The First Ten Focus Group Feedback for Wilder: Birds of a Feather, #1
Because Wilder was Book of the Day, some of our most trusted members have carefully looked over the cover, the description, and other aspects of this book as a part of purchase-intent focus group. We then asked each participant in the focus group if they planned to buy and read the book, and why they planned to buy and read the book or not. Their answer to that question and reasons are displayed below. We call this awesome feature The First Ten Focus Group.
Keep in mind, the responses from the members are not reviews. This is purchase-intent focus group which means the participants are people who have NOT yet bought or read your book. A purchase-intent focus group is an important and extremely useful marketing tool for any product, not just books. For other products, you might walk on the street and show people an item in a package and poll them about whether they would buy if or $X or not. These kind of focus groups are one of the ways big marketing companies find the ideal price points for products and test the effectiveness of different packaging. The focus group can help you identify your market so you how to target ads of your book, and it can (but may not) provide you new useful info about your "packaging" (e.g. your book cover, your book synopsis on Amazon, etc.). The point of the focus group comments is to give you information from people who have not bought or read your book about why they plan to buy your book which will help you in marketing the book. These are not reviews or critiques of your book because they are not from people have read the book. This is a marketing tool, not reviews. The trick of book marketing and book advertising is that you have to convince people who have not read your book yet that your book is worth buying and reading. For marketing, it doesn't matter much if people love your book after reading it if you cannot convince potential buyers before they read it that they will love it.
IMPORTANT: Any score over 10% is considered very good. And any score above 0% is acceptable. This is because we only poll about 20 or so readers, and all readers have to say "no" to almost all books. Over a million books are published each year. Even a very active reader cannot come close to even reading 1% of books out there.
This is also why publishing books is such a tough industry.
Heidi M Simone
Without this program, I would not have sampled this read. I like how simple and beautiful the cover is, the title builds curiosity, and the blurb gives a good idea of what the book will be about. It also has positive reviews, including the OBC one, which is always good to see. However, I've built up this new fear of the young adult romance genre. This genre can get a bit repetitive and unappealing if the love is between two immature young people. Therefore, this alone would have led me to not sample the book. Based on what I read, the book does seem to be edited well. The author does a nice job in expressing Wilder's pain as she attends her mother and grandfather's funeral services. On the other hand, I do think the announcement that Wilder's father isn't actually her father was somewhat abrupt. As the story continues, I like the scene between Wilder and Mickey as I thought it was funny when Mickey came back with biker clothes for Wilder. On the other hand, I did find the transition from the lawyer's office to traveling with Mickey a bit fast. Due to the pacing and the fact that a love interest will come at some point, I do not plan on reading the rest of the book.
First Ten review added on July 25, 2018, at 7:39 am by Heidi M Simone.
Cjgarland89
Due to my interest in YA books I probably would have sampled this on my own without the program. The cover is also appealing because it gives a dark, struggling vibe, which is what I gravitate to. I don’t think I’ll be reading the book after the first ten mainly because the main character isn’t very likeable. She seems very snobbish and cold. I don’t feel I can relate to the character therefore will not be buying and finishing the book. I do feel it was professionally edited, and didn’t see errors. I didn’t enjoy much from the first ten, but my least favorite part was the level of coldness from the main character when her mother died. I didn’t see an OBC review, but doubt it would have changed my mind.
First Ten review added on July 25, 2018, at 6:26 am by Cjgarland89.
Gravy
There was an official review for this book. However, it having one (or not) does not affect my opinion.
This sort of book appeals to me. The fact that they are birds appeals to me more. Because of this, I likely would have sampled this, had I come across it.
The cover is gorgeous, and is a good indicator of the subject and genre. The prologue is actually my favorite part. There were some errors, especially missing commas, and they did make the sentences a little confusing. The writing is also a little raw, like it's a draft instead of a final product. I believe an edit could greatly improve the overall book. However, it is still readable, and the sample did not nullify my interest. I intend to add this to my to-read list.
Unfortunately, because I prefer to read the paper version of the book, and cannot purchase that at this time, I have to answer with a no, but I do plan to read this at some point.
First Ten review added on July 25, 2018, at 5:04 am by Gravy.
Annelore Trujillo
I would not have sampled this book without this program. I don't usually read science fiction or fantasy, and the OBC review and Amazon blurb didn't change my mind. After reading the first ten pages, I won't be finishing this book. I liked the style of writing, and I was actually kind of interested in the story. However, I noticed too many errors right away. For example, "parent's house" should have been "parents' house", "your Grandfather" should have been "your grandfather", and I noticed a couple places that had incorrect commas or the comma was missing. Because of this I have to say that the book didn't seem to be professionally edited. I don't like to read books that aren't edited, so I won't be finishing this one.
First Ten review added on July 24, 2018, at 11:37 pm by Annelore Trujillo.
Chelsy Scherba
I really loved the way the author began the story and the mysterious feel of this book kept me intrigued. Wilder sounds fascinating with her Amber eyes and white hair, and I look forward to seeing what the property she inherited from Willy looks like and finding out who her real father is. The cover makes me think she has a supernatural power of some sort, especially because Wilder is sensitive to light and often wears sunglasses. The writing style is excellent and very easy to picture. The only thing I dislike is the profanity, but so far it’s fairly infrequent. The editing looks very professional with no noticeable errors. The review was positive, but didn’t really influence my decision as much as reading myself. I probably wouldn’t have found this book outside of the program, and haven’t read much fiction lately, but I really enjoyed what I read so far and will definitely be reading the rest in the future.
First Ten review added on July 24, 2018, at 11:03 pm by Chelsy Scherba.
