The First Ten Focus Group Feedback for 2X2 on the Ark: Five Secrets of a Great Relationship
Because 2X2 on the Ark: Five Secrets of a Great Relationship 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.
Ekta Kumari
The book unveils the secrets of a happy relationship, and the author lets the readers in on some healthy practices that can enable them to enjoy a fulfilling love life. I wouldn't have read the book based on its blurb. The themes didn't interest me much and didn't sound particularly useful to me. However, I found the book quite detailed. I noticed that the author makes good use of examples from real-life situations and doesn't shy away from quoting experts and books as well. The thing I liked the most was that the book also emphasized mindfulness. There were also religious quotes and examples, so I think this book would target many groups of readers, and everyone can take away something of value after reading it. But somehow I wasn't able to relate to the book at all, and that's the main reason I do not plan on reading the book any further. I saw a useful official OBC review, but that didn't influence my decision. The text seemed professionally edited, but I was able to spot a missing comma in the following sentence: "I have counseled hundreds of couples of all ages, teach a premarital course to give engaged couples communication skills, and as a tenured professor, taught family and couple dynamics to graduate students at several universities in New York." There should be a comma before 'as' to make the sentence grammatically correct. I wouldn't suggest anything for improvement in the book besides another round of proofreading.
First Ten review added on January 17, 2023, at 7:47 am by Ekta Kumari.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Manang Muyang
I found the cover absolutely gorgeous. The title seemed to suggest Christian content, which was fine with me. The blurb's "love tips" sealed the deal; I would have sampled the book outside of the program. I saw errors as early as the dedication page. At 13% of the sample, "Our four children, Bob, Jr. Mary Beth, Lisa and Tom, their Partners..." should have used "Bob Jr., Mary Beth." Also, "partners" shouldn't have been capitalized. "Dr. Popeno" was spelled differently at 24% of the sample in "Dr. Pompano was right." (My Google search showed that the good doctor's surname was "Popenoe.") At 32%, "Dr. Marin Luther King Jr." was used. I liked the promise of a wonderful love life outlined in the blurb and the use of LOVER as the acronym for the five secrets. I liked (and copied) the Kahlil Gibran quote at the beginning of Section 1. However, the errors discouraged me from reading the rest of the book. The author needs to have the book edited again. There was a cartoon described at 22%; I think featuring the cartoon itself will work much better. The official OBC reviewer was all praises for the book, but the review did not make me change my mind.
First Ten review added on January 17, 2023, at 4:58 am by Manang Muyang.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Jeremie Mondejar
I thought this book belonged to children just by looking at the two giraffes. I was amazed when the author used the animals to illustrate her point. Being a part of this program, I based my sampling on the genre. Though I'm quite selective when it comes to nonfiction books, this one hooked me enough to read the rest of it. I need a guide in my marriage, especially those who have more experience than mine. I like the author's meaning of the word "lover." Plus, I was engrossed when I came across the "love map" tips of the author. The example of the couple who had a misunderstanding in a fine place is quite captivating, too. In terms of the editing, I don't see any errors. I cannot give anything for improvement nor anything to dislike. I read the OBC review. Indeed, the review is very helpful and also influences my decision.
First Ten review added on January 17, 2023, at 4:46 am by Jeremie Mondejar.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Shrabastee Chakraborty
Despite the official OBC review and other published reviews, I did not intend to read the book because of the genre. I found no errors in the first ten pages. The author described how she observed an altercation between a young couple. She believed that everyone needed to process their emotions in a healthy and mature way. I loved that her words felt true and sincere. It was clear that she was quite experienced in couple counseling. I had no suggestions for improvement. However, since this was not my usual genre, I would not buy and read the book.
First Ten review added on January 17, 2023, at 4:22 am by Shrabastee Chakraborty.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Rita Nuncia
I would have read this book without being a part of the first-ten program because of the beautiful customer reviews. The customer reviews and the official OnlineBookClub review praised the book and stated how educating, inspiring and helpful they found the lessons within. I have no problem with the title and cover of the book. After reading the first ten pages, I find this book to be very helpful in maintaining healthy romantic relationships. Therefore , I will love to check it out sometime later but not anytime soon. I found no blurb. The first few pages are professionally edited because I did not notice any errors. What I like the most in this book is the “Love Map”. It is what got me interested in the book. I have no suggestions for improvement. There is an OnlineBookClub official review. It did affect my opinion of the book.
