5 Pet Peeves Regarding Blurbs
Have you ever read the blurb about a book and thought “Wow! This is going to be great!” and then you start reading and the book is NOTHING like what is advertised? This seems to happen a lot. But to be honest this doesn’t bother me as much as other things I’ve come across while reading a book after reading its blurb. There are five specific things that really irk me when picking up a new book:
1. Spoilers
Sometimes blurbs need a warning label. Something like “if you haven’t read the book, don’t read me unless you like plot spoilers than by all means do.” It’s one thing to have a plot spoiler in a blurb IF it occurs within the first 10% of the book. It’s another thing entirely when it doesn’t happen until 40 or 50%. Take for instance (one of my favorite books!) Obsidian by Jennifer L Armentrout.
The hot alien living next door marks me.
You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon’s touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip.
Yeah that’s a huge spoiler for those that haven’t read the series. It’s not like you don’t know something is different about Daemon while reading, BUT it isn’t revealed until 48% (yes I have that notated on my Kindle) that he is alien. WTH?!?! It’s in the BLURB and it is the main plot twist. SPOILED!!!
2. False Advertising
So many blurbs nowadays start with something like this: “From NYT Bestselling author” or “Amazon’s #1 Best-Selling” or my favorite “Listed in Amazon’s Top 100 Bestseller” Yeah don’t lie in a blurb. Before I started blogging, I’d see this and think this author must be really good and the book too. Then I’d read the book and wonder what was wrong with me that I didn’t like (nor understand) how the book or author could be a bestseller.
Now that I am a book reviewer and now the system a bit better I realize that it is a stretch of the truth. Yes the book may have made a bestseller list but it was in a category something like this: “Fiction>Women’s Fiction>Romance>Historical>Fantasy & Science Fiction>Time Travel” Yes that is an actual category and list on Amazon.
My suggestion to authors is to put this information/accolade inside the book. You should be proud to make it in the top 100 of any category, but I wouldn’t include it in the blurb unless you are consistently on the actual, overall best-selling list. Too critical of me? Maybe, but I only speak truth ;)
3. Comparisons to Other Best-Selling Novels
This needs to stop! Do not get my hopes up by comparing your book to Game of Thrones or saying your book is the next Hunger Games. Just DON’T DO IT! All that winds up happening is I pick up said book, I read it with extremely high expectations, and then I’m sorely disappointed. Stop now!
4. Recap the First Chapter
I regret to say that I have read blurbs that are just a shortened version of the first chapter. This is just lazy people! Obviously the book is going to be more than just the events of the first chapter. At least I hope it is. Otherwise it would be a very dull book.
5. Genre Hoodwink!
This is saying in the blurb you fit this genre and in reality you don’t. You deceive the readers by claiming you are a “high fantasy adventure” when in truth the only thing fantastical about you is that the main character is an elf. The rest of said book is set in urban Manhattan with not a hint of magic or other paranormal elements that make up a high fantasy. Do not promise me that you are something that you aren’t. It’s a quick way to get on my “Do NOT Read” list.
About Lillian @ Mom with a Reading Problem
I'm a 30 year old Southern girl, currently living in the mountains of East TN. I started blogging 3 years ago on a dare from my husband after I became a stay-at-home mama to our little man and haven't looked back. When I'm not blogging or reading, I'm a superhero or Jedi and sometimes I'm just Mom. More About Me ↠
Social Links:
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/lmccurry286
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/momwithareadingproblem
I so agree with hating the spoilers! I literally just read a book where the blurb talked about two people that would die towards the middle. I was so annoyed, what's the point of reading the book now?!
ReplyDelete