L_Therese
At first glance, the cover of this book is both pretty and interesting, but I learned quickly that this was intended for a YA audience. Typically, this means that I do not end up reading the book. The review was full of praise, so I tried the first ten pages. Although the book seemed technically well written, the style and characters didn't work for me. It seemed like it was packing in a lot of early set up before I felt invested in the protagonist, and the protagonist seemed very melodramatic. I decided not to finish this book.
First Ten review added on July 24, 2018, at 10:57 pm by L_Therese.
KRay93
The design of the cover is simple but elegant, and it certainly goes hand in hand with what the blurb proposes. The official review highlights the characterization work of the protagonist, and although it speaks well of the author's writing style, it also mentions some confusions regarding the verb tenses and the editing work. The first ten pages revolve around the reaction of the protagonist when she learns of the death of her grandfather, followed by an introduction to her family environment. The prose is relatively fluid albeit somewhat simple, while the editing work looks relatively acceptable at first sight. To be honest, young adult books do not usually attract my interest, and both the premise and the writing style of the author fail to convince me. I will not continue reading this book.
First Ten review added on July 24, 2018, at 9:44 pm by KRay93.
Mercelle
Based on the cover alone, I was drawn to sample this book. The OBC review urged me on even further when it mentioned that this is a story about a girl who finds out that she belongs to a different world. When I read the first ten pages, I liked that the writing was straightforward yet suspenseful, but I didn't like how, Paolo, Wilder's father showed so much resentment towards his child. As I noticed no typos, I will conclude that the book underwent professional editing. Based on what I read, there's nothing I would change about the text, but I won't read the rest of the book because the young adult genre doesn't appeal to me.
First Ten review added on July 24, 2018, at 6:58 pm by Mercelle.
Yoli García
I would not have sampled this book without this program because I rarely read books about family and grief. The OBC review did not convince me to read the book because the reviewer indicated that it needs further editing. After I read the sample pages, I thought the book indeed needed another editorial review. There is a paragraph that seems to be narrated from the third point of view but changes to the first point of view. Even though I did not expect it, I found myself immersed in the story. I liked the relationship Wilder had with her grandfather. Her mother was not a good mother it seems. Her stepdad, who she taught was her father, is just plain irritating. I will read the book I got immersed in the story.
First Ten review added on July 24, 2018, at 6:03 pm by Yoli García.
JuliaKay
The cover is pretty. I like the crispness of the black and white. The title is okay. It does make me curious of what the book is about. The reviews and blurb for this book were okay for me also. They captured my attention enough to make me want to read the sample. This is a genre that I do usually enjoy. Right from the start, I did notice errors with punctuation though, causing me to believe that this book has not been professionally edited. "I think I almost gave the lady filling up gas at the pump to mine a heart attack when I without any kind of warning gave up a loud shout." There probably should be a comma in between I and without as well as warning and gave. When the story mentioned that there is more than one coffin being lowered into the ground, that captured my attention immediately. I wanted all the answers. We soon find out that it is the girls grandfather and her mother who have been killed in a car crash. I kind of wish that the book had held the suspense just a little bit longer. Wilder finds out that the man she believed was her father actually is not. It think this is a strong start for a book, and I would be interested in reading more, but I cannot commit to it due to the technical errors.
First Ten review added on July 24, 2018, at 5:13 pm by JuliaKay.
britt13
Yesterday was crazy busy so I did not read the official review, so it has no bearing on my first impressions. I did look at the hashtags on twitter though, and I found them intriguing. I was immediately taken with this book. I love the relatable nature of that last straw silly thing setting you off because you are in an emotional place. I also loved descriptions like the one about her and her dress both being so white that her eyes were all that stood out, which I just now as I was typing noticed is on the cover. Anyway, I was very drawn in and will most definitely continue on reading! (Oh, and I found no grammatical errors!)
First Ten review added on July 24, 2018, at 4:29 pm by britt13.
Samantha Simoneau
Prior to reading the first 10 pages, this book didn't really interest me right away. The cover art is cool, but I immediately thought, "I'll bet this is YA supernatural romance," as soon as I saw it. After skimming the Amazon reviews, I've concluded it's not necessarily YA, but I was correct on the other two counts. Supernatural/paranormal romance tends to give me minor eye injuries due to constant involuntary rolling while I read it. I just have never been able to take it seriously. To be fair, I've only tried to read three or fewer of them. Let it be noted now that I sincerely loathe the Twilight books, so if the author is after that audience, it doesn't include me to begin with. The blurb is not terrible, though, so I will try to sample it with a balanced attitude. Most of the Amazon reviewers apparently love it, although one or two thought the plot was scattered and overpacked. Having sampled the book, I was surprised to find that, by the time Wilder was sitting in the lawyer's office, I was fully engaged. The tension in the room was palpable and using the Grandfather's and mother's deaths and subsequent will-reading to unpack some backstory and exposition was a brilliant move that flowed smoothly. The swearing was over-the-top. Mickey was understandably angry with Paolo, and it wasn't necessarily ridiculous for him to swear, but the third sentence of swearing undermined the tenseness and maturity for me. It felt further forced and juvenile when Wilder had to put on the biker clothes. I felt like when I open a comic book or watch a video game and think, "Oh, well, there's our heroine in her oversexed costume that has no reasonable explanation." It felt cheap, just to add a little kinkiness to the book. The juvenility increased when she asked Mickey if he could
be a little less gay sometimes. At that point, I was no longer engaged with the story and wondered where all the adults had gone. One thing that struck me was that Wilder says about her real father, "I don't look like Mother at all, so he won't recognize me," but how does she know she doesn't look exactly like the father she's about to meet? That seemed poorly thought out, but then she realizes her own mistake later, so I guess it's fine. Notably, Wilder's biological father wasn't at all what she expected, but he was precisely what I was expecting. The meeting with Mac was completely cheesy, especially the "testosteronus sapiens" comment. I would be very interested to find out more about what happened between Wilder's mother and her natural father, but not enough to bother reading more, at this point. I'll pass, even though I got it for free. I did notice some errors, but they were minor: "Parent's house" should be "parents' house." There should be a comma between "Suthermoore" and "attorneys." "Long sleeved" should be hyphenated, as should "pitch black." Overall, I noticed a handful of missing commas, although they didn't disrupt my reading flow.
