The First Ten Focus Group Feedback for Soft Underbelly
Because Soft Underbelly 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.
Kourtney Bradley
I remember reading the review for this one and thinking that it sounds like something I could be interested in. I've always been a fan of true crime, although I generally will see them on tv and choose them there rather than in a book. It's pretty remakable that this author was able to take her own personal experiences and turn them into a story that is sure to captivate readers all over. I'm looking forward to hearing the rest of this story and will definitely be downloading my copy.
First Ten review added on July 8, 2017, at 10:28 am by Kourtney Bradley.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
truebookaddict
I probably would not have chosen to read this book had I not sampled it for this program, as I normally don't read non-fiction memoirs. I will not be buying the book at this time because the price is above my eBook spending limit. However, I was really drawn into the story so I will keep a watch on this to see if the price is ever lowered. The editing is very good. I noticed no typos or grammatical errors. This really was riveting story. I didn't want to stop reading. The scene in the car, driving out past the casino, was lke a scene straight from the Sopranos. Very suspenseful! This book was reviewed on OBC.
First Ten review added on July 8, 2017, at 8:12 am by truebookaddict.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Heidi M Simone
The cover and title is unappealing, while the blurb seems a bit harsh for me to read. Sometimes, I like a good nonfiction read, but true crime can go either way for me. The OBC review did pique my interest a bit, and the few Amazon reviews seem positive. However, due to the content, I would not have sampled this read without this program. Based on what I read, the book does seem to be professionally edited. I really like the author's writing style and ability to capture my attention. It was almost as if I could feel Kathy's anguish and uncertainty of finally having freedom from her abuser, her husband. However, since I'm not a fan of reading about abuse, I do not plan on buying and finishing this read.
First Ten review added on July 8, 2017, at 6:53 am by Heidi M Simone.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Gravy
This isn't the kind of thing I would go looking for, so I wouldn't have sampled it without this program. I noticed no errors, but didn't really like the writing style.
The cover fits, but I think it could be better served by something a bit more subtle/stylized. Just my opinion.
I do not plan to read this for reasons of personal preference.
First Ten review added on July 8, 2017, at 4:41 am by Gravy.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Annelore Trujillo
I would have sampled this book based on the blurb and OBC review. I was interested in the story. After reading the first ten pages, I won't be buying this book. I started to get into it, but I noticed quite a few errors right away. For example, the word desert was used instead of dessert. There was also a point where an apostrophe was used when it wasn't necessary. The errors distracted me from the book.
First Ten review added on July 8, 2017, at 3:55 am by Annelore Trujillo.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
jungkookblog
From the cover, it has a weird title and cover, and I would think that it's about some kind of abuse. I will not be reading this book because the first ten pages talked about Kathy's experience, and didn't really have a good conflict that I would enjoy reading about. It seems professionally edited. I did not see a review, and I don't think that would affect my decision.
First Ten review added on July 8, 2017, at 3:20 am by jungkookblog.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
CarrieMe
Based on the cover and blurb, I wouldn't read this book. The cover is kind of tacky, and the story sounds like it'll be a little cheesy for my taste. After reading the sample, I don't plan to buy this book. The writing is okay, but there just wasn't anything in the first 10 pages that convinced me to keep reading. I didn't notice any errors.
First Ten review added on July 8, 2017, at 3:00 am by CarrieMe.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Cjgarland89
Based on the cover I assumed this was a book about some type of violence. After reading the OBC review I was immediately drawn to this because having experienced DV myself I felt the connection to the author. After sampling I am not sure I can finish this book for personal reasons, but I commend the author on her courage.
First Ten review added on July 8, 2017, at 12:22 am by Cjgarland89.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
AA1495
Had I not sampled the book, I would not have read it. I usually read romance books. Having read the sample, I found it easy to follow and understand. Most scenes were well described. While the cover caught my attention, it did not make me curious about the content of the book. The book has a favorable onlinebookclub review and seems professionally edited. Since I do not read the genre usually, I will not be reading the book further.
