It might catch my eye but I wouldn’t NOT read a book because of the cover. I tend to already know the titles I’m getting before I shop online or in person.
People are attracted to the cover, thus securing a closer look at the synopsis at the back. But only an idiot would buy a book solely on the cover. What do you think of mine? My cover actually has meaning to the story.
Jeff Emmert Here is the link to my mystery thriller. The paragraph synopsis can be found at the top of the story along with what reviewers have to say. But if you like mystery, action & intrigue you will likely enjoy it. Chapter 1 takes 5 minutes to read and sets the tone for the whole story. https://www.inkitt.com/stories/thriller/160877
@Jeff Shifts at last half of Chapter 8 and then again at 17. Major shift at 33. Happy reading. Inkitt has a free phone app, too, for readers on the go.
I generally seek out books via reading about books – looking for lists of books from people who list books I already know I like, reading Amazon reviews, that sort of thing. But I also shop in used bookstores and browse sections I like. I might be pulled to a title or a cover, but I usually read inner and outer blurbs and a bit of the text to get a feel for it. I like non-fiction as well as fiction so that make it all easier I think, because fiction is harder to judge. I like more terse styles, so sometimes it’s easy with fiction to read a few paragraphs and see how the style is too – if it’s florid, I’m less likely to like it. But too many books, too little time, lol.
Cover and Title are the first things to draw my attention. Next, it’s the back page “blurb.” Then, on Amazon, I check out the “Look Inside” for style of writing and formatting. Writers need to learn the basic formatting principles as there are definite “Dos” and “Don’ts” for a word manuscript. The joy is to discover the Diamonds among them.
Definitely, mostly when it comes to quality. I can see if the cover is professionally done or by someone who’s using a phone app or just doesn’t know what they’re doing, and I do not want to read a book that looks like it was made by a child. Sure, the book could be good anyway, but why waste my money on it when it’s most likely crap and I have soooo many books at home that I haven’t read yet that I know will be good. This might just be because I study graphical design and therefore look at works with a critique-eye.
If the author doesn’t care enough to use a professional cover, then they likely didn’t care enough to use a professional editor. I won’t click on an amateurish cover because I hate reading books that are clearly unedited.
Responding publicly to a DM, here. To be clear, I’m not taking about a proofreader. I mean a developmental and line editor; someone who will recognize plot holes, crutch words, pacing problems, clumsy dialogue, characterization inconsistencies, flat descriptions, continuity errors, cardboard characters, chemistry glitches, voice shifts, murky allegory, cliches . . . A good editor costs a HELL of a lot more than a professional cover. You can get an excellent pre-made cover for $500 and a stunning custom cover for $1000. A serious editor with creds costs three times that. And every established author in the world uses an editor for all the reasons I laid out above. If you think you’re so good that you don’t need an editor, you *definitely* need one.
A lot of times, but the title will also catch my eye from time to time. But I don’t go by that alone. One of those are usually what makes me pick the book up to read the blurb.
yes and no- if the cover is blah I will still read the description to see if the story might still be good and then wonder why they picked back art for the cover
Yep
Yes
No , I’m Open minded ..unless it’s the movie cover then i skip this particular copy ??
Books, yes. Can’t even lie. Lol
Sometimes…but it’s not all I consider.
Yes
Yes
Oh yeah
Yes
I may be attracted by a cover but that’s not my final criterion.
No
No never
I do…
Sometimes when I see a beautiful cover that catches my eye , I am immediately drawn to read the description and possibly end up with the book so yes .
It might catch my eye but I wouldn’t NOT read a book because of the cover. I tend to already know the titles I’m getting before I shop online or in person.
I do
Yes and sometimes I’m right and other times I’m wrong.
Yes
Yes and by their blurbs
yes
People, too, and by their blurbs. People with boring blurbs go unread.
Yes but I have also read some amazing books that didn’t have such great covers
People are attracted to the cover, thus securing a closer look at the synopsis at the back. But only an idiot would buy a book solely on the cover. What do you think of mine? My cover actually has meaning to the story.
What’s it about? I’m only finding other books with a similar title.
Jeff Emmert Here is the link to my mystery thriller. The paragraph synopsis can be found at the top of the story along with what reviewers have to say. But if you like mystery, action & intrigue you will likely enjoy it. Chapter 1 takes 5 minutes to read and sets the tone for the whole story. https://www.inkitt.com/stories/thriller/160877
You are Anubis?
