The First Ten Focus Group Feedback for The Decision
Because The Decision 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.
Jeremie Mondejar
I sampled this book based on the program. I thought this book was a memoir, but I was surprised when it talked about aliens. Sarah's character seems interesting, especially when she mumbles some Buddhism's mantra. I like the fast-paced narrative, especially when Jason entered in the scene. However, I will not read this book because I easily got confused about aliens. I can't fully imagine the author's description because I'm slow to connect in the alien characters. Fortunately, I don't see any typos while sampling the book, so I assume this book has been professionally edited. The book has an OBC review, but it doesn't alter my decisions. Lastly, there's nothing I can recommend for improvement.
First Ten review added on May 2, 2022, at 4:59 am by Jeremie Mondejar.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Dzejn_Crvena
The cover looks generic, so I wouldn't have sampled this book outside this program. The OBC review and the sample didn't convince me to buy or read it because I already read too many books on aliens. This novel is about an alien who suddenly appeared on earth to interfere with the lives of the humans. The alien is named Micah, who promised to aid the human civilization by asking them to select the greatest threats on Earth. By 10 in the evening, the humans tasked with the decision should report to Micah. If the humans failed to participate, the aliens will move on to other places. I'm not intrigued enough to know how the ending will turn out, so I won't continue reading this book. I like the concept of aliens who come in peace and want to help us live better lives. The book seems professionally edited, and I don't have suggestions for improvements.
First Ten review added on May 2, 2022, at 4:53 am by Dzejn_Crvena.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Stellah Chege
I loved this book's cover page and title. There's the ambience of celestial dimensions radiating from the book's design and colors chosen. Having read the OBC review, it suggested to me that Sarah and Jason had a huge decision to make for the sake of the human race. I would have read this book outside the first ten program. The book opens with a bit of sweet moments shared between Sarah and Jason who clearly adore each other. This made me want to read more of this book. I am also interested with UFOs and this genre is right up my alley. I don't have any suggestions so far and noticed no errors, suggesting that the book may be professionally edited.
First Ten review added on May 2, 2022, at 4:51 am by Stellah Chege.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Mutai Marshal
I couldn't connect with either the book's title and cover page. However, the OBC blurb suggested that this is a science-fiction novel. Since I'm not an enthusiast of the genre, I wouldn't have read this book outside the First Ten program. I liked the conversation between Jason and Sarah. It displayed shock and expressed anxiety about UFO. Neither the OBC review nor sample changed my mind about this book. Since this is a sci-fi novel, I will not buy it. It seems professionally edited, and there are no suggestions for improvement I can offer.
First Ten review added on May 2, 2022, at 4:44 am by Mutai Marshal.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Gabriella H
I like the cover and the title of this book. I also like the genre. The OBC official review was well written and made me want to read this book. Based on the first ten pages, I like the writing style, and I think I will enjoy this book. The storyline is also good. Therefore, I will be completing this book. I didn't notice any errors in the first ten pages, and I have no suggestions for improvements. I think from what I've read this book was professionally edited. If I weren't a part of this program, I would've sampled/read this book because of the cover and the title, which attracted my attention. My decision wasn't influenced by the blurb, editorial review, or customer reviews.
First Ten review added on May 2, 2022, at 3:53 am by Gabriella H.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Sou Hi
Even without this program, I would have sampled this. There are not many ratings on Amazon, but the official review from OnlineBookClub and the blurb look fine. The genre is also my cup of tea.
I like the topic of alien invasions. The editing is fine, but I suggest that the author adds more suspense to the story. The sample is monotonous, and the characters are flat. For example, Jason's and Sarah's reactions toward the UFO and the aliens are so weak that it feels like the whole thing is a joke. Since the sample isn't interesting, I won't buy this book.
Error example: From what Jason could recollect, the chant would bring forth immeasurable wisdom from within, and help gain clarity in any circumstance. -> The comma after "within" is not needed.
First Ten review added on May 2, 2022, at 2:45 am by Sou Hi.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Annelore Trujillo
I would not have sampled this book based on the genre, blurb, OBC review, cover, title, editorial reviews, and customer reviews. The story about the decisions for the sake of earth didn’t seem like the book for me. After reading the first ten pages, I won’t be finishing this book. It started out with talk about conversion to Buddhism with Sarah. Then it switched out of this memory into a different scene. This story and the decisions involved aren’t for me. There isn’t anything specific that I liked, and nothing specific needs improvement. The book did seem to be professionally edited.
