Top Ten Tuesday, as always, is hosted at my other blog — The Broke & the Bookish
This week’s topic: Top Ten Favorite Covers Of Books I’ve Read
Things I learned about myself during this list:
1. This list would be pretty different if it were books on my TBR instead of just books I’ve READ. Some on this list WOULD make an overall covers list.
2. I pretty much have vastly different tastes as other people re: covers
3. I don’t really like faces on my covers or girls in pretty dresses (if it’s the MAIN focus of the cover)
4. I definitely like the small details and I really like simplicity.
5. I like when it ties into the book really well.
Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell: I love the simplicity of this and I love the way the headphones are integrated into the title. Ah makes me want to reread it thinking of Eleanor & Park sitting there on the bus sharing music. (My review of Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell)
Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler: I just love how this ties into the story, love the simplicity, and I love the colors. (My review of Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler)
For Darkness Shows The Stars by Diana Peterfreund: I just think this one is so pretty and is one of the few with a person on it that I LOVE LOVE LOVE. It’s breathtaking. (My review of For Darkness Shows The Stars by Diana Peterfreund)
OCD, The Dude, and Me by Laura Roedy Vaughn: The cover is what made me check this one out and put it on my TBR and I just love the way the colors pop. (My review of OCD, The Dude, and Me by Laura Roedy Vaughn)
Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi: This is one of these cases where I LOVE LOVE the cover redesign wayyy better than the original cover (which was just a pretty girl in a dress). I love all the intricate details of the eyes. I like Unravel Me’s cover just as much. (My review of Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi)
Wild Awake by Hilary T. Smith: I love everything about this cover — the colors, the girl, the city spread out beneath her and the brightness that catches your eye. (My Save the Date mini review of Wild Awake by Hilary T.Smith — full review to come soon)
Send Me A Sign by Tiffany Schmidt: I love how simple this one yet it ties in so lovely to the idea of signs and wishes and its’ just really pretty! (My review of Send Me A Sign by Tiffany Schmidt)
The Lover’s Dictionary by David Levithan: I just love the simplicity and the heart with the words that are in it. I think it fits well with the fact that the book is written in a series of dictionary entries. WORDS. YAY. Also love the white, black and red balance. (my review of The Lover’s Dictionary by David Levithan)
Bunheads by Sophie Flack: I don’t know why I love this one so much. Maybe because it’s that delicate tutu ballet scene but when you read the book you see a much darker and grittier side to the prettiness. It’s just different and cute! (My review of Bunheads by Sophie Flack)
Eve by Anna Carey: I love how ominous this one is with the Golden Gate Bridge all decrepit and falling apart ahead of her. I also really like the color scheme. (My review of Eve by Anna Carey)
So tell me…do you like/dislike any of these covers? What makes YOU love a cover?? My tastes are all over the place!
Kristin says
All great covers. I really find the Bunheads cover interesting. Going to have to look in to that book!
Gaby @ Queen Ella Bee Reads says
I absolutely LOVE when the outside of the book matches the inside – whether it’s the prose or the actual feel of the story. That’s totally something I noticed when I made MY list. Pretty girls in pretty dresses CAN do the job there, but I kind of like it better when the designers can find another way to interpret the insides of the book. I also really like color schemes/colors in general. THAT’S how you catch my eye, not by using a pretty face! Although sometimes the pretty works too… ^_^
Lianne @ caffeinatedlife.net says
For Darkness Shows the Stars is really a stunning cover! I love covers with a lot of celestial stars and galaxies and so forth…I also love the cover for Eleanor & Park; I loved her first book Attachments and I hope to get around to her other titles soon! =)
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Alice @ Alice in Readerland says
For Darkness Shows the Stars made my list too, and I really love the covers for Twenty Boy Summer (the colors!) and Bunheads (the ballerinas are so pretty!). Now I’ll have to add them to my TBR list! 🙂 My TTT list: http://aliceinreaderland.com/2013/05/20/bookcovers/
Alice @ Alice in Readerland
Kate says
I LOVE the Lover’s Dictionary. I always go for books that use typography as a design element.
