Yesterday a reader commented on a review at Fiction Vixen saying:
Thank goodness I don’t usually purchase until I am ready to read!
This was in response to an unfavorable review and she decided, based on the review, she did not want to read the book. The book had been on her TBR for a while but she hadn’t bought it yet. So, good for her, she didn’t waste her money but it got me thinking. I wonder how many readers wait until they are ready to read a book before they buy it.
By Jorge Royan (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Things have changed significantly for me and my reading habits now that I blog and am influenced by a bunch of book addicts like minded readers. I read every day and while I still don’t hoard print books, I do have an ebook library just shy of 1,000 books. And no, I have not read all those books. Nowadays, I don’t wait until I’m ready to read to buy books.
Nowadays, I buy:
- When I find a good sale
- On release day when a favorite author has a new release
- When I fall prey to the latest book buzz
- When I’m browsing and something catches my eye
- When I read a great review by a reviewer I usually agree with
- When I want to share the love and buy books for friends
- On any day ending in “y”
One of my favorite things to do is browse through my Calibre library and pick out a long forgotten book. Some would say it’s a waste of money to buy books and not read them. Hopefully one day I can boast that I’ve read every book in my library but at this point, I’m not betting on myself.
How about you? What are your buying and reading habits? Do you wait until you’re ready to read before you buy? Or are you like me and you buy books on impulse knowing you may or may not read it right away?
I’m going to go out on a limb here and predict that the majority of you are impulse buyers like me. 
About FV Sophia
I am a big impulse buyer. Also if I see an author I like has a new book then I purchase it. Next if a series new release catches my eye I automatically buy the previous books in the series. To say I’m addicted to books would be an understatement. I don’t quit have 1000 books on my ereader but I do have over 100. Possibly closer to 150 give or take a few.
I typically hoard through impulse buys where I’ll buy a lot of books and read when I can. Right now, it’s midterms so my reading is down dramatically. But I have a ton of books on my Kindle ready to go so that whenever I have the urge, I have an option. I probably have about 75 books that I haven’t read, at least, out of say 200. Not to mention ARCS and such. Sometimes I get short stories just for the sole purpose of being able to read when needed/wanted.
I used to be an impulse buyer. 2009 was a particularly spendy year for me. It’s when I discovered m/m.
But I’ve slowed down a lot in the last year or so because I took a hard look at what I was spending and what was still unread. Now I really wait for a few reviews or see a book being fussed over on twitter before I take the plunge, unless it’s one of my favorite authors or a series. Then those are autobuy and I usually read them as soon as I buy.
I bought a lot of books and novellas when I discovered erotic romance. I discovered other online retailers with lower prices and so I ended up buying a lot!
I have about 3 shelves of hardbacks and paperbacks waiting to be read, and my Kindle is bursting at the seams with unread books. I am an impulse buyer and I do plan to read every book I purchase–it’s just I purchase more than I can read at a time
Yes, unfortunately, I can buy much faster than I can read as well LOL
I started with one book at a time. Then I bought maybe 4 or 5 and if I had 12 in my TBR file I would start to panic. Oh, the innocence of someone new to the genre. LOL Now I have about 150 or so in my TBR which I intend to read and about 100 in a file I’ve given up hope on. Who knows why I bought them or maybe someone gave them to me.
Now I buy/read a lot less, life and writing are interfering but I buy:
When I find a good sale
When I’m browsing and something catches my eye
When I read a great review by a reviewer I usually agree with
Usually it’s a sale that will trigger it, then I go browsing and see what catches my eye, often referring back to GR to see if any of my friends whose opinions I trust and know are similar to mine liked it. It’s it’s 60% off at FW I tend to buy willy nilly. Very rarely will I run out and buy a book ASAP. I did the other day with the next Gillibran Brown book when I saw someone posted it on GR but usually I’m more the “I’ll have to get that” and then put out of my head until I’m browsing with the intent to buy something and find it.
I don’t make one of those files at GR “books I’d like to read” because I can’t seem to be bothered adding books I might like, plus I’d probably freak out and feel bad for buying something newer if something was on there or just from the sheer volume of it all.
We were talking about the order we read in at the UK Meet and I forget who was aghast that you don’t read first in first out. No picking the new shiny for her. She always reads in the order she buys. I’m far too fickle for that. LOL
I haven’t shopped at Fictionwise in a long time mostly due to my laziness and the convenience of Amazon one click purchasing. One click and there is a book on my e-reader within seconds. I really should dust off my account there and see what’s available.
I am both a book hoarder and an impulse buyer. Hubby says my book habit is the most expensive part of our marriage.
I have weird type A personality urges to buy books in series that I read when they come out, even if I know I won’t get to them for a little while. I just like knowing they are there. I also buy books when I see good reviews by people I trust… which means I have a huge pile of paperback and hardback sitting in my closet and a ton of unread ebooks sitting on my Kindle.
I also have my “favorites” that I reread sometimes and won’t let go. I might need a twelve step program.
We can 12 step together. Although that would mean admitting we want to be cured and I am pretty happy with my addiction.