First Ten review added on May 2, 2022, at 2:25 am by Annelore Trujillo.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Manang Muyang
The title and cover make me think of Judgement Day. The blurb says almost the same thing: the fate of the world is at stake, and 13 (a lucky number!) people of different nationalities are tasked to make the critical decision. Nobody really knows how the world would end, so who can say that this premise is preposterous? The book features aliens, though; I am not a fan of aliens (except for E.T.), so I would not have sampled the book outside of the program. I noted errors while reading. At 7%, "along with some cedar trees and bushes trimmed into various banzai shapes" should have used "bonsai." "Colorful fauna and natural lava rock" at 64% needed "flora" vice "fauna." The sample was used to introduce the 13 people, concentrating on Jason, the main protagonist. I found the sample easy to read, but nothing really struck me. I was not enticed to read the rest of the story. Maybe the author could cut down on the descriptions to liven up the pace. The official OBC reviewer expressed disappointment because of the many comma errors and the unsatisfactory ending, confirming my decision to pass on the book.
First Ten review added on May 2, 2022, at 1:54 am by Manang Muyang.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Shrabastee Chakraborty
This is not my usual genre, so I decided not to read the book despite the official OBC review and other reviews. I found no errors in the first ten pages. The pages described a scene where Jason and Sarah sat in the latter's zen garden, practising Buddhist meditation. I loved the easy pace and the soothing vibe that came from the description of the garden. I had no suggestions for improvement. However, I decided not to read the book because of my genre preference.
First Ten review added on May 2, 2022, at 1:38 am by Shrabastee Chakraborty.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Gabrielle Sigaki
The Decision by Michael D. Komeshak is a sci-fi book with questions about moral dilemmas that brings aliens who suddenly contact the humans saying that they want to help the human race, but they must make some decisions too. If I didn't sample this book, I would already read it based on its Official OnlineBookClub review, its genre, its blurb, and its customer reviews since I'm interested in sci-fi books with moral dilemmas and different concepts, such as the question of survival involving aliens. The book's cover and title didn't affect my decision. After sampling it, I didn't change my mind and I will read the entire book because of the reason I stated before, but also because I enjoyed how the author mixed the narrator's descriptions and the characters thoughts, which was my favorite aspect since this kind of speech makes the book more fluid in my opinion. Besides, the book seems professionally edited and there's nothing to to improved in it.
First Ten review added on May 1, 2022, at 10:37 pm by Gabrielle Sigaki.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Jennifer Garcia 555
At first glance, this book is one I would pick to read. I like the title, cover, and the genre. I read a couple official OnlineBookClub reviews and it changed my mind about reading this book. I have yet to read a first encounter story that ended well. One reviewer said they were disappointed by the ending, so I am convinced that I would also dislike the ending. I read the sample and found a missing comma on the second page when the author mentions the dogs name. It would appear that this book could use another round of editing. I really like the mysterious cover of this book and the relationship between Jason and Sarah in the beginning when they are hanging out in the zen garden. They seem like a happy couple. Multiple reviewer found punctuation errors, so this book could be improved with more editing. Sci-fi fans that like first encounter stories may enjoy this book, but am not going but or finish this one.
First Ten review added on May 1, 2022, at 10:37 pm by Jennifer Garcia 555.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Chelsy Scherba
I liked how Sarah was introduced trying to teach her formerly Catholic boyfriend Jason Buddhism. The OBC review mentioned this book brings together a variety of different people and beliefs to decide the fate of the world. I really like that premise. The editing looks good, I really didn’t see any errors. I like the title and the cover image, it suits the genre. I honestly don’t read a lot of sci-fi outside of the program, so I probably wouldn’t have found this book on my own. I have no suggestions for improvements. I’m kind of curious about the ending, so I’ll add this book to my list. I didn’t see any blurbs or notice any editorial reviews, but the customer ratings are good. When I’m in the mood for suspense, I’ll read this one for sure.
