How do you chose what fiction book to read?

I log what I’ve read on good reads. If I enjoy a book I will look for other books by the same author, I have a list of want to read books and also look for books on the website. I’m also on fantastic fiction who email me when a new book from a author I’m following is out.

i get all my books from the library.

If someone or something recommends a book I look it up and read the synopsis. If I see a book that looks interesting I'll read the back. If it sounds ok, I add it to my wish list. If there's a book I like, I'll search the author and add others to my wish list.

When I run out of things to read I go and order a batch from my wish list.

Agree with this. There are a billion books out there that I'll never have the time to read in my lifetime as it is, so I'm not going to waste my time on something I'm not enjoying. Reading is meant to be an enjoyable pastime for fun, not an extended dose of slightly bitter-tasting medicine.

I love browsing in bookshops and could spend hours doing it. I'll always browse the whole of the general fiction section and just pick up things that have titles/cover designs that interest me or things that I've heard of, and once I've done that I'll go to the genre sections and browse the Crime & Thriller, Horror and Fantasy sections.

I also spend ages clicking around my Amazon recommendations etc and buy lots like that too (I read hard copies and e-books, happy with either).

In addition to that I talk about books loads with my friends and family and we recommend stuff to each other. I'm also on Goodreads and Fable and follow quite a few book/author accounts on social media, so I see a lot of reviews and recommendations and book chat. And I read the Books section in the Guardian and also watch and listen to various book shows on radio, TV and podcasts.

Among the things that might make me pick up a book and buy it are:

• Author - is it someone I've read before and know that I like, or someone I've heard others talking about?
• Title
• Cover design
• Subject matter
• Blurb / quotes from other authors on the cover
• Reviews, either from professional critics or other readers
• Genre
• Shortlisted for prizes, could be general or genre-specific

Basically I spend most of my spare time reading books, learning about books, talking about books, writing about books and shopping for books.

Blimey, I usually avoid books that have won literary prizes, they can be so dreary. Though I am reading one that was shortlisted for a prize though I’m reading it in spite of that, not because of it. Exceptions are genre awards, like the CWA for crime writing.

(I used to work for a literary publisher, most literary fiction is unreadable pretentious wank, to be honest. A few honourable exceptions - but not many!)

I pick based on genre, title, cover artwork, recommendations from Kindle / Facebook, I usually read the blurb, authors I recognise, length of series (I like a 3 - 4 book series, too long and I find they tend to get dull or too unrealistic / repetative - although there are lots of great series that buck this trend)... I mostly read on Kindle Free library so it doesn't matter if they are a bit rubbish as they are free. I read a LOT and most of it is not very highbrow. I am hyper-literate and my reading speed is considerably above average so a big weekend of reading will often eat up 10 - 12 paperbacks. My average on a slow week is 4 paperbacks a week. If I find a series I like I'll pay to continue it if it drops off Kindle library. I usually then chase down and read everything that author has written and follow recommendation crumbs to new authors.
I like Sci Fi and Fantasy, Dystopian fiction (can't beat a zombie), Crime and Forensics, Action and Adventure and sometimes a bit of fluffy romance / feel good, mild smut. I've trawled my way through all the classics at one point or another and whilst I loved some (George Orwell, Solzhenitsyn) I really didnt get on with the Brontes. I have no room in my life for Biographies / AutoBiographies.

My favourite topic, I need a new book for this evening. Last night's was Dome 6 which I did enjoy - a bit reminiscent of Logan's Run I felt. However I wasn't interested enough to read the next in the series. I enjoyed Sarah Beth Durst's Spell Shop and even paid for that but the next in the series is £11.99 even on Kindle and I am too tight to pay that. I'd be bankrupt in a month if I bought books at that price.

I read the blurb to see if I like the storyline. Read the first page to make sure I like the writing.

All sorts of ways

browsing in bookshops very much judging by title/cover
authors I have previously enjoyed new book
reading reviews in Sunday newspapers or recommendations in interviews.
seeing things on Amazon
friend's or relatives' recommendations

It's not that deep. Buy second hand if you prefer, or go to the library, but if the book is really crap - or you just don't like it - you don't have to finish it, give it away or sell it on.

I choose books by authors I've read before and liked or ones I've heard of, or based on reviews, or threads on MN where people recommend their favourite books, or ones friends and family recommend.

I never choose books by browsing in a bookshop or charity shop, as I find it time-consuming and very hit and miss! I do have fairly fixed ideas about what genres and types of books I like, which helps narrow it down.

I enjoy my reading time so want to get the most out of it as I can so no crappy books please.
This is me. There are so many books out there and only so much time!

