How Much Does A Book Cover Influence You or Turn You Off?

[Stacy-Deanne (Novelist)]

Hi All,

Does a book cover have a big impact on you buying or not buying a book?

For me it does. I am not speaking of a book cover that might be ugly, but mainly a cheap-looking book. If the book doesn't look professionally done (and Stevie Wonder can tell a cheap cover a mile away), it makes me think that there wasn't any effort put into the book. First impressions is what counts and a book has to catch the buyer's attention right off. It's not strange to wonder that if the book cover is not decently done that maybe the story is lacking. If an author is one I read anyway and like then a book cover doesn't matter to me at all because I'm gonna get the book regardless. Then again, the authors I read would never have cheap looking books or covers. I know we're not supposed to judge a book buy its cover but come on, it's human nature, LOL. It's not the buyer's fault that the book hasn't been done to standards.

I also check through the cheap-looking books and most times the pages are curling up at the ends and falling out, the binding is awkward, the font is wrong, the size of the book is not fit with standard size and so on. Most of these books look very cheap. I'm one of those people who like to feel a book and examine it on my hands. That's one reason I'm not big on ebooks.

Some people have a problem with trashy-dressed or half-naked folks on covers. I don't if it fits the story. If a person writes erotica then I wouldn't expect the people to be fully dressed, LOL! If someone writes historic fiction I wouldn't expect the characters on the cover to look like they are on the new 90210 series. I like covers that stay true to the book but unfortunately it's not the author's problem if this doesn't happen. Not unless they are self-published, then they are responsible for the cover.

So, anything that looks good and is professional, the cover might persuade me to get it (if it's my type of book of course). But a cheap book cover and book...nah. If the author or pub didn't spend their time making their book look decent, why should I pay money for it?

Best Wishes!

http://www.stacy-deanne.net

[Derek]

Absolutely. If a cover looks awful, I probably won't even pick up the book, let alone read it.

[Claudia Ross]

I am graphically stimulated. Sometimes this concerns me because I could miss a great read by judging by the cover. But alas, it is what it is. On that same note, the book can have a great cover and prove to be a crappy read. It is a gamble.

In any case my answer is yes. I do judge a book by its cover. I have little tolerance for cheap graphics or production. Sometimes I consider self-publishing, but I am afraid of producing a cheezy looking product. After 3 years of work, cheezy just will not do.

[Jessica]

I often will pick up a book because I like the look of the cover. One perfect example is Infected by Scott Sigler. The cover for this book is amazing a real bonus the story is also wonderful, a really great read. I liked it so much I blogged about it, it got even better when the author yes Scott Sigler himself commented on my post. So yeah book covers are important. An author who writes well and appreciates his fans is also important.

[Amber]

While I am incredibly superficial when it comes to most things, having judged many metaphorical books by their metaphorical covers, I don't really do it in a literal sense. I'm not exactly sure why that is.

But if I have a choice between a movie tie-in cover and the original cover, I always go with the original. That's the extent of my book cover snobbery.

[Allison Vaughn]

Have you heard of that website, "The Caustic Cover Review" or something like that? It discusses book covers.

I definitely still judge a book by it's cover. It's about presentation. Though I did recently just read and review a book titled "The Red Album of Asbury Park" by Alex Austin in which I definitely was not a fan of the cover.. but my G-d, it was a wonderful story. I just hope he redoes the cover at some point.

[Jaime Huff]

I know, I know, I know.. never judge a book by it's cover but I can't help it! LOL.

Seriously, I reviewed a book recently that I felt was pretty darn decent however I thought the cover was ugly and he could sell some more books with a better looking cover. It is a self published book and I know that explains the bad cover...lol.

Not to be even geekier, the kick ass covers is what got me to read my first fantasy book, The Wizard's First Rule by Terry Goodkind. Gotta love those covers! As Allison above me said, it's all about presentation. You can go in to two separate stores selling the exact same goods, the one with the better presentation will sell more AND generally at a fraction more.

[Elle Symonds]

I HATE covers that look cheap. I have seen some self-published books that look truly atrocious. Admittedly I do judge books by their covers, and when shopping for books I pick out those with covers that are appealling (I can't help it!). Although a lot of the time I buy books based on what I have heard about them already, from online recommendations etc, in which case the cover doesn't really matter.

One thing that bugs me? When books end up completely different to how they are portrayed on the cover (if that makes sense!) I read a lot of chick-lit as I write for a site about female fiction, and I have read quite a few fantastic books yet the covers have been disappointing, eg hilarious books about twenty-somethings being presented in flowery covers that are usually reserved for love-orientated novels and mommy-lit.

I'm attracted to great covers, and if the cover is nothing special, I probably won't pick it up unless I know about the book first.

[Stacy-Deanne (Novelist)]

Hi Elle, you make great sense about misleading book covers. For years most readers have hated how the characters' looks on the cover sometimes tend to be different than the people in the book.

I think covers should not only be attractive but reflect honesty in the characters. If not, the reader's confused and wondering who the heck the people on the cover are. I know I get confused sometimes.

Best Wishes!

http://www.stacy-deanne.net

[Suza Kates]

A book cover is a definite draw for me, but I always look to the back cover and the story for the final decision. I recently read a book that had nothing to do with what the cover implied!

[Stacy-Deanne (Novelist)]

Hi Suza,

One thing I also hate and find no excuse for are books with typos on the back cover. WOW! How can anyone miss that?

Best Wishes!

http://www.stacy-deanne.net

[Mary @ The Sweet Bookshelf]

I'm horrible...I totally judge a book by it's cover! If it's got a great cover then I want to read the back to see if I'll like it. Having said that, I have read MANY amazing books with no so good covers. But I enjoy them all the more if there is some great cover to go with it!!

[Nishita Kumar]

I usually read a lot of reviews online before buying/borrowing a book. So, while a nice book cover is a plus for me, I can still go for a book with a crappy cover if it has had decent reviews.

For me, the blurb on the back of the book is far more important.