First Ten review added on July 24, 2018, at 4:04 pm by Samantha Simoneau.
IsabelMay
The cover is very pretty. The reviews are extremely positive, so the description disappointed me because the storyline didn't seem very original and unique. Therefore, I wouldn't have sampled the book without this program. The sample was quite bad, if I'm completely honest. It didn't seem professionally edited, the amount of adverbs made it seem like a first draft written in a hurry. There was almost no dialogue, which made the storyline boring. The golden rule ''show, don't tell'' should've been applied. The huge paragraphs of description were a huge flaw related to the writing style. Due to a bad formatting, they were hard to read because of their length and also because there was almost no space between them. That's the main reason why I won't be reading the rest, the formatting and the endless description made the story unreadable.
First Ten review added on July 24, 2018, at 3:34 pm by IsabelMay.
MarisaRose
I'm not a big fan of YA novels, so when I first read the blurb for 'Wilder,' I wasn't interested in the book. However, after reading the OBC review, my opinion changed slightly. The reviewer made it sound like this book and its characters were significantly more in depth than what is typically found in books in the YA genre. That being said, I was more wiling to sample this book after reading the review, but I still wouldn't purchase the book blindly. The first thing I noticed about the sample was that the book is written in the first-person perspective. I don't typically care for this narrative style, so that was off-putting. Additionally, I felt much of the first ten pages consisted of the narrator describing what she looked like and what her personality was like. I thought this was kind of lazy; I would have rather seen this unfold via the narrator's thoughts and actions throughout the story. The way the narrator described her grandfather's death and then his funeral seemed rather unemotional, although she was clearly trying to convey emotion. I was confused by the disconnect between the narrators words and the emotions emanating from her narration. However, I did enjoy the writing style. I didn't notice any grammatical errors, and I thought the author's prose was poetic in a sense. Unfortunately, I just didn't care for the narrator after reading the sample, so I don't plan to read any more of this book.
First Ten review added on July 24, 2018, at 3:18 pm by MarisaRose.
RebeccasReading
This is not a book I would have normally read. I don't generally read science fiction books. After reading the sample, my opinion is changed. I really liked the sample, and I'm curious to see where this books goes. I also like that it's part of a series. As an avid reader, I am always looking for a new series to start. I enjoyed that the author didn't overwhelm the reader with the science fiction components right away. For those of us who aren't big fans of the genre, a book with too much science fiction right away is an automatic "no". In this book, the author slowly gets you familiar with the main character of Wilder and her family, who are brought together again by the death of Wilder's grandfather and mother. I also really liked the cover. It is interesting and unique. There is nothing that stood out to me in the sample that needs improvement. It seems to be professionally edited.
First Ten review added on July 24, 2018, at 3:11 pm by RebeccasReading.
Azeline Arcenal
After reading the first ten pages, I decided not to finish reading the book. The sample wasn't interesting enough for me. I like how the main character, Wilder, seems like a strong female character because she was able to be strong after the death of her grandfather and mother. I do like the book cover and title so if I were to sample the book based on just the cover and title, I probably would have chosen to sample it because they both look interesting. While reading the sample, I didn't notice any grammatical errors either. I also read the official OBC review for this book which was helpful in solidifying my decision on taking a pass on this book. There isn't anything I would change anything about this book.
First Ten review added on July 24, 2018, at 2:32 pm by Azeline Arcenal.
Vickie Noel
Everything about this book is screaming my name! The title, the cover art (that face and those eyes) and little details on it, the blurb, reviews, you name it. I wouldn't have the effrontery to walk away from it had I seen it outside the program. The first ten pages got me hooked and I didn't know when I read more than double the requirement. It was a real task to peel my eyes off its pages. I love the author's writing style, Wilder's personality and the realistic depiction of the friction reading a will could cause between people who don't care much about each other, as in the case of Wilder and her fake father Paolo. I found no errors; it is perfectly edited and I'm too captivated with what I read to seek improvement on any part of it. The OBC review also contributed to my interest but the sample did the rest. I will definitely be concluding this book; Wilder and the birds wouldn't have it otherwise.
First Ten review added on July 24, 2018, at 2:01 pm by Vickie Noel.
MsTri
Even though the cover of this book is attractive enough, the title does nothing for me. Upon reading the Amazon synopsis and OBC review (the only one I read), I knew I didn't want to read this. While I'm glad that Wilder is a strong, independent female, I just don't care for books that explore family relationships. I also dislike 'fish out of water' books. With that being said, the sample was okay. I was mostly glad to see that it seems to be professionally edited, and I have no suggestions for changes. My favorite part was when Mr. Suthermoore was telling the family about Wilder's grandfather's last wishes; I always find those scenes interesting.
First Ten review added on July 24, 2018, at 12:50 pm by MsTri.
DancingLady
I wasn’t to excited about this one since I don’t typically read young adult fiction. The review left a lot of questions unanswered, but didn’t spark my interest. I was surprised by how engaging the first 10 pages were. They are very well written and edited. Wilder seems like a very relatable young woman. Her response to losing her mother and grandfather seemed very natural, especially snapping at something small like a stained shoe. I probably won’t read the rest, but I won’t rule out the possibility.
