
The First Ten Focus Group Feedback for Triplicity
Because Triplicity 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.
Bianka Walter

This is possibly a book I would have sampled without the first ten program. I'm a big fan of YA fiction, and the sample of this book drew me in immediately. The three protagonists, Navy, Isiah and Jesse all seem to have strong, independent personalities. They also come from very different backgrounds, so I can only assume that they will bring a lot of excitement to the story. I love locked-room mysteries, and being on a ship for seven days makes for an interesting plotline. The book has been professionally edited; I found no errors. I enjoyed the sample of this book, and the OBC review solidified my decision; I look forward to reading this book further.
First Ten review added on March 23, 2019, at 4:52 am by Bianka Walter.
OloladeO

Based on the cover, title and review, I would have read the sample because I would like to know how the three teenagers are able to come out of their web of lies. From the sample, Navy argued with her mum about them moving around a lot. Though she is a teenager, she craved stability and wanted to experience her first kiss. Navy, her mum and her mum's fiancee, Guy, got on an Alaskan cruise ship that would last a few days, after which they were set to move to Kansas city. Navy begged her mum to allow them live in Kansas for two years, even if things do not work out with Guy. The book seems edited. The OBC reviewer gave it a perfect rating, which seals my wanting to read the rest of the book.
First Ten review added on March 23, 2019, at 4:48 am by OloladeO.
Alice Heritage

I wouldn't have sampled this without the programme - at least when I realized it wasn't sci-fi - as I'm not particularly in the market for YA books. I probably won't read the rest of it as it did seem slow-paced, as was mentioned in a review I saw on Amazon. This book does appear to have been professionally edited as I didn't notice any errors. I liked the definition of "triplicity" given at the beginning as I had wondered whether it was a more complex form of "duplicity". I also liked Navy's reference to her frosty resting face and the fact that the other characters notice this about her - this was a clever trick with changing perspective. In terms of what could be improved, the dialogue to set up the characters' stories seemed somewhat contrived. It seemed hard to believe that they would be having those conversations about their backstories just when they were getting on the cruise ship. There was some "As you know, Bob" (where a character tells another character something they could be expected to know) - for example, Isiah's grandmother and aunt both mention that he is seventeen; he must know how old he is. The Filipino character, Danilo, misses out articles ("I split bed" and "I have wife") - I'm not sure how well this represents the speech of Filipinos, who generally know English well. I didn't check out the OnlineBookClub review, which didn't affect my decision as I already got a good impression of the book from the Amazon review and sample.
First Ten review added on March 23, 2019, at 4:42 am by Alice Heritage.
Gravy

Mystery is not a genre I read very often, and I always need something to grab me before I'll look at one. Nothing about this grabbed me, so I would not have sampled it. The sample did not change my mind.
I didn't notice any errors, and I appreciate the sections being headed by the name of the character whose POV it was. Little things like that are very important. This was especially helpful at the dinner table.
There's nothing about this I specifically did not like, I just don't really enjoy straight up mysteries, so I won't be continuing.
There was a review for this, but my opinion would be the same if there hadn't been one.
First Ten review added on March 23, 2019, at 3:39 am by Gravy.
Lorraine De Vos

I love the cover of this book and the explanation of the title was a clever idea. Personally I read almost any genre as long as the book captures my attention relatively quickly, which this book certainly has. I would purchase this book based on the reviews and first ten pages as I would like to find out how the teens got into trouble in the first place. I like that you can read from their different point of views and that there is an aura of mystery around each character. I didn’t enjoy how quickly the narrative jumped from characters, but I understand that it makes more sense to write it like that to keep to the timeline and I got used to it relatively fast. The book does appear to be professionally edited as I did not notice any errors. The official review was well written and intriguing without any spoilers.
First Ten review added on March 23, 2019, at 3:30 am by Lorraine De Vos.
Vickie Noel

I don't think I would have done more than briefly glance at this book outside the program, based on its title and book cover. The blurb may have piqued my interest, but I can't be too certain. Now, though, I'm quite sure I'll be concluding this book soonest because it has most of the markings of my kind of read. Young adult, love triangles, squares or other shapes, and varying personalities are some of the elements of a story I get quickly engrossed in. I'm way past the ages of the characters, but I believe you can learn from just about everything and everyone else. So, sign me up! Navy's bitchy attitude and the boys' goals to outdo themselves in gaining her approval is quite entertaining to read. I wonder how long Delilah will last with Guy the flirt. The book is largely well edited, but that didn't stop my eagle eyes from picking out a wrong placement of emphasis in the sentence, "This is the crazy biggest ship I’ve ever been on, let alone seen." It should have been, "This is the crazy biggest ship I’ve ever seen, let alone been on." Also, "barely there vibrations" should have been hyphenated as "barely-there vibrations." The OBC review had been highly enthusiastic,
and I'd picked up on its vibe to check out the book. It's great that the sample didn't end up killing it.
First Ten review added on March 23, 2019, at 3:10 am by Vickie Noel.
Mercelle

