For a beautifully constructed book, see Odes to Common Things by Pablo Neruda. The hardcover edition. Most people don't give those things a moment's thought. And apparently, the publishers know this, judging by the quality of most of what they publish. If I don't have a recommendation, or if I'm trying to discover a new author, I use the first sentence test.
Some people randomly choose a sentence from the middle of a book.
I find that a stupid method. I think it's fair to judge a book by its first sentence. Everyone can quote some famous first sentences. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. That's actually not the whole first sentence, by the way.