I have enough crappy books forced on me by Book Club and I don't need any more, tyvm. I tend to go for tried-and-tested i.e. are they still popular years/decades after they were first published? I ignore the hyberbolic blurb on modern books. And I definitely ignore modern prize-winners; the judges and I have very different parameters.

I do spend some time picking, but that's not always reliable!

I read the blurb, see if it has any recommendations on the front from a reliable source, perhaps I recognise the author.

Last year my biggest fail was reading "Girl, Woman, Other" which had so many prizes and recommendations listed on the front. I actually found it so badly written that a lot of it was painful reading.

There are so many good books out there that I feel annoyed when I waste time reading a not so good one, but I hate not finishing so feel obliged to continue!

This week I picked up "A killer revenge" from a charity shop which sounded like a good thriller. It is well written, and I'm quite enjoying it, but what the blurb doesn't make clear is that the book is practically a p0rno!! I sit in the lounge and read with my kids often (setting a good example!) but have actually had to leave this one in my bedroom and have a different downstairs book! 😂😅

I keep a reading log of everything I've read.

favourite writers
favourite theme and genres
list of the "number ones" in book shops and random books from the shelves

Even when I buy online, I always read a page in the middle to see if I like the writing style

I don't have time to read much more than these quick search.
I don't want to spend time I could be reading a book by researching books I could read. I waste enough time on MN😂

I like trying out novels that get shortlisted for literary prizes like the booker. They always include a range of different writing styles and storylines, and are well written (according to the judges and critics at least). It’s a great way of discovering new authors too

Where I live I can borrow books to read on my Kindle through my local library, and I almost exclusively read on my Kindle these days. Because they are library books I'm not investing anything other than time into the books, so I don't feel bad if I return a book if I didn't finish it because I didn't enjoy it. Having said that, that rarely happens. I read a lot and I'm a fast reader, so I can get through a book that's OK even if I don't love it pretty quickly without feeling like I'm wasting my time, and most of the books I read I do enjoy. I listen to a couple of reading podcasts and I get some good ideas from them. I also have a pretty good idea of the genres I enjoy. No fantasy or romance, no science fiction although a little bit of magical realism is OK. I tend to prefer books set in the present rather than historical fiction. Novels don't have to be highbrow literary fiction, but I do need a little heft to the writing. I love novels about dysfunctional families and found family.

I also have a "books I read" list and gain great satisfaction by transferring a book from one to the other! (although not all the "books I read" books came from the "books to read" list, some were more spontaneous!)

You've given me a great idea as I have a bad habit of buying the books I want to read and then struggling to get through them. Maybe maintaining a list is one way to keep track of them!

Im a careful selector! I go by personal recommendations and a lot of insta, so I follow a lot of book reviewer accounts and then download books I haven't read when they are grouped with ones I like! Also Google book prize lists, read summaries and download quite a bit from there. I also don't like certain genres so stick to what I do like mostly which is family saga/drama, fantasy, dystopian stuff, historical fiction and the odd dectective one. Can't stand chic lit and samey crime fiction. But time is very precious to me and Im not skint, so I'd rather read an excellent book that cost £6 than 6 rubbish ones for £1 each.

I maintain a list of "books to read" on Pinterest and I add books on if I'm attracted by a review, or a recommendation from a friend, or I know another book is coming out by an author I like . Currently got 164 on there 😮

I buy a lot of new and used books on Amazon (I live in France so no English bookshops), if it's an author I'm not familiar with I'll have a browse though the reviews. In bookshops or charity shops I might read a page or two.

I look at the cover, read the blurb on the back and see if its a story that will interest me, if I think yes i will buy it, if not I won't.
I read quite a lot and there are a few authors I like and know their style of writing so tend to pay more attention to those.
I also did book swaps with my mum and sister, once we had all read them they got passed to the next person or donated.
I have a Kindle these days so tend to have a look through the freebies online and download the ones i think i will like, i also use the kindle unlimited feature.
For books that cost pence you could take a chance and re donate if they aren't for you.

I read through the description and have a quick flick through, but I'm very certain about what genres I like and won't look at anything outside of those really. I do have a list of authors I'm sure of and those I'd always avoid. I know for example I'm just never going to enjoy a Marian Keyes, so I won't even bother to read the back of the book.

I don’t read as much as I used to, so it’s important to me to get the right book. I tend to stick to authors I know and love - then if they’d let don’t have any, I’ll read the back of a book to see if the synopsis appeals. I used to stick to Dean Koontz, Sydney Sheldon, Patricia Cornwell & Martina Cole. I’ve recently added Lisa Jewell and Claire Douglas to my list!

I'm more like you in that I tend to buy books from charity shops, although I will go for authors I've read before or who I think are the types I will like.

I've come across some new stuff that way and its worked out well. If you over research what to buy its a bit like knowing too much about a film before you go in to see it.