
The First Ten Focus Group Feedback for And Throw Away The Skins
Because And Throw Away The Skins 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.
Vickie Noel

I wouldn't have read this book outside the program based on its cover especially. The image depicts a desolate wasteland, and that's not a picture that would attract me to a book. My opinion didn't change after reading the sample. I liked some of the expressions used in the writing but felt that the "drama," the emphasis on Bec's thoughts, especially those surrounding her husband, was a little too much. I wasn't sure if her musings were about her husband simply falling out of love with her or if they'd been fighting too much. Here's an example of a description I liked, "The brown cuffs crumpled under the laces and legs rose as twin pillars, soaring up to form the giant towering quiet, so close." I found no grammatical errors; the book is professionally edited. I have no recommendations for improvement. I saw an OBC review, but it didn't influence my decision.
First Ten review added on December 9, 2021, at 4:59 am by Vickie Noel.
Manang Muyang

The title and the cover are both riddles to me. The blurb tells me that Bec is broke, is having marriage troubles, and is recovering from breast cancer. I don't think I am up to a sad story, so I wouldn't have sampled the book on my own. The pages I read were powerful and, as expected, sad. I didn't think I could read the rest of the story. The author used sentence fragments to present Bec's troubled mind; I appreciated the effect. I noticed some errors, though, which the author may want to address. A couple of the errors follow: At 57% of the sample, "Like I care about about cars, about the house" repeated "about" before cars. At 72%, "I drive the pickup in the rest of the way" didn't need "in." The official OBC reviewer said this was not a light read. I agree, so I won't try.
First Ten review added on December 9, 2021, at 4:59 am by Manang Muyang.
xsquare

There was nothing that stood out to me in the cover, title and blurb of the book – I wouldn’t have sampled this book if it hadn’t been part of the First Ten program. The official OBC review did not convince me. I liked the way that the author switches between the past and present of Bec’s life. I didn’t see any typos, and I don’t think that there was anything that the author could’ve done better. However, I didn’t find the first ten pages compelling enough to change my mind. I won’t be reading the rest of the book.
First Ten review added on December 9, 2021, at 4:55 am by xsquare.
va2016

The title "And Throw Away The Skins" and the cover that contains things that look like crops do not convey the theme of the book. There are 28 Amazon customer ratings, which is a sufficient number for me to decide to sample the book. The Amazon summary clearly states the story of the book, which is about a character called 'Bec' who struggles to survive in New Mexico. As I became deeply curious about the story, I would have sampled the book even if not for the First Ten program. As I sampled through the book, I found the narration describing Bec getting baptized, and later being in her home in 2008. As I am interested in the overall story of the book, I am going to read this book in full. I found the sample professionally edited. There were no grammatical or mechanical errors. What I liked most about the book is its intriguing story. I don't have any recommendations for the improvement of the book. Although I found one OBC review of the book, my decision to read the book in full is based on my own sampling.
First Ten review added on December 9, 2021, at 4:46 am by va2016.
Catherine Hsu

If I had not read the sample as part of the First Ten program, I would have read the book. The cover could be more relevant but I really was intrigued by the blurb. After reading the sample, I have not changed my mind. The writing is so interesting and I loved how detailed it was, even about dirt under the fingernails. It was professionally edited as well, so there was nothing I'd change. The official review on OnlineBookClub did not affect my decision — I love reading raw and emotional stories and it sounds like this is one!
First Ten review added on December 9, 2021, at 4:37 am by Catherine Hsu.
Shrabastee Chakraborty

I was curious about the book after reading the title. However, despite the official OBC review's highest rating, I did not intend to read this because of the trauma and raw emotions it contains. I failed to find an error in the first ten pages. Nine-year-old Rebecca was requested to attend the Church by the Reverend. In the next chapter, we found an adult Rebecca watching her husband prepare for a mission. I admired how the author had sketched their strenuous relationship within a couple of pages. I didn't find anything that could need improvement. However, based on the sensitive nature of the premise, I decided not to read the entire book.
First Ten review added on December 9, 2021, at 3:26 am by Shrabastee Chakraborty.
Mutai Marshal

I couldn't connect with either the cover page or title. Therefore, I wouldn't have read this book outside the First Ten program. From the sample, I liked the spiritual message. The reverend implored Rebecca to dedicate herself to serving God. Having sampled this book and read the OBC review, I will complete reading it because I adore books that evoke emotions. It seems edited. Lastly, I didn't locate anything worth improvement.
First Ten review added on December 9, 2021, at 3:24 am by Mutai Marshal.
Dzejn_Crvena

Based on the title, I wouldn't have sampled this book outside this program. It sounds like a horror book, and I avoid reading that genre for now. The sample and the OBC review didn't convince me to read it. The first ten pages are about Rebecca's childhood as a dedicated Christian. At present, she is waiting for her husband to get deployed as a soldier. They have a strained marriage now that she has cancer. I like the marital and psychological issues tackled in this story that many people can relate to. However, the themes are too heavy for me to read. I already read many books on marriage before this, so I'll skip it for now. The book seems professionally edited, and I don't have suggestions for improvements.
First Ten review added on December 9, 2021, at 3:23 am by Dzejn_Crvena.
Howlan

