Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion

I have learned about myself that I am a judge a book by its cover sort of person. I know it's not fair. I know that the cover does not necessarily reflect the contents or quality of the work. I know that the cover is just the marketing/sales part of the book business. But I can't help it, I love pretty book covers! Somehow I think I actually enjoy reading a book more if I am drawn to the cover. It makes the whole experience that much better if every time I pick up or put down my book there is a pretty cover to look at. :)

So I am curious what are some of your favorite book covers? Have you ever read a book just because you liked the cover? How did that work out for you? Have you ever been turned off by a book that was recommended because you did not like the cover?

Mainly, I try not to judge a book by the cover just because I’ve read some awesome books with really cheesy or ugly covers. Even if I don’t like the cover for whatever reason, if the book has come highly recommended or has really good reviews, I wouldn’t let the cover stop me from buying it and checking it out. Although I won’t deny that an attractive cover does add to a book’s appeal. On that same token, I’ve also picked up books solely because the cover was interesting or pretty, but then they turned out to be complete crap.

I think some of my favorite covers have been the ones on J.R. Ward’s BDB series, except for Rehv’s cover. In general, I’m a fan of a great male physique on the cover, but I don’t necessarily like it when you can see the model’s face because I don’t want anything to take away from the vision of the character in my head. I also really like the cover’s for C.L. Wilson’s “Tairen Soul” series, except for the first one. The book came highly recommended to me and I bought it, but I admit I hesitated to read it because I thought the cover was so cheesy, but then I finally just decided to give it a go and I adored it. I think all of the subsequent book covers for that series are great, though.

One reason I first became interested in “Twilight” was because I’d seen the cover in the bookstore one day - without ever having heard of the book - and I thought it was really well done. Simple, but striking. This probably has to do with the fact that black/red/white is my favorite color combo, but I think the covers in the “Twilight” series are also some of my faves.

I don’t really think that any other book covers stand out to me other than those. I really do just ignore the cover most of the time because the attractiveness of the cover (or lack thereof) really isn’t an indicator of the quality of the actual story, you know? There is one thing that I can say for sure, though, and that is that I hate all of the old school Fabio book covers. Not enough to stop me from buying the book if I want it, but any Fabio book cover that I’ve ever come across has been super cheesy. Also, other than his body, I don’t think he’s all that attractive and I never really got his appeal to so many women.

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I had an experience just earlier this week I was at my local B&N that made me think to start this thread. I picked up . Never heard of the author didn't really know anything about it but I decided to grab it. When I got home to add it to my goodreads shelf and check out the reviews I noticed another addition with a slightly different cover that I didn't care for at all and I realized, if I had seen that cover instead I never would have bought this book. What a shame because it looks so cute and has good reviews (I have not read it yet, but from the reviews I think it is the sort of thing I will like). So that is what got me thinking.

Some of my favorite covers are:


Series/author covers:
Any one of these is just OK on it's own but as a group on the shelf always draws my eye.



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And oh how I love, love, love the old classic clinch and man titty covers! :)



Some cover's I am not so crazy about but loved the books!:

I like the covers in the "Wicked Lovely" series and Maggie Stiefvater's "Wolves of Mercy Falls" series, too. I'd never seen a lot of the covers on the Judith McNaught re-issues because I already have the older editions of most of her books, but they are pretty if you look at all of them together like that.

Funny you should ask. I was in a used bookstore two days ago and there was a young (12-13) girl looking for a book with some help (I use the term loosely) from her dad. She discarded every book he showed her - she didn't like the look of it. He said, "Never judge a book by its cover." (He also proceeded to tell her to read the "Prologue" because that would tell her what the book is about - NOT.)

I absolutely pick books by the look of the cover. I don't think I have ever been burned. More likely, I have missed some great books because the cover didn't grab my attention enough. Knowing this - I love to get recommendations from friends that make me pick up a book that I would normally pass by.

A few books that have been calling to me lately that I have not read anything about but am tempted to buy based on the cover are:



Having said all that, I should also say that I have a list of books to buy that I originally borrowed to read. If I find one in a used bookstore and it does not have the version of the cover that I want - I WILL pass it by. I am very particular. :)

Harper wrote: "... any Fabio book cover that I’ve ever come across has been super cheesy. Also, other than his body, I don’t think he’s all that attractive and I never really got his appeal to so many women."

