Gordon’s comment > Likes and Comments

You make some good points Gordon. At least Goodreads is available to us to air our views (and publish our ratings) in public - and a few years ago we would both have just had to sit there and stew!
Yes - look at the spread of ratings and take a balanced view from those who have gone before you. I do believe that most who take the trouble to review books do so because they have strong feelings one way or another (unless they are professional reviewers). Being subjective is our right as readers, and it would be a poorer world if we did not have an opportunity to debate and discuss our personal views.
But I do have one tip to pass on from a friend that can give a hint as to what quality we may expect by judging the cover: 'Beware any book where the author's name features larger than the title'...

Wow, we are so different :) I keep looking for those love it or hate it experiences. It's those three or four star reads that everyone agree on I avoid.

I'd rather have one "love it" experience and ten "hate it" than eleven "meh, i don't care"