to say my insides can sometimes be genius. Although I can't tell you what my last impulse book buy was. I've been doing a lot of borrowing, recommendation taking and Goodreads background checking recently. So there's that.

This gif works for reasons 5 and 6. Take note.

6. Borrow First, Buy Later
If I'm not sure about a book for whatever reason, a lot of the time I'll take it out of the library or borrow from a friend first. IF I love it, I'll scurry out to the bookstore and snatch it up. When will I re-read? I don't know. But I need it. I NEED IT. So I'll buy it and keep it on my shelf for pushing on people or perusing or petting. Y'know, the 3 P's. Natch.

Okay. That's enough from me. Time for you guys to chime in. What makes YOU pick up a book? I could always use some new, crazy methods, so do leave me some advising in the comments below.