I love romance books and I’m not afraid to say it. I do like my Romance with a meaty storyline to go with it, and maybe it’s because I’m from the Disney generation, but I don’t see anything wrong with wanting a bit of escapism and a happy ending.
But, and if you’ve read some of my reviews you may have heard me complain about is before, I just don’t get Romance book covers. So often they totally miss the mark for the modern reader.
I read books wherever I go, there is always one in my handbag and I’m always whipping my book out on the train, in a spare moment or waiting for an appointment. But, there are just some book covers I actually will not take out publicly. If I can’t get it for my Kindle, it’s designated as a read at home book only.
The reason… If I’m honest as much as I love reading Romance there are some covers that I’m embarrassed to be seen reading. Perhaps you know the looks, I shall call them the ‘romance snobs’. Who peer over their very sensible newspapers and give a look of disdain or perhaps even a small snigger. As much as it shouldn’t, it does make me feel uncomfortable.
But if we take a look at what I believe to be some of the worst offending culprits, I wonder what publishers are thinking half of the time!
1. Dreadful Illustrated Romantic Clinches
2. The Misty Lens & Cheesy Photography
And last, but certainly not least, one of my real pet hates.. Half naked mean on the cover. Now, don’t get me wrong, I appreciate a fine specimen of a man like most women, but I find them embarrassing to read in public. Also a lot of them don’t seem to relate to the story at all.
It is possible to have a tasteful & sexy front cover. Check out this fab one for Lynsay Sands.
35 Comments
You are SO, SO right and I know exactly what you mean about looks from other people! You are instantly being stereotyped as a "tacky housewife who reads trashy romance novels". And I also hate that they usually don't even look like the way the characters are described in the book so it throws off my whole perception of them.
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Agree with Catrina – half the time, the people on the cover look nothing like the description in the book. And I really dislike the trashy, Fabio-type covers (historicals are very, very guilty of that!). I'm like, what's with the naked, ripped chest? As if we're reading the book just to picture the bloke's chest and massive shoulders in our head? That's the cliche most romance snobs abide too – that we romance lovers are in it only for the forbidden thrill of sexy men in torrid sex scenes.
I like a good mix of setting and characters on the cover – this gives me a better idea what the story is about. Samhain Publishing usually has such 'balanced' covers.
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It's funny I was just thinking about this the other day. Get out of my head please!
I am so with you on the covers, it's one thing for them to entice you into buying, another to actually be able to read them in public without comments or looks.
The half naked men category doesn't bother me quite as much as the previous ones but I do think it's time for an update and some publishers have started to realise it it. I love the Lynsay Sands cover, it says a lot and oh my goodness eyes and an expression can be just as sexy as a half naked man
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I don't read a lot of books like this, but every so often, I enjoy a bit of adult romance to read. That is the one thing I do like about the Kindle (in general not a fan) is that you can read these types of books privately in public.
I detest the covers on romance books. They are badly designed in general, typography and colour and composition – awkward poses, generic actors (who look nothing like the characters should do) and yes, its very embarrassing lol!
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@Catrina yep I've had people smirk at me before. As if I'm lacking brain cells by reading a romance novel. But the most frustrating as you say as more often than not they don't reflect the characters in the story.
@Zee so true I'm not in it for the naked men either, I'm in it for the story and the romance
@Grete it's a bit of soapbox of mine I wish they would update them! You're right some publishers are getting with the programme but there are plenty more awful ones. And sexy eyes on Lynsay Sands book is yummy
@Amy yes good comment on the awkward poses, and just so embarrassing – I wonder if they increase sales as otherwise I don't know why they don't update them?
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I love the new Lynsay Sands covers, though I wasn't bothered by the old ones.
The problem I have with many of the covers you have shown is they are CHEESY, this totally puts me off of buying them, and then I miss out on a great story
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I would be embarrassed to be sitting somewhere with one of these covers on a book.
I do think they need a revamp.
Mind u, most of the chicklit titles I read are pink or lilac and have a theme, but I am drawn to them.
Maybe the publishers think that those cliche covers do still sell the books
carol
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I agree totally ladies. I wouldn't be seen dead holding a book with a cover like those. I do like the last one. Publishers really need to change them.
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"I love romance books and I'm not afraid to say it." – I think there should be a badge somewhere for that.:) I've been reading romances since tender age of 11, so I've heard and seen it all. The awful covers, the looks of disdain, the jokes. I used to buy what I could get, cover be damned. Now however I get put off by a cheesy cover, cowboys and men in kilts and bare-chested men in PNR. I think that's why I don't mind reading UF in public. It's so much more pleasing for the eye. Also I prefer faces on the covers like UK covers for Nalini Singh or Lynsay Sands. So much more intriguing and tasteful.
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I don't actually have a problem on the whole with many romance covers. I have been reading romances since the early 80's (there were a lot of Johanna Lindsey and Sandra Hill covers) so sometimes they just crack me up
Each Section:
1) I am not a fan of the newer books having romantic clinches on the front but I hate when they re-cover old books. Call it a novelty thing.
