Last Updated on June 25, 2021 by ThoughtsStained
I’m back this Friday participating in another Let’s Talk Bookish post, as always hosted by the amazing Rukky @ Eternity Books and awesome Dani @ The Literary Lion! For this week, our topic is: Cover versus Plot.
We all know I am trash for covers and I judge pretty hardly (oops) on them. So, I’m excited to explore how I feel when comparing covers and plots!
Good Cover or Good Plot?
Obviously, I want a good plot. It can be the most beautiful cover on the planet, but if the story is shit, I’m not going to enjoy it. However, if you have a bad cover, then it might be hard for me to even know that your book exists. When I’m browsing, I’m completely drawn in by the cover. And I have definitely had books where I haven’t picked them up because I wasn’t drawn in the cover, only to find out later from other bloggers that the book is completely my jam (plug to remind you how awesome book bloggers are).
So, from a pure enjoyment standpoint, plot over cover every time. Getting me to read your book? Cover over plot *hides*.
Does a Bad Cover Affect Your Enjoyment?
I don’t think a bad cover makes me enjoy a book less, but it does make me less likely to pick up a book to begin with. I’m a visual creature and there are so many books out there. If I don’t already know the author, a cover is what makes and breaks it for me, until I hear otherwise, i.e., book blogger promotion.
Does a Bad Plot Ruin A Beautiful Cover?
It is very disappointing when a book that I love has a shit cover. I don’t unhaul books because the covers aren’t my cup of tea and I liked them. But if a book is “meh” for me and the cover isn’t appealing, yet I own it? Higher chance that I will rehome that book the next time I go through a deep cleaning phase.
What about you? Do book covers and plots play off one another or are you able to separate them? Let me know in the comments!
![Not me needing to repost this announcement because my first post had a typo. I promise I can actually edit! 😅
REPOST of original message below:
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Link here: https://thoughtsstainedwithink.com/editorial
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Have to agree with you on all of these. A cover will definitely influence me picking up a book, but the plot is obviously more important.
I totally get what you’re saying! I always get drawn in by the cover if the book is unknown to me! And book bloggers are the best source of reviews IMO!
Right? I am so thankful (personally; my TBR, on the other hand..😝) to blogger reviews to help connect me to new books!
Well, often a cover will indicate if the book is in a genre I read or not. So, even the most beautiful cover might not turn me on, since I’ll know its not a book I’ll enjoy because it is [fill in the blank]. After that first assessment, then it really is the plot/genre that will make me decide, even if the cover isn’t attractive.
That is a very good point. There are just certain things I refuse to read about–and the prettiest cover in the world won’t change that!
Books with meh stories AND meh covers are so easy to unhaul, they’ve got to go.
If I know the author or have read the blurb then cover has no bearing whatsoever but for books/authors I’ve not heard of then maybe (ok definitely) a good cover will make me stop and check the blurb. The blurb (and first few pages) need to be good before I’ll buy it though.
Yes, I 100% agree. If my favorite author has a shit cover, I’ll still support them. This more applies for me when it’s completely new to me authors!