Ok yes the Fabio books covers are cheesy but I have to disagree with you on his looks. I am not crazy about his long girly hair... but he has the most perfect face! Like prime example of perfect chiseled man hunk face. mmmmm....

I do like the Tairen Soul and Twilight covers too. Especially the Tairen Soul covers, I like the colors.

Jennefer wrote: "Harper wrote: "... any Fabio book cover that I’ve ever come across has been super cheesy. Also, other than his body, I don’t think he’s all that attractive and I never really got his appeal to so m..."

Really? I never liked his face. LOL. I know he does appeal to a lot of women, though, so I'm definitely in the minority. I do think his body is quite drool-worthy, though.

I do think the colors on the Tairen Soul covers are really pretty. Those are some of the better covers I've seen for fantasy books.

I will pick up a book if I like the cover. I love Patricia McKillip - here's a typical cover
and that has led to some lovely discoveries like



But sometimes I am bitterly disappointed

no, but that is because i read primarily on my kindle and publishers don't always put cover art up... :(

Deanna wrote: "no, but that is because i read primarily on my kindle and publishers don't always put cover art up... :("

I have a kindle too.... and I love it so much but I have to say that is one thing that I really miss about dead-tree books. But I enjoy posting the covers of the books I read on my reading list here, and I still notice the covers when I shop on Amazon. I am more likely to check out a book that someone else has on a challenge list if the cover is posted and I am drawn to it. Not to mention that I still read regular books too. I usually have one going on my Kindle and one dead-tree book (and sometimes and audio book too) going at the same time.

Thank goodness for goodreads and groups like this for recommendations to push me to try new things because I really think if left to my own devices I would miss out on some real gems! LOL

After reading the blurb on the cover, if I'm still uncertain, the cover image usually makes the final decision for me.

Valerie wrote: "If I find one in a used bookstore and it does not have the version of the cover that I want - I WILL pass it by. I am very particular. :)"

I do that too but mostly with series. I want all the covers and spines to match so they look prettier on the shelf. I spent several years looking for the Fellowship of the Rings cover that matched my set. A friend ended up finding it in a used book store in New York (I'm in Ontario). I was so excited!


I don't usually pay attention to the cover unless I don't care what I read next, then I'll go to the library and look around until something catches my eye. Then I'll read the back and decide if I want to continue. That's how I ended up reading Pilgrim.


For romance novels, I like it when the "Fabio" picture is inside the cover with a simple one outside that way you can ignore it if you want, especially if the picture looks nothing like the characters. I love it when they have a blond on the cover and the hero has black hair!

I've never read the Twilight books but I agree with Harper about the covers. They definitely caught my eye when they came out (could have something to do with the entire wall of the bookstore being dedicated to them as well). The first is my favourite - it makes me think of a dark fairy tale.
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One cover I've seen a lot lately that I really don't like is

It looks like it should be on a box of condoms or personal lubricant!
I still plan to read the book though. Thankfully, once the book is open you don't have to look at the horrible cover anymore!

Sara wrote: "...It looks like it should be on a box of condoms or personal lubricant!
I still plan to read the book though. Thankfully, once the book is open you don't have to look at the horrible cover anymore!"

ROFLMAO!!! I never really thought anything of this cover one way or the other but I will never look at it the same ever again! :)

I look at the cover if I'm at a new bookstore or in Walmart in their book section, but if I'm at the library or a used book store I usually read the synopsis and don't look at the cover, isn't that kind of weird? Kind of like if you look at a clothes display at a new clothes store vs. picking through a rack at Goodwill or something. LOL!

I hate to say this but I totally look at a cover. If the cover is really turning me off, I read the snyopsis on the back. If I'm still unsure I try a few pages. For the most part, I hate to carry around a book with an ugly cover because I keep going back to it. What I hate is getting a book with a hot cover and it was so boring. That really gets me upset.

I do not judge a book by it's cover because you have books like this . This chick appears on several IR books. She rarely matches the character, and her hair and clothes are from the 80's. I don't know who keeps thinking she is cute, but she is not (I am sorry if she is your cousin). Surely there is not such a shortage on book cover models that they have to keep reusing her. This has got to be someone's 1986 college photo, or just plain laziness on the part of whoever is in charge of book covers!!

You are funny Saninbham. I don't know who that chick is either. If I see the same cover model then I just ignore it but as for this woman, I find it ridiculous to keep using her.

