To expect people I know to read my book?

An ex- colleague of mine wrote a book (self published) and I bought it on Amazon. I've never read it it seems really boring it's quite highbrow. But as I'm friends with them on FB, and they'd posted a link to the book so I thought I'd be supportive. I'd definitely buy a friends book in Waterstones and ask for it to be signed with a cheesy message.

I would buy a copy even if it wasn't something I'd usually read. I'd definitely be going along to any signing/promotional events to support my friend.

If you PM me the book I'll buy a copy to support you OP I'll even read it if it's a genre I enjoy & if your signing event is anywhere in central Scotland & you don't mind giving the details I'll come along.

Oooooooh no no no no!

My friend is a multi published author. In talks for a film deal. Some of our mutual friends have been immortalised in his “fictional” characters but there’s no way I’m reading it. It feels too intimate!! Like I’d be looking into his brain.

I work for Waterstones. PM and let me know which book you have written.

I have at least three friends who have had books published and they're all genres I'm not interested in and it would be such a slog for me to try and read the whole thing and then I'd feel guilty for not enjoying it more...

YANBU, my friend has been published, in honesty her genre isn't my thing at all but I bought it and read it and was so proud. Also bought some copies for gifts for people.

Why can't you hand them all a free copy?

Very well done on publication - I know how difficult it can be.

However...

If it's non-fiction, they might not be interested in the subject matter.
If it's fiction, they might not be interested in the genre.

I love seeing my friends' books on the shelves. They may not be my usual genre, but of course I buy a copy...and when I'm in Tesco or Waterstones, I move all the copies to eye-line height so that they will be noticed!

My friend's husband has written a book. I've just signed up for the launch event. I feel that he deserves my support. End of.

They might be worried they won't like it and not know what to say to you?

YABU

Maybe they are just not that interested in your book? You can’t force them.

Also, self boast!

@MargaretThursday sorry it was completely lost on me, but it has been a long day 😆

Maybe you could put together a quick short story and sell it for a few bob! 😄

Nothing is going to affect the publisher's sales strategy except for reviews in the national press, consistent sales over several months, and also what comes next. Because by the time a book is in Waterstones, the draft of the next book should already be in the publisher's hands. You don't write a book and then sit around doing some knitting for a year while the Waterstones' sales figures come in.
Publishers also want businesslike authors. Ones with agents and a realistic view of the market, prepared to take editing and rewriting and advice. Getting your 20 friends to write insincere and flattering reviews on Amazon because they 'love you/are proud of you/are your mates and that's what mates do', or any other of the daft reasons quoted on this thread is disingenuous at best and dishonest in real life.
OP, if you and your book exist, for goodness sake leave your friends out of your professional life.

YANBU. I suspect they are jealous.

@MissAmbrosia

The publisher isnt giving the books away.

The author gets 10 to 20 books as part of the deal.
Theyll want to keep a couple and probably give copies to parents/siblings/anyone who inspired the book or the characters.

Authors need to do a lot of self promotion. Small book launches and a saturated market mean you do a lot of your own publicity. Giving free copies away to the right people is part of the author's self promotion. That doeant happen by giving signed copies away to friends.
The author will not have enough free books to give away to friends. They would have to pay for them themselves if all their friends expected a signed copy for free.

I would buy it if its something I'd like.

Congratulations OP that’s amazing!

YANBU - I’d expect my close friends to buy one - even if they didn’t read it!

I'm sure a handful of copies to close friends aren't going to affect the publisher's sales strategy.

I think this thread has got bogged down in one way you could be supportive - reading /buying the book. But the OP lists 2 hurtful events in the first post that are really friends not showing any interest at all or having decided amongst themselves that "noone" would be interested in the OPs book because they arent. That's not good OP. (I bet they have you pegged as the failure in the group and aren't coping well with you being successful at something)

To all of the authors (published or not) who have completed a book, well done.

For those who haven't, the difference between supportive friends buying a book and expecting to be given one is that the latter won't count as sales.

There may be times when a modest number of additional sales may influence a publisher to make more effort, journalists to talk about a book or someone with a social media following to mention the book.

If you can afford to buy a copy of a friend's work, please do.

I know someone that published a book, it’s about being a prison officer and absolutely not my cup of tea but.. I bought it and read it and said massive congratulations!

You don’t need to be justifying signings etc.. you just need new friends. I’m sorry you’re not being supported, but massive congratulations!!

I would only read it if it was about something of interest. If a friend or family member wrote a book I wouldn't read it just because I know them