Most people are visual. I tend to be pretty vain in this area…I know that sounds horrible, but it’s true. I can’t even play a video game without my character looking pretty and perfect. The same goes for book covers. When I walk through a bookstore, my eyes scan the shelves, searching for that special something. Sometimes, I see a beautiful cover, read the book jacket and as long as it doesn’t suck..I buy it. Yup. Doesn’t take much to entice me.
Here are three books I bought, mostly because of the cover.
A key? To what? Then I read the little blurb. A prison!
I remember seeing this at Target and thinking, wow that’s different and artsy. The simplicity of it, really pulled me in. Once I discovered it had some werewolfs, it was an instant buy.
There are lots of books with a girl on the cover, but mix that with pirate flare and it’s a new animal. Pirate adventures remind me of The Princess Bride and I LOVE that movie. A girl pirate? What’s not to love?
Three gorgeous covers.
What about you? Ever buy a book based on the cover?
Yes, all the time. Whoever said you can't judge a book by it's cover was wrong. Can good books have bad covers and vice versa? Absolutely. But it's the cover that first catches the readers eye and makes them look further.
I do it all the time. Covers keep pushing the limits. It doesn't always stop me from buying the book if I really wanted. But I'm with you on the vain department!
Definitely. However, that has shown not to always be the right course. I have found books that I fell in love with the cover, but not the book and some that I fell in love with the book and not the cover. Especially Amanda Hocking's Tyrell Series. I read them when she had just some colorful cover for each on and got them for 99 cents each on B&N when she first self published and I loved them. Now look at her!
All. The. Time. I'm a sucker for a great cover!!! Love these, too, BTW. My TBR pile is getting ridiculous lately because of blog posts like this! :o)
YES! I do it far too often…er, too often for my budget anyway. I remember doing it with the first Harry Potter book. I also did it with Jen Calonita's SECRETS OF MY HOLLYWOOD LIFE — the books look like handbags! I love the cover of SHINE & the story is equally compelling. I also love the cover of Princetta & will now have to buy it soon! (Princess/girl Pirate? Yes, please!) : )
I pick them by the cover all the time! WITHER has a truly stunning cover.
Are you kidding?! Totally! I LOVE cover art. That and an enticing blurb.