This Week’s Topic: Sneak Peeks
This is going to be the first (of many) post, which I will affectionately refer to as Blogger Grinch Posts. There are a bunch of things I see out there, which make me scratch my head and wonder what the draw is.
Today I was inspired by a highly disappointing email I received from NetGalley. I was all excited, when I saw the cover for a book I really, really, really, REALLY want to read. However, upon closer inspection, I saw that it was just for a "sneak peek". Needless to say, this was a total buzzkill.
It made me really reflect on excerpts/sneak peeks, and I don't know, I seem to have trouble getting excited about reading part of a book. I understand the basic concept is for someone to sample the book, and allow them to see if they might want to read more. But, all I think about is what if I love it so much, that I just want to keep reading, and because it's a sneak peek, there is no more to read. In fact, the book was probably not even released yet, so I can't even one-click it and have it in my hot little hands right away. No. I get this taste, that I love, and then I am just CUT OFF.
I know, this seems very dramatic, but my personality is all in or all out. When I pick a book, I just go full-on and read it from beginning to end. I dedicate myself to that one book until I finish it (or DNF). I do acknowledge that I am lucky, and most of my books come from the library or the publishers, and I think it's easier to go in blind, when there was no financial investment. So, again, I can understand why someone might be interested in reading part of a book, but it's just not for me.
Although I can come up with a few reasons to take a "sneak peek", I know it's not for me.
Do you read excerpts or sneak peeks? Why or why not?
Now it's your turn!
Sneak Peeks - Yay or Nay?
Let us know in the comments!
I don’t read sneak peaks. If I like the synopsis, I want the whole book.
ReplyDeleteAj @ Read All The Things!
I think I would only take a peek IF I could then immediately read the rest of the book, because I am like Veruca - I want it all.
DeleteOh no! I totally agree with you! I never read excerpts or sneak peeks! I like full immersion! Start the books not knowing and immerse myself in it until the end. Great post Sam!
ReplyDeleteIt's just not part of my programming to start something, enjoy it, and then not be able to finish it right away. They would give out lots of "peeks" at the various book conventions I attended, but I was even more discouraged to read those, as the books were unreleased, and if I liked it, I would have to wait. I am not good at that.
DeleteSo with you! Getting a sneak peek from NetGalley is just crazy. That hasn't happened to me before. But sneak peeks in blog posts or in the back of books... nope, never read 'em. First, I don't want to get a teaser and then not be able to read the whole thing. Second, possible spoilers. Ack. And third, I typically like going in mostly blind - not knowing much. Big thumbs down to sneak peeks.
ReplyDeleteAnd that you have to request a sneak peek? I remember thinking I was getting Sightwitch, because it was NOT labeled as a preview, and I was furious to have read over 100 pages without being able to finish. I like going into a book blindly too, because I like to form my own opinions and be surprised by what I find.
DeleteI agree 100%! I hate the sneak peeks. Like you, I want the whole thing. So you are not alone! I do hate when I go to request something on Netgalley or get an ARC that is just a sneak peek. I don't want it if it's not the whole thing.
ReplyDeleteI don't mind if the book was labeled as a sneak peek, but I had requested a book and then it ended up being a sneak peek. I guess a lot of people complained, because shortly thereafter, it was labeled properly. I cannot phantom why people would have to request reading a part of book though *scratches head*
DeleteI'm with you. It's all or nothing. I know at the book conferences they do chapbooks a more and more. And YIKES! Waiting in line for two hours just to get 4 chapters! NOOOOOOO
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't get me fired up to read the book. And most of the time - the teaser misrepresents the book overall once you do read it - so that's annoying.
Karen @ For What It's Worth
I think I respect the peeks that give you the first chapter, rather then the ones that pick some random, but really strong chapter of the book. But, I really get frustrated, when I am led to believe I am getting the whole book, and then it's only part of the book, which has happened to me on NG ONCE. It still burns.