First Ten review added on May 1, 2022, at 9:37 pm by Chelsy Scherba.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Jorge Leon Salazar
The cover and title are catchy and intriguing. I think many interested readers should be drawn to this book. In general, I'm not a fan of science fiction, but I like the point of raising moral dilemmas. The blurb expresses the story revolves around Jason Harper and the twelve other so-called “Chosen Ones.” They must make a decision that could either save the human race or destroy it. All this was unleashed after an alien spacecraft landed on Long Island, New York, an event witnessed by the entire world. Customer reviews give this book a perfect rating. Based on these aspects, I could try it. In what I read, a descriptive writing style can be seen. For example, when describing the small Zen garden Sarah built in the courtyard of their house. I found it a bit confusing that Jason was meditating with Sarah and then woke up in a future moment. It was precisely the day when he had to make the big decision that could define the fate of Earth. Undoubtedly, the most relevant in these first pages was the arrival of the UFO. In addition, some aliens descended from it to interact with humans. I think the arrival of aliens in real life would produce a greater uproar and impact than what is reflected in these pages. As a whole, I'm not a fan of stories with aliens, but I do find the subject of having to make a momentous decision appealing. The official OnlineBookClub review indicates that this science fiction novel offers a plot around moral dilemmas. Plus, the "Chosen Ones" did not come to an agreement easily. The editing looks outstanding since I did not see any detail to comment on. Overall, I didn't see anything that I believe could be improved. What I read posed an interesting plot, but it didn't completely capture me since I'm not a fan of science fiction or stories with aliens. Therefore, I will not read the rest of the book.
First Ten review added on May 1, 2022, at 8:09 pm by Jorge Leon Salazar.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
MsH2k
I was curious about what the titular decision would be, and I would not have known any more based on the cover. The blurb answered my question. Since I don’t read many sci-fi books, I would not have sampled this book if I were not part of this program. The sample pages were engaging, and I felt as if I were there beside Jason as all this unfolded. The story is actually not far-fetched, and this adds to its allure. I will not buy this book, however, because I’m not interested in this type of storyline. I watched a similar movie recently, and that stuck with me for a while. The book appeared professionally edited; I did not notice any grammatical errors in the first ten pages, and I have no suggestions for improvement. The featured OnlineBookClub review was well written, but it did not influence my decision; other customer and editorial reviews had no bearing either.
First Ten review added on May 1, 2022, at 8:02 pm by MsH2k.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Owuamanam Eberechukwu
The first ten pages of this great book saw Sarah and her boyfriend, Jason, trying out some religious practices. After years of being a Roman Catholic, Jason decided to join his girlfriend in Buddhism. They were still practicing beside their Zen garden when a fighter jet brought some soldiers to his house. The cover page and title are engaging. I will choose to read the book based on the title and cover. The pages I read were exceptionally well edited. I recommend the author add a table of contents. I will not buy and read the book because it’s scientific and talks about aliens. I don’t like alien stories. These are my personal thoughts, and they’re not influenced by anything.
First Ten review added on May 1, 2022, at 5:55 pm by Owuamanam Eberechukwu.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Kirsi Cultrera
The outward appearance of this book spellbound me. However, the blurb mentioned aliens, and that crushed my hopes of having found a special book. Even though the Amazon customer reviews showed full five stars, I would not have sampled this book without this program. I generally don't see stories including aliens intriguing. Reading the sample pages did not change much. The author had written the book with a flowing style and Jason, the main character, seemed interesting enough. The earth's population watching an alien spaceship from their TV screens felt ridiculous, though. And that Jason was one of the chosen ones did not exactly make sense. I couldn't understand what it was in him that caused him to be chosen and why the US military picked him up. To put it short, I was having problems finding this story plausible. The excellent Official OnlineBookClub review changed my mind about this book. It described this book as thought-provoking, among other things. The reviewer seemed to have found a deeper meaning in this book, and thanks to this review, I decided to give this alien story a chance. I did not encounter any mistakes from the sample pages. This book seems professionally edited to me.
First Ten review added on May 1, 2022, at 3:13 pm by Kirsi Cultrera.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Diana Lowery
I liked the cover, and the title made me wonder what the decision would be about, so I might have picked up the book to find the answer. The Amazon blurb made the story sound too far-fetched, and the OCB review made it sound too philosophical. I like that there was no long introduction or preface in the book. There was a dialogue verb error, "I think there's too many distractions out here." It should be - there are. I am not going to finish reading the book. It seemed too confusing with the setting jump from the zen garden to a military camp. I do not have any suggestions. I believe that serious sci-fi fans would enjoy it.