2) On a whole I am not a fan of "looks like a photograph on the cover" covers.
3) I love Cowboy and Kilt covers–so I disagree on this one
I have bought more than one of these books based on the cover alone.
4)The "nothing but type" better have one heck of a blurb or I am never buying the book. They just aren't visually stunning.
5) I don't mind the half-naked man covers as long as it is done well. Oh and I work with all guys (in IT), I have no problem reading them in front of the guys. Then again most of them I own on Kindle.
I like the Lynsay Sands cover unless I read the book and find out he is a blonde. There is my biggest pet peeve—covers that do no accurately reflect the people inside the books.
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I totally agree with you! The misty lens/ cheesy covers are hideous, and will often keep me from reading a book. And all of the half naked long haired men are just gross!
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I could NOT agree more! I commute 2 hours each day on a crowded subway in NYC and I REFUSE to take a book with a cheesy cover. Cover appeal is big for me and I actually have yet to start reading Nalini Singh's Psy-Changeling series, even though it's been recommended to me again and again, because of how BAD the covers are – picture, type, everything!!
I much prefer the more modern-looking romance covers, such as the ones of Nicola Cormick's Women of the Ton series.
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Maybe it's because I am a middle aged housewife that the snobs no longer bother me. I don't mind covers (with the exception of the racier erotic romance covers). I don't mind if someone is shallow enough to judge me for what I read. I've read enough classics and serious literature to hold my own against them.
The Julia Quinn book does have a newer cover, btw.
I like that romance covers are different from women's fiction. I don't read women's fiction, and the covers help me see at a glance which is which.
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I totally agree. If I have to read in public I would make an extra cover for the book. People would just assume I want to protect the book from damage and I wasn't embarrassed
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@Cassie before my Kindle, I'd read a back cover want to read the book but wouldn't because of the cover
@Dizzy yes a lot of chick lit does have a pink/purple theme but I find I don't mind those so much as they look much more modern
@Kara-Karina why are people such snobs about romance books I don't get it? And you're right UF books have much better covers!
@Vivienne definitely need a makeover!
@Felicity thanks for the thoughtful reply. Interesting that you don't like older books being re-covered, I went through a Johanna Lindsey stage too and I would't buy the clinche editions. I do know there are quite a few women that like the half naked men, so nice to hear a differing opinion
And yes I hate when the man has dark hair on cover & is blonde in the book too or vice versa!
@Amy why do so romance heroes have dreadful long hair… It's a mystery!
@Violet I actually think commuting is when I'm most embarrassed to read these books & just wouldn't because of the looks
@Amber good on you for not being embarrassed
Like you I've read my fair share of classics too, but I people that see you & smirk often never stop to ask. And yes I like they have a different style to chick lit too as I don't read chick lit either.
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@Niumue good idea on the book cover!
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I love hitting the book stores and having a good laugh at the covers. Sometimes they ruin the story for me if I'm reading one.
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Apart from the pet peeve of the cover model not matching the character description I am not that influenced by what the cover looks like when I am reading in public.
The main thing I find is that I am usually so engrossed in the book that I don't always notice the reaction of people around me to the cover. In my opinion if they don't like/appreciate the cover they don't need to look
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Ugh, all those covers are horrid and not something I wanna read in public. But even if I am not a fan of the last one since they all look the same, I still think it looks good
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OMG I totally agree with everything you said! (actually I wrote a post on this same topic for my blog a couple of weeks ago). My biggest pet peeve is the constant reuse of the same photos over and over. Great article!
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I wish they could change the covers 'cause what's up with the bare chested image on the covers? It doesn't say a thing about the book and I don't want people to think that I'm reading porn.
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I do think some of the romance covers aren't pretty at all, to put it mildly. What annoys me is that you sometimes find a book that has a blond hero on the cover and the book hero is actually dark-haired. I hate that. Either put a model on the cover that agrees with the book or Photoshop the photo or don't put him/her at all! I hate the misty lens photography. I usually run away from the books that have that type of cover, because I'm somewhat of a snob in that matter: I do judge a book by it's cover. I like my covers to be shiny, colorful. Half naked men on the front of my books don't bother me, usually because I don't care for the sniggers or dirty looks I get. I read for me, not for the world to see. If they don't like what they see, they should look the other way.
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I'm odd man out it seems, b/c I actually enjoy the cheesy covers for the most part. Except for the real-photo covers, those feel awkward for me as if I'm spying on a real couple (eww) lol!
But I like the Nalini Singh covers and even the Kleypas, Balogh & Quinn ones with old-timey fonts. I think maybe it's the variety that I enjoy because I'd hate to see all the covers start to look homogenous:-/
Probably the only time it is a problem for me is if the cover has a person that looks NOTHING like the characters described inside. Especially if the model in front is obviously white when the book character/hero/heroine is definitely not.