First Ten review added on January 17, 2023, at 4:16 am by Rita Nuncia.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Eunice Geres
I wouldn't have read the sample of this book based on its cover, title, genre, and OBC review. The OBC review mentioned that it's for people who are interested in being in a relationship or people who want to regain the spark in a relationship. I'm not one of those people. I've never been in a relationship, and I'm not interested in having one. I didn't enjoy reading the sample. The first scenario provided in the introduction was like a movie example. I also didn't enjoy reading the author's perception of the scene because the author sounds judgemental and full of assumptions. One of the author's jobs is to help couples recover from an affair. I've always hated affairs. If someone cheated on me, I would just leave. And I would hate talking to people who would suggest I go back to that cheating ex. The following chapters sounded good, though. There were some tips that could really help a couple who wants to be helped. I still wouldn't continue reading the rest of the book because it's not one I'm interested in. I also don't have any recommendations, as I think this book is already good if given to an interested reader. The book cover didn't attract me, but I think the blurb could attract readers. The author explained the symbolism of a pair of animals in Noah's ark very well. I also didn't notice any grammatical mistakes.
First Ten review added on January 17, 2023, at 3:44 am by Eunice Geres.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Vickali
I had fun reading this book's sample chapter. Furthermore, I delighted in reading the OBC website's official review of it. Detailed information about this book was provided in a well-written review. In a dimly lit restaurant, Mary and her husband are seated at the beginning of the novel. She noticed the pair at the adjacent table were upset as soon as she heard a noise. My choice of whether to purchase and read the entire book or not was influenced by the excellent review of this book on OBC. It appears to have had excellent editing, as shown by the first ten pages I read. In the first ten pages I read, which is why I mentioned this, there was no trace of errors. The title and the cover were equally stunning. I don't think this book could be made in any way better. I rarely read books with a love theme as strong as this one. For this reason, I will not purchase the book and read it cover to cover. Sincerely, the title, genre, and cover had little impact on my choice, but the book's substance had a significant influence. The cover was the aspect of the ten pages I read that I cherished the most. It was fascinating and amazing. In the first ten pages of this book, there was not a single aspect that I disliked. After reading the sample, I think this book is good to recommend to readers who are interested in learning more.
First Ten review added on January 17, 2023, at 3:43 am by Vickali.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Ntokozo Joy Ndlovu
I would not have read or sampled this book if it was not part of the First Ten Program. The title and cover were not interesting to me, and though the editorial and customer reviews all revered this book, I was not convinced I'd enjoy it. It had no blurb so I approached the sample with no Idea what to expect. In the sample, the author discusses creating a safe space in a relationship to allow our partners to properly communicate without feeling challenged. I had a tough time reading through the sample because it presented a topic I had no interest in. I found nothing to like and no errors. The OBC review praised the author's simple writing style and simple presentation of her ideas. I would have to agree with that point based on the sample. However, though the book contains sound well-written content, I doubt I would enjoy a book full of relationship advice. I will not be reading the rest of this book.
First Ten review added on January 17, 2023, at 3:41 am by Ntokozo Joy Ndlovu.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Heidi M Simone
Without this program, I would not have sampled today’s book. I’m picky in which self-help books I read and one about relationships isn’t one that interests me. Therefore, the blurb and title wouldn’t have piqued my interest. The OBC and customer ratings do not affect my opinion of the book. I didn’t see any glaring errors while reading.
I like the idea of giving time and space to your significant other and to be in the present. This is so very true and great advice. I also agree that animals live in the present and we should do that, too. On the other hand, I’m not a big fan of doing specific exercises while I’m reading. Such as, when the author says to feel each sensation (i.e. every itch). This doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with the book, just my personal likes and dislikes.
Due not needing this advice right now, I do not plan buying and reading today’s book.
First Ten review added on January 17, 2023, at 2:59 am by Heidi M Simone.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Sou Hi
Without this program, I wouldn't have read this. The official review from OnlineBookClub, the cover, the blurb, and the ratings on Amazon are fine, but the book's premise is not my cup of tea.
I like the examples, such as the couple in the restaurant or the mothers' opposite education methods. However, I suggest another round of proofreading. There are some incorrect/inconsistent names. Besides, I don't need this book, so I won't buy it. The OBC review was helpful in making my decision.
Error example: Oprah Winfrey conducted interviews in 2012 and 2016 with revered Zen Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh, a native of Vietnam and a teacher and researcher at Princeton and Columbia who was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by Dr. Marin Luther King Jr. -> The correct name should be "Dr. Martin Luther King Jr."
First Ten review added on January 17, 2023, at 1:37 am by Sou Hi.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Shelby Ayres
I thought that the title was confusing but it fits well with the cover. Given the title, I expected the genre to be religious or something of a spiritual nature. I thought the blurb was quite long. The book lacks reviews which is off-putting. Within the first ten pages, I found no grammatical or spelling errors. I love the acronym LOVER. I thought it was a great way to keep reiterating the point of the book. I disliked the dialogue. It felt fake and unrealistic. The Online Book Club review that I read spoke on the 5 rules that the book puts in place. Based on the aforementioned, I will not be reading this book.