Judging by the cover, I wasn't going to read this book, but the OBC review urged me on when it mentioned that the author narrates an unfolding drama triggered by theft on a cruise ship. When I read the first ten pages, I liked that the narrator begged her mom not to make her switch schools. The text needs a round of editing to correct a sentence fragment "I craned my neck to get a better look at the girl ten or so people ahead of us." on page 4. That is the only thing I would change about the bit I read. I will, however, not read the rest of the book because it doesn't appeal to me.
First Ten review added on March 23, 2019, at 2:05 am by Mercelle.
Sicily Joy

The cover, title, and Amazon description are too vague to give an understanding of the book. However, the official review gave positive information about the plot and character development that it would have encouraged me to sample to book. After reading the first ten pages, I was hooked on the characters. I decided to buy, and read the rest of the novel. My favorite element of the story is the strong and amusing characters. I loved the interaction being Navy and her mom, Isaiah, and his gran, and the Jesse with the tour guide. It is easy to tell that the main teen characters have complex problems and personalities which drew me into the stories. There is also great humorous banter. For example, Navy trying to start a fight with her mom because she wanted to stay in one town long enough to kiss a boy created a funny dialogue. There was nothing I didn't like in the story or that I thought needed to be improved. I didn't find any errors therefore I believe it was professionally edited.
First Ten review added on March 23, 2019, at 2:00 am by Sicily Joy.
Annelore Trujillo

I would not have sampled this book based on the genre, blurb, OBC review, cover and title. I don’t usually read young adult books and this book about a web of lies told by three teenagers didn’t seem that interesting to me. The Amazon blurb also turned me away. It started with quotes from reviews instead of a summary, which I don’t like. After reading the first ten pages, I actually changed my mind about this book. I will be finishing it. I liked the way it was told from the perspective of each of the teenagers. I also liked that the switch from person to person was very clear. The use of figurative language was also great. For example, I liked the comparison of the line of people getting onto the ship to a herd of cattle being led into an incubator. There wasn’t anything I didn’t like so far, and the book did seem to be professionally edited.
First Ten review added on March 23, 2019, at 1:54 am by Annelore Trujillo.
Dolor

Even without The First Ten program, I still would have chosen to read this book because the blurb and the official OBC review had piqued my interest. The cover looks artistic, and the title is thought-provoking. The first ten pages described the day 1 in the Boarding Boat. The story was narrated in the first person perspective of Navy. Navy was with her mom and her mom's fiancé. The story in the first ten pages did not take off, so I changed my mind. I will not read on. I suggest to make the first ten pages a gripping read. I noticed a lot of fragmented sentences:
Sorry, cruise ship.
But honestly, the thought of so many bodily fluids in such a confined space made my stomach churn.
Before they can solve you.
As big as a mountain.
But I was used to twenty people on a mountain, not a million people inside one.
Triplicity by J. Mercer is a #YoungAdult #Mystery novel revolving around the three teens on an unforgettable seven-day cruise full of adventure, misadventure, self-reflection, and self-discovery. It makes the readers experience the characters' anxiety, desperation, drama, mystery, romance, and a bit of humor.
#YA #Romance #Alaska #Cruise
First Ten review added on March 23, 2019, at 12:43 am by Dolor.
Fu Zaila

The cover looks great and so does the blurb. The writing suits the storyline and I like how the book is narrated in multiple point of views. I liked both the narrators Navy and Zay. Navy sounded kind of mean-spirited to me. I liked how there wasn't any insta-love moments between them. If there was anything to dislike it would be all the talk of finding love and guys to kiss. I liked reading the sample so I'll be reading on. The writing seems to be professionally edited, but the sentences could have been little less complex.
First Ten review added on March 23, 2019, at 12:08 am by Fu Zaila.
Catherine Hsu

If I had not read the sample, I would have read the book as I really love the minimalist aesthetic of this cover and the blurb sounds interesting. After reading the sample, I have not changed my mind. The writing was really engaging and I loved the little section on "resting face" which I could definitely relate to. I did not read the official review but that did not affect my decision. The sample was professionally edited.
First Ten review added on March 22, 2019, at 11:39 pm by Catherine Hsu.
AA1495

