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.)
US vs UK COVER: My Heart and Other Black Holes by Jasmine Warga
[row][column size=”1/2″]What do I think about the cover design? I am into it.
The marker-esque lettering of the title, the personal handwriting, and the colors used for the heart and blackhole, yes! I actually really like how the heart is an actual heart (instead of just the words), but I know it can be a bit confusing for some people who may not get that the heart is part of the title. I think it’s a bit clever.
I guess my only complaint is that it’s a bit too plain? All that white space…the typography of this cover has to stand out, which it does, but not as strong as it should be.
Would I buy this book based on the cover? Most likely.[/column] [column size=”1/2″]What do I think about the cover design? Ooooh, I like!
I love the various shades of blue that looks like a whirlpool (or y’know, a blackhole) spiraling down. The design of the letters remind me of cutting letters out of construction paper during arts and craft. I like that. In this cover, the “heart” is spelled out. I kind of miss the image, but it’s not necessary here. I love that the cover looks like art I can do. It’s very simple.
The ‘O’ in “Holes” remind me of an egg yolk, which kind of annoys me because it’s quite distracting. Do eggs have something to do with this book?
Would I buy this book based on the cover? Sure.[/column][/row]
I’m really torn. I like the colors and the marker text of the US cover, but I had to re-read the title a couple of times because I didn’t realize the heart was a stand in for the word “heart”. The white background seems a little jarring too now that I think of it. While I like the colors of the UK version, it doesn’t really scream “black hole” to me. Honestly though, I wouldn’t be buying this book based on the covers. The title is enough for me. That title totally speaks to me because I feel like I was that kind of girl back in high school.
I love blue, so my attention is more pulled towards the UK version. I also like that the ‘heart’ shape is written in words. I don’t think I would buy the book based on the covers (I’m not a contemporary type), but I would stand still to look at them :)
I really love the blue in the UK version, however I have always loved the US cover and I still like it better. Although I haven’t read the book, so I could be wrong, the UK cover doesn’t seem to fit the book as well.
I prefer the US edition because I feel like the alignment is a little bit weird in the UK edition. It’s probably just me though I have to agree with you on the egg yolk! The only thing about the US edition that bugs me is that when I see the title, I don’t process it as My Heart & Other Black Holes, I see it as My & Other Black Holes but definitely prefer it over the UK!
I prefer the US version, even if the heart is a bit confusing at first. The white against the black lettering is really striking, and I love the gradient of the O in holes. I’m not sure I’d pick up the UK version, just because of the egg yolk thing.
hard choice! haven’t read the book yet so i can’t ACTUALLY say which cover is more appropriate, but if i had to pick one, i think i might prefer the us cover a liiiitle bit more because it sounds like a black marker on white background kind of book, if that makes any sense :p