First Ten review added on January 17, 2023, at 12:45 am by Shelby Ayres.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Mariana Figueira
Before reading the book's first pages, I wasn't interested in it because nothing on the cover or the title got my attention. After sampling the book I don't want to continue reading it because I'm not a fan of non-fiction. I like the little story about the mother and daughter who cut the lamb for different reasons, and the lesson behind it. This book seems professionally edited, I didn't see any typos; plus, it has an official Online Bookclub review but that didn't affect my opinion about not reading the book. I didn't see anything that needed improvement.
First Ten review added on January 16, 2023, at 8:40 pm by Mariana Figueira.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Jennifer Garcia 555
Based on the genre, title, and cover I would not pick this book to read. I do not enjoy non fiction or religious books and this one appears to be both. After reading the description and an official OnlineBookClub review, I learned that this was a relationship improvement book that was not really religious. This made me a little more interested in reading the sample. I read the sample pages and saw no editing errors, so this book seems professionally edited. I like how the author states that people often react to loved ones the way their parents did. I believe this is true. My suggestion for improvement would be a cover that better conveys what the book is about. This book could be helpful to people wanting to improve their relationships. This is not a topic I’m interested in learning more about at this time, so I will not buy or finish reading this book.
First Ten review added on January 16, 2023, at 7:41 pm by Jennifer Garcia 555.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Kaitlyn Canedy
If 2X2 on the Ark: Five Secrets of a Great Relationship hadn't been the OnlineBookClub's book of the day, I would have checked it out because of the title. I like books about relationships and love, as I feel there is always advice to be had. There are many customer reviews, but the reviews did not affect my decision to read the sample, nor did the description. I like that the author has a background in psychology; this helped me understand how humans love compared to animals. There were no grammatical errors in the first ten pages, and I did not find anything I disliked or thought needed improvement. An official OnlineBookClub review exists for this title, but I decided to skip the book because I was hoping the book had a Christan background; however, it did not.
First Ten review added on January 16, 2023, at 6:45 pm by Kaitlyn Canedy.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Annelore Trujillo
I would not have sampled this book based on the genre, OBC review, cover, title, editorial reviews, and customer reviews. I don't usually read non-fiction books, and this guide to relationships didn't seem to be for me. After reading the first ten pages, I won't be finishing this book. I liked the way the author made the sections spell "lover" with each first letter. This was creative. However, I didn't like that there seems to be a religious base with the title and the inclusion of scripture. It doesn't seem to be a super prominent theme, but this tends to turn me away from books. There wasn't anything specific that needs improvement. The book did seem to be professionally edited. I didn't see any errors within the first ten pages.
First Ten review added on January 16, 2023, at 6:08 pm by Annelore Trujillo.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Mayang Bature
I read this sample and discovered that, as stated in the official OBC review, the author used real-life experiences, including her own, to convey important lessons. I liked it because it portrayed a personable approach to which readers could relate. I would not have read this book if I hadn't been a part of this program. The genre and descriptions are not typical of what I enjoy. The book's suggestions would be numerous and would undoubtedly bore me. Apart from the genre, the only thing I didn't like was that some of the references would only be understood by Christians. I didn't find any errors and wouldn't bother reading the rest.
First Ten review added on January 16, 2023, at 5:43 pm by Mayang Bature.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Damian Keyes
Truthfully, If I was not in this program, I would not have sampled this book. The OBC official review and book title is the reason I'm not going to buy this book because I'm not a fan of relationship books. The author made some compelling points within the first ten pages that I had to learn in my own relationships. For example, when there is an argument, it's okay to step away, regroup, and then come back to the conversation with a more mild state of mind. The mirroring section was something I'm glad he touched upon because many couples do this unknowingly. I found no errors or anything I disliked in my reading of the sample; the subject matter is just not my cup of tea.
First Ten review added on January 16, 2023, at 4:31 pm by Damian Keyes.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Timothy Rucinski
The first thing I thought about when I saw this cover was that this was a religious book, especially since I could not see the subtitle. The Official OBC Review didn't do anything to prompt interest in this book, as it's not a genre of interest. I didn't read any other reviews or blurbs, and my first inclination was that I would have never read this based on the cover or review. After reading the first ten pages, I'm sure that I won't read it. This isn't a genre or topic that appeals to me. The book is very well written, and I particularly liked that it didn't appear as if written by an academician. The writing is easy to read, and the concepts are easy to understand. I also liked how the author dived deeply into the need for space in one's life. What I didn't like was the author's decision to spend too much time analyzing Noah's ark and the interaction of the animals, as if it was history and not a myth. I believe the book to be professionally edited as I found no errors, and I have no recommendations for improvement.