I’m pretty good in the addiction at this point. LOL
My addiction’s rubbing off on my kids…. that could get expensive.
I impulse buy and hoard. I am pretty sure that some of my unread books will have to be buried with me! I also have a big “keeper” shelf. Don’t tell my husband this, but I have two boxes of books under the bed.
So do you buy print books then? Because I’m pretty sure e-books are to blame for my impulse buying. I don’t like clutter and I can tuck my e-books away nice and neatly on my hard drive. If I had piles of books laying around the house, I’d have a break down LOL.
Mine and yours both. The sheer convenience of downloading them to a single device so I’ve got a billion options depending on my mood. I’m horrible about it. I just keep adding more and more over time.
Oh, my. I buy at any moment on any day – when something catches my eye, I check GRs for friend reviews and then am off to the races. Reviews, browsing, part of one of my million beloved series, pretty cover, etc is enough to send me to B&N, NetGalley, or Edelweiss (and rarely to Amazon if it can’t be found on the other 3). I try to pre-order as much as possible.
Oh there is a special little thrill associated with the pre-order and having the book suddenly appear on my e-reader.
I am an impulse buyer as well. When you or Mandi from Smexybooks recommend something I go and buy it for later. I have close to 3,000 ebooks on my external hard drive and calibre combined.
Print copies I have close to 500 or more. 8 bookshelves, stuffed two or three rows thick on each shelf. Most are still unread. I have a keeper shelf as well.
So not only am I an impulse buyer, but I am also a hoarder. But I figure at least if the end of the world comes, I will have plenty of books to read while they rebuild. LOL
I feel sweaty.
I used to be one of those who would buy a couple of books at a time and then not buy more until those were read. I would also re-read books often, usually who series right before a new release was coming out. Then I started reading & following blogs. Now, I am definitely an impulse buyer and a hoarder! I have a lot of both print books and electronic ones.
This seems to be what we all have in common LOL
oh… I’m a book hoarder. I buy sales, on impulse, I preorder the next book in a series (even if I haven’t read the series, as long as I have the first book in my TBR pile and I know I’ll read it it eventually), I buy based on reviews, if I’m in a used bookstore, and I’m a Kindle freebie whore. So… my physical TBR pile consists of several bookcases and my e-TBR pile is probably in the 1000′s. But… despite all of that, I do end up buying books that I know that I’ll enjoy. Very rarely have I purchased a book and been dissatisfied with it. Especially print books. For some reason, I’m more careful buying those. But the ebooks are almost literally a dime a dozen since they are free and very cheap. So I end up taking more risks on the Kindle. My goal is to read all of the physical TBR books and eventually go through the Kindle library and delete the ones that I know I won’t read. I have a lot of autobuy authors in print and I’m pathetically behind in reading them. But I also want to read the debut books that are being gushed about so I usually try and trade off.
I get frustrated because I can’t find a balance between reading my TBR and reading the new releases. Jen and Angela can read me under the table. I bow down to their awesomeness.
Yes, yes they are. That’s why I’m a Kindle freebie whore, too. It’s so much easier to try out and author, see if I like them.
This is me. I buy anything and everything I see. It is terrible. If one single person on GR makes a comment about it, I go buy it. I have over 200 unread books on my kindle right now.
And I also agree with Angela in that I have to buy the latest book in a series even if I won’t get to it for a while. I haven’t read Archangel’s Storm yet but it is sitting on my kindle. But I NEED it to be sitting there for the day when I decide I want to read it.
I’m always worried the book I covet will not be available when I’m ready so I grab it when I want it even knowing I might not read it for a while. *cough*creed*cough*
Please don’t laugh at me, but I have lists with when new releases are coming out. That way I know what’s coming out on what date so I can buy and keep track. See what I mean when I say addiction?
Ummm why have I not tapped this knowledge for the blog?
You may tap any knowledge I have.
I 100% agree with most your post except for having a blog thing. I’m just a reader and am quite happy that way. If I see a good sale I’ll buy the book in a heartbeat. Especially if it’s in one of my auto-buy-authors-series. I read a lot of ongoing series, but I love when I find a new series to that’s already finished. I’ll buy the entire series so I can read them back-to-back. I really love that! I can forget whats going on when there is a year (or sometimes two) release waits. I’m such a hoarder when it comes to promotions and Kindle freebies! I can’t help it! Amazon makes it SO easy. They really do add up, I tell ya. At least I’ll never run out of something to read.
There are much worse addictions out there than a bookie hoarder. That’s the way I look at it or I keep telling myself that. LOL
Yes, but you’re not just a reader. You read blogs and interact with other readers and I think that feeds the impulse to buy. I could be wrong.
I am most definitely an impulse buyer! I have about 260 books on my kindle wish list and when one drops in price a little I buy it.
I wish I could make a list and wait. But I can’t. I hate waiting. LOL
I’m definitely a book hoarder, but I buy mostly when B&N has a coupon out so at least I’m not buying books ALL the time. I also mostly buy books that have Paul Marron or other favorite models on them so that limits my purchases, too.
