Inspired by What She Reads, Pure Imagination Blog, and Stacked.

I admit I’m a book cover snob. Who isn’t though?

Book covers are the first thing that attracts readers to a book. A good cover can draw someone is, just as a bad cover can easily draw someone away. It can essentially make or break a book. Holy, Mother Cover! is where I showcase the book covers that stand out (or make me cringe) and discuss cover changes.

(A big special thanks to Georgie at What She Reads for bestowing me this fabulous name and to Charlotte at Gypsy Reviews for creating the beautiful feature banner you see before you.)

COVER CHANGE: Hold Still by Nina LaCour

Today, we look at the cover Hold Still by Nina LaCour!

Oh, Hold Still, you look great in the paperback. The hardcover isn’t bad, but it isn’t great. The cover gets me nostalgic about my high school days. It’s that title and the paper rip fluff (I don’t know how to describe it). It makes me think of those times I would color in boxed/bubble letters with my pen and the times I would rip up paper to make a collage and the edges of the paper would do that. I like the drawings and the letters in the background since it’s incorporated into the general look within the book and it’s a big part of the story. However, the cover looks extremely dated. Not a fan of the pensive “far away” look of the model. It’s not a cover you’d see on other books, which is great, but it really doesn’t hold my attention. I just want more from it.

Now, the paperback is a cover I can get behind. I love the motion blur of the title. It looks almost as if the cover is in motion, which is quite different than what ‘hold still’ actually means. The title can’t hold still (get it? ;D). I love the handwriting font of Nina LaCour’s name. It gives the cover a personal touch. (But I do think the tagline font needs to be changed because it doesn’t fit.) I really like how the cover and the colors evokes that feeling of just “letting go” and moving on (especially after a loss). She looks like she’s freeing herself from the place she’s stuck in (which is kind of perfect for what happens in Hold Still). Charlotte said this, which I thought was a great point:

 I think the faceless model brings that sense of detachment and yet relatability because without a face it’s easier to relate since you are given your own interpretation, but it also sort of separates you from the cover so you’re an onlooker.  

The cover is very calming, and evokes that reflective feeling of Hold Still. It’s just breathtaking.

Which cover design do you prefer? What do you like about each cover? What changes would you make?