First Ten review added on January 16, 2023, at 3:56 pm by Timothy Rucinski.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Adrian Rondon Salazar
I didn't like the cover; I understand that due to the title, it was decided to place a photograph of two giraffes; however, it looks like a zoology book. Also, I am currently single and not interested in information for couples; therefore, I would not have been interested in reading this book outside the program. I will not buy this book; I disagree with the author. The author mentions that all relationships can improve, but I think that is false; some relationships must end. Believing that everything has a solution makes us feel miserable if things don't improve. I did not find errors. It is a book with valuable information; however, I would like the author to mention how to know when you should leave your partner in a toxic relationship. Nothing that I liked. The official review on OBC didn't help me decide.
First Ten review added on January 16, 2023, at 3:24 pm by Adrian Rondon Salazar.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
MsH2k
I loved the cover of this book. The scene of the two giraffes was sweet, and the background was peaceful. The title was clever and reflected the references to the ark found in the sample pages. I read nonfiction often, but based on the blurb, I would not have sampled this book if I were not part of this program. I am not interested in a book on couples’ relationships. The first ten pages were interesting, with examples from other works and quotes to support the author’s content. I appreciated the quote by the Cheshire Cat. I may need to read Alice in Wonderland again. I found it humorous that the author’s response to the couple having the argument in the restaurant was to clinically analyze the situation immediately. She certainly has the right profession. I will not buy this book today. It is well written and would be valuable for those in a relationship or looking to enter one, but the topic is not one I am currently interested in. It appeared professionally edited. Perhaps it was intentional, but I did notice a couple of instances of seemingly unnecessary capitalization, such as “Mirror” in this sentence at loc 219: Each person is a Mirror to every other person.
The featured OnlineBookClub review was positive and well written, but it did not influence my decision. Other reviews or ratings had no bearing either. I have no suggestions for improvement.
First Ten review added on January 16, 2023, at 2:47 pm by MsH2k.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Diana Lowery
I like giraffes. I like Noah's ark. I wasn't sure about the subtitle, but I might have picked the book up to see what it was all about. I thought the five secrets listed in the blurb were appropriate. The OBC review was positive, but I was not convinced to read the book. I liked the section about physiological mirroring. I also enjoyed the anecdotal examples such as the one about the Christmas tree. I did not see any errors. I do not have any suggestions. I am not going to read the book because I do not have a need for relationship advice.
First Ten review added on January 16, 2023, at 11:56 am by Diana Lowery.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Emy Katherine
Despite the positive customer and editorial reviews, the engaging OBC review, and the intriguing Amazon blurb, I would not have read the book based on the genre. I am not interested in reading non-fiction books, so I did not change my mind after reading the sample. Throughout her book, the author gives valuable advice to help you build and maintain a healthy relationship with your partner. I liked the straightforward writing style as she highlights the importance of space between partners but also encourages lovers to be open with each other, to be good listeners, and to treat each other with respect. I also found the cover fascinating, and the title was eye-catching. The only thing I disliked was that I noticed distracting grammatical errors as I read the first two chapters. For example, it should be written "en route" in the following sentence: "Alternatively, if a scary event happened to a boy named Jay in route to his first day of school, ..." (location 296 of 502 • 52%) It should be written "have increased" in the following sentence: "Conversely, too much togetherness and a lack of space has increased conflict for some couples." (location 337 of 502 • 62%) Other than another round of editing, there was nothing that needed to be improved.
First Ten review added on January 16, 2023, at 8:39 am by Emy Katherine.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Jay_shon03
The title of this book was the first point of attraction for me. The title made perfect sense when I related to how Noah ushered the various animals in pairs into the ark. The cover and the customers' reviews also gave me a nudge to sample the book. Thus, I would have sampled this book because of the title, cover, and customers' reviews, even if I was not part of the OBC.
I dare say without mincing of words that my understanding of how a relationship should be has been broadened after reading the first ten pages. For instance, the author's thoughts on space, especially the way to listen and react to a partner when discussing or in a conflict, opened my eyes to some mistakes I have made. I have realised that one needs space to understand their feelings, imagination, and experiences. One thing I love about the book is that I find most of the contents practical and relatable. I will finish reading this book as someone who is intentional in my relationship. The editing is impressive. I am yet to spot any errors. The review on the OBC platform did not influence my opinions of the book.
First Ten review added on January 16, 2023, at 6:00 am by Jay_shon03.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Gabriella H
When I saw the book cover, I thought the book was about animals. From the title, it's clearly a relationship self-help book, and the OBC official review confirmed this. Without this program, I wouldn't have sampled this book because I'm not interested in reading relationship self-help books. The book's Amazon description, editorial review, and customer reviews didn't spark my interest. Honestly, the writing didn't win me over. I felt it was a little too technical. I liked the bit about animals, though, as I have often wondered how they all lived peaceably for the duration of the flood. I think there was something special about the selected animals. I didn't connect with this book. So I won't be completing it. I didn't see any OBC blurb, and this didn't influence my decision. I noticed a few minor errors in the first ten pages. This is one of them, "I have counseled hundreds of couples of all ages, teach a premarital course to give engaged couples communication skills, and as a tenured professor, taught family and couple dynamics to graduate students at several universities in New York." (Introduction). "Teach" should be "taught."
