Just for fun, I wanted to put together a post about the most common book cover types. I created a made up author called Madeupa Awethor who wrote all kinds of “books”. 😉 Have you seen lots of books with these types of covers? I know I have!
All photos I used to create these book covers came from unsplash.com. You can use any of their photos for ANYTHING for FREE! Check them out! I also used canva.com for the titles.
Book covers have always been an important aspect for me when picking books. They say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover but I DEFINITELY DO. You know you do too! 😉
Some of these common covers I don’t mind but some of them get frustrating. I think the two that I’ve gotten tired of seeing is the wind blown hair, especially when it’s in the face and the underwater covers. I think those two get used too often.
I LOVE:
- Weapons!
- Interesting Typography
- POCs on the cover!
I DISLIKE:
- Underwater. I like these covers but I’m tired of seeing them.
- Hair blown in the girls faces. It looks so uncomfortable! Get that girl a hair tie!
- Couples kissing (especially half naked).
- BAD photoshop. OMG stop!
What trends do you see in book covers?
What do you like? Dislike?
My gosh yes!!! Also annoyed at “two people standing drastically in front of a hard to see, nondescript background.” It tells me NOTHING about the story except that the people in it are attractive looking.
Favorite covers tend to be anything that pushes past “cover art” into genuine art. There are some GORGEOUS covers out that. *swoon*!
Love this post.
I agree! I love covers that look like art you’d want on your wall. So many book covers is love to have as a poster!
Ahh omg YES. More POC on the covers please. I like well-done underwater covers but there are SO MANY?? I love things with stars too. Love this!
I also enjoy underwater covers BUT soooo many. LOL. I love pocs on covers and I want to see more and more and more!
I really love minimalistic covers or those with cute vectors/illustrations on them. However, I feel really awkward looking at ones with shirtless men or people kissing/about to kiss (unless they’re a silhouette or something). Whenever I see shirtless men on covers I immediately scroll/walk past them. xD I don’t know. It just makes me cringe.
Fun post, Sarah!
I agree with you SO MUCH! I also love minimalist covers. My favorite “fake” cover is the minimalist pig cover. Lol
I did a book tag once and I had to find a book with kissing couples and I realized I don’t own a single book like that. But I also don’t read a lot of contemporary or NA and it seems like that’s the main genre you see it.
I definitely could never buy a book with a half naked guy on the front.
Oh! Thank you for introducing me to unsplash.com. This is going to be really helpful. I know a lot of people hate people on the cover of their books, but I actually like it. Well, if it’s done in an artistic way. I really like the cover of The Glittering Court and Soundless, for example. I also dislike couples on the front kissing. Hello to every Jennifer L Armentrout book. It’s so awkward to read them in public. I’ve been really liking the minimalist covers lately, too! There’s something about them that makes me want to know more. 😀
I LOVED the cover for Soundless! I also don’t mind people on covers either. Yes I don’t think I could ever read a book with kissing couples or half naked covers in public either. haha awkward! xD
I could swear some of these were real books! 😉
But, yeah, I agree with you weapons and typography are my favorites – I also like quickly and cute graphic to a degree. I prefer not to see people on the cover in the ways you mention, but if it’s an illustration of a person it doesn’t bother me as much. The pretty dress covers are getting old.
Yeah the big puffy dresses definitely is getting old. I don’t mind them usually but it’s the repetition that gets a bit overwhelming at times.
Haha. Wow! I dint realise so many authors get these from a free website! Haha. God I have I seen them. Even though my blog is Never Judge a Book by Its Cover you really can’t help it! Lately I’m in love with the typography and also the Winners series! So gorgeous! Great post.
It is nice to find great photos that are free to use! And yes, you’re so right we do all judge, we just can’t help ourselves. lol
I also love great typography! I love it when book covers are truly more art than photos.
I don’t mind shirtless men, but I hate this recent fad for the headless torso! I want men with faces!!
Yes! I think I see these mostly with NA books but it would be nice to see something new.
Lovely post sweetie 😀 Gaaaah, I also hate bad photoshop and such on covers, lol. It happens often. How mean 🙂 Pretty covers are very important to me, lol. <3 I think my favorite might be pretty dresses. Maybe. I'm unsure 😀
I love that book covers are now doing stuff with texture. Some covers feel rubbery and some have the raised words/images. That’s something I really like!
YESSSSSSSS!!! I used to love the underwater covers but oh my gosh there’s so many of them now! I tend to be drawn to the colorful covers like Confess and A Thousand Pieces of You.
I usually don’t like books covers with just the face nor the half-naked men. I love when books covers are more simple or design focused! There are certainly some pretty amazing ones out there!
There are! I’m always glad when they spend money on hiring a great designer. It’s always worth the money in the end. Book covers sell books! 🙂
Ahhh you’re so clever! I love this! Firstly, SO ACCURATE. I feel like every ridiculously ridiculous romance novel has either a male torso or a couple kissing. Whereeeeeee is the originality???
I must say I LOVE the pretty dress one.
A thousand loves for this post!
Oh thank you Becca! 😀 It was a fun post to put together!