Had I not sampled the book, I would not have read it. I usually read pure romance books. However the image of the ship and the golden moon on the cover caught my attention. Having read the sample, I liked how the book was formatted as a travel itinerary. Further, I liked how the author began with positive reviews of the book. However, I would have liked an introduction to the author as well to be able to connect with the writing. I found the book well written and edited. It was easy to read and follow. However, I would have liked more spacing between paragraphs. Since I do not read the genre usually, I might not read the rest of the book.
First Ten review added on March 22, 2019, at 11:16 pm by AA1495.
va2016

The cover and the title are indicative of the theme of the book. There are 20+ Amazon customer reviews with 4 out of 5 stars rating. The Amazon summary is descriptive and indicates what's inside the book. Based on the above factors, as it is an Young Adult fiction, I would have chosen to sample the book, even if not for the First Ten program. As I sampled through the book, I found the narration describing about the one of the protagonists Navy getting into a cruise. The way Navy describes the cruise ship as an incubator is so funny, but it's true because the ship has to accommodate a lot of people in a small space. I liked the way the story develops and the writing style, so I am going to read this book in full. I found the book professionally edited. I didn't find any grammatical or mechanical errors. What I liked most about the book is its writing style and the story plot. I could not find anything that can be improved with the book. I found 4 OBC reviews on the book, but my decision to read the book in full is based on my own sampling.
First Ten review added on March 22, 2019, at 10:57 pm by va2016.
Ekta Kumari

I would have sampled this book because I found the storyline to be very intriguing. Reading the official review also encouraged me to sample the book. Based on the portion I read, I liked the alternating viewpoints in the narrative; it gives a clear look into the characters' emotions and thoughts. The characters are engaging and realistic. Also, I didn't find any errors in the writing. I will definitely read this book for its compelling plotline and interesting cast of characters.
First Ten review added on March 22, 2019, at 4:32 pm by Ekta Kumari.
Heidi M Simone

Without this program, I would not have sampled this book. The cover is fairly simple, the title is a bit confusing, the blurb doesn't pique my interest, and the genre is one that I'm particular about. The positive OBC and customer ratings do not affect my opinion of the book. I did not see any glaring errors. I think the idea of constantly moving from place-to-place, just like it seems Navy experiences due to her mom, can be relatable to many teenagers. Even for myself, my dad wanted to move when I was in high school and it was something that I didn't care for. However, the line from sixteen-year-old Navy, "If we keep moving like this...I'll never be kissed.", is actually an off-putting comment. The desire of wanting to be kissed is the type of immaturity that I do not find appealing. It makes the character unlikable, and I need to like the protagonists in order to enjoy a story. Also, I'm not a big fan of the argument whether Isaiah likes girls or not. It isn't an interesting storyline for me. Due to not really being interested in either Navy's and Isaiah's storylines, I do not plan on reading the rest of the book.
First Ten review added on March 22, 2019, at 10:47 am by Heidi M Simone.
MarisaRose

I don't typically read YA books, but after reading the Amazon blurb for "Triplicity," this book didn't seem like a typical YA book. Some rave reviews describe the book has having in-depth characterization and adult themes. Further, the Alaskan setting and elements of mystery piqued my interest. So I wouldn't purchase this book blindly, because of the genre, but I would be willing to sample it and consider it further. An OBC review may sway my opinion in this case; however, with YA books, one of my biggest fears is that the books will be written in a juvenile tone. Therefore, I'd still want to sample the writing despite a glowing OBC review. After sampling the first ten pages, my initial thoughts were that I liked the narrator. The author did a great job of capturing the moodiness of a sixteen-year-old girl. I also liked how sarcastic the narrator was - like her reference to the cruise ship she was boarding with her family as an "incubator." I also found the writing more absorbing than a typical first-person narrative. The author does a good job of varying sentence structure throughout the book so not every sentence starts with the dreaded "I." Further, I didn't notice any grammatical errors. Although I was not completely captured by the plot (yet), after sampling the beginning, I think this book has more potential than I initially thought. I am willing to continue reading more of it at this point.
First Ten review added on March 22, 2019, at 7:06 am by MarisaRose.
NuelUkah

The cover looks matured. I couldn't understand the title until I read the first ten pages, then I thought, perhaps the story is about Navy, Isaiah, and Jesse. The author did well to define the title in page one before beginning the story. The three of them seem to have family issues.
I got a copy to read later. I found no error. The book seems to be professionally edited.
First Ten review added on March 22, 2019, at 6:53 am by NuelUkah.
Emy Katherine