First Ten review added on January 16, 2023, at 5:27 am by Gabriella H.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Christell Lindeque
Because I'd rather not read nonfiction, I won't be reading this book even though I am a part of the program. The book's title and cover, however, grabbed my attention.
The first ten pages convinced me that the subject is intriguing, but the writing style failed to hold my interest.
Within the first ten pages, I noticed no errors.
Even though I was interested in the topic, I found reading it to be tedious. Ten pages in, the author has already spent a lot of time discussing the importance of personal space in a couple's relationship. The Ark is mentioned in the book as well, like the title suggests.
Although I found the review's subject matter intriguing, it was not enough to convince me to read the book after reading the OBC review.
First Ten review added on January 16, 2023, at 3:33 am by Christell Lindeque.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Vidhi Adhikari
The book makes a decent first impression with its simple cover design, straightforward title, detailed description, and multiple customer and OBC reviews. Since I am a not fan of self-help relationship books, I was excited to read the sample. That said, I loved the love map designed by the author. There were some minor grammatical errors, but nothing that would affect my reading experience (Suddenly, this slim and beautifully dressed young woman stood, lifted her stemmed glass, {remove comma} and threw wine at her shocked partner.). Unfortunately, since the genre is not to my liking, I will not finish this book. I would suggest that the writer add pictures to better grab the reader's attention.
First Ten review added on January 16, 2023, at 1:40 am by Vidhi Adhikari.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Ohna Martin
I will skip this book. I would have taken a look at it even if it was not part of the first ten program. I generally do not like the genre but make exceptions for books that interest me this is unfortunately not one of them. The cover and the name look very interesting. I like the quotes the author uses in certain places it fits nicely with what follows. The author also seems to be open-minded when it comes to the fact that not everything works for everybody. There is nothing I disliked about the book and I have no suggestions for the author. The OBC review mentioned grammar mistakes, if they are present I found none in the first ten pages. No other reviews or blurbs influenced my decision.
First Ten review added on January 16, 2023, at 1:30 am by Ohna Martin.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Ari Martinez
If it wasn't for the First Ten program, I wouldn't sample this book based on its title, cover, genre, blurb, OnlineBookClub review, or other reviews because I am not a big fan of self-help books, and I am not in a relationship. My favorite part of what I read was the example of Henry and Dee in Location 205. I find I learn better with examples, and I thought this specific example was very clear and concise. I will not continue reading the book because the advice given in the first ten pages is advice I have heard before; therefore, I don't think I would gain enough knowledge to make purchasing the book worth it. The book doesn't need to be improved, and I didn't find any errors in the text.
First Ten review added on January 16, 2023, at 12:28 am by Ari Martinez.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Hazel Arnaiz
I will skip this book outside the program. The cover and title look faith-based, and the description says it is a guidebook about relationships. The genre and topic are not my usual read. Customer reviews are positive. After sampling, I appreciate the research done for this book. The examples come from various studies which give diverse perspectives. However, it seems a bit academic to me. I prefer a more casual discussion. It is something I will not read about this time. I will pass. Meanwhile, the chapter subheadings have the same font size and style as the rest of the text. I am unsure if it is only on my reader. For improvement, I suggest a distinction between them. They will be easier to distinguish, which will enhance readability. For editing issues, here is an example.
Location 66. Capitalization. It seems "Partners" is not a proper noun in this context. Capitalization is unnecessary.
Our four children, Bob, Jr. Mary Beth, Lisa and Tom, their Partners, Joyce, Fred, Alex, Angie and our grandchildren Gabriela, Alessandra, Olivier, Elizabeth, Claire, Caroline, Robert III and Thomas, Jr. are a testimonial to our love.
The official OnlineBookClub review is enthusiastic and has helpful insights.
First Ten review added on January 15, 2023, at 11:50 pm by Hazel Arnaiz.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Stephanie Runyon
I find therapist perspectives to be fascinating and I would have sampled this book since the author used personal experiences to explain her views. I found the definition of space in relationships is different from what I originally believed. The mirror effect is something that I have seen in social protests. When one person has an issue, they get a group of other people to follow their view. Many times the followers don't have any supporting reasons for believing what they are doing matters. They just mirror the actions of those around them. I noted a minor error. I wouldn't change anything about this book. The OBC review did not influence me to read the book. Nothing online persuaded me to keep reading. I would like to look further into this book to see what strategies and self-reflection can be used in relationships.