First Ten review added on May 1, 2022, at 10:19 am by Diana Lowery.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Rosemary Owolabi
Had I not actually sampled the first ten pages as part of this program, I would have chosen to read this book based on the cover, title, genre, blurb, customer reviews, and editorial reviews that I saw. Everything about the cover and title looked lovely. I would focus primarily on the feedback of others to decide whether to buy or read a book.
It is free on Amazon if you use the Kindle Unlimited app to download it. Reading the first ten pages changed my mind from the original guess. I would read the book because it looked promising and well-explained. "The Decision" by Michael D. Komeshak The book seemed to have the potential to be a good one. The way Michael analyzed what was happening in the background with the couple was imaginative.
Based on what I read, the book seemed to be professionally edited. I didn't notice any typos or errors.
What I liked in the bit that I read was how Micheal developed the characters of Jason and Sarah, a born Catholic who disassociated himself from any religion to end up trying to practice Buddhism because of his love for Sarah, a 35-year-old woman who still looked stunning as ever. I liked how Sarah was able to know the right button to press to get the unwilling participant, Jason, to do her wish. She went to make a garden for them (known as a Zen garden) to serve as a place of peace, spirituality, and happiness for them. I loved how they brought their individual dogs (her dog, Chipper, and his dog, Woody) together. The story seemed realistic enough and felt like the kind of story I would love to read on any given day.
What could be improved would be the slow pace of the development of the story. The focus was too much on describing the environment or the settings. I'd rather Michael focus more on the action of the story. The story seemed to be getting more interesting as it got to the end of the first ten page sample.
The book had an OnlineBookClub forum review that I noticed, but this didn't affect my decision.
First Ten review added on May 1, 2022, at 5:54 am by Rosemary Owolabi.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Soraya Bayah
The introduction was luring. The switch from Sarah’s Zen garden to a military event was captivating. Still, I do not think I would be comfortable around the Buddhism concepts included. I found an error. Location 125, “For added measure, up above Jason came the (always) present shrill of more F-22 Raptors and gunship helicopters piercing the night sky.”- always-present shrill. I do not see anything could be bettered, but prefer to skip it for the lack of interest in Buddhism and sci-fi. I would not pick up this book from the genre, title, cover, or reviews like OBC, as I do not feel a strong attraction to alien stories. But I can see that the targeted audience will happily indulge in such a book. Well written!
First Ten review added on May 1, 2022, at 5:47 am by Soraya Bayah.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Catherine Hsu
If I had not read the sample as part of the First Ten program, I would have read the book. I absolutely love sci-fi apocalypse-era books and the blurb sounds really interesting as well. The cover is gorgeous and the ratings are high. After reading the sample, I have not changed my mind. I really liked where the story started — before Jason found out about the news so we could see what mundane life was like, to the exact scene he saw the UFO on the news and how closely he and Sarah followed the news channel afterwards. It made the story seem really relatable right off the bat and there was nothing I would change. It was professionally edited. The official review on OnlineBookClub did not affect my decision. I love moral dilemmas as well and would also recommend it to others who like them and sci-fi topics.
First Ten review added on May 1, 2022, at 5:32 am by Catherine Hsu.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Rita Nuncia
The Decision by Michael D. Komeshak is a fast-paced, action-filled science fiction novel with a well-developed plot. The book is about an alien who comes to earth and convinces the world's leaders that he came to save the earth. At first, I did not know what to expect. I was not so excited about reading this book as the title and cover sounded like a self-help book. I would not have read it without the First Ten program being the reason. After reading the first ten pages of this book, I was immediately captivated by the book and its plot. The few pages that I have read are so interesting and captivating, and I would love to buy and read the whole book. This book seems professionally edited as I did not notice any grammatical or typographical errors while reading the first ten pages of the book. I like most of the manner in which the author started this book (I really want to know why Sarah could not hear Jason). It made it captivating from the beginning, and as the book progressed, it increased the suspense. I do not see anything that needs to be improved as the plot is well developed and fast-paced. I read an OnlineBookClub official review and it convinced me of how interesting the whole book is.