As I am a huge fan of mystery novels, I would have chosen to read this book based on the genre, the blurb, and the OBC review. Oddly enough, I did change my mind after reading the first ten pages. Although I enjoyed the humorous dialogues between the characters, I did not feel invested in the story; therefore, I will not read this book. Navy, Isaiah, and Jesse are three teenagers who find themselves accused of being thieves while taking a vacation on a cruise ship. Based on the OBC review, it is a well-written story with just enough mystery, romance, humor, and adventure to keep the reader engaged until the end. Undoubtedly, fans of young adult novels will enjoy it. Furthermore, the book seems to be professionally edited as I did not notice any grammatical or punctuation errors.
First Ten review added on March 22, 2019, at 5:02 am by Emy Katherine.
Cristina Chifane

I probably wouldn't have sampled this book without the first ten program considering that young adults are its target audience. Although the title is original, the cover seems much too obscure. There are good editorial reviews and only 3, 4 or 5-star customer reviews. I couldn't find any editing errors in the pages I've read. What's more, I liked the author's style. The alternative viewpoints kept me tuned in and made the story more realistic. Even if I don't belong to the target audience, I'm still interested in reading more and finding out what will happen to Navy, Isaiah, and Jesse during their Alaskan cruise. The OBC reviewer made me want to read the book becasue she mentioned the interesting combination of mystery, romance, and adventure.
First Ten review added on March 22, 2019, at 3:44 am by Cristina Chifane.
MsTri

Both the cover and the title for this book caught my interest. Then I read the Amazon synopsis and OBC review (the only one I read), and my initial thoughts were confirmed. Even though I'm not really keen on the plot, I do like a good mystery. And when I read the sample, I was glad that it seemed to indicate that the book was professionally edited. I also liked the part where Isaiah described how big the ship was. Additionally, I don't have any suggestions for changes because this tome is already written perfectly.
First Ten review added on March 22, 2019, at 2:42 am by MsTri.
Chelsy Scherba

I enjoyed meeting Navy and Isaiah. Their reasons for going on the ship were intriguing, and I particularly liked hearing Navy’s desire to stop moving and live in Kansas City for a while. The review mentioned that something scary happens on the boat, so I’m interested in finding out what that is. I like that the book covers one of the days of the trip at a time. I’m intrigued to find out what happens to all the young characters. The editing looks very polished. I didn’t notice any errors. The title is interesting and makes me wonder what it means in terms of the storyline. The cover is minimalist and eye catching.
First Ten review added on March 22, 2019, at 12:27 am by Chelsy Scherba.
Sahani Nimandra

Triplicity by J Mercer is an interesting young-adult read about a seven day journey filled with romance, self-discovery, and adventure. The official review was spot on. The story seems interesting taking place on a cruse ship. Four individuals met on their cruse each one having their own problems. I found it difficult to keep up with the protagonists' names. This read is written in a individual perspective with a easy flow, and fast-pace. I didn't encounter any grammatical errors while reading, and have no reason to reject reading this book.
First Ten review added on March 22, 2019, at 12:09 am by Sahani Nimandra.
Kristin Ransome

This book seems like it might be interesting; however, I do not normally enjoy this genre. After the first 10 pages I was intrigued, but not sold on the characters enough to continue reading this book. Having found no errors in the first 10 pages, I would say this book was professionally edited. My favourite part is the humanity shown by the cabin attendant, Danilo. His character highlights that many people in American societies are lucky because they are not forced to work overseas for 6 months at a time to make money. My least favourite part it that some of the characters seem to lack depth (though this is only in the first 10 pages, it could change as the story progresses) and only show one emotion at a time.
First Ten review added on March 22, 2019, at 12:00 am by Kristin Ransome.
CataclysmicKnight

I was intrigued by the title of this book. It comes off as simple at first, but it's unique and stylish. I almost definitely would've checked this out if it wasn't the book of the day.
So far I'm torn on the book. The first ten pages covered all of the characters once each as they board the boat and get situated a bit. This also functioned to set up each character's situation and history a bit, and each is clearly different from one another. However, this quick jumping around made it hard to connect to each of them. In fact, I honestly don't like any of the characters yet.
Hopefully the book will spend less time jumping around as it progresses, and in time I'll come to know the characters more and get attached to them. I'm willing to read more of the book and see if that's the case, but I don't see myself saying that I'll read the rest of the book yet.
I didn't see any errors, though, which is good!
First Ten review added on March 21, 2019, at 11:17 pm by CataclysmicKnight.
unamilagra