@Jeff lol Yeah
I like color better . I do like the lazy at the window tho
I’m just getting to a good part. 😉
Chapter 3. So far, so good! Thank you for sharing this.
@Jeff Shifts at last half of Chapter 8 and then again at 17. Major shift at 33. Happy reading. Inkitt has a free phone app, too, for readers on the go.
Sometimes..
Absolutely. If I don’t love the cover I won’t pick it up to see what it’s about..
Sometimes
Never
No
Hell yeah I do lol I’ve been hurt before but still thought …what a great cover
No, I judge them by their content and how well written they are. I just need to see the name and the author and a bit about the content on the cover.
I generally seek out books via reading about books – looking for lists of books from people who list books I already know I like, reading Amazon reviews, that sort of thing. But I also shop in used bookstores and browse sections I like. I might be pulled to a title or a cover, but I usually read inner and outer blurbs and a bit of the text to get a feel for it. I like non-fiction as well as fiction so that make it all easier I think, because fiction is harder to judge. I like more terse styles, so sometimes it’s easy with fiction to read a few paragraphs and see how the style is too – if it’s florid, I’m less likely to like it. But too many books, too little time, lol.
I am ashamed to say, . . . yes. ?
Rarely look at them. I judge them by whts written on the back though
Cover and Title are the first things to draw my attention. Next, it’s the back page “blurb.” Then, on Amazon, I check out the “Look Inside” for style of writing and formatting. Writers need to learn the basic formatting principles as there are definite “Dos” and “Don’ts” for a word manuscript. The joy is to discover the Diamonds among them.
Ashamed but yes!
Yes I sometimes do
Hmm
Yes
Yes, If the cover is ugly I will not read it
I’m attracted to a book by its cover. But I need to read the blurb on the Fly Leaf before I decide to buy.
I do. ?
By the title. Ups
Not so much cover. But I am attracted to a good title.
@Atrisha I do the same thing.?
This one!
A bright interesting cover captures my interest but it’s the summary on the back that gets me to commit to it.
Great, very pretty book.
Definitely, mostly when it comes to quality. I can see if the cover is professionally done or by someone who’s using a phone app or just doesn’t know what they’re doing, and I do not want to read a book that looks like it was made by a child. Sure, the book could be good anyway, but why waste my money on it when it’s most likely crap and I have soooo many books at home that I haven’t read yet that I know will be good. This might just be because I study graphical design and therefore look at works with a critique-eye.
not sure, may be?
If the author doesn’t care enough to use a professional cover, then they likely didn’t care enough to use a professional editor. I won’t click on an amateurish cover because I hate reading books that are clearly unedited.
Yes
Yep
Responding publicly to a DM, here. To be clear, I’m not taking about a proofreader. I mean a developmental and line editor; someone who will recognize plot holes, crutch words, pacing problems, clumsy dialogue, characterization inconsistencies, flat descriptions, continuity errors, cardboard characters, chemistry glitches, voice shifts, murky allegory, cliches . . . A good editor costs a HELL of a lot more than a professional cover. You can get an excellent pre-made cover for $500 and a stunning custom cover for $1000. A serious editor with creds costs three times that. And every established author in the world uses an editor for all the reasons I laid out above. If you think you’re so good that you don’t need an editor, you *definitely* need one.
Guilty!
Guilty
Sometimes. Sometimes that’s how I decide to read the back.
Yes
Yep mostly it attracts me before opening it
Yes
I judge books by their title combined with the cover.
Yup
Yup
Try not too.
Cover and/or title.
Yes
Yup
No
Probably, but I think it is the back cover blurb that sells me or not.
Always.
Sometimes because it is a visual that catches my eye first
Always
Always
Yes unfortunately and I have often proved wrong when I had to read some which I would never have picked up because of the cover for my bookclub.
A lot of times, but the title will also catch my eye from time to time. But I don’t go by that alone. One of those are usually what makes me pick the book up to read the blurb.
No
Yes, but that doesn’t change my mind about them. Except if the girl on the cover is ugly. I might change my mind about reading it.
Yes. The cover does say something about the contents of the book.
Unfortunately I do.
Yes
yes, all the time!
No
Sometimes
The cover draws my eye, but the blurb and a couple sentences (when available) reel me in.
Yes
yes and no- if the cover is blah I will still read the description to see if the story might still be good and then wonder why they picked back art for the cover