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 The Simple Tales for creating the beautiful feature banner you see before you.)
US HC vs. UK HC vs. US PB: You Know Me Well by Nina LaCour & David Levithan
The hardcover of You Know Me Well doesn’t tell you much about the book aside from it being set in San Francisco from the illustration of the Golden Gate Bridge. It doesn’t really grab me (though I do like the blueish ombre of the background). If a reader—who doesn’t know that Nina LaCour and David Levithan write queer stories—pick up this book, they would have no idea it’s heavily queer based on the cover. I’d want some indication of what to expect without reading the book synopsis because let’s be honest, people pick up books because of attractive covers. This hardcover is too basic.
That paperback cover of You Know Me Well is *chefs kiss*. This cover fixes all the criticism I have about the hardcover cover—you see the pride flags and the trans flag—the cover tells you this book is queer as fuck. I love seeing that representation in the illustration, especially since this book is set during a Pride parade in San Francisco, and the variety of people illustrated in a rough sketch.
Final Verdict: What cover do I like better? Paperback.
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