If you follow me on Instagram you no doubt already know that books have basically taken over my life.

Books and the cat. And coffee. And ridiculous selfies.

But mostly books.

My entire literate life has been spent with a nose stuck in a book. I listen to them when I drive, read them while I’m cooking (which is a little risky), and always have one tucked away in my purse just in case.

But there’s one thing that might shock you about my reading habits. In fact, my editor (the lovely Kelsey) was aghast when she found out.

Ready?

Are you sitting down?

I don’t read the back of the book (or the description blurb on Amazon) when I buy/check out/start to read a book.

That’s right. I like to go into a book completely blind.

So, how do I know that it’s a book I’ll want to read? I just do! I take the recommendations of trusted friends, authors I admire, and yes I go by cover design (don’t judge me!).

I’m an adventurous reader with eclectic taste, so not knowing the basic premise of a book is usually no problem.

But sometimes it is.

Like last week when I accidentally read two post-apocalyptic novels that were about the few who survived a horrible flu outbreak at the same time (Station Eleven and The Star Dogs). Or when I thought a friend had spoiled a plot for me via Instagram on a book I’d just started (How the Light Gets In) when the “spoil” was already in the back cover blurb (whoops and whew).

Generally, though, it results in me reading a bunch of books I might not have otherwise.

How about you? Do you read the back covers of books? Or do you go in without knowing anything about the plot like I do? What’s your system of picking out a book to read?

I love to hear from YOU! And happy reading!