ERRORS:
As soon as our mailman delivered the magazine, I quickly scanned the index for my favorite column, Dr. Paul Popeno's "Can this Marriage Be Save?" and scrutinized Dr. Popeno as he helped unhappy couples resolve their conflicts.
This should be capitalized.
First Ten review added on January 15, 2023, at 10:57 pm by Stephanie Runyon.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Rodel Barnachea
After perusing the title’s official OnlineBookClub review and Amazon page, I decided not to acquire the relationship guidebook. I am not fascinated by the different ways I can make my love life great and more fulfilling. I am not intrigued by the five secrets of a great relationship that the author will discuss in the book. I am not interested in reading the multiple real-life cases that were featured in the title. Sampling the book did not change my mind. I would not acquire it because nothing in the sample compelled me to go over the rest of the title. The first ten pages cover an introduction and some pages of Chapter 1: Creating Space and Keys for the Love Map. What I liked most is when the author said that “every problem was once a solution to another problem.” I could not identify any errors in the Amazon sample; the book seems professionally edited. I have nothing to suggest to the author.
First Ten review added on January 15, 2023, at 10:24 pm by Rodel Barnachea.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Sanju Lali
As I am a bit skeptical about self-help books, I would not have read the reviews of this book outside the program called the first ten. The cover, title, and genre of this book influenced me very little. I could not find any editorial reviews of this book, but a few customer reviews praised this book. The OBC official review inspired me the most to sample this book. After reading the first ten pages, I realized that this book was not professionally edited because I found some grammatical errors. For example, the sentence, "Clearly the animals had done a far better job connecting and living peacefully with others of their species than humans had." This sentence could have been as follows. "Clearly, the animals had done a far better job connecting and living peacefully with others of their species than humans had." In this sample, I liked the author's selection of a well-groomed couple for explaining the secrets of a good relationship. From the sample, I learned that a well-groomed woman threw wine at her partner after losing her mind. Even though the secrets to great relationships are presented nicely in this book, they appeared to me as quite superficial from a practical point of view. Therefore I will not buy and read this book today. My suggestion to the author is to provide practical exercises to develop mindfulness in such a situation. A round of professional editing can also help this book a bit.
First Ten review added on January 15, 2023, at 10:19 pm by Sanju Lali.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Carson25
I read the first ten pages of this book, 2*2 on the Ark: Five Secrets of a Great Relationship, after I downloaded a sample. The book falls under the category of non-fiction books. The author starts by giving the love map in the opening pages of this book. In the introductory section, she also tells a story about how he noticed that the couple at the next table they were sitting at seemed to be upset. The element that I appreciated the most in the first ten pages I read was the cover. It was beautiful and had a wonderful design. There was no element that I didn’t appreciate in the first ten pages that I read. This book has an official review at the OBC. The review gave an overview of the book. I love reading non-fiction books. Therefore, I will purchase and finish reading this one. My decision to purchase and finish reading this book was based on its genre. The cover and the official review had no impact on my decision. This book seems to have been exceptionally edited. This is because there were no errors in the first ten pages that I read. I would recommend this book to those who appreciate non-fiction books, especially those with love themes. In my opinion, this book seems fine the way it is, and nothing needs to be improved.
First Ten review added on January 15, 2023, at 10:16 pm by Carson25.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Julie Gebrosky
If I had not been part of this program, I still would have sampled this book. The cover looked interesting and the blurb appealed to me. The OBC review also made me want to read it. After reading the first ten pages, I do plan to finish it. I like how it started with a couple who fought and threw a glass of wine. While it is a classic movie trope, it made the book seem more relatable. I also liked how the author explained her background which gave her future arguments more validity. It also contained no errors. There was nothing I disliked about the book.
First Ten review added on January 15, 2023, at 9:56 pm by Julie Gebrosky.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Shanesha Sammerson
I found the pictures of the two giraffes quite captivating. I was intrigued as I read the title because I would like to work on my relationship. After reading the OBC review, where only positive things were said about the book, it sounded interesting enough to make me want to read it. The Amazon reviews made some interesting points that made me want to read them too. I would buy it after reading the first 10 pages because the opening mnemonic explaining the meaning of love caught my interest. From there, it just got better. The different quotes used and short points like the fact that we learn love from our parents and either mimic or do the opposite of their behavior were on point. It makes sense that, like anything in life that you want to excel at, you learn and study it, so why not learn how to fall in love and stay in love? This is a must-read for all couples, young and old. I found no errors and would not change anything. I have enjoyed every part so far.