First Ten review added on July 7, 2017, at 11:33 pm by AA1495.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Amagine
The cover image didn't really catch my interest. I read a few sample pages and found that the book in general was not very interesting to me. I'm sure that this book will appeal to a certain audience. Unfortunately, I'm not one of them.
First Ten review added on July 7, 2017, at 11:02 pm by Amagine.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
MarisaRose
"Soft Underbelly" is not a book I would typically choose to read. Although I think the topic this book focuses on is important, it's just not a topic I care to read about. That being said, I would not have chosen to purchase this book. After sampling the first few pages, I was a little put off by the writing style. The narrative is grammatically correct, but the flow seems stilted and unnatural at times. I didnt feel a close connection to the narrator. Overall, I wasn't drawn in by the sample. I will not be purchasing this book.
First Ten review added on July 7, 2017, at 10:43 pm by MarisaRose.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
CataclysmicKnight
Somehow I assumed this was a book about working out or a woman in sports, but in hindsight the abuse was clearly there in the image. This was an incredibly dark first ten pages, and I kept reading to see what would happen! The author is an expert with capturing that fear and tension, but this book seems way too dark for me and there's no way I'll be able to finish it.
First Ten review added on July 7, 2017, at 9:06 pm by CataclysmicKnight.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Miche Sora
The sample was well-written and free from errors, but I couldn't finish it due to the story being about abuse. It hits too close to home. Ms. Powell more than adequately communicates the fear that is running through Kathy's head.
First Ten review added on July 7, 2017, at 12:44 pm by Miche Sora.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
L_Therese
Just the sight of the fist against stomach on the cover told me that I did not want to read this book. To me, that seemed to forebode violence against women. As I read the first ten pages, this is exactly what I encountered. I rarely choose books like this for recreational reading, although I recognize that they can be important or beneficial for a variety of reasons. That said, this one is not a good fit for me this time.
First Ten review added on July 7, 2017, at 11:37 am by L_Therese.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
bookowlie
I didn't care much for the disturbing cover picture. Also, the author's name is too prominent as compared with the title. The summary blurb appears to be professionally edited and gave me a good idea of the themes of the story. The beginning pages are also well written and the characters are introduced well. That being said, I don't like reading about domestic violence so I am gong to pass on this book.
First Ten review added on July 7, 2017, at 11:08 am by bookowlie.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Christina O Phillips
The summary sounded like a good story about abuse and it's effects, but then it added in corruption and gangsters, making the story feel overstuffed. I was not pulled in. I learned nothing about the characters, but I did see that the author does not know the difference between "desert" and "dessert," which was such a turnoff for me. So no, I will not read this.
First Ten review added on July 7, 2017, at 9:31 am by Christina O Phillips.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
EMoffat
Had I not read the sample pages I would have been interested in this book. I really enjoy the title, although I do not enjoy the cover. The blurb was interesting but dark, and the reviews were very good. After reading the sample pages I will not continue with the book. It was written well, and I do understand why people are drawn to it, but the level of violence in it is not for me just now. I will read books like this but I have to be in right frame of mind. The book seemed professionally edited and I found no grammatical errors. My favourite part was the very realistic characters and descriptions. My only suggestion for improvement would be to make the cover more subtle. There was an Official OnlineBookClub review which was very good, but it did not change my mind about the book.
First Ten review added on July 7, 2017, at 7:43 am by EMoffat.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Kitkat3
I probably would not have chosen to sample the book just from the title and cover. Sometimes I like this genre. The book does appear to be professionally edited. The OnlineBookClub review is what made me really interested in reading the book. I liked the sample, but without that review, I might not have wanted to read the rest.
First Ten review added on July 7, 2017, at 5:47 am by Kitkat3.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Kdonegan91
Although I am not a fan of this cover, I fell in love with the sample. At first glance, I would not have read this novel. However, I am glad I did. I can't wait to see what happens! I will be purchasing this book.