First Ten review added on May 1, 2022, at 4:52 am by Rita Nuncia.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Sonya Nicolaidis
The cover of this book was brilliant and would have prompted me to take a closer look, for sure. It’s a great title, too, and when I read the OBC reviewer’s summary, I thought it was a very interesting topic, tackled in quite a unique way. I was quite impressed by the readability of the first ten; they flowed smoothly and the two worlds of flashback and reality melded together quite seamlessly. There wasn’t anything I didn’t like about the sample thus far, and I was impressed to see no grammatical or formatting errors at all, indicating a professional edit. The writing and the way the story starts to develop seem quite professionally handled, so I’m not surprised to see that this is not the author’s first book. I am not a huge fan of sci-fi, so would probably pass on this one, but that’s not to say it wouldn’t be a close contender for a place on my bookshelf. I’ll give it high praise, but will leave it for the fans out there.
First Ten review added on May 1, 2022, at 4:28 am by Sonya Nicolaidis.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Sanju Lali
I could not guess anything about this book because "The Decision" meant many things to me. I read the OBC official review of this book to know what is inside this book. The OBC official review gave me the idea that this book follows Jason and his girlfriend. A group of aliens selects them for a project. This idea motivated me to read the first ten pages sample of this book. After reading the first ten pages, I realized that the book was not professionally edited because I found some grammatical errors in the sample. For example, the sentence, "Sarah had stolen his heart from day one, when he first saw her walking her dog Chipper out along the shores of Lake Michigan a few years back." The sentence could be as follows. "Sarah had stolen his heart from day one when he first saw her walking her dog Chipper out along the shores of Lake Michigan a few years back." In this sample, I liked Sarah's Buddist spiritual garden because I found it very tranquil. Everything was fine until Jason landed in captivity of the aliens, and later, I could not visualize the scenes clearly due to inadequate descriptions of the scenes. I lost interest in reading due to this problem. My suggestion to the author would be to go for a round of professional editing and address my difficulties. Looking at all the aspects of this book, I decided not to purchase and read this book today until the author considers my suggestions and helps me enjoy the book.
First Ten review added on May 1, 2022, at 4:00 am by Sanju Lali.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Verna Coy
Initially, my first impression of this book is that it has a spooky vibe. The cover and title add a lot to that aspect of it. The sample I read today came across as a science fiction book should. The idea of first contact with aliens is communicated well and the resulting shock, amazement, and even fear, are all there. What I liked most about it were the vivid descriptions. I easily became engrossed in each scene in the book, especially the first scene in the garden. I didn’t notice errors in the first ten pages, although the Online Book Club review mentioned some comma-related errors. It seemed well edited to me while I was reading it. I found no reasons for improvement to it aside from having perhaps a little less severe profanity. I don’t plan to purchase it and read it in its entirety as it isn’t quite my style of reading. This book would be suitable for fans of science fiction adventure.
First Ten review added on May 1, 2022, at 3:42 am by Verna Coy.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Ari Martinez
If it hadn't been for this program, I wouldn't have sampled this book based only on its title, cover, and genre because I have been getting tired of science-fiction novels lately. However, I would have sampled it once I took a look at the blurb and Official OnlineBookClub review because this novel appeared to be more about other topics (such as human psychology and moral dilemmas) than about the actual aliens. After reading the first ten pages, I will continue to read the book because I am intrigued by the philosophical topics that it will discuss – I love reading books that make me think and that I can discuss. My favorite part of what I read was the way the story began to unfold. There are usually really big, climactic scenes when aliens are introduced, but I liked the more mundane approach used by this author. I can't think of any way to improve the book, and it appears professionally edited.
First Ten review added on May 1, 2022, at 2:59 am by Ari Martinez.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Vidhi Adhikari
Despite the insufficient customer and OBC reviews, I liked the ominous cover design and the detailed description of the book. They were enough to build my intrigue and make me read the sample. There were some grammatical errors and unnecessarily italicized words in the sample, which can be corrected ('Jason was trying, maybe too hard'). I loved the fact that the book begins in the middle of nowhere and without context as it builds mystery in the mind of the reader. Because of this, I will be finishing this book. I would only suggest fixing the alignment in the first few pages of the book.