Chrissi Reads says
I love the cover of Shatter Me. It very nearly made my list.
Jayme @ Straight From DeHart says
Oh my gosh, this Top 10 Tuesday is going to get me in trouble with all the good looking books!!
I see my shelves expanding soon…..
Eleanor & Park
OCD, The Dude and Me
Shatter Me
Gillian says
I love every single one of those! Particularly the Shatter Me books (you’re so right, the redesign is a bajillion times better than that generic pretty girl in pretty dress original) and I DIDN’T KNOW THE BUNHEADS COVER WAS SO AWESOME. Obviously I need to read this now. I also put For Darkness Shows the Stars on my list!
Gillian @ Writer of Wrongs
Christianna says
I love simple covers too! I think that covers that don’t follow the trends stick out to me more!
My TTT
marissa | Rae Gun Ramblings says
I am SO with you on the shatter me redesign that first cover was not good! made my break my same format rule
My Top Ten
Niki Hawkes says
I haven’t seen The Lover’s Dictionary before, I am intrigued…
Savindi @ The Streetlight Reader says
The Lover’s Dictionary didn’t make my list of covers, but Dash & Lily’s did :). I still love the cover of TLD though. The heart with words is such a great concept. The cover for Wild Awake is beautiful to. The colour combinations and the silhouettes are awesome! Great list Jamie :).
Ashley Knapp (@Nookobooks) says
I almost added the redesign of Shatter Me also… I ended up not using it but I love it also!
I am now following via email!
~Ashley
My Top Ten
Debby @ Snuggly Oranges says
Oooh I love For Darkness Shows the Stars so much, but I haven’t read it yet, so it couldn’t be on my list sadly. Shatter Me is definitely pretty too, just didn’t make it on my list. Nice list 🙂
Alexandra says
I love the energy of Wild Awake, and the kaliedescope quality of Bunheads. Have you seen the Aussie covers of the Shatter Me books? So much lamer than that creepy-cool eye.
Lucy @ The Reading Date says
You chose some gorgeous covers to spotlight! Lover’s Dictionary, Send me a Sign, Bunheads and E&P are some of my favorites. And I agree with you with your cover philosophy and also prefer simple yet meaningful covers. Thanks for sharing these 🙂
Dina says
I love the cover of Eleanor & Park and the use of the headphone cord in the title is so cute. For Darkness Shows The Stars is just so pretty. That one just jumps out at you. I agree that the girl with a long gown is super overdone but occasionally it can be done right. I have Everneath on my list and I think it works on that cover.
Chantelle says
I had the same thought – that is this were a list of my TBR book covers, I’d have one very beautiful and pretty TTT.
Gosh that Shatter Me cover is gorgeous. I really must get to reading those books. I also love the simplicity of the Eleanor and Park cover.
Liza @ Reading with ABC says
I haven’t read these (even if I own a few of them), but I agree that they are gorgeous!
Jessica@Lovin' Los Libros says
Eleanor & Park has such a cute cover!!! For Darkness Shows The Stars is super pretty too. Great list!
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Jessica@Lovin’ Los Libros
Sabina says
They are really lovely covers. I haven’t read any of those books though. 🙁
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Sabina @ Delirious About Books
Christina @ Allodoxophobia says
Eleanor & Park was on my list too – such a perfect, simple cover.
Anna says
GORGEOUSNESS! Forgot For Darkness and 20 Boy Summer…love those!
Quinn @ Quinn's Book Nook says
I really, really love when the cover is related to the actual story. When the cover gives the potential reader the feeling and tone of the book. And heck yeah, Eleanor and Park! It’s on my list, too, and definitely one of my favorite covers ever.