First Ten review added on July 7, 2017, at 12:38 am by Kdonegan91.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
ananya92
From the sample, it is evident that the book is an emotionally powerful book, especially since its a true-to -life story. The fact that it is the non-fiction genre, and the book records actual experiences, makes the pain seem more real. Added to that fact, the powerful storytelling evident from the chapter itself, expresses the depth and reality of the situation which experienced by the key character as well many others who face similar situations. The description and review were spot-on about the book and what to expect from the novel. Though I find books such as these interesting, currently I'm up for an emotionally impactful novel, which is also slightly long. Therefore, I'll skip it for now.
First Ten review added on July 7, 2017, at 12:22 am by ananya92.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
classicaltwist
My first impression of this book is that I would enjoy reading it. I didn't really like the cover. I feel like an abstract or drawn/painted cover would be more effective. I felt like the photograph didn't have much impact. I did like the blurb. Knowing it was about the cycle of abuse sold is what did it -- I think it's an important topic and reading about it, even in a fictional work, can be really powerful when done right.
The sample did not change my mind -- it only made me want to read the book even more. I thought the first sentence was powerful, and the typesetting did a great job of setting it apart and increasing its impact. It does seem to be professionally edited as well. I got really absorbed into the story. I will say that it's a really heavy read from the start, so while I am planning on reading it in the future, I don't think I could handle it emotionally right now as I'm just coming off another tough read.
There is an official OnlineBookClub review, which also solidified my decision to read this book.
First Ten review added on July 6, 2017, at 10:48 pm by classicaltwist.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Mollymae
I'm afraid I don't care for the title or the cover. I did, however, very much like the sample. I reallty wanted to find out what happened. It's a pertinent topic and I'm glad the author tackled it.
First Ten review added on July 6, 2017, at 9:21 pm by Mollymae.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Vermont Reviews
Soft Underbelly by Kat Powell shows the background of the main character Kathy. Who's a victim of her childhood upbringing. Her mother had been abusive to her father. Now she has two children ages of 4 and 6 both girls. She is often beaten by Bruno. I did notice that the author needs to proof and edit the book. At least four times the word (desert) is used it should be dessert. Abuse is a tough subject that needs to be addressed. I will not be downloading the book based on reading thr preview. Book needs work.
Vermont Reviews
First Ten review added on July 6, 2017, at 8:31 pm by Vermont Reviews.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Scerakor
From the cover, blurb, and review of this book, I don't think that I would have considered it. Although this book seemed quite interesting for a lover of dramatic books, I usually don't jump on the genre. After the reading the first ten pages, I did not change my mind. I was extremely impressed with the writing and the drama that was created in just a few pages, this book is not for me. Not a statement against what was read, but rather my reading preferences. It did look very well written and edited, but I will not be buying this book and reading the rest of it.
First Ten review added on July 6, 2017, at 8:21 pm by Scerakor.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Snowflake
The picture on the cover and the title of the book made me think that this would not be a book for me but once I started reading the sample it seemed very much like a book I would be interested in. The writing flows well, I did not notice any obvious editorial issues and the story is well paced. The book is written in such a way that the main character is very relatable. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the story.
First Ten review added on July 6, 2017, at 7:47 pm by Snowflake.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
micoleon13
I really didn't like the cover page of this book. It immediately seems violent and harsh. After reading the Onlinebookclub review, I can see how the picture ties in with the story. The pages I read were very well written and the story immediately gets started with no holding back. I really enjoyed the starting pages and found it hard to put down. I would continue to read this book. An improvement would be to change the cover page to something less blunt, but that is my personal opinion, the author may have been going for a very immediate emotional reaction.
First Ten review added on July 6, 2017, at 7:35 pm by micoleon13.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Momlovesbooks
The OBC reviewer gave this book good remarks. The topic is not something I would normally choose. I read the sample, to give it a chance. However, the subject matter is not what I enjoy and it started with some foul language. Based on the reviwer's opinion, I'm sure many people will want to read this, but I won't be purchasing it at this time
First Ten review added on July 6, 2017, at 6:41 pm by Momlovesbooks.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Seraphia Bunny Sparks
Had I not read the first ten pages of Soft Underbelly by Kat Powell I think I would be on the fence still about reading it further. After reading the first ten pages this story has intrigued me and lured me in, so I will be purchasing.