I do not think I would have read this book as the synopsis did not interest me. We are introduced to Rebecca and her husband, William, in the first ten pages. Rebecca is diagnosed with breast cancer, and William is going to war in Afghanistan. The story follows Rebecca as she is coming to terms with her life in solitude while suffering from the aftereffects of the chemotherapy. The narration is well-paced and easy to understand. I generally do not enjoy reading this genre of books based on family drama or psychological books in general, so the plot did not catch my interest. I typically enjoy fast-paced mystery thrillers. So, I am not going to buy and read this book as I am not interested in the story or characters. No typos were found in the first ten pages. I found nothing to improve in the first ten pages. The official OBC review is present, and the reviewer rates it highly.
First Ten review added on December 9, 2021, at 3:14 am by Howlan.
Sou Hi

If it's not for this program, I wouldn't read this. The official review from OnlineBookClub and Amazon's blurb look alright, but the book is not my cup of tea. It is about a woman, Rebecca, who is suffering from cancer. Meanwhile, her husband goes to Kabul for his mission, leaving her alone.
I like the fine editing, and I have no suggestions for improvement. However, the story is obscure and quite confusing. The narrative is monotonous, too. Since the book can't pique my interest, I won't buy it.
Error example: He gave a final gentle squeeze, dropped his arms, He pivoted, strode across the acre of tile and back into a resolute, codified life. -> It should be a period after "his arms" instead of a comma.
First Ten review added on December 9, 2021, at 2:38 am by Sou Hi.
Justine Ocsebio

I wouldn’t have sampled the book based on the blurb, as I wasn’t intrigued by the premise. I liked how the book began with nine-year-old Bec meeting a man who prayed with her while she was playing outside. I’m not interested in the premise, so I’m skipping this book. The OBC review did not affect my decision. I disliked nothing, and I didn’t see anything that needed improvement. The text is well edited.
First Ten review added on December 9, 2021, at 1:43 am by Justine Ocsebio.
Akshara Singh

I wouldn't have picked up this book because it appeared too sad for my taste. I am easily affected by such stories so I don't prefer reading them much. After reading the first ten pages, my opinion is still the same. The protagonist has cancer and is thinking about her death as well as the possibility of her husband's too, in the war. The mention of Church too much also put me off. The thing which attracted me a little bit towards the book was that her husband is in the army. I love reading about stories on army families but this appeared too gloomy to me. The pages that I read were well-edited. Reviews of the book on OnlineBookClub did not affect my decision.
First Ten review added on December 9, 2021, at 1:27 am by Akshara Singh.
Jennifer Garcia 555

The title and cover of this book did not appeal to me. I would not have chosen this book to read. After reading the description, sample pages, an official Online Book Club Review, and reviews on other sites, this book still does not appeal to me. It seems like an inspiring war fiction story. The beginning did not grab me. I did not want to continue reading. I didn’t find any editing errors, so this book seems professionally edited. I like that this book deals with someone living through cancer treatment. This may be helpful to some readers that can relate. This book would be improved for me if the beginning moved along faster and had more action. This book had very good reviews, but I am going to pass on this one.
First Ten review added on December 9, 2021, at 12:09 am by Jennifer Garcia 555.
Gabrielle Sigaki

And Throw Away The Skins by Scott Archer Jones is a fiction book that brings psychological aspects, a strong woman, emotional and raw stories. If I didn't sample this book, I wouldn't read it based on its genre and its Official OnlineBookClub review since I'm not interested in raw and emotional fiction books. After sampling it, I didn't change my mind and I won't read the entire book because of the reason I stated before. However, it seems professionally edited, there's nothing to be improved in it, and I liked the author's descriptions of the characters' emotions since it brought the characters' localization, the people near them, and several other factors.
First Ten review added on December 8, 2021, at 11:57 pm by Gabrielle Sigaki.
Mercy Bolo

This book's cover didn't entice me to read it, and the OBC review dissuaded me when it mentioned that the author narrates the story of Rebecca, a woman on the final leg of a breast cancer diagnosis. That storyline doesn't appeal to me, so I won't read the rest of the book. When I read the first ten pages, I liked that the reverend encouraged Rebecca to re-dedicate herself to the church and reflect upon Jesus Christ. I spotted no errors in the text, so I will conclude that it underwent professional editing. There's nothing I disliked about the bit I read, so I wouldn't change anything about it.
First Ten review added on December 8, 2021, at 11:12 pm by Mercy Bolo.
Jorge Leon Salazar

The cover is artistic but fuzzy, so I consider it is difficult to associate it with any subject. Also, The title is creative but imprecise. Hence, I think potential readers are unlikely to be attracted to the title-cover combination. In general, I don't like novels with so much family drama. The blurb expresses that the story revolves around Rebecca (Bec) Robertson, who is starting over in a ruined cabin in New Mexico. She is recovering from breast cancer. Plus, it mentions her damaged relationship with her husband William, who is deployed in Afghanistan. Most customer reviews are favorable and emphasize that the story is thought-provoking. Based on these elements, I am not quite sure whether to try this book. The sample focuses on Bec, her ill-fated marriage, and her battle against cancer. I found it appealing that the narrative jumps back in time. While most of it unfolds in 2008 when Bec is an adult there are jumps back to when she is a child. These first pages present Bec going through much suffering. Not only because of her disease but also because of not having support in her home. William does not empathize with her situation and focuses on his military life. I was impressed by the telling of when Rebecca was a child as she endured mistreatment like being spanked by her father when she did not do her chores. I think Rebecca's character is incredibly empowered but she goes through too many difficulties. The official OnlineBookClub review highlights Rebecca's struggling nature. In addition, it indicates that the story addresses reflective themes such as illness, war, trauma, grief, and a struggling marriage. The editing looks adequate although I saw a detail at 20% of the sample where it says "kept them wrapped in a gauze of quiet." It looks like it should be "gaze" instead of "gauze." According to what I read, the plot seems well built, but I think it includes too much drama for my liking. Therefore, I won't read the rest of the book.
First Ten review added on December 8, 2021, at 9:15 pm by Jorge Leon Salazar.
MsH2k