First Ten review added on May 1, 2022, at 12:57 am by Vidhi Adhikari.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Kaitlyn Canedy
If The Decision hadn't been the OnlineBookClub's book of the day, I would have skipped it because of the cover. The description interested me because it stated that a select few people determine the outcome of the planet. There is only one written customer review, but it did not affect my decision to read the sample. The action is quick and entertaining, which is what I liked most about what I read. I did not like how many profane words were in it, but removing these words would take away from the story. The profanity is why I have decided to skip this book. Even though the official OnlineBookClub review said there were grammatical errors in the book, I did not notice any in the first ten pages. There are also no improvements that I can think of for this title. The OnlineBookClub review did not affect my decision to skip the book. If readers like books with aliens in the plot, this one may interest them.
First Ten review added on April 30, 2022, at 8:06 pm by Kaitlyn Canedy.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Stephanie Runyon
The cover and title indicate this would be a suspenseful story with a weighted topic. I would have sampled the book based on my initial impression. I liked how detailed the story was, especially when describing Jason and his thoughts of Sarah with her hipster lifestyle. The music comparison from grunge rock to the 60s rock was a nice touch. I was able to picture the couple and completely understood their anxiety regarding the lack of information General Maddox provided. There was a minor error; however, this did not detract from the quality of the book. Beyond some minor editing, there is nothing to improve about the story. The OBC did not influence my choice to continue reading the book. The intense building of suspense caught my full attention in the sample. I did not read anything else online to alter my choice.
ERROR:While Jason pored over the scant background material, Sarah mostly made comments about the headshot photos.
The word poured should replace pored.
First Ten review added on April 30, 2022, at 7:27 pm by Stephanie Runyon.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Kajori Sheryl Paul
'The Decision' is a book written by Michael D. Komeshak. A UFO disrupted life on Earth on a Sunday. Two days later, Jason and his girlfriend, Sarah, were taken in protective custody by General Maddox. I like the fast-paced nature of the book. Sarah seems sweet as well. It should have been "..her dog, Chipper, out along.." instead of "..her dog Chipper put along.." Apart from some minor errors like this, the editing is fine. There is nothing in need of an improvement. Based on the cover, title, genre, blurb, editorial reviews, and customer reviews, I would have read this book as I like the premise. The OBC review is insightful. I have decided to give this book a try as I want to know what happens with Sarah and Jason.
First Ten review added on April 30, 2022, at 4:34 pm by Kajori Sheryl Paul.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Emy Katherine
When fourteen aliens arrive on Earth, Jason Harper and twelve other people from different countries are chosen to make crucial decisions that will prevent Earth from becoming an uninhabitable planet for humans. Because I do not read sci-fi/fantasy novels, I would not have read the book based on the genre, cover, title, and customer reviews. There were no editorial reviews, but the blurb and the OBC review were quite informative. Unsurprisingly, reading the first ten pages did not convince me to read the rest of the story. Although I liked the author's fast-paced writing style and the realistic dialogues, I did not feel invested in the story. However, I found nothing that needed to be improved. I only noticed three minor errors that did not distract me from my reading. For example, there should not be a comma after "within" in the following sentence: "From what Jason could recollect, the chant would bring forth immeasurable wisdom from within, and help gain clarity in any circumstance." (location 60 of 8176 • 1%) There should not be a comma after "sleep" in the following sentence: "The television would stay on after they had all gone to sleep, and would show the live broadcast well into daybreak the next morning." (location 220 of 8176 • 3%)
First Ten review added on April 30, 2022, at 4:16 pm by Emy Katherine.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Yvonne Monique
I love the book cover, and although it is not immediately clear what this book is about, I would pick it up if I would see it in a bookstore. The customer reviews, blurb and OBC review convince me straight away that this is a book I will like and make me look forward to reading the sample. The sample is well edited and written in a gripping way. The beginning was a bit confusing until I reached the final sentence of the first chapter: "Judgment day." That last phrase really sparked my interest and made me want to carry on reading immediately. That is why I will buy this book and read it. I have no suggestions for improvement.