Book Girl from South Carolina says
Hey Jamie! I loved your list – I had never seen the Bunheads cover before and that’s great. Also really loved the cover for Send Me A Sign – again I haven’t read or seen it before but I liked the cover b/c its different. Happy Tuesday!
Leah @ The Pretty Good Gatsby says
Rainbow gets such lovely covers. They’re so simple, but SO effective!
bookrockbetty says
YOU GO DOYKE!! These are some pretty sick covers– I LOVE….
Eleanor & Park
Twenty Boy Summer
Wild Awake
Send Me A Sign
Lover’s Dictionary
& Bunheads!!!
Yara @ Once Upon a Twilight! says
I love all your choices Jamie.
DeAnna @ Mommy's Reading Break says
These are some great covers! I felt the same way: my list would be a lot different if it were all covers and not just books I’ve read. For example, I love the covers of the Body Finder series, but I haven’t read it yet. The only book on your list that I’ve read is Shatter Me, and it made my list, too. The redesign that you posted, though, not the original. Here’s my link: http://mommysreadingbreak.wordpress.com/2013/05/21/top-ten-favorite-book-covers/
Ashley says
You chose some pretty covers. I also adore the the graphics you made to go with them. So fitting.
SweetMarie83 says
I almost added Twenty Boy Summer to my list too. There’s really no rhyme or reason to what I do and don’t like with covers…sometimes I like simple, sometimes I like elaborate. I will admit to being a lover of girls in pretty dresses, and I also really like it when it ties into the story. I often find myself looking at a cover while reading the book and if it has nothing to do with the story, it irritates me. Great selection, Jamie!
~Marie @ Ramblings of a Daydreamer
My Top Ten Tuesday
Savannah says
Such an amazingly eclectic bunch! I love the Bunheads cover, too, but it didn’t make my list, as it’s been languishing on my TBR list for quite some time. 🙂
Lindsay Paige says
Lots of good covers on this list! The Shatter Me cover is unbelievable. Until now I had only seen the other one on the Hardcover and I’m glad I saw this. I’m going to have to buy the edition with the cover you posted. Beautiful!
Jenna says
I really enjoyed looking at your list. Simplicity can often be a good thing. Though I notice myself being drawn to covers that are fully illustrated or that use lots of flashy visuals and manipulative/creative forms of design, I also do appreciate a good, simple cover when done well. You selected some great examples of this.
I love seeing Eleanor & Park on many lists today! For shame that I left the book off of my own list. For shame…
Jenna Does Books
Ciska @ Ciska's Book Chest says
Love the Bunheads and Send me a Sign covers. There are a lot of different covers in your list. Very interesting.
Bonnie says
I adore the cover of The Lover’s Dictionary… such a wonderful story too. Great picks!
My Top Ten Tuesday
Rissi says
Oh, la-la! Love all of these, Jamie! Such pretties.
The books by Diana ALWYAS feature gorgeous concepts and I love ‘Bunheads.’ Makes me want to read the book… thinking about it.
Maggie @ Just a Couple More Pages says
I am totally neurotic about covers, I had such a hard time making this list. I worked in sales for a book publisher for a while and I think constantly giving feedback on covers and constantly hearing buyers rip apart covers made me really jaded.
For me to like a cover it has to be eye-catching, which can mean almost anything, but it has to be different. I like covers with movement, I think that helps make it eye-catching. Also, I don’t think you should have to read the book to understand the covers (I used to hate when editors used that rationale). And then the cover has to look as good in print as it does on-line and vice versa.
All that said, I really love the Bunheads cover, if I had read that I probably would have put it on my list. And I love how simple the Eleanor and Park cover is, that was definitely a contender for my list.
My TTT List
Written Permission says
Bunheads and Shatter Me stuck out on your list. I did my list based purely on what the cover looked like, not on tying it in to the book itself, but that is a really good criteria. Thanks for sharing!