I didn’t understand the title or the cover, so I probably wouldn’t have even gotten to the blurb and would not have sampled this book if I were not part of this program. Upon actually reading the blurb, I was interested in finding out more about the story. The sample pages were inviting and easy to read. I could easily picture the tough situation Rebecca and William were in. It seems cancer has driven them apart, but I suspect there were already issues beforehand. I was in Rebecca’s corner from the start, but I know I will find out more about her story. I will buy this book. I could relate to the characters, and I enjoyed the writing style. I did not notice any grammatical errors in the first ten pages, and I have no suggestions for improvement. The featured OnlineBookClub review reinforced my decision to buy this book.
First Ten review added on December 8, 2021, at 9:05 pm by MsH2k.
Sarah_Khan

I like the simple cover of this book and the title made me want to find out more. After reading the Amazon blurb, I would not have sampled this book because the plot does not seem interesting. The first few pages were well edited. I thought the author did a great job with the descriptions. The gradual uneasy feeling that led to vomiting which then led to a reveal of Bec's bald head in the mirror, was just perfect writing. The OBC review was positive. Overall, this book seems like a good read, but the reviewer said the story is emotional and I am looking for a light-hearted read. For this reason, I will not be reading the rest. I do not have any suggestions for the author.
First Ten review added on December 8, 2021, at 9:01 pm by Sarah_Khan.
brooke oakes

I doubt I would have sampled or read this book outside this program. I didn't fancy its cover, and neither its OBC nor Amazon review appealed to me.
The book starts with Rebecca’s childhood memory of a moment with her pastor. It then jumps to present day with her and William leaving the house as she says goodbye so he can go back to the army base. It’s a painful moment of heartache and physical illness. I liked the vivid details of this book, but nothing else in the book appealed to me, so I won't complete it. I don't notice any errors, while I read. I don't think this book needs any improvement.
First Ten review added on December 8, 2021, at 6:49 pm by brooke oakes.
Sonya Nicolaidis

There was something quite intriguing about the title of this book, which would have made me stop for a closer look. I didn’t really like the way the front cover was presented though, and thought the author could have done a wonderful story more justice by choosing a better cover design and more attractive font for the title. However, the OBC reviewer was very complimentary about the book, and I also enjoyed reading positive comments on Amazon as well. The sample was terrific. It flowed well, despite consisting of many flashbacks, and I really could sympathize with the mixed feelings of both Bec and William. The level of characterization was excellent, and the background was well-developed. However, I felt the opening pages were a little bit drawn out and could possibly do with a bit of editing. I didn’t see a single error, indicating it had been checked and edited thoroughly. All in all, I really enjoyed this sample and would read the whole book for sure as it promises many surprises up ahead. The only thing I would consider changing would be the cover. Apart from this, it looks like a brilliant book.
First Ten review added on December 8, 2021, at 5:06 pm by Sonya Nicolaidis.
Kirsi Cultrera

I was not blown away by the cover of this book, as it gave me no clue about the content. Based on the cover, I would not have sampled this book without this program. However, the blurb and customer reviews painted an interesting picture of the book. After reading them, I wanted to at least check out the sample. I loved the author’s slow pace and soothing manner of narration. I also enjoyed the memories of Bec’s childhood that interrupted the present here and there. Other than the cover picture, I did not find anything to complain about. The editing seemed well-done. The Official OnlineBookClub review confirmed what I’d learned from other sources and did not alter my decision about this book. I found this story all together beautiful but also sad. Therefore, I do not wish to read it further. Lately, I’ve been finding joy from lighter stories, and no matter how beautiful, I really don’t feel like reading about a cancer survivor and her struggling marriage. Nowadays, there's enough sadness in the newspapers.
First Ten review added on December 8, 2021, at 2:55 pm by Kirsi Cultrera.
Scerakor

After reviewing the title, genre, cover, blurb, and review of this book, I would not have read this book. The topics and genre of this book don't interest me at all and therefore would not have picked it up. 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 really enjoyed the descriptive writing, especially surrounding smells. As Rebecca was in the taxi, the description of perspiration, deodorant, tumeric, and cumin definitely painted a picture. That being said, the book just didn't look exciting enough for me to buy and read the rest of it. The book looked well written and edited; there weren't any errors that I picked up on in the sample that I read. The thing I would have improved from the sample I read is the large number of tiny sections right off the bat. I would have preferred to have read larger sections in the first chapter in order to get a feel for the flow (without chopping things up). There was an official OBC review, but it did not affect my decision at all.
First Ten review added on December 8, 2021, at 1:27 pm by Scerakor.
Michelle Menezes