DeleteI tend to agree with you. I'm more likely to read something based upon a solid review from a trusted blogger than a sneak peek excerpt. I honestly usually skip those posts lol
ReplyDeleteI will admit, I liked to support blog tours, but if they don't post a review or some original content, I skip. I will post an excerpt with my review for a tour, but never the excerpt alone. There must be people out there, who read them, otherwise, it wouldn't be a thing, but I want the to know more about a reader's experience with the book.
DeleteNOPE do not like. The only way I'll read one is like when you can one-click on Amazon afterward- and only if I am REAAALLLY on the fence. Otherwise, nah, I cannot read a chapter and then wait 6 months for the rest of it or whatever. Even if I LOVED the chapter I read, for some reason it puts me off of reading the full thing, which is weird and I don't understand it but there it is!
ReplyDeleteI know a lot of people, who will read those samples from Amazon, and I can see that being a good idea, when you are putting out good money for something, but starting a book, and then having to wait is beyond my skill set.
DeleteI rarely read excerpts. It's just too short for me to really get into, plus there's not a lot of context for whatever the scene is.
ReplyDeleteTrue, but I worry more that it's like the movie trailer affect. You know, how they pick the best scenes, but they are not really representative of the film as a whole?
DeleteI am with you for authors or books on my list. Some of whom I go into blind without even reading the synopsis. I do like them for a new to me author, book or genre to get and idea. Audio samples are very important with a new to me narrator.
ReplyDeleteI am lucky, and have a ton of audiobooks available to me via my library, but if I was buying one, I would want to get a sample of who would be reading the book to me, because there are a few audiobooks out there, the I DNFed solely because I could not stand the narrator.
DeleteI'm not a big fan of sneak peeks and excerpts either. I tend to be more open to reading ones that fellow bloggers have shared (Teaser Tuesday, etc.) rather than the ones you get on Netgalley. I remember reading what I thought was a full ARC several months ago only to find out after a couple hundred pages that it was an "extended sneak peek." That actually annoyed me so much I don't even know if I ever plan to go back and read the whole book now that it's out in the world.
ReplyDeleteThat extended sneak peek attack happened to me with Sightwitch. It was NOT labeled as a peek, and I thought I was getting a full book, since I had to go through the process of requesting it and all. I hated myself for the amount of time I invested in it without being able to read the whole story. (It was like 100 pages).
DeleteNo to sneak peeks. When I sit down to read a book, I want to read the whole thing. I wouldn't want to read the random chapters from The Winds of Winter that George RR Martin throws out there in case of spoilers. When trying a new author I sometimes take the free opening chapters from Amazon to check out writing style, characters and plot to see if I want the whole thing to read, as there isn't a spoiler issue. But other than that, no sneak peek!
ReplyDeleteI never thought in terms of possible spoilers, when reading a (extended) excerpt. That's a good point. I can totally understand, why you want a short preview of writing style for an new-to-you author, and I think I would probably do that too, but only if there is the promise of being able to immediately buy the book.
DeleteI've started taking advantage of the free sample when it comes to Kindle books because I am bankrupting myself with all my bookish spending and I just can't justify it any more. That being said, i had sneak peeks on Netgalley and I'm not a huge fan of the excerpts folks sometimes post as part of blog tours. I get that it's a promotonal tool but it doesn't work for me. I only do it if I know I'll have the ability to buy the book at the end of it and be able to read straight away (or the next day if I'm going to buy a physical copy of the book). I find the samples can throw me into an epic reading slump otherwise because all I want to do is read the book I started.
ReplyDeleteI remember waiting at a Barnes & Nobel for an event to begin, and I picked up a book and started reading it, and was sad when I had to stop, because I was really enjoying it. That's how I would feel if the sample was good, and I couldn't read the rest shortly thereafter. I totally understand your point, when buying a book. I tend to be extra thoughtful, when I am going to be paying for a book vs. when I am just borrowing from the library or requesting an ARC
DeleteI'm with you, I can't handle reading sneak peeks or excerpts. I actually did this as a discussion post last year! Basically for all the reasons you listed. I like being able to go all in with a book. I don't want to spend time reading it, then having to wait who knows how long for the book to release and then forget everything I read and have to re-read it all in order to get to where I need to be. I feel like it's essentially a waste of time. I've gotten good about picking out books I know I want to read. I think it's about 10% of the time I'm wrong or it was just meh. So I don't feel like I need to sample to see if I will like it, but I can see where that would be good for some readers.