Had I come across this book in a store, I would not have picked it up, as I don't typically go for YA books unless they are well recommended. I did read the OBC official review, which was very positive, so I was excited to sample the first ten pages. The first ten pages did a good job of pulling me in by introducing me to the three main characters, as there were a few pages from each point of view. I especially felt drawn to Navy, and I could feel the fact that she was just craving stability in her life. I am interested to know how these three characters come together and what happens to them. After sampling the first ten pages, I am happy to say that I will be reading the rest of this book. I did not note any errors in the section I read.
First Ten review added on March 21, 2019, at 9:16 pm by unamilagra.
Kristy Khem

Based on the cover and title, I would not have pegged this book for a young adult novel. However, I liked how simple the design was. The blurb sounded interesting and the Amazon reviews praised the book. I would have chosen to read this one. The sample introduced the three teens very well as they were boarding the cruise ship. My favorite character in the sample was Isaiah. It was a bit disconcerting that his grandmother accused him of being gay, although he was straight. I pitied him, but he seemed like a hard worker and an independent boy which I admired. I think the author captured the teenage personalities very well in her characters, especially Navy who was thinking about having her first kiss. I felt like I was nearly a teen again dealing with teen problems! The inclusion of the Hungarian language and culture was also present in the book. This was interesting. I liked the sample so I would buy and read this book. The 4/4 star review also encouraging. I didn’t spot any errors in the sample and I believe it was edited fully.
First Ten review added on March 21, 2019, at 9:02 pm by Kristy Khem.
CinWin

Navy, a 16-year-old girl, is boarding a cruise ship with her provocative and sexy mother. Isaiah is 17 years old and works on a ranch. He is boarding the same ship with his 'Gram' and his Aunt Ethel. Next we meet Jesse, a teenage boy, who is on board with his dad. Both are suffering from the upcoming divorce between his mom and dad. I would not have picked "Triplicity" by J Mercer by its cover because you could not tell what it was about. The first 10 pages basically introduce us to the 3 main characters boarding a cruise ship to Alaska. It is a narrative by each individual character. This made it easy to understand what each of our protagonists was thinking and feeling. There were no typos, which made it easier to understand and follow. I won't be finishing it because it is a young adult novel, and I enjoy books with the main characters more within my age group. There was nothing I would recommend for improvement. I like how the author started with the introduction of the main characters. There was an onlinebookclub review.
First Ten review added on March 21, 2019, at 7:45 pm by CinWin.
Camille Turner

I like the cover and title, which is clean and sharp, but I'm not sure I would've sampled the book without the program after reading the Amazon blurb because, while I like stories that take place on a ship, I'm not sure a young adult story about thefts would be enough to interest me. After reading the first ten pages, I didn't notice any grammatical errors, so I assume the book is professionally edited. I liked that the author didn't waste any time in introducing us to the characters and their stories. Already, we get to know Isaiah (nicknamed Zay), a gay 17-year-old whose grandmother and aunt tell him that he can only return home and work on the ranch he loves so much if he gets a girlfriend. We also see Navy, a 16-year-old girl whose mom seems to flit from one man to another and constantly pick up and move. I think the characters seem interesting, and I wouldn't improve anything in these first ten pages. My impression changed, as I was actually sucked in by the storylines and have decided to read the rest of the book.
First Ten review added on March 21, 2019, at 6:27 pm by Camille Turner.
Yoli García

The minimalistic design of this cover is awesome, and the title is intriguing. I would have sampled this book on my own. The OBC review sparked my interest because the story involves three teenagers getting in trouble on a cruise and a mystery. I think a professional edited the book. I can tell the author is an excellent writer because of how much I learned about Navy and her mother in the first scene. They move a lot. Her mother has had too many boyfriends. Seems like Navy has an unconventional life. I will read the book because I love the cover and the storyline got my full attention.
First Ten review added on March 21, 2019, at 5:50 pm by Yoli García.
HRichards

I normally wouldn't have picked this book up because it is aimed at younger readers. Having read the sample I won't be continuing with the book since it is geared to a younger age level. The sample deals with several teenagers getting on a cruise ship. Navy is going with her mother and her mother's fiancee. Isaiah is with his family with his grandmother concerned he is gay. Jesse is going with just his father. The writing is very good and young adults should like this novel. I found no grammar errors. If I was a younger reader I would probably like this book. I have read no other reviews of this book.
First Ten review added on March 21, 2019, at 4:21 pm by HRichards.
Kajori Sheryl Paul