I couldn't guess the content of the book based on the title. The blurb was interesting, and the Official OnlineBookClub review had good things to say about it, but I didn't want to read the book because of the difficult topic and how it would affect me. After reading the first ten pages, I have decided to stick to my decision and not continue with it, due to the reason mentioned above. The beginning shows Bec's strained relationship with her husband and the way the sickness is affecting her. I liked the writing style, and the author has tried to create empathy in the minds of the reader towards Bec while making sure it doesn't turn to pity. I don't think the book needs any improvement, and I didn't find any errors, so it seems professionally edited.
First Ten review added on December 8, 2021, at 10:45 am by Michelle Menezes.
Annelore Trujillo

I would have sampled this book based on the genre, blurb, OBC review, cover and title. I was interested in the story of this couple’s marriage and how their struggle would turn out. After reading the first ten pages, I won’t be finishing this book. I wasn’t a huge fan of the writing style. It was short and choppy to match Bec’s mood, but I found it difficult to read like this. I thought I would be more pulled in by their story and the argument they had that drove them apart, but the vagueness so far turned me away. I did like that there was a flashback in the beginning and that the chapters start with the setting. The editing needs improvement as I noticed a couple errors that told me the book might not be professionally edited. For example, “security” was incorrectly capitalized, and there was a misused semicolon.
First Ten review added on December 8, 2021, at 9:59 am by Annelore Trujillo.
Diana Lowery

Based on the title, I thought this might be a book about nutrition and vitamins. I could not tell exactly what the cover photo was depicting. The blurb made the book sound depressing. There was an unnecessary comma, "chaplain[,]and can't stand..." The OBC review said the book was pensive and psychological. I liked the crossword analogy in the pages that I read. I did not see any errors. Because I liked the writing style, I am going to keep reading this book. Also, I want to find out the meaning of the title. I do not have any suggestions for the author.
First Ten review added on December 8, 2021, at 9:01 am by Diana Lowery.
Rodel Barnachea

Following my going over the title's Amazon page and official OnlineBookClub review, I decided not to acquire the book. I did not find myself interested in how Bec's life would go as she lives in a remote mountain cabin in Mexico. I am also not intrigued by how the main character will blend well with the community that she found herself to be a part of. Poring over its Amazon sample did not change my mind. I would not purchase it because nothing in the text captured my attention or had me wanting to peruse the remaining chapters of the story. It is also because I am not intrigued by the outcome of the protagonist's marriage: I am not interested in answering the question "Will they reconnect with each other at the end, or will they continue to grow apart from each other?" The first ten pages contain the first chapter and a few pages of the second chapter. My favorite part is when Bec did a psychological crossword on her husband's crossword puzzle book. I did not identify any errors in the sample; I believe the book is professionally edited. I have no advice to offer to the author.
First Ten review added on December 8, 2021, at 5:40 am by Rodel Barnachea.
gen_g

Looking at the title and Amazon blurb, the book seems to belong to the realism genre – I am not looking for books in this genre, so I would not have sampled it. I did come across a positive OBC review of the book, but I would not have changed my decision regarding sampling because of the genre mismatch. I have spotted numerous errors present. At 1%, the adverb form of the word "quiet" should be used, not the adjective: "...the giant towering quiet(ly), so close...". I suggest more rigorous editing to improve the book. I do like the level of description present – it helps the reader to form a clearer picture of what is happening, which deepens immersion. For example, we learn that the Reverend wears leather shoes, with white leather covering the top of each foot under the laces, with tan cowhide surrounding the rest of each foot. The tan cowhide is also perforated, with brown cuffs crumpling over the laces. Other than the need for more rigorous editing, I do not have further suggestions for improvement. I will not be buying the book today because I am not in the market for realist fiction (with somewhat-heavy psychological themes).
First Ten review added on December 8, 2021, at 4:33 am by gen_g.
Asma Aisha Ansari

The cover and the title of the book seemed vague to me, and I wouldn't have sampled this book based on these 2 criteria. The official OBC review, the blurb and the Amazon reviews are positive and encouraging. However, I don't prefer to read very emotional and sad stories. So, I sampled the book only because this book is part of the First Ten Program. Unfortunately, the writing style couldn't keep me glued for long because I found it too descriptive. Also, the characters didn't seem real to me. In fact, I couldn't even sympathise with Rebecca's character. There's nothing that I particularly liked about the sample.
I found several instances of missing commas in the sample. Here's an example: Next he patted her on the ass. In this sentence, there should be a comma after the word 'Next'. I suggest that the book be edited thoroughly once for such errors. Additionally, the cover should be improved as well to give a better idea about the story. Lastly, I'm not going to read the rest of the book, as I didn't like the sample.
First Ten review added on December 8, 2021, at 4:23 am by Asma Aisha Ansari.
Eunice Geres

The synopsis didn't interest me. I'm not a fan of this genre. The themes presented in this book are also not what I usually enjoy. This book is not for me. The sample felt like I was watching a Netflix show that was super boring. Everything is slow-paced, and the book's vibe felt like a retelling part of a documentary. I never liked slow-paced novels. But I do admit that the writing is excellent. I especially liked the idea of doing a crossword puzzle with words that are not the answers. I will not be finishing this because the genre is not what I want to read. I didn't find any grammatical errors. And, there's nothing I can recommend because the structure and style of the story already seem great if it is read by an interested reader.
First Ten review added on December 8, 2021, at 4:17 am by Eunice Geres.
J_odoyo