First Ten review added on January 15, 2023, at 6:59 pm by Shanesha Sammerson.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Nemanja Jankovic
I would choose to read the book based on its distinctive, attention-grabbing cover. The book's title could have been more creative. I read the blurb, customer reviews, editor review, and official OnlineBookClub review, but none of them had any influence on my decision. I won't read the book since after reading the first ten pages, I didn't feel that it could add anything new to the repertoire of books of a similar nature. Since I couldn't identify any errors or typos, the book seemed to have undergone competent editing. I appreciate the scientific justification used to explain the restaurant incident involving the attractive young couple. Nothing in the book, in my opinion, needs to be improved.
First Ten review added on January 15, 2023, at 5:15 pm by Nemanja Jankovic.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Andrada Madalina
"2X2 on the Ark: Five Secrets of a Great Relationship" by Mary J Giuffra, Ph.D., is a non-fiction book that illustrates the secrets of a successful relationship. I liked the art design of the book cover because of its two cute giraffes and found it suitable for its catchy title and descriptive blurb. I sampled this book because of its great Official OnlineBookClub review and excellent editorial and customer reviews. The book seems professionally edited. I discovered only two minor punctuation errors in the Kindle sample: the first error was a missing period at the end of a sentence in the first chapter("Televisions are considered an interference with couples' sacred space and an intrusion not fortuitous to loving relationships" ). I would not improve anything on the book because I liked Mary's advice regarding space for partners and appreciated her initiative to guide persons with relationship issues. Nevertheless, I will not buy and read the whole book because I am not interested in unhappy couples' problems and tactics for a better relationship.
First Ten review added on January 15, 2023, at 2:55 pm by Andrada Madalina.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Laura Ungureanu
I loved seeing the picture of the two giraffes on this book's cover. However, the title made me think that this book had something to do with religion, which is why I wasn't particularly interested in sampling it. After checking its blurb, OBC review, and Amazon reviews, I was left with a positive impact, but this program was my ultimate motivation. The beginning of this book was perfect, starting with the author witnessing a couple that was fighting and contemplating how easy it would've been to just communicate. The author gave off warmth and professionalism. It was clear from the first pages that she was very passionate about this subject, being interested in it since her adolescence. Her Love Map makes it seem like she has a plan for everyone. However, since I'm not in a relationship and I am focusing on other arias of my life, I don't see any reason to read this book. I enjoyed reading the first ten pages, so I wouldn't want to change anything, but it's not a book I would read. While the editing was pretty good, I did find an error worth mentioning. The verb tense is incorrectly used in "I have counseled hundreds of couples of all ages, [teach] a premarital course."
First Ten review added on January 15, 2023, at 2:51 pm by Laura Ungureanu.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Kajori Sheryl Paul
"2X2 on the Ark: Five Secrets of a Great Relationship" is a non-fiction book. It is written by Mary J Giuffra, PhD. The author aims to help couples maintain loving relationships. I like the way she included quotes in the beginning of each chapter. Also, I like the way she gave us an insight into her interest and experience in couple counseling in the introduction. I found some errors. For example, it should have been "I have counseled hundreds of couples of all ages, taught a premarital course.." instead of "I have counseled hundreds of couples of all ages, teach a premarital course.." Apart from the errors, I would not change anything about the book. The OBC review is detailed and helpful. However, I would have skipped this book based on the cover, title, genre, customer reviews, editorial reviews, and blurb as the subject-matter does not interest me. For the same reason, I have decided to skip this book after reading the sample.
First Ten review added on January 15, 2023, at 2:28 pm by Kajori Sheryl Paul.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Amy Luman
I enjoyed the part where Dr. Giuffra talked about the need for space as used by religions. I won’t be reading this because it is nonfiction and self-help. These types of books tend to sound "preachy." The two giraffes on the cover looked like they wanted to be together. The title implies that the couples on the ark wanted to be together, but what if they were only with each other because there was no one else? The editorial and customer reviews of this book rated it highly. The OBC review discusses the "love map" that is in the book, and I suppose we all have one and need to understand that of our partner. It was very difficult for me to read the first few pages of this. While there were no errors to slow me down, I found myself re-reading many passages to understand what the author was saying, and this was something that I didn't like. I can't see anything that needs to be changed since others may readily find this interesting.
First Ten review added on January 15, 2023, at 2:15 pm by Amy Luman.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Kelsey Roy
I was initially intrigued by the cover and title of “2X2 on the Ark: Five Secrets of a Great Relationship.” These details appeared to relate to a Christian relationship perspective due to the reference to Noah and his ark. However, the OBC review clarified that this book has no religious component, which decreased my interest. The blurb confirmed the non-fiction self-help genre, which doesn’t appeal to me currently. Although I appreciate the author’s passion for relationship advice, I don’t want relationship help.