Sara wrote: "Valerie wrote: "If I find one in a used bookstore and it does not have the version of the cover that I want - I WILL pass it by. I am very particular. :)"

I do that too but mostly with series. I..."

Your comment about the "Slave to Sensation" cover cracked me up! LOL. Unfortunately, I didn't like the book anymore than I liked the cover. Her writing just didn't do it for me.

saninbham wrote: "I don't know who keeps thinking she is cute, but she is not (I am sorry if she is your cousin)."

LOL! That's hilarious!!!

What's IR?

i think interracial romance

What's IR?"

I sometimes judge books by their covers, but I'm more likely NOT to buy a book with a dodgy cover, than to buy one with a great one. For example, Lori Handeland's Night Creature novels - I like the US covers...



...but the UK ones are dodgy bondage porn looking!

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Same with Kim Harrison. I loved her US covers...



...but she was picked up by a UK publisher and the covers are now naff. It's pure cost that stops me special ordering from the US.

Yes, IR is interracial romance.

(****Sorry about the long post. If you bore easily, skip to the summary at the end.****)

I was going to answer this the moment I first saw it but decided to watch myself for a few days to give a more accurate answer. So after a couple shopping trips and library trips, I think I can tell you that the answer is - sometimes.

If I am picking up a book by an author with whom I am familiar, I don't really care about cover art. If it is especially attractive or repellent I will certainly take note of it, but that alone won't keep me from picking up a book. Authors with whose work I am familiar and the book has not been recommended to me get the benefit of a blurb read. That helps cement the decision.

If I am aimlessly wandering the bookstore aisles looking for my next quick fix, I look at a combination of title and cover design. I like cutesy contemporary romance comedies. If you take 10 seconds you can already picture what a cover looks like. Probably white background with a watercolor drawing of a woman doing something on the front cover and the title and author's name in bold red or pink. I can see it now, the title is 'Track Record' and there is a woman with a greyhound on the cover. The book is going to be the story of a woman who is trying to set up an animal rescue while decrying the terrible conditions of dog racing. Along the way she is threatened by the local syndicate and falls in love with undercover Detective Manly Chesterton. Or maybe she is a psychic who has vowed never to use her gift for personal gain and is just trying to get money to help her brother who couldn't pick a winner to save his life get out of debt to the loan shark. The hero would be skeptic Dirk Dogooder whose family was torn apart by gambling addiction and is a therapist at the local addiction rehab group where our heroine has enrolled her brother. Or maybe a dozen other thoughts that come to mind, but you get the idea. It is going to be a predictable light and fluffy romance with a hurdle for our couple to overcome before they ride off into the sunset. (And neither of those books exist, I was just using an example.)

The same set of scenarios can be used with light paranormal, UF, fantasy, SF, mystery, or just about any genre. The cover gives us an expectation as to what can be found within. The consistency is a tool to help us the consumer. If you liked X then maybe you'll also buy Y and Z that look similar. When I looked at my reasons for reaching for a book on the shelf that I had never heard of before, most often it was this right here. I reached for it because it kind of looked like another book that I liked and I was in the mood for that flavor of distraction.

Also, I've been known to select books based entirely on cover art. This is most often a library moment. "Hi, Madeline. When's your birthday?" "February. Why?" "I just don't know what book to read next and you just told me." "How does my birthday being in February tell you what to read?" "Well, February is the second month and has amethyst as the birthstone. So I'm going to walk to the second rack of paperbacks over there and take the first book that has a purple cover that I haven't read and is not a historical." I've also done, "Hey Kelly will you grab me the first book from the shelving cart you see with a yellow cover please." Or any number of other methods for random book selection. I haven't done much of this since I started the GR monthly challenges last fall.

Another cover art picking method I use is with my children. My son's are both teenagers (15 & 17 in two days) and know that I can spend way too much time in the library. So if I take them both with me we sometimes play a game. "Isaac - red car, Joe - blue bird. First person to bring me a book with your picture on the front cover, I'll get that and we leave." Usually we are out the door in under five minutes.

Finally, I may be suffering from delusions, but the characters on the cover usually have something to do with the characters in the book. If the character in the book keeps a red Burmese ball python and there is a picture on the front cover of a snake curled around a gun, I'm going to assume that is what a red Burmese ball python looks like. If the story is about three half sisters and interpersonal relationships and the cover has a tall slender woman with red hair, a brunette in jeans and a sparkly T-shirt, and a sullen Rubenesque blonde on the cover, it helps build the picture of whom I will be spending my time with whilst reading.