The first ten pages of And Throw Away the Skins by Scott Archer Jones present a riveting story of Rebecca: her struggles with her debilitating condition, her sickling marriage, and many others. I would say that the book’s sample is well written and riveting. The progress of this story is promising, and I can’t stop guessing what’s next. The book’s title is attractive, and I think its cover page is also attractive. I liked the book’s official OnlineBookClub review; it gave an insight into what the book is all about. I didn’t encounter any errors, and I believe the book was professionally edited. Its description on the Amazon website also served its purpose well. After reading the sample and the OnlineBookClub review, I’m not going to finish reading this book because I’m not a fan such stories. Sincerely, I wouldn’t recommend anything for the improvement of this book; the sample was well written.
First Ten review added on December 8, 2021, at 4:02 am by J_odoyo.
Joseph Mutuku 1

Scott Archer Jones’ And Throw Away the Skins can be a great read for those emotional stories. Rebecca’s story and her struggles with cancer and her struggling marriage will be a great read for fans of this genre. Her husband is off to Middle East amidst her gruelling condition, and the progress of this story is just promising. The sample was well-written and gripping. Sincerely, the book’s title is catchy; moreover, the cover page is also well designed. I didn’t spot any objective error in the pages I read—this is an indication that this book was professionally edited. Reading the first ten pages didn’t convince me to finish reading it; I have a problem with the book’s premise. The book had a positive official Online Book Club review, and it was insightful enough to answer most of the questions I would have before selecting this book. However, I usually sample a few pages before buying any book. Many thanks to the author for the free samples! After checking all that makes a good beginning of a book, I have no advice for the author of this book.
First Ten review added on December 8, 2021, at 3:44 am by Joseph Mutuku 1.
Kelyn

I tend to avoid books steeped in religion, as this one at first seemed to be. Given this, if I had not been in this program, it is unlikely that I would have run across this book. Even if I had, nothing in particular about the cover or title would have caught my attention. Despite the sample indicating strong religious content, the blurb seems to belie that. Aside from the somber content about Bec surviving breast cancer, it actually made the book sound amusing. I am fond of odd characters, so 'batty villagers' are right up my alley. There are many positive customer reviews on the Amazon site. However, I did not see an OBC review. If I had, I would have been interested in what the reviewer had to say. The official OBC review on this site was complimentary. This gave a good impression going into the sample. Taking what the blurb said about her husband not being able to touch her, I couldn't help but dislike him despite the tender way he seemed to treat her. I could tell he was trying, but he also was trying to get away from her as fast as he could. He left her to deal with everything on her own. That is not a good quality in a husband. But Bec is a survivor. I admired how she took it into her own hands to move on with her life (and literally move - to her grandfather's cabin) after they lost the house. Even though he was a bit too flirty, I did like her brother-in-law for helping her move. Unfortunately, as engaging as I found the sample and the characters, this book is well out of my favored genres (sci-fi/fantasy and the paranormal). I doubt the book's ability to hold my attention. For these reasons, I have decided not to continue reading the book. The book seemed well-edited. I found no 'countable' errors in the sample.
First Ten review added on December 8, 2021, at 3:23 am by Kelyn.
Sanju Lali

I was unable to guess anything about this book as "And Throw Away The Skins" indicated many things to me. Therefore, I decided to read an OBC official review of this book to know what is inside it. The OBC official review gave me the idea that this book follows a strong independent woman Rebecca, who faces a lot of challenges. This information motivated me to read the sample of the book before purchasing it. When I read the first ten pages, I realized that this book is not professionally edited because I found some grammatical errors in the sample. For example, the sentence, “She had shoved, prodded at their unhappiness like she picked at a scab, until he’d do anything to stop it." The sentence could have been as follows. "She had shoved, prodded at their unhappiness as she picked at a scab until he’d do anything to stop it." The thing l liked the most is Rebecca's positive attitude toward life even though she was suffering from the side effects of chemotherapy. I found Rebecca's attitude towards life inspiring. Unfortunately, I found that the narrative overexplained a few things and left out some of the more important ones. All this and too much usage of irony left me stranded because I could not understand Rebecca's situation clearly. It would have been helpful if the author had used a simple writing style for the average reader like me to understand everything well. I lost interest in reading because of the problems mentioned above. I would suggest the author for a round of professional editing and look at my problems as described above. After looking at all these aspects, I decided not to purchase and read this book today. I will wait until the author looks at my suggestions so that while reading the book, I can visualize the scenes clearly and engross myself in the story.
First Ten review added on December 8, 2021, at 1:45 am by Sanju Lali.
Ari Martinez

If it wasn't for the First Ten program, I wouldn't sample this book based on its title, cover, Official OnlineBookClub review, or other customer reviews because I don't think I would enjoy reading such an emotional book at this time. After reading the first ten pages, I will not continue reading the book because I would prefer to read more cheerful and positive books right now. My favorite part of the sample was the bits of conversation between Bec and her husband. Besides Bec's thoughts and memories, the dialogue also said a lot about the state of their relationship. I don't think the book needs improvement, and it appears professionally edited.
First Ten review added on December 8, 2021, at 1:05 am by Ari Martinez.
Rosemary Owolabi

