Let’s talk book covers. The old adage “don’t judge a book by its cover” is ridiculous. We all judge a book by its cover, and the publishers know this and spend lots of time and energy designing book covers for just this reason. If book covers didn’t matter, why do they change covers between US and UK editions of the same book? (They sometimes change titles also, but that is a different discussion.) I have a lot of opinions about book covers, so make yourself comfortable while I rant and ramble for this diversion.
First a couple of book cover anecdotes. I heard Bonnie Garmus speak about the cover of her huge bestseller Lessons in Chemistry. She hated the cover, felt the picture and the color gave romance book vibes. But, as a first-time author, she had no say. After the book was a big success, when it came out in paperback, she got the cover she wanted, with the periodic table on it.
Take a look at the cover of The Masterpiece by Fiona Davis. When she saw this cover, she loved it, except for one issue. The dress that her character wears in the book was not this color. She actually changed the book text to make the book match the cover!
Next let’s talk about book cover trends. Why have publishers decided that all historical fiction covers must have one or more women with their back to us? Here are some examples.
There was a time when all romance covers had a bare-chested, long-haired Fabio on it (or a lookalike). Now they all have a similar palate of teals, yellows, peach, and pink, with cutesy fonts and illustrations.
There is occasionally that absolutely gorgeous cover, that takes your breath away. A cover that ends up as part of the book club discussion (I have been known to talk about covers during book group conversations.) For me, it is Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. The cover is not only beautiful, as is the girl, and her dress, but it also conveys so much about the book.
Finally, I have to end with a cover that every single time I see just cracks me up, Help Wanted by Adelle Waldman. How can you look at this and not laugh?
Now it is your turn to talk book covers. Comment below about the time a cover and the book were out of synch, or the cover was so striking you had to read it, or a trend in book covers that annoys you. Please include images of these covers for all of us to enjoy.
