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!
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..๐) 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!