Around the Year in 52 Books discussion

You ever see a new book and swear that the cover looks familiar? There has been a rise in books with very similar covers, like rom-coms with illustrated couples, or historical fiction featuring a woman with her back to the cover. This week, you're going on a scavenger hunt to find two books with similar looking covers. Bonus points if they are in different genres!

Cover Love Series: https://fictionophile.com/cover-love-...

ATY Listopia: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
Obviously, this is a hard prompt to make a listopia for. Check the comments on the listopia as well to see member suggestions!

What are you reading for these prompts?

I'm reading two books with concentric circles on the covers.

I’m going to read two books with split covers. I really liked this cover prompt suggestion and since it didn’t make the list I felt it worked good here. I’m not sure yet which books I’ll be reading.

I am reading:


Not entirely the same, because I didn't want copy cat covers, but both have pictures of their subjects (both writers), enclosed in loops, and reviews of the books all around.

And I am also reading:

which are pretty copycat!

I want to share this link in case it helps with this prompt:
https://fictionophile.com/cover-love-...

Not sure how I came across it (probably from this group at some point), but there is a list of objects/themes and links to covers for each. Personally, I think "looking up at treetops" and "lights in windows" have a lot of covers that look the same, but there are plenty to peruse.

That's a great link Abbie! I'm going to add it to the first post.

I have 2 options I'm considering:

1 - 2 books with an elephant with a howdah on the cover


2 - 2 SF Masterworks (the publisher's layout design but not the picture)

Jillian wrote: "I’m going to read two books with split covers. I really liked this cover prompt suggestion and since it didn’t make the list I felt it worked good here. I’m not sure yet which books I’ll be reading."

Oh I like the idea of using a rejected cover prompt! I have found so many books with disembodied hands, so might go with that!

I also have two books with a skull under a glass dome, which seems a kind of a niche trend:

I did not understand this prompt as "two covers with a similar object on the cover." I took it literally as two cover that are so alike they almost seem the same. I might rethink my selections for this prompt.

Abbie wrote: "I want to share this link in case it helps with this prompt:
https://fictionophile.com/cover-love-...

Not sure how I came across it (probably from this group at some point), but there is a lis..."

Oooohh this is very helpful!

dalex wrote: "I did not understand this prompt as "two covers with a similar object on the cover." I took it literally as two cover that are so alike they almost seem the same. I might rethink my selections for ..."

I thought the same and was actually struggling finding books. I thought of picking a series and reading two books from that. But this idea opens up options for me.

I feel like there is some leeway for interpretation on this prompt but I may need to rethink my options. For my elephant option, the books remind me of each other and I was thinking that either cover would work for both books. I guess I could go with 2 B&N classics that have a similar look. I don’t read rom-coms so that’s not an option. I’ll have to give some more thought to this one.

I've gone for two books that look similar when I'm scrolling on my phone, Plain Bad Heroines by Emily M. Danforth and The Library of the Unwritten by A.J. Hackwith, though close up they are easy enough to tell apart:

I have two covers which are not identical but follow a theme, and also two covers which are close to identical.

Surely there's no right or wrong way to fulfill this prompt if the covers seem similar to you.

Thank you Abbie for that link! That gives me more ideas. I especially like the piano keys and solitary birds. I didn’t see one with elephants, though! I was struggling with understanding this one.

I have two pairs I'm considering, which look similar to me in different ways:

and
both have flying saucers with "tractor beams", even though they aren't that similar in color scheme.

and have a similar color scheme and overall busy, colorful look.

Oooh, was waiting for this thread! I've been keeping a list since this prompt made it in.

Here are some different options I've seen, with different degrees of similarity:

, ,

,
(and I'm sure there's more with a peeking out between the blinds motif)

, (again, sure there's lots more with the figure walking out but these two in particular seem to resonate)

,

,

,

,

,

,

,

,

, ,

,

,

(I just cracked that maybe these covers are why I seem to mix up Ann Patchett and Anne Tyler in my head.)

,

For myself, I think I may go with suggestions I saw in an earlier thread, and , although looking at them now I'm not as happy with the connection, so I'll keep my eyes out for other matches and see where I end up! Bone Clocks might also fit with , and then I could do The Overstory for the '2 words starting with The' prompt.