ReplyDeleteAnd even more of a time suck if you end up NOT reading liking the sneak peek and continuing the story.
DeleteSometimes I like it if the book is in a series and the sneak peek is the first chapter of the next one, but other than that I always skip past!
ReplyDeleteSteph - www.nourishmeblog.co.uk
If I like a series, the next book is a sure thing for me, but I could understand wanting a little taste right after finishing the prior book.
DeleteOmigosh, YES, Sam! I totally agree with you. I always see sneak peeks and I'm like ooh, it would be a good idea to see if I want to read/request/buy this book, but I feel like my time is wasted trying to read this small little snippet makes me so sad that you read and bam you're done! I agree so much with your post, Sam, and what a great discussion! :)
ReplyDeleteA real small snippet might be able to give someone a feel, but my love for a book usually relies more on how I feel about the characters. If writing is more important to someone, a snippet might help, but when I was duped by NG and read like 100 pages of what I thought was a full book, I was furious. At least they fixed it, because I know I complained in my feedback that it was not marked as an preview.
DeleteNo sneak peeks for me! I don't read extra chapters or extras before I have the novel. Because it makes me want it too badly and I still need to wait! In the meantime, there are other books I can be reading instead ;) So all the teasers at the end of books and things like that go unread by me...
ReplyDeleteSame. I often try to avoid reviews, because I just like to dive into a book.
DeleteI am not a fan of sneak peeks. I have wondered if readers of the sneak peeks are then offered the full book after leaving a review but I don't know. I do use the Buzz Books to help plan some of my reading but I don't really read the excerpts. I use those as more of a tool. I have read kindle samples before buying but that is different.
ReplyDeleteI check out Buzz Books too, but never read anything other than the synopsis. Agreed, the Kindle samples are a different story, because you can go and buy the book immediately, vs those samplers you get at Cons or from NG, which would require you waiting for the book to be released.
DeleteI don't do sneak peeks. It is one of the worse things to begin a book and just when things start to get interesting you find out its not the whole book.
ReplyDeleteIt's like getting a taste and being denied the rest. Makes me so sad.
DeleteI'm with you. I don't like sneak peaks, because they leave you hanging and feeling disappointed that you can't finish the book until it comes out. I'd rather just wait for the whole book before starting to read it.
ReplyDeleteI guess I am greedy and impatient, because I want it all right now!
DeleteI used to collect sample chapter from anticipated books but never read them. I don't like being left hanging. I think there was an excerpt for Wicked King in one of Holly Black's novellas and even though Wicked King was one of my highly anticipated reads, I wanted no part of the excerpt.
ReplyDeleteI would be so sad if I got an email from NG/EW to read an excerpt. No thank you, I'll wait.
Amber Elise @ Du Livre
The biggest crime was the NG deception. I had no idea it was not a full book until AFTER I read a LOT of pages. It was one of those extended excerpts. They marked it as a sneak peek AFTER I requested and was approved. What sort of insanity is that too! You have to request an excerpt. What!??
DeleteI'm fine with excerpts. They give you a glimpse and can push you over the fence (either direction!) when you're sitting on it undecided. However, when I say excerpt I mean maybe a page or two. Not the whole 'sneak-peak' shenanigans where they give you the first 6 chapters that leave you hanging and annoyed. Those I do not understand.
ReplyDeleteI have read small snippets. It's almost like reading a bit more of the synopsis, but like you, I am not going in for multiple chapters. Seems like a big time investment.
DeleteI won't do a sneak peek for an ARC because as you said you can't read the rest of the book until it's released or unless they put up the full copy. If I'm invested I want to be able to finish the book. Plus, then you have to put up a review for the sneak peak? Ugh. No thanks.
ReplyDeleteI can see doing a sneak peak on Amazon before you buy the book, because you get to test it out before buying and the book is already out.