First Ten review added on April 30, 2022, at 3:15 pm by Yvonne Monique.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Timothy Rucinski
I prefer subtle covers when it comes to books involving the supernatural or, in this case, alien intrusion into our lives on Earth. The title sits very nicely at the top of the page amidst the radiance, and I certainly would have looked closer at this book had I come upon it in a bookstore. But I'm not particularly fond of sci-fi books, although this one seemed in line with classics such as "The Day the Earth Stood Still." Nevertheless, with a less-than-perfect score provided in the Official OBC Review, I'd be hesitant to read it. I read no other reviews or blurbs. I liked the author's attack on the too often used "Breaking News" from newscasts. This brought on a chuckle. I also liked the authors' clean, crisp, and realistic dialogue. What I disliked most was the author's unfamiliarity with geography. Although Brooklyn's McCarren Park is officially on the western end of Long Island, no one from that area would ever say that Brooklyn was on Long Island. It didn't ring true in the story and left me with the impression that the author didn't do his research. Although I thought the writing was very good, there wasn't enough about the story that seemed unique to grab my attention. And although the Official OBC Reviewer cited numerous punctuation errors, I didn't notice any. Perhaps this is a revised version of the book that was professionally edited. I don't have any recommendations for improvement.
First Ten review added on April 30, 2022, at 2:35 pm by Timothy Rucinski.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Amy Luman
I’m going to finish this one. The reviews, including the OBC one and the blurb, really piqued my interest, and when I read the sample, I was hooked. I can feel the turmoil that Jason is going through. The title reminds you of how heavy Jason’s responsibility is, and the cover adds to the mystery of the aliens. I really liked the descriptions of Sarah’s Zen garden and her aversion to television. Based on what I read, I believe that this novel has been professionally edited, and I cannot think of any improvements that are needed.
First Ten review added on April 30, 2022, at 2:27 pm by Amy Luman.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Theresa Moffitt
The cover art for this book caught my eye immediately. It makes me curious about the story. The title is also intriguing. I would have picked this book up based on the cover alone. The onlinebookclub.org review was very positive and described it as a work of science fiction. It also noted that there were several errors in the book. This decreased my interest in the book because I am not a fan of science fiction. I didn’t read any additional customer reviews or blurbs because the OBC review was very informative. They first ten pages introduce the characters of Jason and his girlfriend, Sarah. She is a follower of Buddhism and is walking him through a meditation process that he is having difficulty with. He is eventually successful in traveling in his mind through meditation. A jet flying overhead brings him out of his meditation. He is at a resort and focusing on a decision he needs to make. I saw some errors in the first ten pages, so I don’t believe the book was professionally edited. For example, on page 4 of the first chapter, the author misspells the word “salmon” as “samon.” I think the author could have improved the book with additional editing. Based on the first ten pages, the OBC review, and the fact that I don’t enjoy science fiction, I will not finish reading this book.
First Ten review added on April 30, 2022, at 2:20 pm by Theresa Moffitt.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
markodim721
I would choose to read a sample of this book because of the cover and title. I read the Official OnlineBookClub review, the blurb, and the customer review but they did not influence my decision. I didn't find any editor reviews. The cover of the book is excellently designed and easily attracts attention. I like the apocalyptic symbolism represented on the cover. The title of the book is short, clear, and fits in great with the cover. I’m not going to read a book because I’m not in the mood to read a book about alien invasion right now. While reading the sample I did not notice a few typos (…what, Grasshopper … this… It should be: …what, Grasshopper… this… - no need for space; …was working … then… It should be: …was working… then… - no need for space; Shhh … I want… It should be: Shhh… I want… - no need for space) and the book does not seem like it is professionally edited. Reading the sample did not change my mind from my original guess. I like how the author described Sarah’s enthusiasm for Buddhism and Jason’s resistance to the same because it seems authentic. I don't think anything needs to be improved in the book.
First Ten review added on April 30, 2022, at 2:14 pm by markodim721.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Chinazo Anozie
I was interested in this book from the title, cover, description, customer reviews, and the official OnlineBookClub review. Sci-fi is one of my favourite genres. I was also very intrigued by the first few pages, so I will buy and read this book. I can’t wait to find out what Jason and the other ambassadors have to do with the aliens. This book seems professionally edited because I did not notice any typographical errors. I don’t think anything needs to be improved.
First Ten review added on April 30, 2022, at 1:38 pm by Chinazo Anozie.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda
The cover is fantastic. It's hard to make a great cover with such a few colors. I also think the blurb is fascinating because I love pondering moral dilemmas. However, I usually hesitate about alien stories, which often are too far-off for my liking. The book has fantastic ratings, but I wouldn't have bought the book based on my first impressions, without reading the sample.