These are great options, Joanna!

It’s too bad I’m not into the kinds of books with half naked men on the cover. There are a ton of them. Regency romances with women in gowns are plentiful too.

I agree that I wouldn’t want them too similar. We saw in the discussion that some books use the exact same photos on the cover. That suggests to me that the publisher is cutting costs with books it doesn’t expect to sell well, or that the books that are not at all original.

I’m going to wait to find books that I want to read for the content, and hope that some will have similar covers. I’ll also be reading everyone’s recommendations.

I really love the comparison of The Guest and Yellowface

&

Different colors, different body parts, but it feels very, very similar. I would have used these but I already read The Guest and I plan on reading Yellowface early in the year!

I had Yellowface on my list of potentials paired with Squirm:

Forgot I had a page 2 of my list, so a few more.

, ,

,

,

,

and , (kind of love that pair - matching background colour and wine glass, though a different bad thing has happened to each glass)

I'm glad to see so many people having fun with this!

The options I'm considering at this point are:

with
Spirals in the same direction: Two of the first I found when developing this prompt.


Left Hands: Two of these three, not sure which ones. I enjoy Neal Shusterman and Seanan McGuire, but haven't read Naomi Alderman before.

with
Not as interested in these actual books, but what's the likelihood of finding two covers with upside down parrot heads! Just realized — these could be used for the Jimmy Buffett prompt too! (and they both use avocado green...)

These are the two sets I'm most strongly considering:

with
Really looking forward to Fourteen Days, so could use it for a few other prompts if not here. A little hard to see the second cover, but both have a view of an apartment building from the top corner of the structure.

with
Trench coats and fedoras! If I don't read these for this prompt I could use either for Senior Character, and could squeak in Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk under Travel

UPDATE:
I started with The Kingdoms (first of the spiral books above, and which I very much enjoyed), but forgot about The Paris Labyrinth and tried another spiral book, The Price of Time, which I wasn't enjoying.

So now I'm reading a pair of books where a typewriter is the main focus on the cover. Just finished Olivetti, and will follow that with Miss Iceland when it becomes available from the library.

I’m going for two books with vertical flames:

The Yield and
A Separation

I also noticed:

The Trauma Cleaner: One Woman's Extraordinary Life in the Business of Death, Decay, and Disaster and
Pretend I'm Dead

Plus I have another blue cover with feather for you LeahS:
Magpie

I've got three pairs in mind that I like equally, so I guess it will depend on what I feel like reading at the time:

and

and

and

Nadine in NY wrote: "I've got three pairs in mind that I like equally, so I guess it will depend on what I feel like reading at the time..."

These are fantastic matches!

These are my picks
-
-
- -- this one can also fit with the girls with whispy hair in the examples in the above comment

I'm going with the idea that series usually have similar covers and have picked a new series to start.

I have 2 more ideas for this prompt. I have 2 books (The Transit of Venus and Waiting for the Dark, Waiting for the Light) with a slightly obscure picture of a nude woman. I also have 2 books (Coal Black Horse and Out Stealing Horses) with a silhouette of a horse running. Looks like the same horse to me!

I'm taking the easy way out on this one. I have a selection of Agatha Christie books that all have the exact same cover except for the title. I'll be using two for this prompt.

Cards on the Table, and
The Mysterious Mr. Quin.

Chrissy wrote: "I have two pairs I'm considering, which look similar to me in different ways:

and
both have flying sau..."

Both of your flying saucer tractor beam books are on my TBR! I have two concentric circles books picked out for this prompt but might have to switch ...

Some more I've found.

and

and

and

And last time, I mentioned thinking I might pair with , but then I found which I think is a better match for the former.

I'm not sure what I want to read for this yet, but I love the Overstory/Bone Clocks pairing! I might, umm, borrow that :)

I have a number of those black Penguin Classics with similar publisher stylings, so I may pick two of those, especially if I can find two with similar paintings/figures on the cover.

ETA: I just noticed the covers of The Gathering and To the Lighthouse next to each other on my GR TBR shelf, and the similar seashores could definitely work!