Had I not sampled the first ten pages of this book, I wouldn't have picked it up to read, mostly because the blurb and readers' reviews would have given me a bit of background on the story. I would have used that to decide whether to pick up the book or not. The title is a showstopper. It made me curious to know more about the book. But once I got to know, it's about a cancer patient through the book. I began to lose interest. It is not my kind of book.
In my opinion, the book was professionally edited. It was somehow poetic in nature. I didn't notice any typos/ errors in the first ten pages.
I am not going to buy the book to read. Not only that, but I don't like watching people suffer or go through life-threatening situations, real or imagined. It gets to me. This fictional book is no exception. I'm too emotional.
What I liked most was that, even though Rebecca was sick with cancer, she still managed to follow her husband to the airport. This showed me that she was not self-centered.
What I know about the story from the first ten pages is that Rebecca is struggling with cancer. She got her hair shaved and had double breasts mastectomy. She had relationship problems with her husband. He was going back to base. She would have to rely on someone to take her around for her treatments. He looked like someone that would rather get far away from her than a concerned husband that would have stayed and taken care of his sick wife. Rebecca's uncle, Reverend Howie, forcefully laid hands on her for prayer when she was nine years old, to receive Christ and be part of the Church of Christ's Witness. Rebecca's husband also prayed over her like he was praying over a parishioner. These two important people in her life didn't seek for her emotional needs. It was like her opinion didn't matter. They couldn't fill the emotional void inside her. She yearned to be truly loved.
What could be improved are the areas of technicality in writing or writing style. At first glance, a book should be easy-to-understand. It shouldn't be too advanced for readers. It was like poetry to me. I found it slightly difficult to decipher what the writer was trying to say. He should write, putting readers in mind. He changed Rebecca's name to a pet name, Bec, when she was grown, for so long that I didn't know he was talking about the same Rebecca. I was only guessing until the husband started calling her Rebecca much later in the pages. The chapter was around 20 pages, making me read more than the first ten pages to at least understand what the story was about. It wasn't enough to just read the first ten to understand the story. These are the few issues I noticed. Other than that, the story is great.
First Ten review added on December 8, 2021, at 12:37 am by Rosemary Owolabi.
Chelsy Scherba

The format of this book was very interesting. Each section is like a snapshot of Bec’s life, starting with a childhood memory and glimpses at her marriage, cancer, and recovery. I don’t really read this genre, so I would not have searched for this story outside of the program, but the OBC review definitely piqued my interest. I didn’t see any errors in this well-edited book, so I’d say it seems professionally edited. The cover is okay, but not particularly interesting. I might suggest a new design for it. I probably won’t be buying today because I’m budgeting for the holidays, but I might add it to my reading list for the future.
First Ten review added on December 8, 2021, at 12:17 am by Chelsy Scherba.
Kaitlyn Canedy

If And Throw Away The Skins hadn't been the OnlineBookClub's book of the day, I would have skipped the sample of it. Even though there are numerous customer reviews, I knew from the description that this book wouldn't be for me. I am not big on emotionally-charged novels, which is why I state this. I did like that Bec is brave and takes on each challenge as it comes her way; this woman is one that I hope to be if I ever get into situations as she did. My assumptions about the book being emotional were correct, however, so I have decided to skip this novel. I did not notice any grammatical errors in the sample, and I cannot think of anything that needs improvement. There is an official OnlineBookClub review for this title, but I did not need to read it to make a decision. Readers who enjoy books about hardship and other people's responses to them may like this title.
First Ten review added on December 7, 2021, at 11:17 pm by Kaitlyn Canedy.
Kira Bonita Reece

What I liked about this book was how relatable the characters were. Bec's battle with cancer seemed very real. This book had an official online book club review and it seemed to be professionally edited. I would choose to read this book based on the reviews I've read. I'm not particularly a fan of the cover though. After reading the sample, I don't think I will be reading the entire book. There wasn't enough information in the first ten pages to hook my attention. I think the book had too much of a slow start.
First Ten review added on December 7, 2021, at 11:06 pm by Kira Bonita Reece.
Stephanie Runyon

The cover appears to look like it is wrinkled and reminiscent of an old memoir. I am not generally fond of memoirs, fictional or nonfictional, and would have not sampled the book. I liked how Bec's description portrays a realistic view of what cancer can do to a family. Professionally edited, I have no suggestions on improvement for the book. There is an OBC review, but it didn't influence my choice to not read the rest of the story. In my view, there isn't enough backstory to explain why Bec felt the need to hide the foreclosure from her husband. I also felt he was abandoning her instead of being supportive. He was a hypocrite, as he vowed “through sickness and health, until death do we part.” Going to a war zone as a minister seemed like he was abandoning his wife. My dislike of several elements is why I don't wish to finish reading this book. I did not read any other reviews nor blurbs for this book.
First Ten review added on December 7, 2021, at 11:03 pm by Stephanie Runyon.
Mary WhiteFace

The cover picture and title did not reveal any clues as to the topic of the book. The genre of Other Fiction did not influence my decision. There was no blurb. Reading the synopsis, multiple customer reviews, and the OnlineBookClub review helped to determine that the premise was a little intense for my tastes.
The book seemed to be professionally edited. I have no suggestions for improvements. The part I liked best was how Bec would ignore the clues to a crossword puzzle. She would fill in her own words that related to each other in some way. She called it "a psychological crossword (location 174)." I also liked how William called his green military uniform his "pickle suit (location 187)."
Without the First Ten program I would not have wanted to read this book. Reading the first ten pages did not change my mind. I will not be reading the whole thing.
First Ten review added on December 7, 2021, at 9:44 pm by Mary WhiteFace.
Brenda Creech