***********************************************

So to summarize. If I am getting a book on a recommendation or by an author I read regularly, I don't use cover art as selection criteria nor do I judge the contents on same. If I am shopping blindly, I absolutely use the cover art. And finally, I use the cover art to help picture something about the characters or setting.

Photojim wrote: "(****Sorry about the long post. If you bore easily, skip to the summary at the end.****)

I was going to answer this the moment I first saw it but decided to watch myself for a few days to give a ..."

How could we possibly skip something that is sure to be the most amusing thing read all day? I don't think anyone here is afraid of a little reading! I'm very disappointed that Detective Manly Chesterton is not a real character though. I'm sure any book with a character name like that would have me peeing my pants in no time - come to think of it, maybe it is a good thing he doesn't exist. :)

I try NOT to judge a book by its cover, but I admit that I've been lured into reading the back cover of a new author by an interesting front cover.

And Fabio....ah Fabio...I miss the days where he graced the cover of nearly EVERY frigging romance novel. I actually bought Immortal Warrior (published in 2008!) by Lisa Hendrix because its got FABIO (or a look-alike) on the cover!!! LOL

And if we must speak of Fabio, let us not forget the bodice-ripping covers by Pino! Sigh! I miss the old days!!!

Kimberly wrote: "...I actually bought Immortal Warrior (published in 2008!) by Lisa Hendrix because its got FABIO (or a look-alike) on the cover!!! LOL
..."

Oh I just added Immortal Warrior to my TBR! You know why? Because I really like the cover! LOL (and it looks interesting, and the reviews are enthusiastic) I think it has to be a look-alike, but it is a close resemblance.

I really hate to say it buuttttt...I have been known to. Sometimes first impressions can be a turn-off. I am pleased to say that I have been prooved quite wrong by using that process. I have also been dead on with the judgement too.

Photojim, LOL.
There was just a blog post somewhere about the wildly different covers the same book can have.
Original cover vs re-issue, which would you pick based on cover (neither is also a choice):
or

(The book, btw, is The Slightest Provocation which is on my to-read shelf)

I really like the original cover myself.

I will admit I bought this book for the cover. It was wonderful!! So it held up! I tend to shy away from books that have really cheesy harlequin-esque covers. I actually heard this was wonderful and picked it up intending to buy it only to put it back after seeing the cover and buy one with a less toned down cover.

Mayakda wrote: "Photojim, LOL.
There was just a blog post somewhere about the wildly different covers the same book can have.
Original cover vs re-issue, which would you pick based on cover (neither is also a cho..."

Hmmm, okay, if I am going to be honest, the second one would make me PICK the book, but the first one is the one I'd want if I was reading it in public. I live in the bible belt after all and need to act like I'm a prude in public. ;-)

I think at one point the cover of a book would have completely influenced my choices, BUT I've learned over the years that you truly "can't judge a book by the cover" :)
Some of the best books I've read, have had some pretty cheesy or boring or darn right ugly covers.....go figure

"You can't judge an apple by looking at a tree
You can't judge honey by looking at the bee
You can't judge a daughter by looking at the mother
You can't judge a book by looking at the cover"
Bo Diddley

Every time I look in this thread, this is the song going through my head.

Mayakda - Since I loathe historicals, I'd probably avoid both of them. The first cover gives me the 'Jane Austin' look and feel. It tells me that this is a slow moving regency love story told from a woman's point of view. The second cover tells me that this is not a classic, but a recent work instead. The states of undress tells me that there will be at least two semi-hot sex scenes described in the book. The story is in a historical setting but no attempt will be made to be historically accurate. In other words, standard historical trashy romance novel. In other words, I'd pick the second.

I used to judge books by the cover. Not anymore! After all the awesome PNR &UF books I've read, I've learned to go more on the recommendation of others instead of the cover--I have seen some of the cheesiest covers ever in this genre.

Most of the time no but about 20 or so years ago I was perusing the shelves and found one of my all time favorites, Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. I did pick it because of the cover. Plaid, broken antique clock, dagger, and string of freshwater pearls. That picture told a story. I love anything Scottish except the cold! lol

yes but in the end I loved the book

I may not buy the books entirely on the covers, but that is the first thing i notice. Then the author and blurb. If the cover is appealing to me and the blurb sounds interesting i'll buy it.