I found no errors in the sample pages. I enjoyed the author’s first step of the LOVE map, “leave space for love.” I often react to emotion without taking the time to digest and understand why I feel angry/sad/scared etc. I appreciate the author’s words of wisdom in confronting this issue. I struggle to engage with non-fiction self-help reading material. Due to the genre, I will pass on purchasing this book. I have no recommendations for the author. If I decide to read relationship advice in the future, I will keep this helpful book in mind. I found no specific portions of the sample to dislike.
First Ten review added on January 15, 2023, at 12:31 pm by Kelsey Roy.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Theresa Moffitt
The cover art of this book and title make me think this is a humorous look at relationships. The title and photograph of the two giraffes have a whimsical feel to them. It seems like it may be an interesting perspective on relationships. I would have picked this book up based on the cover alone. The onlinebookclub.org review that I read was very informative. It is a serious exploration of relationships, not a humorous book. I did not get that impression from the cover. The OBC review gave the book a perfect rating. This increased my interest in reading it. I didn’t read any additional customer reviews or blurbs. The first ten pages begin with the author describing an experience she had when she was having dinner in Manhattan. A couple at the table next to her table began having a loud argument that ended with the woman throwing a glass of wine in the man’s face and storming off. This was an excellent example of the importance of communication in relationships. The author also provided a brief history of her background and experience in the field of studying relationships and counseling people through various issues that arise with couples. I like the author’s writing style. The topic is interesting and the author seems very knowledgeable. I didn’t see any errors in the first ten pages, so I believe the book was professionally edited. I also didn’t see any area that the author could improve upon. Based on the first ten pages and the OBC review, I would like to finish reading this book.
First Ten review added on January 15, 2023, at 12:16 pm by Theresa Moffitt.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Bertha Jackson
The cover, title, blurb, customer reviews, editorial reviews, and the OnlineBookClub review could not have convinced me to read this book because I do not enjoy reading self-help books, especially those concerning relationships. Surprisingly, I enjoyed several things while reading the first ten pages. Firstly, I found some interesting things: The Love Map is based on the word “LOVER” and that animals in captivity will turn against others of their species because of human influence. Second, I could relate to her reading the Ladies Home Journal article “Can this Marriage Be Saved” because I used to do the same thing. Finally, I had to laugh when a grandmother revealed that she cut off the end of a cut of lamb to make it fit into a pan, and her daughter did the same thing, not knowing why her mother did it. There was nothing I disliked about the first ten pages except the topic. I have no recommendations for the author because the first ten pages appear professionally edited, as they had no errors. I will not purchase and read the book because I am not interested in the self-help topic.
First Ten review added on January 15, 2023, at 11:56 am by Bertha Jackson.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda
That's one weird cover. It made me think this was a religious book. The blurb works well, outlining the topics this book broaches, and the book has perfect ratings. The problem is, I'm still thinking, from the cover, that this is going to be a super religious book that will tell me to look at my husband for reproductive purposes only. Hence, I wouldn't have bought it based on my first impressions.
I had mixed feelings about the first ten pages. I agree with the idea of "providing a container of nonreactive space that supports his or her right to be an imperfect, changing human being." I also like the simple, effective way in which the author presents concepts that could b convoluted enough to grant another book. For example, "The twenties flapper becomes the conservative fifties suburbanite, the sixties hippie becomes the materialistic nineties urbanite, and boomers are followed by millennials." However, I intensely disliked the opening story. Even if the author were the best therapist in the world, she doesn't know this couple or why she threw the wine at him. "Assessing" them without further information comes off as patronizing and arrogant. What convinced me to read the book was the official OBC review. I didn't find editing mistakes. I urge the author to change the cover and reconsider the opening story.
First Ten review added on January 15, 2023, at 10:43 am by María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Sushan Ekanayake
2X2 on the Ark: Five Secrets of a Great Relationship by Mary J Giuffra, PhD belongs to the Non-Fiction genre, which I usually do not read. The title and the cover page were self-explanatory. The blurb revealed that this was a relationship guide book. The editorial reviews and the customer reviews spoke highly about the book. Based on the above facts, I would not have sampled this if I had not been a part of this program.
Then I read the first few pages, which included the concept called 'love map' and a scenario regarding a quarrelling couple. Although I liked the structure that the author had planned to present her concepts, the content of the book was not among my preferences. So I decided not to continue reading after reading the first ten pages.
I saw neither any errors nor any area that could be improved. I saw the official OBC review which highly appreciated the book. But it was not enough to change my mind.
First Ten review added on January 15, 2023, at 10:23 am by Sushan Ekanayake.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Total ~ 18%
2X2 on the Ark: Five Secrets of a Great Relationship earned a score of 18%.
In other words, out of the top-level reviewers who read at least the first 10 pages of this book, 18% 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 2X2 on the Ark: Five Secrets of a Great Relationship