I would not have checked this book out based on the cover and title because nothing stood out to me as exciting or intriguing. After reading the OBC review, I was curious about Bec and her cancer diagnosis. On the other hand, her husband didn't seem concerned about his wife having cancer. He decided to return to the military and left right after Bec had started her chemo treatments. The part I read was about Bec and William's trouble in their marriage for some time. I only noticed one error at 48% of the sample. The sentence is Bec speaking, and she says, "As I care about cars, about the house, I care about you..." One of the words 'about' should be omitted. Battling a disease like cancer while undergoing poisonous treatment and having your marriage fall apart would be devastating. That is why I don't plan to read any more of the book. Both issues, marriage problems and battling cancer simultaneously, are too emotional for me. I lost two sisters to cancer in a short period, so I will pass on reading this. I did not see anything that needed improvement in the part I read.
First Ten review added on December 7, 2021, at 7:26 pm by Brenda Creech.
Hazel Arnaiz

The cover, title, blurb, and customer reviews did not catch my attention. I will skip this book outside the program. However, sampling changed my mind. I like that the story seems to examine the meaning of “in sickness and in health.”
I am curious about the perspective of the one who has the illness. The editing looks neat. There are no issues from what I sampled. Likewise, I suggest a more eye-catching book cover. The white field behind the text seems like afterthoughts to make the words stand out. Reconsidering these items might give a tidier look. The insights from the official OnlineBookClub review help decide to get the book.
First Ten review added on December 7, 2021, at 5:48 pm by Hazel Arnaiz.
Yvonne Monique

I find the book cover intriguing, and out of curiosity I would pick this book up if I would see it in a bookstore. The blurb and OBC review explain perfectly what this story is about. The sample looks professionally edited. The story is very emotional and makes me feel immediately sorry for the protagonist, Rebecca. Her suffering feels very real. It does not seem very realistic, though, that her husband goes to Kabul, leaving her to look after herself and battle her cancer alone. As this book looks to have the ability to evoke sad feelings in me due to fact that I have lost many dear people to cancer, I will not read it. I have no suggestion for improvement.
First Ten review added on December 7, 2021, at 5:41 pm by Yvonne Monique.
markodim721

I would choose to read a sample of this book because of the title. I also read the blurb, customer reviews, and editorial reviews but they did not influence my decision. The title of the book attracted my attention because it contains both suggestions and ambiguity. I think the cover of the book should be more clearly designed and better related to the title. I’m not going to read the book because it’s not the genre I prefer. While reading the sample I didn’t notice any typos or errors and the book seems like it is professionally edited. Reading the sample didn’t change my mind from my original guess. I like how William’s packing is described before he leaves because everything seems very organized and precise, as expected of a military person. I also liked the joke about the color of the uniform that William calls a pickle suit. I don't think anything needs to be improved in the book. The book has an Official OnlineBookClub review, I read it but it also did not influence my decision.
First Ten review added on December 7, 2021, at 5:04 pm by markodim721.
Timothy Rucinski

Great title and a nice cover, neither of which hinted at the content of the novel, but sufficient to have made me interested in what's inside. Although the Official OBC Review was nicely written, I was fairly certain after reading the review that I wouldn't go any further than the first few pages. In these days of Covid, the last thing I want to read about is an illness. From the first several pages, it was clear that Mr. Jones is a fine author. However, this is not my kind of book so I will not be reading it. What I liked most was his clear writing style, almost brutal when describing Rebecca's cancer. It was very difficult to read the prose. There was nothing that I disliked other than the genre. Although the book may have been professionally edited, there is still some opportunity for more thorough proofreading. At 27% into the sample of the Kindle edition, for example, there should be a period, not a comma, before the second use of the word "he" in the following: "He gave a final gentle squeeze, dropped his arms, He pivoted, strode across the acre of tile and back into a resolute, codified life." I have no recommendations for improvement.
First Ten review added on December 7, 2021, at 3:34 pm by Timothy Rucinski.
Emy Katherine

As a huge fan of crime thrillers, I would not have read the book based on the genre. After reading the OBC review and sampling the book, I strongly believe this book is too intense for me to read. The story follows the journey of a 40-year-old woman named Rebecca, who finds herself going through a difficult time as she struggles to deal with a serious illness and a strained marriage. I appreciated the descriptive writing style and had no problems connecting with Rebecca's character, but I noticed many errors that disrupted the flow of the story. For example, it should be written "Like I care about cars" in the following sentence: "Like I care about about cars, about the house." (location 367 of 665 • 55%) It should be punctuated "She hummed a nonsense song from childhood" instead of "She hummed, a nonsense song from childhood." (location 350 of 665 • 53%) Other than another round of editing, nothing needs to be improved.
First Ten review added on December 7, 2021, at 3:16 pm by Emy Katherine.
Bertha Jackson