First Ten review added on July 24, 2018, at 9:25 am by DancingLady.
Sahani Nimandra
Wilder by Lena North is a young-adult read which kept me 100% hooked-up. There is something unique and catchy about the cover illustration. It felt more like a self-story. I felt an air of independence in the protagonist and those striking yellow eyes filled with determination.
The official OBC review gave me a positive light. It developed an interest in me. The prologue left me mystified yet hinted what was to come. The story had a casual flow that I drifted off. There were unexpected chain of events which was interesting. The visualization provide by this read is good. Certain events were hilarious which helped to enliven the mood while reading. After I read through I realized the title was none other than the protagonist's name and it was about her life. There weren't any hindrances while reading. I will definitely read this book further I truly enjoyed it.
First Ten review added on July 24, 2018, at 5:55 am by Sahani Nimandra.
Cristina Chifane
I read the first two chapters of this novel and I decided I did not want to continue. If it had not been for the first ten program, I would not have sampled the book at all because I think the girl on the cover looks strange and the title made me think of a romance. According to the editorial review, the book has fantasy elements too, but the Amazon blurb does not mention them. However, 90% of the 19 customer reviews give the book a 4 or 5-star rating. Others may definitely enjoy Wilder's story although I found the first chapters dragging. The story seemed somehow surreal and inauthentic. Wilder loses her mother and grandfather and finds out the man she thought to be her father was only her step father. She immediately gives up any claims to inheritance and goes looking for her real father. I kept having a feeling of lack of credibility and I couldn't understand if there was going to be something more to the story or not. I was not impressed by Wilder's display of her martial arts skills or her clicheistic meeting with Mac. The use of offensive language did not work for me either. In spite of the lack of editing errors or the positive OBC review, I still do not plan on reading the book.
First Ten review added on July 24, 2018, at 2:35 am by Cristina Chifane.
LV2R
After seeing the book cover, I downloaded the book and read the first ten pages. I didn't want to stop at ten pages and kept reading and wanting to read the whole book. I want to know what happens to Wilder after her grandfather and mother both die. I like how it is written, with no noticeable errors, except for possibly one. Should dashes be used between the phrases instead of periods on page 4, ... there he was -- Willy -- my wonderful grandfather -- my family?
In reading the first ten pages, I got the feel of Wilder's personality and writing style of the author, both of which I like. However, reading the official OBC review influenced me a lot about wanting to read the book even more.
First Ten review added on July 24, 2018, at 2:10 am by LV2R.
Sicily Joy
The description was a bit vague but I would have sampled the book based on the official reviews as it gave more details about fantasy elements of the story. I also like the cover. The first ten pages were well written and full of drama. What I enjoyed most was the family drama between Wilder and her father. I am curious to see if she gets any kind of revenge and what happens when she finds her real father. There could probably be more hints to her supernatural elements at the beginning of the book beside her physical features. The book seemed professional edited and I found no errors. I won this in the free giveaway and will read the rest of the book.
First Ten review added on July 24, 2018, at 1:14 am by Sicily Joy.
ladycraic
Despite the artistic and visibly appealing cover, I would not have chosen to sample Wilder apart from First Ten. I didn't have an interest in the novel just looking at the cover and title. The blurb didn't exactly pique my interest either, especially with the hint of romance between Mac and Wilder. I don't tend to go for romance books in the YA genre. The first few pages sucked me right in, quickly changing my disinterest in Wilder. Reading about Wilder's relationship with her mom and step-father infuriated me, but that was fortunately mellowed by her relationship with Willy. Even though I read the blurb, the "plot twist" (revelation that Paolo is Wilder's step-father) still left me going, "Ouch..." I plan to read the rest of this novel and see Wilder's growth as she settles into life with her "true" family. This book seemed professionally edited and I didn't notice any grammatical errors.
First Ten review added on July 24, 2018, at 12:57 am by ladycraic.
Mely918
I would have definitely been intrigued by this book's cover art alone. It looks both eerie and magical at the same time. After reading the first ten pages, I found myself wanting to learn more about Wilder's character. She is very smart and independent from what I could tell, which I admire. The author did a great job of making her a very three-dimensional character. I also enjoyed the writing style of this novel. However, I did catch a few missing words in the small portion that I read. I think this book needs to be proofread a bit more. Nonetheless, I did like the book so far, and would be willing to read the whole thing in the future. I don't plan on purchasing the book today, however, simply because of how busy I am right now. The official review only confirmed to me why I should keep this book in mind.
First Ten review added on July 24, 2018, at 12:47 am by Mely918.
psychopathycathy
If I had not read the sample I would have read the book; I really like the cover art, and the blurb looks interesting. After reading the sample, I have not changed my mind. I really liked how the writing style was atypical and used fragments for emphasis. For example, the line "Willy. My wonderful grandmother. My family." I think was a very concise way of explaining who the characters were. Additionally, although the book seems to narrative-centric instead of dialogue, I think the concise way of speaking made the book an easy read. The sample was professionally edited. I did not read the official review but that did not affect my decision.
First Ten review added on July 24, 2018, at 12:36 am by psychopathycathy.
Kat Berg
I like the cover of this book and it would draw me to pick it up. However, the very first sentence out of the gate (ignoring the prologue) has a grammatical error, "when I without any kind of warning gave up a loud shout." (p. 3) There should be a comma after "I" and after "warning." These days this would cause me to put the book right back down again and not bother reading further, as it is a strong indicator the book is riddled with similar issues, which is exceedingly distracting to me. It wasn't as bad as I anticipated, although there are several awkwardly worded sentences. To me, it seems more than a little strange that daughter would be in charge of all the funeral arrangements when the father is still alive, even if she is an adult daughter. I think that is perhaps the point, but...However, if I had given up so early I would have missed when the book got interesting. The scene in the lawyer's office hooked me. I still would prefer that some of the strange sentence structure were re-worked for clarity, but I will be reading the book. I love the YA genre and this book has more potential than I initially thought. I did read the official OBC review.