'Triplicity' is a book written by J. Mercer. The title, blurb, the OBC review, and the customer reviews in Amazon did a good job of convincing me to give the book a try.
The first ten pages of the book leads me to believe that it is YA novel. It takes place aboard a cruise ship. It revolves around three teenagers named Navy, Isiah, and Jesse. Navy is here with her mom and her fiancé for a vacation before they move yet again. Isiah aka Zay is with his grandmother and aunt Ethel. His grandmother thinks that he is gay as he prefers to work in a ranch. If he gets a girlfriend, then his grandmother will allow him to continue with his job. Jesse and his father Wally, are surprised with a cruise trip by his mother. However, his mother doesn’t show up as she has decided to leave them. I like how the story is told through the perspectives of the three teens. I found some errors. For example, The author had written, “Shaking my head of it..” instead of “Shaking my head..” Hence, I do not think that the book is professionally edited. I will give this book a try as I like to read books of this genre.
First Ten review added on March 21, 2019, at 4:12 pm by Kajori Sheryl Paul.
Sweet Psamy

If I had not sampled the first ten pages of this book, I would have chosen to read it because of its simple cover page. Though it wasn't very compelling to me, I have read alot of amazing books and most of them didn't have a compelling cover page. That is why I would still have read this book. I would buy and read the whole book because I love the author's narrative style. The story was told in the first person narrative. I also liked the sincerity of Navy.
Reading the first ten pages did not change my mind about buying the book. This is because I confirmed that the story was going to be as interesting as I had perceived from the cover page. The book appears to have been professionally edited. What I like most in the bit I read was Navy's unique way of narrating their move to Kansas city. It was a very humorous narration. I also appreciated Navy's mother's dress sense though I couldn't really tell her age.
I think reducing the number of characters introduced at the start of the story would improve the story. The beginning part of the story seemed to be overcrowded with a lot of characters. The book did not have an official OnlineBookClub review that I saw. The lack of an official OnlineBookClub review did not affect my decision.
First Ten review added on March 21, 2019, at 3:44 pm by Sweet Psamy.
Jsovermyer

The title, Triplicity, is interesting and would attract me to the book. Three teens on a vacation Alaskan cruise filled with suspense, romance, and suspicion. Who is the thief? I like that the three main characters are so well-developed. Navy at first seems like a bored, rude ice princess, but then we learn that her father is deceased, and her mother moves her around following potential lovers. She has no security or stability. Jesse at first appears to be a tattooed, smooth-talking bad boy, but then we learn that his mother is leaving the family, and his father is drinking himself to death. Isaiah is a ruggedly handsome cowboy who wants to go back to the ranch, but then we learn that he lives with his grandmother, and the ranch was where his family went every year for vacation. I didn't like how Isaiah's grandmother assumed he was gay just because he worked with other men. I also didn't like how the ship's security thought the teens were guilty just because of their age. The official review rated this book highly and I would agree with that evaluation. I had read fifty pages before I realized it. I found no grammatical or spelling errors and believe this book has been professionally edited. I like young adult stories with their sweet romance and teenage angst. I would like to finish this one.
First Ten review added on March 21, 2019, at 3:39 pm by Jsovermyer.
Laura Ungureanu

With such a brilliant cover it is no wonder that I was mesmerized into reading the sample. But the sample left me disappointed. I didn't like the characters and their interactions. I didn't like the relationship between the mother and the daughter portrayed in the first chapter(told from Navy's point of view). They both seemed immature and their dialog was dull. I was curious about the mystery before I sampled the book, but now I am not so interested. I decided to stop reading the book because I didn't like the characters. I didn't find any errors.
First Ten review added on March 21, 2019, at 3:12 pm by Laura Ungureanu.
Jessacardinal

Although I have not previously read any reviews on Triplicity, I find the cover simple yet magical. I would be drawn to the cover at a book store and would pick the book up to read the synopsis. I am interested in what is going on in the first ten pages of the book. However, I am concerned about the number of main characters. Separate storylines sometimes jump around and are hard to follow. Because of this, I may read the book in the future, but not immediately. The beginning of Location 204 consists of the cabin attendant introducing himself. He says, "I will like to introduce myself to you...". I am not sure if this is an error or simply a character whose first language is not English. If this is an error, it is the only error I spotted in the first ten pages of the book. As previously state, I most like the interesting plot between each character, but I am concerned the story may jump around too much for my liking.
First Ten review added on March 21, 2019, at 1:56 pm by Jessacardinal.
Theresa Moffitt

I like the simplicity of the cover of this book. I also like the title. I would have picked this book up based on the cover. The ship on the cover relates to the story as the first ten pages describe the characters in the process of boarding a cruise ship. The author has three different points of view in the first ten pages. The sections are named after a specific character and then the story is told from that character’s point of view for that section. I think that is an interesting way to present the novel. The three main characters are teenagers. I like the author’s writing style. I haven’t read any reviews of this book yet. The audience seems to be young adult, but I think I would like to finish this book primarily due to the unique writing style. Based on the first ten pages, I believe this book was professionally edited because I didn’t see any errors. I will finish reading this book.
First Ten review added on March 21, 2019, at 1:37 pm by Theresa Moffitt.
Sonya Nicolaidis

