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?
I totally prefer the paperback! It’s like…the hardback-girl is actually holding still on the cover, but the paperback-girl is like screw you, I want to be in motion. Even the title looks like it moved. Ha. And I like the term “paper rip fluff” XD
Oh, the paperback for sure! The expression of the model unnerves me slightly and I don’t really like the other components either. The paperback version is breathtaking though. I love the colours and yeah, everything just looks really nice and flows really well!
Umm the PAPERBACK edition definitely! I love the covers and how the girl is posing. Funny though how the girl is moving but the title is ‘Hold Still’ lol.
Nope to the hardback, haha. Don’t like the fonts used, and it looks a little bit too generic ’cause it has a model staring off into the distance. I’m starting to really dislike book covers with models on them, for some reason. x(
The PB version isn’t that much better, IMO, but I love the hues, and I like the font they used for the author’s name! Also, I know the photographer whose picture the cover took. (Not know-know; like, I know who took the picture, lol.) It’s Rosie Hardy from Flickr, I think. She’s got a LOT of beautiful photos.
Charlotte put it beautifully <3
I definitely prefer the paperback, the blue is rather calming and Charlotte is totally correct about a faceless model. Funnily enough I know the model/photographer on the cover, she’s the lovely Rosie Hardy and her work is amazing!
I do like the paperback better, but you are right about the drawings on the hardback. Plus, overall I like the coloring of the paperback too.
Yes, I think the paperback is the better cover, for sure. The hardcover is ok; however, it doesn’t draw me in like the paperback.