I admit it...I've done this, sort of. Wait, don't judge me yet! It's not as simple as that. Many times, I've picked up a book initially because of the cover art. I'll say "Oh, this looks interesting," then proceed to read the synopsis. Don't get me wrong, the synopsis has to get me, otherwise the pretty book is going back on the shelf. I've never purchased a book ONLY because of the cover art, but it has been the initial draw that led me to pick up books I might not have if the cover art sucked.
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On the flip side, I have read many good books based on the fact I know the author's writing or I love a series or the synopsis sounded good enough for me to take a chance on it. Yet this same good book has the worst, god awful cover ever! In times like this, I'm happy to have chosen to read a book in ebook format! I've actually cringed a time or two at posting a book cover for a review because the cover art looks so cheese ball. I've gone to the extent of looking for other cover editions to avoid the ugly cover, but usually I'm stuck posting it as is, bad cover and all.
I've been burned by doing this as well. I'll see a book, like the cover, pick up, read the synopsis and think, "This sounds okay, maybe it might be good"...then I'll look at the cover again and think that it looks good and decided to read it anyway. In this case the cover has influenced me to read something that I originally wasn't all that wowed about.. Then it happens. Instead of being good or even decent, the book is bombs. And guess what? That's exactly what I get for letting the cover art influence me!
In a perfect world, the story inside the book would be just as amazing as the pretty cover art. Same for the opposite, only badly written books would have cheese ball covers! Ha, yea right.
Below area few examples of books that I reviewed with less than appealing covers!
I've been burned by doing this as well. I'll see a book, like the cover, pick up, read the synopsis and think, "This sounds okay, maybe it might be good"...then I'll look at the cover again and think that it looks good and decided to read it anyway. In this case the cover has influenced me to read something that I originally wasn't all that wowed about.. Then it happens. Instead of being good or even decent, the book is bombs. And guess what? That's exactly what I get for letting the cover art influence me!
In a perfect world, the story inside the book would be just as amazing as the pretty cover art. Same for the opposite, only badly written books would have cheese ball covers! Ha, yea right.
Below area few examples of books that I reviewed with less than appealing covers!
I liked this book, check out my review here. For some reason, this cover screams erotica...yeah, no. I won't be walking around with this in my hand. Ebook only! Unfortunately, All of the covers in this series look like this,
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This book was good, but not great, read my review here. Based on the cover alone, I would have left this on the shelf, but I remember liking the synopsis. Another ebook only!
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Another decent book, read my review here. This time we have sort of bad cover. I've read the first 4 books in this series and the covers all have the same look to them. Oh, well, can you say ebook?
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I know that cover art is subjective to whom ever is looking at it, but I think I've proven my point. What do you think? Will cover art sway you when making a book purchase? Especially with a hardcover or paperback book?
Happy Reading,
~Tamara
P.S. Apparently I feel strongly about this subject, as I talked about it last year too! | My Soap Box: Book Cover Art