The cover is very appealing in its simplicity, clearly showing a cruise ship which is the setting for the story. From the reviews, I gathered that this mystery takes place aboard a ship, which is different in that the possible suspects are limited. The reviews praised this book and made it sound like something I would definitely enjoy. When I began to read the sample, I found the language a little difficult to understand at first, and it didn’t flow very well for me. This is because of the colloquial way the characters speak, and it took a while to get used to. I did like the way the three main characters are introduced individually and also how the book is laid out, with each chapter devoted to a day of the cruise. I saw no grammatical errors, apart intentional ones when the Filipino cabin steward spoke. I wouldn’t change anything about the sample, and would be very interested to see how this story develops, so would definitely like to read this book.
First Ten review added on March 21, 2019, at 1:06 pm by Sonya Nicolaidis.
Sarah_Khan

I like the cover of this book and I found the title intriguing, it made me want to find out more. Although, I probably would not have picked it up because I found the amazon blurb too vague. The first ten pages were well-edited. I liked that the author included the definition of the title. I loved Navy's personality, her reactions to moving and her unrelatable mom were refreshingly real. One of the reviews does mention that this book is not just for a young-adult audience, so I think I will actually give this book a try.
First Ten review added on March 21, 2019, at 12:29 pm by Sarah_Khan.
Mai Tran

I wouldn’t have checked out his book if it wasn’t for the program because I’m not interested in young adult novels. The sample is professionally edited, and I like that all three main characters have unique circumstances. While I’m curious how the thieving comes about, the story develops a bit too slowly for me. I won’t continue to read this book.
First Ten review added on March 21, 2019, at 12:13 pm by Mai Tran.
ObsessedBookNerd

Had I not read the first ten page of the book I would have read this story based on the title, genre, cover, blurb or reviews because I enjoy reading young adult novels. I also like to read adventure, romance, and humor which this book has. The cover is well designed and draws the reader to check out the book. Reading the first ten pages did not change my mind. I like that the author gives a definition of the title at the beginning of the book and a quote. I also like that it is set up as a diary with it starting with Day 1 and the time/place. It also has the name of who is talking at the beginning of their paragraph. The story starts off with meeting Navy who is sixteen and has never been kissed. She has a troublesome mother who moves from guy to guy so they have to move a lot. Isaiah is the next character that is introduced. He wants to work on the ranch but his Grams is giving him grief because he is seventeen and she thinks he is gay. His aunt is the one taking them on this trip and she helps him make a deal with Gram so he can go back to the ranch. The reader is then introduced to Jesse. He is on the cruise with his dad because his mother booked the trip so that they would not be at the house while she was packing her stuff and leaving them. She told them that it would be too painful to have them watch her leave. I enjoy the writing style of the book and how relatable/ real the characters seem. I wanted to keep reading more than the first ten pages. The book did seem professionally edited and I found no spelling or grammatical errors. The book is something that I will enjoy reading and I will definitely be buying/reading the whole book because I wanted to continue reading the story. I also didn't find anything that I didn't like about the book that would turn me away. I definitely recommend this book to readers who want to read a young adult novel with humor, adventure, and romance.
First Ten review added on March 21, 2019, at 11:41 am by ObsessedBookNerd.
cpru68

Three teens board a ship in the opening pages of this book. Isaiah, Jesse and Navy each have their own backgrounds and storylines, but as the author has readers get to know each one, Isaiah is already taking interest in one of the girls while his grandma is accusing him of being gay for spending time working on a ranch with all males.
I liked how the author had each character announced at the beginning at each section. This way, readers will know which character is being focused on.
I won’t be finishing this one because I was not drawn into the story. I usually read non-fiction and very little YA novels, so this one seems a bit young for me.
I didn’t find any errors in punctuation, spelling or grammar so this seems to have been professionally edited. I probably wouldn’t have found this one on my own search without the online book club because like I said, I don’t read many YA books. I am grateful for the opportunity to read the sample pages of this and will send it out on my social media for others to look into.
First Ten review added on March 21, 2019, at 11:19 am by cpru68.
Scerakor