Based on what I've read the book does not appear to have been professionally edited. When talking about "dessert" they spell it "desert" several times only to finally correct it but not the mistakes. Also, practice was misspelled being spelled "practise."
I like how the author weaves the story starting it off with them going to dinner but the main character has a plan in place to leave.
I think that this book having an OnlineBookClub review helped in my decision to go back and purchase this book.
First Ten review added on July 6, 2017, at 6:25 pm by Seraphia Bunny Sparks.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Shelle
The cover of this book was a total turn-off for me. In no way do I want to read more when the cover art is done this way. The opening pages are filled with the same violence shown on the cover, sealing the deal for me. I won't be reading more of this book. This book appeared to be professionally edited and error-free.
First Ten review added on July 6, 2017, at 4:14 pm by Shelle.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
CrescentMoon
I really like the title and cover for this book. I think they are very fitting for what the story is about. After reading the first ten pages, I definitely think this book would appeal to people who can relate to the main protagonist and enjoy reality stories. I don't really think this genre is for me as I like to read fiction and this also sounds like a depressing read in some respects so I don't think this is for me.
First Ten review added on July 6, 2017, at 4:01 pm by CrescentMoon.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Azeline Arcenal
The sample was interesting, but I didn't want to buy the book since it costs money. I also read the official OBC review which made the book seem very interesting to read. While reading the sample, I didn't notice any major grammatical errors either. The book title seems to match the content of the story and the book cover looks interesting as well.
First Ten review added on July 6, 2017, at 3:38 pm by Azeline Arcenal.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Lennycat
Had I not read the first 10 pages of this book, I probably would not choose to read it simply because it's not my cup of tea. However, I found the sample I read was interesting and compelling, although I did find one spelling error (desert, instead of dessert). I was immediately drawn to the main character and felt very afraid when she got in the car with her husband.
First Ten review added on July 6, 2017, at 3:00 pm by Lennycat.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
ashley_claire
The cover of this book doesn't really appeal to me because it looks like it could be for a book about weight loss. Inspirational books aren't in my comfort zone of books I normally like to read. Though the OBC review for this book is positive, it just doesn't sound like it's for me. I did find some errors right off the bat, one of them being with the misspelling of the word practice. Shortly after that is "could not help notice a change", it should be "could not help but notice a change". I suspect the spelling errors I found are due to the author and I just being from different countries, but I couldn't find any information about the author to confirm this. I didn't connect with the main character and couldn't find anything relatable in the synopsis to make me want to continue reading.
First Ten review added on July 6, 2017, at 1:27 pm by ashley_claire.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
James Craft
The topics covered in this book are very depressing and painful to read about, but the book is very well written it looks like. I can see this being a very emotional story for a lot of people and I can see people really enjoying it and finding value in it, but it isn't really something I'm interested in so I won't be picking up a copy of it today. The review from OBC makes it sound wonderful and the opening is very well put together, just not for me today.
First Ten review added on July 6, 2017, at 1:06 pm by James Craft.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
gali
I probably wouldn't have sampled the book on my own, as this is not the type of book I would normally read. The cover and sample are fine, but the official review was the one that had me hooked. The beginning was very strong and I held my breath when the heroine entered the car with her abusing husband. The sampled moved to the past at a critical point and left me in suspense. It seems like a very inspiring true-to-life story and it was well written to boot. However, I won't read the book as I don't like to read about abuse of any kind, especially real ones, nor do I read the genre.
First Ten review added on July 6, 2017, at 12:08 pm by gali.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Total ~ 20%
Soft Underbelly earned a score of 20%.
In other words, out of the top-level reviewers who read at least the first 10 pages of this book, 20% 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 Soft Underbelly