If I bought more of my books, and was unfamiliar with the author, I would probably take a look-see at those samples on Amazon too. I only tend to buy books of my go-tos, but writing a review for a sneak peek is so odd for me. I had to do it that one time I was tricked and thought I had a full book, but I was mad the whole time.
DeleteI never read sneak peeks. What if I fall in love with the story and the book only comes out five months later?! I rather read a full book than a sneak peak and be left hanging for more with no clue of when I'm going to get more (even if the book comes out in five months, I still need to buy it and sadly money doesn't fall from trees).
ReplyDeleteTânia @MyLovelySecret
That's exactly what keeps me from reading them. You know, I have that instant gratification thing going on.
DeleteHahahaha Sam I got what I thought was the egalley of Sawkill Girls when I realized it was just a sneak peek! I may have cried LOL So no I don't like sneak peek! Give me everything!
ReplyDeleteAt least you realized it before you requested it. I remember being so excited thinking I was approved for Sightwitch, and then I was reading it, and it just stopped in the middle. They later updated it as a preview on NG, but it was too late for me.
DeleteQuote: "Blogger Grinch Posts".
ReplyDelete😂
I understand the frustration of getting a sample of a book from Netgalley or the publisher...that doesn't even make sense! But I have to say, I live and breathe sneak peeks (see what I did here? 😉). I actively hunt for them on Amazon (or wherever) in order to see if me and the writing style click - and a few times, I have based my decision of not reading a book upon the sneak peek in question.
I know a lot of people like to read the peeks on Amazon, but the beauty there, is that if you like it, you could download the whole book immediately. I have been to cons, where you stand in line for an hour or so, and then all you are left with is part of a book. Boo! It seems a lot of people like that feature on Amazon, and I don't blame people for wanting to be sure they will like the author's style prior to forking over their hard earned cash.
DeleteLooks like 98% of us don't like them, which makes me wonder why they exist! My poor students are always getting suckered into excerpts when they're trying to find books online and they get so sad when it just ENDS. I do think it helps that we read fast and are heavy library users. Like you said, no financial commitment and we have that expectation of finishing in one or two sittings.
ReplyDeleteI know there are readers, who have to buy all their own books and don't have the luxury of ample library sources or don't have the time to read as much as I do, and if that was my situation, I would probably want to do more research for each and every book I read too.
DeleteI'm the same way. If I see a sneak peek on NetGalley I get so disappointed!
ReplyDeleteNicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
The worst is when it's a book I am really, really excited about, and I see the cover on NG, just to find out there is no full book available to me. Womp, womp.
DeleteSneak peaks frustrate me to no end! As you said I want the full story if I liked the first chapter, but then once I get the story months later I feel as though I already read it! I dislike that feeling because I need to reread the chapter so that I remember everything I read from the sneak peak I read long ago, because I've learned not to rely on my memory.
ReplyDeleteIt's odd for me to pick up a book I started months later. Maybe that's one of the reason I don't like the sneak peeks of unreleased books.
DeleteI Hate when they put the chapter of the next book in the series at the end of a book. I like to have the satisfaction of finishing the first book first! I can’t be doing with sneak peaks.
ReplyDeleteYou know when that really makes me sad? When I think they have time to really resolve the situation based on the number of pages left, and then discover, most of those pages are the "bonus" sneak peek, and the resolution ends up being sort of weak.
DeleteI have done the same thing with Netgalley. Thought it was a book and it was a sneak peak. Like WT heck? I would never request that. I don't like sneak peaks for the same reason. I know from the blurb if I want to read it or not. I hate when they sneak that in there on you plus they want you to review it? Like really a sneak peak? No, no happening.
ReplyDeleteMary
The combination of blurb and cover are usually enough for me to decide to read something, but I get that I read a lot, and taking chances on a book, that I didn't pay for, is a lot easier, than if I read less and had put out the cash for the book.
DeleteWhat a great topic post! I don't personally enjoy sneak peaks. I get too saturated with them. They're either too short to gain my interest and I end up writing the full work off, or it makes me mad that I can't just read the full work then and there!
ReplyDeleteTime is so precious to me, I just cannot bring myself to read something that I know will end, even if I would like it to continue.
Delete