Whenever I saw the cover of These Infinite Threads I always just lumped it together with the These Violent Delights books by Chloe Gong. I was so surprised to find out that they aren't in the same series, not even by the same author. Lol. They just both have the dagger with flowers and three-word title that starts with "These..." with a similar font.


They could all belong in one series.

I need help from better eyes please. Has anyone seen covers like this? I know I did when I bought it, but that was a long time ago.

Thanks!

Tell the Wolves I'm Home

Tracy wrote: "I'm glad to see so many people having fun with this!

The options I'm considering at this point are:

with
Spirals in the ..."

Great options! I loved Lillian Boxfish and I might even be ready to reread it by the end of 2024. If I don’t bother pair. I love the look of the spirals .

LeahS wrote: "I am reading:


Not entirely the same, because I didn't want copy cat covers, but both have ..."

Leah, if you happen to notice covers similar to the Jonathan Swift book, can you let me know? It’s not quite for me but it has ribbons like a book I own.

NancyJ wrote: "I need help from better eyes please. Has anyone seen covers like this? I know I did when I bought it, but that was a long time ago.

Thanks!

Tell the Wolves I'm Home
..."

The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow has it's title in a ribbon too

@NancyJ: re a match for Tell the Wolves I’m Home —

Edited to add images:
Reference cover:


Books with a large teapot in the cover: All I could find was this non-fiction book about witchcraft/paganism
Hedge Witch Book of Days


Books with ribbons flowing on the cover: lots of options out there

Books with silhouettes of women: I have several I can find on my TBR if you are interested. One that comes to mind is An Unnecessary Woman
additions:


Books with a standing bear on the cover:
Gentle Ben by Walt Morey (a kid’s/middle grade book, with THIS cover)


Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen (middle grade/ YA) - I read this years ago and remember it as good.


Searching for a book with a standing bear on the cover is tricky because there was a Chief named Standing Bear… Hope this helps some.

NancyJ wrote: "LeahS wrote: "I am reading:
v

Will look out for any, Nancy.

NancyJ wrote: "I need help from better eyes please. Has anyone seen covers like this? I know I did when I bought it, but that was a long time ago.

Thanks!

Tell the Wolves I'm Home
[bookcover:Te..."

Is this what you have in mind? https://fictionophile.com/2017/09/06/...

Dixie wrote: "NancyJ wrote: "I need help from better eyes please. Has anyone seen covers like this? I know I did when I bought it, but that was a long time ago.

Thanks!

That's a fantastic website - going through the cover love series could lead to lots of options.

NancyJ, seems like you've got a lot of suggestions, but I'll add one more:

Has scroll, bear and green background.

Thank you everyone! I was wondering why bears were suggested. Where is there a bear? [head slap] I finally see it on the lighter green cover.

Joanna, I’ve had The Bear and the Nightingale on my tbr since 2029, but I never saw the cover with the ribbons. Great find! Thank you.

Dixie wrote: "NancyJ wrote: "I need help from better eyes please. Has anyone seen covers like this? I know I did when I bought it, but that was a long time ago.

Thanks!

[book:Tell the Wolves I'm Home|12875258..."

Dixie, the fictionophile website is awesome! Thank you so much!

NancyJ wrote: "Dixie wrote: "NancyJ wrote: "I need help from better eyes please. Has anyone seen covers like this? I know I did when I bought it, but that was a long time ago.

Thanks!

[book:Tell the Wolves I'm..."

Abbie suggested it originally. I love it too!

NancyJ wrote: "I need help from better eyes please. Has anyone seen covers like this? I know I did when I bought it, but that was a long time ago.

Thanks!

"

Nancy, I know you already got some great suggestions for similar covers, but I just saw that pretty much all of Agatha Christie's Miss Marple books have covers with ribbons on them: (they're not super similar to your book, but just throwing it out there as an option!)

similar-ish. Both close-ups of a face with eyes closed, with a hand on the left side of the cover, with a grayscale color

I read these two this year. Can highly recommend the first. Iffy on the second.

I go for the brooklyn Bridge :)

and

I found my books on the listopia. I chose them because they are historical fiction. I'm planning to read The Book of Lost Names and The Book of Last Letters