From the cover, blurb, and review of this book, I wouldn’t have read it. I'm not a big fan of romance novels or of the YA genre and there didn't look like there would be enough here to keep me interested. After reading the first ten pages I didn’t change my mind and therefore will not be buying and reading the rest of this book. I liked how quickly the author was able to covey the concerns, excitements, and workings of being on a cruise ship. Between the planned activities in the teen lounge, to the desires to meet new people, to the assigned tables and meeting people, to the reticence of having so many people crammed into one spot, the author covers it all. That being said, the intended demographic is very clearly for a teenage audience (from both a character and language perspective) and this is not for me. Not only do I not enjoy YA, but I don't like books with a significant romantic focus to them as well. I didn’t see anything specific that I would have wanted to change within the sample that I read, but it did seem well written and edited. The official review did not affect my decision at all.
First Ten review added on March 21, 2019, at 11:15 am by Scerakor.
Christina O Phillips

The title and cover are simple. The summary talked about thefts on a cruise ship so that made the book sound more interesting than the title and cover. Without this program, I would have read this book. There were no errors that I noticed. I've been to Disney and I've been on a cruise ship so I can say that the descriptions of the crowdedness are accurate. I find the use of alternating viewpoints to be a trick that is overused, but it works well in this sample. The dialogue of Navy, Isaiah, Jesse, and the others feels realistic, too. I want to read more about the trouble they may or may not get into on the cruise ship.
First Ten review added on March 21, 2019, at 9:13 am by Christina O Phillips.
desantismt_17

This book’s title made me curious, and the description sounded interesting. I like books of this type of suspense. Before sampling, I was thinking about reading. After sampling, I want to read this. The book appears professionally edited. I noticed no errors. I was hooked from the first page. I love that the definition of triplicity was given. It’s great foreshadowing. The POV felt real and genuine as a teenage girl. I can vividly remember counting things like 5/6 of a year and being freaked out about that fraction in terms of what I had or hadn’t done in life yet. I also felt her loving frustration with her mom and the constant moving around so strongly. If one character is this well fleshed-out, I have high hopes for the others. I have no improvements to suggest. The OnlineBookClub.org review told me this book was a twisty type of mystery, something I really enjoy. It increased my desire to read this, and I’m excited to dive in.
First Ten review added on March 21, 2019, at 9:05 am by desantismt_17.
LV2R

The book and title of the book were both OK. It looked to be about a cruise ship. The Amazon Blurb described the story as three teens on a one-week Alaskan cruise, each holding a truth about a thief aboard the ship. This made me want to read the sample. The first ten pages described two of the three teens, Navy and Isaiah, as they both were waiting in line to get on the cruise ship. Navy was with her mom and her mom’s fiance’, and Isaiah was with his great aunt Ethel and Gram. I best liked Navy’s personality so far, as she described waiting in line was like being cattle herded into an incubator. I have often thought those kinds of thoughts when waiting in a long line. It strikes me funny that she would describe it that way of getting onto a cruise ship. The book seems to be edited well, as I did not notice any errors. The OBC review made me interested in reading the book as well because the story holds mystery, drama, romance, and some humor. The book is also written from the three teens’ point of view, which should bring a lot of personality and differences in the plot’s story. I want to read the book from reading the Amazon Blurb, the first ten pages, and the OBC review. I think a good mystery on a cruise ship with three teens should be interesting and light reading to enjoy.
First Ten review added on March 21, 2019, at 8:21 am by LV2R.
sarahmarlowe randomeducator

The cover looks professionally done. The artwork is nice, and the big moon adds to the feeling of mystery. I also like that the title is easy to read. I would have picked it up to see what it was about. I enjoyed the sample. It is clever that the three teens were introduced while they were either standing in the same line to get on the cruise ship or just in the cabin — mundane little actions. The thoughts they had and the conversations with their families let readers in on their personalities and a little about their backgrounds. It would be interesting to see how these three characters meet and how they interact. I won’t be picking up this title simply because I am not looking for a young adult novel to read right now. I will say, though, that this looks like a good read. It was well-edited. I have not read an OBC review.
First Ten review added on March 21, 2019, at 7:27 am by sarahmarlowe randomeducator.
gali

I would have sampled the book on my own, as I love cruise tales. Add to that a mystery that takes place on an Alaskan cruise and you got me hooked. The blurb consists mainly of editor reviews and didn't grab me, but the official review sparked my interest. The story follows the adventures of three teens over the course of an Alaskan cruise. Although the writing was a bit juvenile , it seems well written. I didn't notice any glaring errors. I liked the alternating viewpoints and the way the author introduced the main characters. As I enjoyed the sample, I will read the book eventually. The official review further convinced me to read the book.
First Ten review added on March 21, 2019, at 6:44 am by gali.
Total ~ 67%
Triplicity earned a score of 67%.
In other words, out of the top-level reviewers who read at least the first 10 pages of this book, 67% 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.
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