 |
| This sort of like a topic post except it sounds more like me thinking out loud. Which isn't always pretty. Or organized. This is me blabbing. That's why I'm calling this The Confessional. |
Let's get one thing straight before I officially begin my ranty post: I read romance. Plenty of New Adult romance. If you're a frequent visitor on this site you'll see just how true that is. I read romance a lot and I actually love it (well at least some stellar ones. Some are just typical.) Blogging for 9 months now has introduced me to a wide selection of contemporary romances. There's one thing that's common to almost all of them: the sexy covers.
 |
| Source: Premier Life |
I know that's it's unfair how I find this annoying now when they've been around for a long time, before I even started blogging and noticing them. I didn't really mind before because I used to read across genres so I didn't get to see these covers a lot. But now that I do review a lot of these books, I can't help but wonder why they all look alike. There's a guy and a girl, nearly naked, kissing or almost kissing. I understand that it's romance and that these passionate photos exhibit the same passionate love between the characters in the book. I understand all of that however I think this type of doesn't do much for the book.
As a book reviewer, I don't really take the covers into consideration when I write reviews. It's definitely a bonus if it looks clean and nice and if it has anything to do with the story. I like seeing book covers that make me go, "Oh yeah, I totally get it now!" But in rating books, I normally don't factor in the cover art. So why do I care if these books have similar looking people/poses on the cover?
Well... you know the saying, don't judge a book by it's cover? Of course you do. I hate to admit this but I judge books by their covers. Romance books, mostly. A lot of New Adult romance plots and even titles sound so alike. I don't like reading a blurb that sounds all too familiar and I definitely don't like seeing covers that I've seen elsewhere. It'll only makes me feel like I've read the same novel before. So even if it's not something I normally comment on in my reviews, it still bothers me as a reader. I want to see something that will set it apart from the others because I really wouldn't know how different it is until I've read what's inside. Nowadays even book titles sound similar. As a reader, I just want something fresh. Amid all the familiar storylines and book titles, I at least want to see new covers. I'm a junkie like that.
So yeah, that's basically it: sexy covers don't affect my rating but they do annoy the reader side of me. New Adult still has a special place in my heart though, let's not forget that. ;)
What's your take on these covers? Let me know in the comments section!
Yes! I'm with you, I hate those covers. They just make me cringe and to be honest just put me off a book. I enjoy contemp romance and NA but not the covers. Give me a cover like The Sea of Tranquility any day. If I like the sound of a book enough, I'll quieten down my book cover snob and give it a shot but I'd prefer a quirky cover.
ReplyDeleteThose covers do get annoying after a while, especially since they all begin to look the same. Sometimes I'm actually embarrassed taking them on the bus or whatever to read too lol. Think I prefer originality more than anything here too!
ReplyDeleteJeann @ Happy Indulgence
Nice post again. I'm really loving your Confessional posts. XD.
ReplyDeleteSince I'm a marketing major, book covers are a huge thing for me. I believe covers are more of a ploy to get non-readers interested to try new books. :) Personally, I don't buy because of cover but I do get peeved with standard cover and whitewashing. I mean, it's not hard to get the cover to stay true to the story right? It does get annoying that most books have the same covers with just different models. I guess it's a lack of originality and part laziness. Why change something that sells alot. :D
Great post again, Sab! ^_^
I'm getting tired of them, too! Especially sexy covers that are exactly the same. It's tiring looking at the same exact covers and even models on books.
ReplyDeleteYou already know my take on those kinds of covers, hehe but I agree with you. It gets tiring when you receive email after email from blog tour sites featuring books with similar looking covers, similar sounding titles and blurbs that are so alike, the only difference are the character names and settings.
ReplyDeleteI have to say covers are not always a big deal for me either but I totally get where you are coming from and think a lot of people will agree with you. I am over from Goodreads and your newest follower.
ReplyDeleteLainy http://www.alwaysreading.net
Hi hi,
ReplyDeleteThis has nothing to do with your post lol.. But I nominated you for the LIEBSTER AWARD!!!!! I hope you will accept it :) check the post here: http://icequeensbookshelf.blogspot.nl/2013/09/my-liebster-award-nominations.html
Irene @ Ice Queen's Bookshelf
Thanks, Irene!
DeleteOf course I judge a book by its cover :-)
ReplyDeleteI don't read romance or new adult, but I see their covers. Pretty much always the same so... I agree with you.
AMEN TO THIS POST. While I enjoy NA, I dislike the fact that there's very little variation especially when it comes to the covers. Almost all NA books have sexy covers and this is why most people are under the impression that NA is all about sex. I hate that the stereotype covers demean the content. But I can't blame anyone. Covers should represent the book after all. Anyway, I'm really sick of the half-naked models and people making out or practically dry-humping each other on the covers too. -_-
ReplyDelete