I would have checked out this book because I found the cover interesting, the title intriguing, and I like the fictional genre. The editorial review is positive, but I cringed when the blurb and customer reviews mentioned disfigurement and cancer. As a breast cancer survivor, these topics are triggers for me. Having said this, from what I read in the first ten pages, I think this book could benefit anyone who is currently battling cancer and going through chemotherapy. The author is right on track in her description of the side effects of chemotherapy and how hair loss and disfigurement affect you. I appreciate that the author touched on these topics to let people know they are not alone in their battle to survive. The OnlineBookClub review did not influence my decision one way or the other. The book appears to be professionally edited. I did not see any errors or anything I would recommend the author change. I will not buy and read this book because it brings back many memories of my battle against cancer.
First Ten review added on December 7, 2021, at 3:15 pm by Bertha Jackson.
Astral Magi

The cover and title caught my attention right away. I would have chosen the book based on these if I hadn't read the first ten pages. The first ten pages, as well as the official OBC review, confirmed my initial reaction. I love that Bec is portrayed as a strong, independent woman, despite the struggles she faces. There were no errors and there was nothing that needed to be improved. The book was professionally edited. I look forward to seeing how Bec turns her life around.
First Ten review added on December 7, 2021, at 2:41 pm by Astral Magi.
AntonelaMaria

If I haven't read the sample, based on other reviews, I still wouldn't have read this book. This is an emotional and hard-hitting book that I'm not in the mood to read. It is also triggering. I'm grateful that the Official Onlinebookclub review pointed that out. It was helpful, and I appreciate it. I don't want to read books about cancer. One reviewer pointed out not a happy ending, and I don't seek stories that will upset me. That is why I will not buy and read this book. It is not a book for me. This book seems like it was professionally edited. I didn't notice any errors. I like the writing style. I'm always skeptical when male writers write from a female perspective. But the author did a good job portraying Rebecca, and with past and present storyline, the author introduces her to the reader. There is an Offical Onlinebookclub review. It was informative, and it had affected my decision.
First Ten review added on December 7, 2021, at 1:46 pm by AntonelaMaria.
Rachael S 1

I like the cover of this book. It is very foreboding and promises a dark and adventurous tale. I liked how the story begins in the past and the author includes dates so the reader does not get lost when trying to figure out what is the past and what is the present. When reading the OBC review, I agree with the reviewer in that it would have been nice for the author to include more of the main character's past to get a better foundation to see more of the character development. However, I enjoyed the OBC review and, combined with the first few pages of the book, would be interested in purchasing and reading the full book. I did not see any grammatical or spelling errors in the pages I read, nor did I find anything I believe should be improved upon other than including more background information about the main character.
First Ten review added on December 7, 2021, at 1:15 pm by Rachael S 1.
Melisa Jane

I would have sampled this book based on its cover and title because the cover is visually appealing, and the title sounds mysterious. However, after sampling it, I won't finish reading it because I didn't understand what was going on within these pages. It sounds like religion was being forced on a kid, which didn't make sense. I can't point out anything I liked about the book. I recommend clarity within the first pages so readers can be hooked on the book and curious about what happens next. I don't find any grammatical errors while reading. I'm not sure if the book has an official OBC review. I haven't checked yet. However, this didn't affect my decision at all.
First Ten review added on December 7, 2021, at 1:05 pm by Melisa Jane.
Kajori Sheryl Paul

'And Throw Away The Skins' is written by Scott Archer Jones. Rebecca had cancer. Chemotherapy had left her beaten. Her marriage with William was rocky. I like the way the author gives us glimpses into Bec's past. The editing is good. There is nothing in need of an improvement. The OBC review is informative. I would skip this book based on the cover, title, genre, blurb, editorial reviews, and customer reviews as I was not invested in the blurb. I will skip this book as I am not interested in reading about heavy topics like cancer as of now.
First Ten review added on December 7, 2021, at 12:50 pm by Kajori Sheryl Paul.
María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda

The cover doesn't say much to me, though the title is peculiar, to say the least. The blurb is well explained and words like "wacko" speak of the author's style, but I still think I don't know enough about what's at stake in the story. Adding to this the mixed ratings, I wouldn't have bought the book based on my first impressions.
What I liked the most about the first ten pages were the strong, powerful sentences that convey so much meaning in such few words. I never knew one could describe a marriage collapsing in so few words as "She wanted William. Just not this William". There are also thought-provoking phrases such as "Everyone could be thankful for his service, as long as they didn’t have to serve. Or send their children." I'm intrigued by how unique Rebecca is, the attention she pays to words, for example, her unique way to fill the crossword puzzle or how she asserts that "All taste had color, or colors." I only found one editing mistake. In position 269 "he" should not be capitalized after a comma: "He gave a final gentle squeeze, dropped his arms, He pivoted, strode across the acre of tile and back into a resolute, codified life." I suggest fixing these minor mistakes.
The reviewer summarized the part of the blurb that I felt was missing in the following sentence: "Bec must decide whether to fight through the tension that plagues them, or to surrender fully into her new life, accepting whatever consequences come along." I recommend asking her permission to quote this in the blurb. Other than these minor flaws, I enjoyed the sample very much and the official OBC review, which summarizes the plot and the author's style very well, was crucial to my decision to buy and read the book.
First Ten review added on December 7, 2021, at 12:39 pm by María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda.
Total ~ 19%
And Throw Away The Skins earned a score of 19%.
In other words, out of the top-level reviewers who read at least the first 10 pages of this book, 19% 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 And Throw Away The Skins