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call me crazy but my only pet peeve is the characters not looking like the cover…though i prefer something on my cover to just typed words…and that misty image wasnt for me…i do love a half naked male on my cover and all the rest i liked. as too what people think when i pull out a book any where i go i dont give two shakes what they think if they dont like it turn the other way though surprisingly for the most part i get told awwww its so nice to see people in the younger generation still read opposed to watching tv all the time. from time to time i will get a smirk and a teasing comment where a guy friend or family member will pick up my book and read from it…and i just shoot them a sarcastic remark and give a big grin. i will also give you the cowboys and kilts one i would like a sexy highlander and cowboy what you put up i wouldnt pick up.
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Great post, Laura! Perhaps the dodgy covers are the reason that romance novels are so popular in ebook format?
Or why concealing book jackets were invented?
Interestingly, I was discussing this with my fiance just last night, and although the covers don't typically appeal to me aesthetically, they are excellent at conveying a certain brand or idea. It's the same with cozy mystery novels–the design is cheap, bright and gaudy, but it indicates exactly what I'll be reading, and the book's contents can be instantly gleaned from its cover.
I think that mysteries and romance novels both do this very well, and although they're definitely cheesy (although I'll never say a bad word about a cowboy cover), the design teams behind these do a spot-on job of positioning these books in the market–far more so than literary or mainstream works.
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I agree completely! I dislike most of the covers, especially the half-naked ones. I quite like the new Nalini Singh 'Psy-Changeling covers' (which are similar to the Lynsay Sands cover in your post) but I still feel that publishers could do better. Some of the UF covers are gorgeous and really eye catching, so why does PNR have to be so tacky?
Great post, Laura, really enjoy it
x
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Wow! So many comments, thanks everyone
@Rain I don't laugh at them, but some of them are quite ridiculous
@Ilona good attitude, maybe I should take a leaf out of your book
@Blodeuedd that's one of my biggest problems there ar few romance covers I want to read in public
@jayhjay thank you
yes they do seem to reuse pictures and you have to discard that picture so it doesn't get in the way of your imagination
@Book Reviews from the basement I nearly put that in the article actually that it makes the books look a bit like soft porn
@Ruby that seems to be a lot of people's pet peevs and I agree why but a blonde hero on the front when the hero is dark haired?
@Bella all opinions welcome, interesting to know you like them
you're right it would be boring if all books looked the same. I'm with you on the photos, I also think they detract from your imagination
@Lindsey so many people have said there biggest issues is characters not looking like the images on the front cover.
@Stephanie thanks
really interesting point about the design instantly giving away the genre. But there is still no reason that these designs cannot be modernised and still do the same thing. And yes I think this is why romance is one of the biggest growing ebook genres
@bookchickcity really glad you enjoyed it
I don't know why there is such a difference between UF & PNR covers as they are generally read by the same people.
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I am a cover lover and I agree with most of your book cover dislikes. I hate the cheesey cowboy covers. I hate the old covers with the half naked people like Fabio. I actually have a couple of these with Fabil by Johanna Lindsey. I hate the covers but love the books. I found them at a yard sale for 10-cents a piece and could not pass them up. I have the Julia Quinn and Mary Balogh books that you show. I love, love the new Lyndsay Sands cover for Bite Me if you Can. That is not the cover I have. I love that book, and when I thought about it and I totally see that guy as Lucian. He is young and gorgeous and that fits him perfectly. He has that look of being superior about him. I love this blog and keep up with the great book and author recommendations.
christinebails@yahoo.com
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This was a great post. I do love a chesty cover, but I tend to buy my romances on Kindle because I am cowardly avoiding the "romance snobs". Also my husband teases me mercilessly about the covers. While I enjoy reading them, romances make me giggle a little so I don't mind the corny covers so much – they just add to the fun. I am, however, so happy that the romantic clinches are dying out those make me cringe.
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I totally agree with you! I bet there are some great stories hidden behind those cheesy covers and I have to admit I pass them right by in the store. Hopefully, we'll see a trend of different covers.
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Nice article. — Cattt
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The horrible covers have a lot to do with why I tend to pass on romance novels. When I do read one (in the safety of my home, cough, cough)I always remind myself that it's a deadly sin to judge the book by the cover. Sadly, it's an old habit that won't change easily.
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I love a good romance but I don't want my romance to have a cover I would be embrassed to carry in public. No Bodice Rippers for me.
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@Chrisbails thank you for the lovely comment about the blog
I could see why you pick up these books for 10cents! The Lynsay Sands cover is great isn't it, modern & sexy!
@Jennifer there are quite a few people that do like the naked men's chests so you're not alone
Interesting that despite loving them you still read them on the kindle. I so hate the looks!
@Midnyte Reader I bet there are too and there are some (romantic clinches) that I just won't pick up. Let's hope for a romance cover revolution
@Cattt thank you
@Ivana lol, it's very easy and I do it all the time – judging a book by its cover. I think more people might pick the books up if the covers were redesigned
@Danielle yep I agree, I hate being embarrassed by book covers, especially when the book itself is actually very good.
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Hey… I don't mind the half naked men covers lol. I'm not perverted its just… you know, it's been a while lol!
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