First Ten review added on July 24, 2018, at 12:34 am by Kat Berg.
va2016
The title and the cover are not indicative of the theme of the book. Especially the word 'Wilder' does not convey if it is the name of a character or the derived form of 'wild'. The Amazon summary provides a glimpse of the story but not compelling enough. There are 15+ Amazon customer reviews that give an average 4.5 out of 5 stars rating for the book, which made me interesting. But still, I would have skipped the book if not for the First Ten program, as there is no compelling reason why I would pick this book. The genre is also very generic, not tied to any specific subject. As I sampled the book, I found the narration very good. The feelings and the emotions of the protagonist as well as the other characters are expressed very well. I could sense high quality in narration, probably because of the good vocabulary and the expressions. So, I am going to read this book in full, in spite of the fact that the plot is bland because I like the narration. I found the book to be professionally edited. I didn't find any grammatical or mechanical errors. What I liked most about the book is its narration. I could not find anything that could be improved in the book. I found one OBC review that gave a 4 out of 4 stars rating for the book, but my decision to read this book in full is based on my own sampling.
First Ten review added on July 24, 2018, at 12:14 am by va2016.
CinWin
The cover of "Wilder" by Lena North is totally different than what the book is about. I expected perhaps a book on Indian folk lore but to my surprise, I was led into a modern story involving a confused but very strong and independent protagonist. I really enjoyed reading the first 10 pages. The author takes you through the characters of Wilder, Mac and Mickey in a gentle yet concise and to-the-point manner. I could not find anything I would improve upon. I just wanted to keep reading to find out what happened next. I did not see any grammatical errors and there was an onlinebookclub review. I will not be reading the rest of this book right now because I am in the middle of two other books, but will deep it for a possible future read.
First Ten review added on July 23, 2018, at 11:25 pm by CinWin.
Charlaigne
I enjoy the occasional Young Adult book but it is not my preferred genre. I liked Wilder's cover art style and her yellow eyes but would have preferred her face to be in colour as well. I did not care for the romance aspect as mentioned in blurbs. Customer reviews were okay, however I place greater stock in the Online Book Club reviews, which tend to be more thoughtful. Had I not read the official Online Book Club review, I likely would not have held the book in sufficient regard. I probably would not have picked this book to read on my own accord, as it did not really stand out to me as a must-read: it was more like a possibly promising read and only if nothing else could be found.
When I actually read the first ten pages, I found the book to be (surprisingly) better than I had anticipated. The story really gripped me in a way that other books I’ve read recently did not. The first couple of pages had effective description and I could picture the scene clearly in my mind’s eye. The writing was competent, clearly giving away the protagonist as a young female. The book seemed professionally edited and no errors were spotted. There is a moderate plot twist on page 10 which ratcheted up the tension massively and made me want to keep reading.
I like the story-telling, narrative flow, descriptive details, use of language and suspense. The only negative I could find was that the writing was overdone in a couple of places (over-written). I am definitely going to read the whole book. It looks enjoyable and not too taxing.
First Ten review added on July 23, 2018, at 10:08 pm by Charlaigne.
Kendra M Parker
I tend to enjoy young adult books, and those with a touch of fantasy wove in are great fun, too. The official review on this one was great about not spoiling anything in the novel, and I find myself quite interested in what this book is about. As I read the first ten pages, I found no errors and discovered that it was well written. I quickly became involved in the story and wanted to know more about Wilder's history and where she lives. I did not care for the amount of strong language used in this book, though, and because of that and my long reading list I’m not sure I will get back to this one. I will put it aside for now and maybe I will come back to it someday.
First Ten review added on July 23, 2018, at 8:43 pm by Kendra M Parker.
Seraphia Bunny Sparks
After reading a few pages of, Wilder by Lena North, I have decided that I will finish this book. I am familiar with this book. I have read it before. If I had not read a sample of this book, I would have picked it up. The cover for this book is eye-catching, and the blurb piques my interest. I like that Wilder is a spinoff from Lena North's other series. I also appreciate how it is not necessary for the reader to have read the original series first. You can grab this book, and dive in. I am an avid reader of fantasy and paranormal novels. Based on this fact, I knew this book would be a good fit for me. I like that the story is a learning process from the beginning. Wilder is learning about new people and her family. She's a tough young lady and has a lot of spirits. Wilder takes some hits from the beginning, but she stays strong. I like this about her. For me, the prologue is perfect. The prologue sets the stage, for Wilder's losses. She's lost both her grandfather and her mother in one fell swoop. Based on what I have read this book appears to be professionally edited. This book does have an official OnlineBookClub review. The reviewer speaks positively of this book. The reviewer has little impact on my decision. I have enjoyed this book before, and know I will again.
First Ten review added on July 23, 2018, at 8:14 pm by Seraphia Bunny Sparks.
CrescentMoon
After reading the blurb, I think I would pick this book up because I do enjoy reading young adult books and I'm curious how Wilder's life turns out. After reading the first ten pages, I didn't see any spelling or grammar errors. I thought the opening scene with the prologue was a good introduction to the story as she woke up from her dream and realized she lost people close to her. I could easily empathize with her as she filled up her gas tank and thought about her grandpa's funeral. I thought the summary of Wilder's personality and past life with her family was a good way to describe how she feels currently and what her life and personality are currently like. Unfortunately I can't read the rest right now due to lack of time and an already long to read list, but I'm sure young adult fiction book lovers would greatly love this.
