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You can’t judge a book by its cover…

Yes, that expression is a TIRED cliché. It’s used to describe just about anything from people to mud huts. But there is a truth in the statement that cannot be denied, at least in my opinion.

As an (extremely) untrained artist, I admit, I tend to be visual in nature. I have particular taste when it comes to artwork–cover art and otherwise. To be really great, it needs to evoke some kind of emotion in me. If it doesn’t, it’s blah. Or worse.

Working in a bookstore, I know I’m not alone. There are LOTS of readers who notice cover art first. How can a person not? It’s literally the first thing they see. Frankly, if cover art was not a key ingredient in the packaging of a book, I doubt it would get the attention it does. From publishers and readers alike. How many blogs are centered on the snark of bad book covers?

Knowing there is time and money spent to design all book covers, no matter what publisher has produced it, I hate to label any cover as “bad”. Some reflect the techniques used to create them–or rather the limitations of those techniques. Some do a poor job of representing the tone or theme of the book. Some have errors, like floating arms or ill-proportioned people. And some are just…okay, but not great.

And then there are my favorites–Looking at some Ellora’s Cave covers (which I think have come a LONG way from what they used to be):

Jan Springer’s Sinderella (This cover is simple, sexy and elegant. The contrast between the white background and black gloves gives the photograph punch)

Shiloh Walker’s Hunters: The Beginning (Love the black and white with a bit of color. The red stream of blood. The woman’s lips.) Hunters

Sherri King’s Fetish (Those boots are hot!) Fetish

Looking outside of Ellora’s Cave:

Robin Lee Hatcher’s Catching Katie (Love the girl’s smile and the way the title follows the bend of the hat)

Laurie Graff’s Have to Kiss a Lot of Frogs (It simply makes me smile)

Michelle Cunna’s 32AA (So simple but says so much)

Isn’t it unfortunate that we can’t judge the story inside by the cover? But it’s simply not the case. I’ve found some absolutely delightful stories hidden behind awful (or just mediocre) covers. I have to admit, most of my all-time favorite books have so-so covers. But that didn’t stop me from buying.

What about you? What are your favorite book covers? Do covers sway your decision to buy or not to buy? I’d love to hear what you like and don’t like in book covers. All opinions are welcome!

9 Responses to “You can’t judge a book by its cover…”

Hi Tawny,

okay covers are eyecatcher, but they don’t influence my buying habit.

One of my favorite covers is the Fetish cover above, I have it as a poster hanging here in my room, together with a signed cover poster by Sherrilyn Kenyon.

by Danny on June 30th, 2006 at 6:26 am
Ah yes, book covers. Such passionate discussions have been held over this very toptic *g*

Yes, covers are what attracts or repels a reader in the first instant, and sometimes that reaction is what can drive you to pick up the book…or not. However as you mentioned, the cover is not what makes the story. I love the covers you’ve selected here, and I know for a fact that Shiloh’s book is just as good as it looks, but as for the others - I have no clue. Will I pick any of these books up because they catch my eye? Sure., I give it a try and see if the blurb on the back sounds good. It’s how I discovered MJD’s Undead and Unwed, one of the funniest books I’d read in ages.

Would I do that for a book where I didn’t like the cover? To be honest, probably not. I might only pick that book up if I had heard great things about it. I am a superficial snob, what can I tell ya…

I like a lot of the Aprodisia covers. I like “Gena Showalter’s cover for “Enslave Me Sweetly”. Shiloh’s “Hunting the Hunter”. Nathan Kamp covers (such as Sherrilyn Kenyon’s “Sword of Darkness”). Yeah, I like NK on my cover

by Stacy ~ on June 30th, 2006 at 7:24 am
Good morning Tawny.

I love covers that are very colorful or whimsical. I like covers from these authors/books to show an example of what attracts me: Susan Anderson, Catherine Anderson, Marilyn Pappano Bethlehem Series, Jane Graves Demarco Series, Deirdre Martin’s hockey books, Kathleen Long’s Cherry on Top. I also like the Brava covers.

I DO NO like the Ellora’s Cave covers at all and there are some erotic books that the people on the covers look almost not human. I do not mean to offend anyone. Did not like the Fetish cover that you displayed. I did try one EC book and did not like it. Since there are so many books/authors out there that I love, probably won’t try another one, sorry to say. Buy hey, who knows.

Loved the Robin Hatch one especially. Also Laurie Graff and the Sinderlla covers. Funny I was just looking at the Sinderella book on amazon yesterday.

Covers draw me to a book. But that is not what determine is I buy it. I go by authors I like, recommends and the back blurb.

You probably think I am real pill, since you remember me from preferring “real” books to Ebooks.

Anyway, loved the question and these site and have a great 4th everyone.

by Pat on June 30th, 2006 at 11:57 am
I, too, have found covers to be misleading. If the cover does not look that appealing than I will give it a second chance by reading the brief story line or excerpt. I always base a book by its story line b/c even the best covers can have a really boring story.

by Kathleen on June 30th, 2006 at 1:33 pm
This is a hilarious post to me, since it appears with my least favorite cover of mine on the side bar under new books. This version isn’t even as bad as the original. Oy! Was that one ever ugly. The cover was previously bright yellow (not cab yellow) and the colors were tropical green and blue. The little cab looks like it’s wrecking. I know the FEELING they wanted to portray, but I personally didn’t like the cover. I can say that about my own book, right? Next month, I like the cover a LOT better. A sexy man’s butt. In a baseball uniform. Very nice.8)

Covers are not supposed to make you buy. They are supposed to draw you to the book. That’s the end of their usefulness. There are a few books where I’ve literally been repelled by the cover…but at the same time, as an author, I’m usually drawn to it to figure out why it is so bad. As a reader, I can’t say I’d stop from buying a book because I didn’t like the cover, but I might if it was hard to look at. Who wants to do that when it’s going to be sitting around your house for a while?

Personally, I like the first two EC covers…Sinderella particularly…very artisitic and evocative. I do NOT like the Fetish cover and think any guy who’d wear boots like that is not my type. He also looks animated and I don’t like those anymore than I like cartoon taxicabs. But it’s certainly not the worst cover I’ve ever seen.

by Julie Leto on June 30th, 2006 at 1:33 pm
Sherri L. King does tend to have some great covers…hmm, isn’t her husband a cover artist?

I love the Sinderella cover. If I end up buying that book, it’s going to be one cover I’ll bother to put on the blog when I review it.

And no, it doesn’t affect whether I buy it or not. A good title is more likely to get me to pick a book up than a great cover.

by May on June 30th, 2006 at 3:14 pm
I don’t pay much attention to the covers—I buy by author.

by Estella Kissell on June 30th, 2006 at 7:23 pm
they do not influence so much.

by kim h on July 1st, 2006 at 1:14 pm
This was a fun discussion!

Pat, I do not think you are a “real pill” at all. Everyone is entitled to their tastes. A lot of people don’t like ebooks.

Julie, how ironic. LOL But I DO like that baseball player’s butt. Mmmmm…nice Congrats on the release!

May, that’s true. Sherri’s hubby is a cover artist and did that cover. I admit, it’s not for everyone. It’s extreme. That guy’s certainly not my type, but for some reason, I can’t stop staring at it.

Thanks for the posts and insight!

by Tawny Taylor on July 2nd, 2006 at 8:12 am