My TTT: http://writtenpermission.wordpress.com/2013/05/21/top-ten-tuesday-may-21/
Trai says
The Lover’s Dictionary and Twenty Boy Summer are favorites of mine, too (though I’ve not read Twenty Boy Summer; it’s on my list!). I’m a sucker for hearts! And For Darkness Shows the Stars is really eye-catching.
My TTT List
Lori says
I’m totally with you. It drives me crazy when they have girls on the covers of books and they have absolutely nothing to do with the story. I do think the Darkness cover is beautiful and I like the addition of the stars but they just aren’t my favorite overall. I also had Eleanor and Park on my list. It’s so simple, cute, and captures their relationship so well. I love it! Thanks for sharing!
Nicole Hewitt says
I love the Shattered cover, but I haven’t read that one yet, so it couldn’t make my list. Interesting that you like simple, uncomplicated covers (I’m often the very opposite). Different tastes are what make the world so interesting!
Maggie says
Those are some lovely covers. I haven’t read any from your list, but I have similar thoughts on covers. I prefer a simple design, and dislike faces
Maggie says
Oops, I cut myself off. :-S What I meant to say was I prefer covers without faces as well. Pretty dresses are okay, but not enough to make me pick up a book.
Tara says
You’re the first person I’ve seen feature Shatter Me! I’m surprised not more people included it. I love the tree branches as eyelashes.
Alisa Selene says
I love the cover of Eleanor and Park!
Janita (Book, Interrupted) says
The Shatter Me cover is so gorgeous! So is the one for Unravel Me. I’m always instantly drawn to those covers whenever I see them on a web page. Great list 😀
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Anya says
Hehe, I had a similar thought regarding TBR pile versus read books! I might buy too many books for the pretty covers >.>
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acps927 says
This is a great list, and I especially love For Darkness Shows the Stars’ cover!
Rachael @ Rachael Turns Pages says
I love the simplicity of Eleanor and Park’s cover. I have not read a single book on your list.
My TTT: http://rachaelc94.blogspot.com/2013/05/top-ten-covers-i-love-of-books-i-have.html
Madigan says
All of the books you chose seem so, so different! I chose Bunheads, too. Great book, and a great cover to match!
Sara says
I’m one of those who likes faces and girls in pretty dresses. I kind of like the dreamy covers that tell a little about the mood of the book. I like fiddly, busy covers. Probably because I’m not a fiddly busy person. I do like the Eleanor and Park cover though- I think it suits the story well.
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Michelle says
I was wondering when I would see Bunheads today!! I haven’t read it, so I couldnt include it, but I LOVE that cover!!! I also have Twenty Boy Summer on my list too**
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Amber R. says
I LOVE the Shatter Me cover! Unfortunately it didn’t make my list because I have not read it yet. If this was using my TBR books, my list would be completely different!
Amber @Nala’s Book Blog
Lisa says
That cover for Bunheads is so gorgeous. I think I’m in love.
Sara (of the Page Sage) says
I love the covers of Eve, Eleanor and Park, Twenty Boy Summer, and the Lover’s Dictionary. I’m not a fan of faces on covers, either. It makes it harder to imagine how the author describes the character.
Stephanie Allen says
Of your list, I’ve only read Twenty Boy Summer and Shatter Me, and I love both of those covers, too. Definitely a bigger fan of the new Shatter Me cover than the original (although the splattered background effect of the original was pretty cool).
Alexa Y. says
The cover for Eleanor & Park is the first thing about it that caught my eye! It’s such a darling illustration, and I love how they worked the title in. It’s a lovely cover (all of her covers are) and I’m happy that I ended up liking the story too!
Carly says
I love the covers for Bunheads and Eleanor & Park (that cover got the book on my to-read list). It’s nice when the covers tell you something about the content of the book. That said, I am somewhat drawn to covers with girls in pretty dresses, as long as it has something to do with the written material. (Like for The Selection by Kiera Cass.) I don’t like when I can’t figure out what the picture on the cover has to do with the story.
Trudy says
Man I just can’t get over how much I love that wild Awake cover!