Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
What we're reading

Find your new favourite book or recommend one on our Book forum.

Original poster

I Find It Off Putting: The gripping new thread about Amazon subtitles with a twist that will leave you breathless.

35 replies

Tessliketrees · 10/12/2018 18:35

I don't mind a bit of a thriller but I honestly can't bring myself to buy anything with those bizarre subtitles they are tacking on to the end of every title.

It just reminds me of a self published pile of shite. Is anybody actually swayed by this? To be clear I mean when the actually title of the book has a colon then a naff subtitle such as-

"The Girl in the Letter: The most gripping, heartwrenching page-turner of the year"

"Nowhere Girl: Shocking. Page-Turning. Intelligent. Psychological Thriller Series with Cate Austin"

Or this one which really confuses me-

"The Dream Wife: The gripping new psychological thriller with a twist you won't see coming in 2018"

I don't get the reference to the year at the end.

I just had a brain wave as I was writing this, could this be a search optimisation thing?

OP posts:
VittysCardigan · 11/12/2018 12:28

Spoiler: stop telling me there is a huge/stunning/breath-taking plot twist.

They are usually visible a mile off.

TheNemesisOfLame · 11/12/2018 08:54

Agreement: The most agreeing with post that you will see on this thread in 2018.

olivertwistwantsmore · 11/12/2018 07:38

I agree! If I see one more book description with 'the most gripping psychological thriller of 2018' on it, I will scream.

And they're usually not.

Sausagefingers9 · 11/12/2018 07:36

I thought this was going to be a book about the horrors of making subtitles for Amazon, was already invested in what the big twist could be Grin

But now I’ve read it properly I agree with you.

Weezol · 11/12/2018 07:30

I thought it was just me! The annoying straplines guarantee that I won't even be reading the blurb, never mind the book.

mistermagpie · 11/12/2018 07:27

I hate too! That and 'for fans of Gone Girl', god Amazon - get over it!

NotAnotherJaffaCake · 11/12/2018 07:24

I very nearly started a thread about this. It does my head in!

ritzbiscuits · 11/12/2018 07:14

I've worked in digital marketing for a long time. It could be search engine optimisation but more likely there to 'help' customers shopping on a mobile device where space is limited.

They will have tested with and without annoying straplines, as seen buying conversion rates higher on the longer ones.

wickywilk · 10/12/2018 23:07

I totally agree and my initial stance was also to refuse to buy the book. However I'm fast running out of options Grin

WaterBird · 10/12/2018 23:02

I agree (and like your thread title).
I think the only time there should be a subtitle is when it clarifies what the book is about. For example (basing these off yours but making these up):
Dream Wife: the Diary of a New German Bride in London, 1860
I Find It Off-Putting: the 100 Character Traits I Cannot Stand in a Date

Swipe left for the next trending thread