No, the cover means nothing to me other than whether or not it's appealing. And there are tons of unappealing covers out there in bookworld! Most of my books are chosen from reading the blurbs on the back or from recommendations and reading reviews on various blogs and Amazon.

I don't worry about covers much since I do a lot of reading on m Kindle so I don't really see it anyway. If I buy a paper book now it is because I can't get it in Kindle, it was a gift or I stumbled across a PNR book while in a thrift store (less than 1 dollar) So I don't care about the covers in those cases because I was going to buy the book regardless. I do still browse the bookstore shelves for ideas of things to read on Kindle though and pretty dynamic covers do draw me in at times.

I have to admit that I am very persuaded by the cover. Its the first thing that makes me pick up the book at the store, then I read the back. But I will read a book that doesn't have a cover I like. So it is not the only thing I look for but when randomly shopping for a book yes the cover attracts. But most of the time I know what I want to buy based on a author, review or recommendation.

I will. I discovered one of my now favorite authors (Susan Donovan) because her book caught my eye out of all the other books in the grocery store. It was summer and I was looking for a fun read. Her book looked like it would be fun and flirty and it was!

So here is an interesting bookcover:

The BDB fans out there may recognize it as being very similar to (read "exactly like") this cover:

I recently bought the first book at a library book sale because I recognized the copy cat cover and thought for fifty cents I would give it a shot. It wasn't until I got home and read the cover that I realized the story is about two gay vampires. Not that there's anything wrong with that - but WHAT does that have to do with this cover?!

No., A cover might attract me to look at the book but if the book description doesn't interest me then I don't buy the book.

Oh well I do TRY not to judge books by their cover, BUT I'm that "Ooo! Purdy cover!" type of person so I mainly flip the book over to read the summary on the back or read the first pages to try and get a feel for the book. :)

lol on the different covers for the same book. I tend to get a little--um, well, OCD about certain authors--and then I have to have every cover of their book that I can find. And yeah, I DO have up to 5 copies of the same book, but all with different covers.

How much a cover influences me differs by the day. Sometimes one type of cover will appeal--other days I wouldn't touch the book with a 10 foot cattle prod. And I've never yet figured out what exactly it is that causes that either.

I always judged by a cover. ALWAYS. Until I started packing my books up and then unpacking and cataloging here on GR. Many of my books are inherited from my mother-in-law's collection and some were DH's. (he crosses over into paranormal, medieval and the occasional regency when he runs out of fantasy books). Anyway books have started piling up because I've been busy having babies for 5 years lol. Now that I have time to read and organize I realize that unless they were a favorite author, almost all the books I've read recently had pretty covers. There were some real hidden gems in my stash. Older Lindsey novels, some Krentz with these garish 1980's covers, old McNaught covers, etc. I have a huge box of bodice-rippers that I unpacked that I can't wait to read now (but a little embarassed to be seen in public with!) lol

So what I guess I'm saying is going forward I'm trying not to judge books by their covers because I don't want to miss any good stuff. A book is a book whether the cover is old school or more modern.. Still the same story.

I know what you mean by being embarrassed to be caught reading the bodice rippers. I hate books with corny covers. lol

Valerie wrote: "So here is an interesting bookcover:

The BDB fans out there may recognize it as being very similar to (read "exactly like") this cover: [bookcover:Lover Et..."

LOL!!! That is too funny!! I've never stumbled across "copy cat covers." I think I would have bought the book too not knowing what it was about.

I am a huge sucker for pretty covers. I have bought many a lame book before because of that particular quirk of mine. However, thankfully as I now use a Kindle as my primary reading device, I no longer care about the covers as there isn't much point. I can now choose substance over aesthetics. :)

I am rarely seduced by beautiful covers, many of them have let me down. Books like these:




These days I only read books that I know about and that have been recommended to me by reliable sources. However, I do admit to enjoy books in good condition more, not old and used, but with snappy new cover art. For instance, compare these:

Old: and

New: and

Mayakda wrote: "I will pick up a book if I like the cover. I love Patricia McKillip - here's a typical cover
and that has led to some lovely discoveries like
[bookcov..."

I have read Tender Morsels too!! What did you think about the book?