First Ten review added on July 23, 2018, at 7:21 pm by CrescentMoon.
micoleon13
Although this is a common tattoo design with the feather dissolving into birds, it still appeals to me. I was interested in finding out more about the book. The OnlineBookClub review was complementary and outlined an interesting young adult story. Although I was put off by the mention of the switching tenses, the rest of the review made me want to see past that. The pages which I read were well written and edited and I was immediately drawn into the story of Wilder and how she dealt with her grandfather's death and learning that her father was not in fact her father. I would like to continue reading this book and I have no ideas for improvement.
First Ten review added on July 23, 2018, at 7:12 pm by micoleon13.
CataclysmicKnight
The cover of this one is interesting, and I love both the book title and the series title, so I would've been interested in this even if it wasn't the book of the day. So far the author has done a terrific job of inspiring all sorts of emotions, from sincere despair for the main girl losing her grandfather who seemed like a great guy with a terrific sense of humor to hatred at her jerk of a father (who isn't really her father) to laughter when Mickey hurled a slew of insults at her (not) father. I haven't seen any errors yet, and everything seems very smooth, so I'm assuming the book is professionally edited. I'm also happy to report that I haven't found any negatives thus far - everything is moving at a brisk pace while still keeping me drawn in. In fact, if I hadn't highlighted where the first ten pages ended, I doubt I would've stopped reading! I definitely want to finish reading the rest of this one, especially with it being free today!
First Ten review added on July 23, 2018, at 6:40 pm by CataclysmicKnight.
Eryn Bradshaw
I loved the cover and the review of this book. I was considering reading it after reading the review. After sampling the book, it's definitely one I will keep reading. I really enjoyed Wilder's introduction and am very curious as to who her real father is and what's important about the town of Norton. I will finish reading the book! I didn't catch any errors in grammar or typos, nor would I improve anything. The pacing of the first chapter was very good and I look forward to reading more!
First Ten review added on July 23, 2018, at 6:34 pm by Eryn Bradshaw.
Sarah_Khan
Even though the cover of this book is intriguing, I would not have picked it up because the amazon blurb is too vague. The first ten pages were professionally edited. It automatically brings out the reader's sympathy by introducing us to the main character as she deals with her grandfather's funeral. I liked that they quickly mention wilder's eyes which are featured on the cover. I did not have time to read any OBC review, so I am still left with questions about the plot. Therefore, I do not intend to read the rest.
First Ten review added on July 23, 2018, at 6:23 pm by Sarah_Khan.
Bianka Walter
I might have looked at this book if I didn't sample it through the first ten program. However, after reading the sample, I have changed my mind. The book hasn't been professionally edited, there were commas missing from the first sentence. The discussion about Willy's will was confusing, and I had no idea about what stipulations went where and why. The flow was a bit choppy, and it lacked a smooth dialogue. I thought the idea behind the story had promise, and the OBC review gave it big praise. But after reading the sample, I am not interested in reading further. I was not invested in Wilder as a character and found too many things I didn't enjoy in the first ten pages. The only thing I really like about the book is the cover.
First Ten review added on July 23, 2018, at 5:11 pm by Bianka Walter.
Izesicle
Had I not actually sampled the first ten pages as part of this program, I would have chosen to read or sample this book based on the cover. It is beautifully designed and I was curious about the series.
I am going to buy and read the whole book because I liked the storytelling in the sample. The reveal about Wilder's real father is very believable since she was basically ignored by her parents.
Based on what I read, the book seems like it was professionally edited. I didn't notice typo or grammar errors, although the first sentence is missing a couple of commas to separate a clause.
What I like the most in the bit I read is that the storytelling had a good pace. I kept flipping the pages.
What could be improved is to proofread the book again for punctuation errors.
The book has an Official OnlineBookClub review that I saw.
First Ten review added on July 23, 2018, at 4:14 pm by Izesicle.
Snowflake
The title and cover fit very well with the nature and tone of the book. The Amazon blurb was very well done and gave an excellent idea of the nature of this book. I do read YA sometimes but the cover is a little bleak for my taste so I’m not sure if I would have sampled this book without the first ten pages program. The OBC review was quite positive and added some more details about the book and added to my interest in it. The book seemed well edited. I did not notice any obvious typos or grammar errors. I took me a bit to get used to the YA feel of the book but not very long. I was quickly pulled into Wilder’s story. It was easy to understand the characters and their situations and I think the reactions of Wilder’s and her grandfather’s friends around the table with the lawyer and her “Dad” was very well done. After seeing the cover, I was pleasantly surprised to be quite interested in this story. I am glad that it is free today and I do plan to read the rest.
First Ten review added on July 23, 2018, at 4:10 pm by Snowflake.
Anon_Reviewer
I wouldn't have read this book if it were not for the programme. Neither the blurb nor the cover made me want to read the book. There were a number of negative reviews on Amazon that turned me off from the book. As positive as the Official OBC review was, it also wouldn't have convinced me to give the book a chance. After sampling ten pages, I am sure I do not want to continue. I found the writing a little too 'flowery'for my liking. For example: "Earlier that day, I'd stood there, alone in front of the coffins, without feeling anything except the tickle from a few drops of rain slowly making their way over my bent neck and into the neckline of the god-awful, white, flowing dress I was wearing." In my opinion, using simple language would have worked just as well - if not better. But this is just a personal preference so other readers might find engaging. Except for a few punctuation errors, I did not get the impression that the book was not professionally edited.
First Ten review added on July 23, 2018, at 4:03 pm by Anon_Reviewer.