I loved the sample, and it convinced me to read the book. I especially loved Jason's attempted-Buddhist background, which I'm sure will bring a different perspective to the dilemma, and how the author depicted his relationship with his girlfriend. The dialogues feel natural, which always helps me to get fastly immersed in the story. For example: “Do you want me to try it again?” Jason asked, as if it were a chore. Sarah cocked her head. “Well, not when you say it like that. You should want to do it, not feel pressured by it.” I also loved the contrast of the beauty if the resort with the darkness of the situation. There are a couple of editing mistakes. For example, in position 93, Jason describes the shape of the trees as "banzai" when he meant "bonsai." "Banzai" is, according to the Oxford Dictionary of English, a Japanese battle cry, while "bonsai" is "a small tree that is grown in a pot and prevented from reaching its normal size." I suggest a second round of editing. The official OBC review was crucial to seal my decision to buy the book because I found the summary the reviewer made of the plot even more fascinating than the Amazon blurb.
First Ten review added on April 30, 2022, at 1:24 pm by María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Bertha Jackson
I enjoy reading science-fiction books, so I would have checked this book out based on the cover, title, and genre. The blurb increased my interest in the book because I cannot imagine making a decision that would affect the future of mankind. The customer review and the OnlineBookClub review did not affect my decision to read this book. There were no editorial reviews to influence my decision. I like the flow of the book. The beginning of the book with Jason going into a conference room makes me think he has come to a decision. I like that the author shows the timeframe of the events leading up to this meeting. I have no recommendations for the author because he drew me into the book right away. The first ten pages appear to be professionally edited. However, I did find one error at Loc. 299: “Every person in the room sat motionless, captivated by the alien’s mere presence, and they hung [on] (onto) his every word.” I have downloaded the free copy of the book and will eventually read it.
First Ten review added on April 30, 2022, at 1:09 pm by Bertha Jackson.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Harsh Soni 3
After looking at the cover and title, the book seems like a sci-fi that I, generally, avoid reading. Then, I read the official OBC review of the book (after that I don’t need any other blurb or review) where I came to know that the book also contains profanity. So, I am going to pass this book because of the reasons mentioned above. After reading the sample, I found that the storyline is quite suspenseful like, coming of a general is unexpected. This is my favourite thing about the book. I found no errors in the sample. I have no suggestions.
First Ten review added on April 30, 2022, at 12:52 pm by Harsh Soni 3.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Laura Ungureanu
The cover looks intriguing. It is typical for a sci-fi book. However, I'm not into books about aliens, so the book's appearance, blurb, OBC review, or other customer reviews couldn't convince me. The relationship between Jason and Sarah takes the stage from the first page. I liked how detailed everything was. The art of Zen is beautifully described. I expected to see some more action, but I guess this is just the calm before the storm. There is nothing that should be improved. However, since it's not a plot I'm interested in, I will not read it any further. The editing seemed great, as I found no errors.
First Ten review added on April 30, 2022, at 11:09 am by Laura Ungureanu.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Kira Bonita Reece
I can hardly imagine how I would feel if aliens came to Earth and chose me personally. This seems like a really interesting sci-fi novel with a solid plot. Sarah and Jason are brave characters, and for the sake of Earth, I hope they make good decisions. What I liked most about this book was that the author jumped right into the action from the first pages.
The customer review I saw and the official OnlineBookClub review had only good things to say about this book. However, stories about aliens are too nerve-racking for me so I would not have taken up this book to read based on the cover, title, blurb, or genre. The sample was professionally edited and no improvements are needed for this book. I won't be reading this one because I do not enjoy alien-related stories.
First Ten review added on April 30, 2022, at 9:25 am by Kira Bonita Reece.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
AntonelaMaria
I read fantasy, but this gave me more of a sci-fi feel judging from the sample. The blurb is okay, and there is one Amazon review for this book. After reading the sample, I decided not to buy the book and read the rest. While Jason and Sarah are interesting characters, and I like how opposite they are, I just don't care about the alien plotline. I didn't notice any errors, and I wouldn't change anything about the book. I like the cover too. There is an excellent Official OnlineBookClub review of this book.
First Ten review added on April 30, 2022, at 9:08 am by AntonelaMaria.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Total ~ 40%
The Decision earned a score of 40%.
In other words, out of the top-level reviewers who read at least the first 10 pages of this book, 40% 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 The Decision
