Navigating online bookstores and library catalogues for leisure reading can be challenging, especially when people want to engage in a more exploratory and serendipitous search. This study investigated how users navigate and select novels in an online bookstore environment, focusing on the impact of individual user interface elements and information architecture on their experience. Employing a combination of screen recordings with eye-tracking and concurrent think-aloud, the study examined user interactions to understand their navigation patterns, emotional responses, and perceptions related to various interface elements and functionalities. We created path visualizations through qualitative analysis representing participants’ actions and pages visited during search sessions. Additionally, search behavior was examined using eye-tracking data from the results list page. Users’ emotions and perceptions expressed during concurrent think-aloud were then mapped to specific elements and features of the tested online bookstore. Preliminary findings indicate that negative emotions experienced during the search and selection process were predominantly linked to insufficient metadata and resulting usability issues, which impacted user experience and evoked feelings of distrust and frustration. This was especially pronounced when participants compared their experiences with those on similar platforms. The study highlights the critical role of high-quality, consistent book metadata in meeting user expectations. Effective metadata not only facilitates easier navigation and selection of novels, but also increases the likelihood of users revisiting the online bookstore. Our study contributes to a deeper understanding of digital browsing behaviors in selecting leisure reading and offers insights for designing more useful user interfaces.