Ahlily
I loved sampling this book and can't wait to finish reading it. I actually read past the first ten because I wanted to know what was going to happen so badly. Even before I sampled this book, I wanted to read it. The cover is so simple yet eye-catching. Very unique. And the description? The description and official review both highlight everything I look for in a novel. I love Sci-fi/Fantasy love stories, especially those in the young adult genre. From what I've read so far, I didn't see any typos and the book appears to be well edited, though the review I read stated otherwise. From the sample I read, I loved how the story started out with the catalyst that puts Wilder on her new path in life to find herself. Some novels build up the catalyst, other start after the catalyst had occurred (i.e. "I'm traveling this way because my grandfather died." as opposed to "I'm at my grandfather's funeral and now I need to go to this other location.") Again, this novel is great so far, and I'm only about 20 pages in. It draws the reader in right away. I can't wait to finish it.
First Ten review added on July 23, 2018, at 4:00 pm by Ahlily.
Laura Ungureanu
"Wilder" is a Young Adult book about a young girl named Wilder who discovers her father is actually her step-father. The book opens with the deaths of her beloved grandpa, Willy, and her mother. They both leave a will and while her mother leaves everything she had to her husband, Willy leaves to Wilder more than she expected.
I like the scene at the attorney, but I was annoyed by the interruptions in the writing flow. It was a pretty tensioned moment, to see what Wilder gets from her dead relatives, and suddenly there appeared description scenes that I think were not fitted there because I wanted to see what happens, not how a character looks. I don't see the point of the yellow eyes and white hair as genetic traits. I would have removed that, but maybe they have some importance later.
The cover looks pretty detailed. I might have tried this book without the program, but the review kind of changed my mind. I don't think this book is for me from what I read. I didn't find grammar mistakes or typos.
First Ten review added on July 23, 2018, at 2:36 pm by Laura Ungureanu.
Kristy Khem
The contrasting black and white image of a girl and a flock of birds on the cover piqued my interest immediately. The blurb was also intriguing. Therefore, at first glance, I would choose to read this book. Since I am a First Ten participant, I read a sample of the book. I liked that the author gave a physical description of Wilder at the beginning of the book – she had white skin, white hair, amber eyes and was wearing a white dress and white shoes for her grandfather’s funeral. Due to this, I immediately got a mental picture of what she looked like. The author also shocked me when it was revealed that Wilder’s father was not biological. Although it was early in the story, this plot twist encouraged me to keep reading, especially as her biological father, Hawker, was also revealed. Wilder’s hasty decision to find her real father prepared the reader for adventure as she travels to Norton to find him. I would continue reading this book since the story is quite interesting. I believe that this book has been professionally edited as I did not find any errors in the sample.
First Ten review added on July 23, 2018, at 1:10 pm by Kristy Khem.
kfwilson6
There seems to be quite a bit of mystery around Wilder and her life. The blurb for this book gives just enough away to spark interest without revealing any of its secrets. I like the way it is written and particularly enjoy the cover art of this book. Between the blurb, cover, and reviews, I get the impression this book is an enjoyable fantasy and just the type of story I typically enjoy.
The sample only goes so far as the blurb in letting the reader know Wilder's father is really her stepfather. Wilder seems like a mature young woman who knows what she wants and doesn't let anyone push her around. I think she is going to be an intriguing character. Mickey, on the other hand, seems really immature. His insults were quite annoying. I hope they don't continue. Wilder could use another round of editing. There are commas missing and commas where they aren't needed. None of those issues will prevent me from reading this book. I want to discover the truth about Wilder as she does.
First Ten review added on July 23, 2018, at 11:51 am by kfwilson6.
Mary WhiteFace
The cover and title are interesting. I like the feather turning into birds. The only color on the cover is in the girls' eyes. That's a nice touch. It adds some depth and creates a mysterious look. Adding "Book 1" to the cover lets the reader know that it is part of a series. Another nice touch. Some readers are drawn to a series.
The overview and customer reviews reveal this to be basically an adventure/romance/mystery/fantasy that is a stand-alone spin-off of a previous series from the author. There is an Official OnlineBookClub review that is very positive, revealing even more. There's an old legend, magic, motorcycles and birds. Quite a bit going on. It sounds intriguing. I'd like to see how the author puts it all together. Even without the First 10 program I would want to sample this book.
I liked that the book opens with a dream. It was short, but filled with emotion. The main narrative was also emotionally charged. I was immediately swept up in Wilders' recounting of her experiences. Writing in the first person allows for greater ability to express emotional energy. Right from the time I saw the cover, I had the feeling that I would enjoy this book, and I was right.
It's possible that the book was professionally edited. I only noticed one punctuation error where a descriptive phrase was not set apart from the rest of the sentence by commas. "I think I almost gave the lady filling up gas at the pump next to mine a heart attack when I without any kind of warning gave up a loud shout." (pg. 3).
The phrase "without any kind of warning" should have a comma before and after it. Although, considering that it is the first sentence, and it was the only noticed error, and the following scene is so emotionally charged, I am tempted to say to leave it that way. I actually liked the sentence without the commas. It is a long sentence which instinct caused me to read without a breath. This created a heightened sense of expectation and expressed the fast-paced emotional energy of the protagonist. So far, I have no suggestions for improvements, and I plan to read this book to its conclusion.
First Ten review added on July 23, 2018, at 11:33 am by Mary WhiteFace.
lesler
Had I not sampled this book and just looked at the cover, I would not have chosen to read this book, as it does not interest me. Upon reading the sample, I liked the unique storyline, but it still did not interest me enough to read the book. This book appears to be professionally edited, with no typos or grammatical errors that I noticed. I liked the main character Wilder the most, and the dialogue between her and Mickey as they drive up to Norton to find her real father. I did not like how the storyline moves from present tense to past tense without warning, which made for confusing reading.