I guess the covers are not as much of an incentive for me to buy because I don’t keep print books. Thank goodness, I might go totally broke LOL.
I am the reader you quoted above.
It has only been in the last 2 years that I have come over to the dark side (ebooks)! I still utilize my local library frequently. The person in charge of collection development shares my smutty tastes, and since I pretty much never read the same book twice, there is no reason for me to buy what I can get for free. I checked out Lover Reborn from the library on the same day it was released for purchase. Of course, my two favorite book blogs, FV & Smexy, keep introducing me to self published titles that I have to buy! My local library has also really added to their ebooks and audiobooks. This summer I discovered the greatness of Cat and Bones via the library’s downloadable audiobooks. I shudder to think of how much it would have cost me to get that whole series! That started a whole new “reading” addiction for me!
What? I must have the worst local library EVER. They never get any romance releases until they have been out for a while. Clearly I need to move.
I love that series, but didn’t care for the audio books. The voice for Bones didn’t match what was in my head. Maybe if I hadn’t read the series first? I need to start utilizing the library for audio books since I’m pretty sure I can borrow from any of our county libraries via the internet for audio.
PS
Thanks for the great blog topic!
^^ All of the above. I’m an impulsive, sale-purchasing, book hoarder! Its gotten worse since I started following book blogs. But I love all the new authors & stories I’ve found becuase of blogs. Its a love/hate relationship
-Selena Mc
I’m a publishers’ dream heavy reader: an impulse buyer, a planned buyer, and a hoarder. I’ve been buying most of my books in digital now, with a few in print. Before I switched to ebooks, I had about 3,000 print books, though I thinned those out over the winter prior to renovating (25 boxes of books went to my friend’s UBS). My Calibre is coming close to 3,000 titles in it now, about 5% duplicated with the print books. Like others, once I went digital, I started buying a lot of novellas, and am addicted to the freebies. I also buy from places like ARe when they have publisher discounts or ebuck specials…so I can buy more
. I probably read about 20 titles of differing lengths per week, and I deliberately don’t buy from my e-readers’ wifi access, or I would be broke; I need that intermediate shopping/sideload step to keep my credit rating. The public library is still my friend, but I prefer to own so I can read and re-read at will.
I’m one of those people who keeps a running list of upcoming books on my phone so that when fave authors have a new book coming out, I can buy on release day. I tend to read those immediately, but I have a large TBR and re-read list. Buzz may catch my attention, but I will probably get buzzy books from the library. Books covered by reviewers I trust (like here, smexybooks, SB, or dearauthor) will get a look and often a library trial, and a lot of them have led to auto-buys.
I’m not really a book buyer. I mainly rely on the library. I only go to Barnes and Noble when I have a gift card, and sometimes I go to my local used bookstore when they have this sale where you can fill up a grocery bag full of books and pay only $5 for it. Overall I try to keep purchases to a minimum, because I don’t like to hoard, and I don’t want be overwhelmed by having so many unread books on my shelf.
I’m addicted to free ebooks though. I got like 700 on my kindle. However, I only buy ebooks from my favorite authors.
For a booklover I almost never buy books. If I buy a book it must be something that has gotten great reviews and has been on my wishlist forever..so how do I get books. Duh, xmas and bdays
And the few times I break down, like when I got a GC as a bookfaire.
I read all the time these days,but I get alot of books from the library. If the library does not carry the authors I read, I buy the books. I have 20 favorite authors that I buy from. But I don’t read everything that those certain authors have out. I hate when I buy a book that the story does not work out. I try to get reviews before I buy, but sometimes I still lose. I guess its the luck of the draw.
I am an impulse buyer…thanks to the amazing book blogs like yours that influence my buying! Oh, and Amazon, which seems to be only a click away no matter where I am. I think the impulse to hoard ebooks is calming now that my Kindle isn’t such a shiny new toy for me, but still… I battle the urge to purchase after reading a great review. To sate my post-review book hunger, I’ve started an ebook wishlist ( a virtual TBR list, if you will) on Amazon so that I can store those titles and reconsider before purchasing. Since then, I have eliminated several titles based on other reviews I found or based on my own flagging interest in the topic. Not a perfect system, but it works for me.
Nowadays, I am on a limited budget, so I just buy ebooks that are on sale and books from my used bookstore that are on my wishlist. There are only a few authors that are on my immediate buy list. For most, I can wait to borrow or buy used.
I am an impulse buyer. I have a list in my head of books I still want to own, so of course I look for those at bargain places etc. But if I see a book and it looks like an interesting read and I have the money I buy it! Granted lately money is very sparse so I haven’t been able to do that. Before the fire in our home I had over 3,000 books. People used to say I was better than the public library because they would come over and pick some out to read and bring them back, much like in a library but I didn’t charge late fees and I usually had the book they wanted lol Now I have a select few that I could save. E-books however I have over 2,000 books now because of people rallying up and trying to help me replace lost loved books in a safer way. There is still certain ones that I grew up reading and some of my favorite authors that I buy in real books…just to have the series on hand and share with my kids when they hit the right ages.