First Ten review added on July 23, 2018, at 11:05 am by lesler.
Scerakor
From the cover, blurb, and review of this book, I wouldn't have read it. I'm not a big fan of YA novels and this one didn't sound too special. After reading the first 10 pages I didn't change my mind, and therefore, will not be buying and reading the rest of this book. Even after the first few pages, what I really don't like about young adult novels came through again and again. The characters seem stuck-up, frustrated, and difficult to deal with, and Wilder didn't seem any different. Despite the above, I did like the desperation and paying the author was able to convey after Wilder's grandfather died. As well, I like the little bit of inserted humor when talking about the name of the lawyer's office. The book seem well written and edited and, besides what I usually dislike in young adult novels, there's nothing I would have changed with the book. The official review did not affect my decision at all.
First Ten review added on July 23, 2018, at 10:25 am by Scerakor.
cpru68
Wilder received unexpected news after her grandfather Willy and her mom die in an automobile accident. Willy, who had taken her under his wing, so to speak, gave her stability and a place to stay on weekends while her parents left her to fend for herself. The sample revealed that her dad was a workaholic making no time for her whatsoever, but did go away with her mother often. This left Wilder on her own except for the time Willy took to care for her. After both deaths and at the reading of the wills, it was revealed that the man sitting in the room with her was not her biological father. I thought that part of the book was well written coupled with the scene where Wilder goes to the hospital to view Willy’s body after his death. I felt the loneliness of the character. It’s like she has spent her entire life trying to piece together a family only to find out that most of it wasn’t the full truth. I was also feeling relief, in a way, that the man who had such an icy attitude toward her wasn’t really her father and now she had a chance to be loved as a daughter should. I found no errors to note in the first few pages and no suggestions for change. While the official review of this book gave it a 4 out of 4 with good highlights, there were no spoilers, so I have to surmise that the cover gives a hint that Wilder has some possible bird in her DNA. The cover in its simplicity is attention grabbing. Had it not been for the online book club, I probably would not have read this because Young Adult is not my usual genre. While the writing is good, I am passing on this as it just didn’t hold my interest past the first few pages. This one just isn’t for me.
First Ten review added on July 23, 2018, at 9:47 am by cpru68.
ritah
Based on the cover and title, I would have sampled the book out of curiosity for its content. I read the official review and then sampled Wilder. I like how expressive the first-person narrator is even though I can't relate to her feelings towards her mother. I was surprised that even after losing her mother, she still had a cold attitude towards her. I found myself interested in the narrative and I'm curious to find out what her mother's and grandpa's will say, which is why I will be reading the rest of the book. I did not spot any obvious errors in the pages I read.
First Ten review added on July 23, 2018, at 9:41 am by ritah.
desantismt_17
This book’s title made me a bit curious. I’m often skeptical of ya paranormal books, since I usually find too much romance upstaging the plot for my taste. The description sounded interesting until the love interest with eyes that made our main character melt. That sounded a lot like instalove, which is not something I care to read. Before sampling, I wasn’t interested in reading. After sampling, I’ll pass. The prologue starts the story with a dream sequence. When the character awoke at the prologue’s end, I was annoyed at the story’s false start. The opening chapter feels stretched out. There is a problem with Wilder’s grandfather’s will. This is stated, and then several paragraphs of description about characters and backstory follow. Rather than building the tension, this just felt like stalling. The book does appear professionally edited. I noticed no errors. However, some pacing and distribution of information edits may improve this book. The OnlineBookClub.org review I saw, while glowing, introduced elements later in the story I did not wish to read. Thus, I won’t be reading this book.
First Ten review added on July 23, 2018, at 8:56 am by desantismt_17.
lavellan
I probably would have read the sample of Wilder even if it had not been a part of The First Ten program. The cover was eye-catching and the Book of the Day review was positive. These both increased my interest in the book. The novel seemed like it was professionally edited, but I noticed an error while reading. Were should have been used instead of was before the phrase "...the pale blue eyes..." I enjoyed the plot twist that the man that Wilder thought was her father was not really related to her. I'm curious to find out more about Wilder's biological father. I would have liked to have learned more about Wilder's daily life with her parents and her relationship with her grandfather. As the book did not grab my attention in the first ten pages, I will not be reading the rest of the book.
First Ten review added on July 23, 2018, at 7:54 am by lavellan.
gali
I probably wouldn't have sampled the book on my own, as neither the cover nor the blurb caught my attention. Reading the first ten pages and the OBC review made me change my mind. I enjoyed the sample more than I expected to. The story follows Wilder, a girl who finds out she can fly, literally. The author set the stage beautifully with the revelation of Wilder's heritage. I like how she was portrayed, and the interactions between her and her real dad made me chuckled. While I didn't notice any glaring errors, the writing was a bit simplistic. Regardless, I will read the book, as I enjoyed the sample.
First Ten review added on July 23, 2018, at 7:33 am by gali.
Total ~ 47%
Wilder earned a score of 47%.
In other words, out of the top-level reviewers who read at least the first 10 pages of this book, 47% plan to read the whole book.
IMPORTANT: Any score over 10% is considered very good. And any score above 0% is acceptable.
Over a million books are published each year. Any given person could not even read .0001% of the books out there. This means readers have to be very selective. Even taking the time to look over reviews and blurbs, let alone read samples, is more time than most readers can afford for most books. The First Ten is a powerful focus group that addresses those issues. It creates a helpful tool for authors, publishers, and other readers.
Go to main Bookshelves page for Wilder