Book covers are the most important aspect when it comes to choosing which books to add to my TBR (To Be Read list/pile/sea). The graphics, font and title are the first impression books rely on, their only voice calling “pick me!” But covers can be misleading and these are covers that had me totally confused.
Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
What I thought it was going to be about
A narcissistic girl who has a fun, free life frolicking in fields trying to catch birds.
What it’s actually about
An inspirational, unexpected but ultimately doomed romance.
My review
Goodreads Amazon.com Amazon.co.uk Audible Book Depository Loot.co.za
The Smell of Other People’s Houses by Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock
What I thought it was going to be about
Hikers discover a putrescent body in an abandoned cottage.
What it’s actually about
An eclectic group of people whose lives interconnect in a small Alaskan village.
Goodreads Amazon.com Amazon.co.uk Book Depository Loot.co.za
Live Through This by Mindi Scott
What I thought it was going to be about
A girl who grew tired waiting for her blind date who was supposed to bring the picnic basket for a night picnic under the stars.
What it’s actually about
Sexual abuse with a heart-wrenching twist.
Goodreads Amazon.com Amazon.co.uk Book Depository Loot.co.za
Don’t Look Back by Jennifer L. Armentrout
What I thought it was going to be about
A dancer who is in an abusive relationship.
What it’s actually about
A thriller about two girls who go missing and when one returns she has no recollection of what happened.
Goodreads Amazon.com Amazon.co.uk Book Depository Loot.co.za
The Impossible Knife of Memory by Laurie Halse Anderson
What I thought it was going to be about
A town that will never forget a tragic accident which occurred while ice skating on the frozen lake.
What it’s actually about
A girl whose father has PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) after returning from Iraq war and its effect on their family.
Goodreads Amazon.com Amazon.co.uk Audible Book Depository Loot.co.za
Suicide Notes from Beautiful Girls by Lynn Weingarten
What I thought it was going to be about
Some kind of pyromania, perhaps pretty girls burnt at the stake after being forced to write suicide notes to their families.
What it’s actually about
it’s a mystery thriller with toxic friendships, secrets and conspiracy.
Goodreads Amazon.com
Nora & Kettle by Lauren Nicolle Taylor
What I thought it was going to be about
Tea parties and family picnics
What it’s actually about
Historical fiction set during the aftermath of WWII featuring domestic abuse and xenophobia.
Goodreads Amazon.com Amazon.co.uk Audible Book Depository Loot.co.za
Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly
What I thought it was going to be about
Friendship and the dynamics between three best friends.
What it’s actually about
An American socialite, a courier for the Polish resistance movement and a German doctor are flung together during WWII.
Goodreads Amazon.com Amazon.co.uk Audible Book Depository Loot.co.za
The Summer I Wasn’t Me by Jessica Verdi
What I thought it was going to be about
Hearts impaled by nails…? Someone in the construction industry who assumes a different identity – possibly in witness protection.
What it’s actually about
A girl forced into a strict, religious re-education camp to stamp out her homosexuality.
Goodreads Amazon.com Amazon.co.uk Book Depository Loot.co.za
Puck by Kim Askew & Amy Helmes
What I thought it was going to be about
A girl, nicknamed Puck because of her aspiration to be a world cup ice hockey champion, looks to heaven for guidance from her dead father/best friend.
What it’s actually about
A contemporary retelling of Midsummer’s Night Dream about a rebellious girl in foster care is sent to a rehabilitation wilderness camp.
Goodreads Amazon.com Amazon.co.uk Book Depository Loot.co.za
Did any of these covers mislead you? Do you judge books by their covers?
Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish at http://www.brokeandbookish.com/p/top-ten-tuesday-other-features.html
NB: Please note the Broke and the Bookish URL is not SSL certified and crushingcinders.com is not liable for any related privacy issues that may occur on their website.
Craft2 publish
Choosing between photographic and illustrative designs is essential, depending on your genre. For children’s book covers, illustrations are often the best choice, while design books cover and story book cover
Darlene
LOL, this is a great post!! I agree with you on misleading covers. What do the matches have to do with the book in Suicide Notes?
crushingcinders
Such a strange cover pic.
Lauren @ Always Me
That Me Before You cover gives it an entirely different tone, doesn’t it.
Lauren @ Always Me
crushingcinders
It really does 🙂
Chrystal
Love this post and your interpretations of the story based on covers. Interesting how Many book covers do not reflect the story anymore.
crushingcinders
Yes there are some crazy cover ideas. I wish the publishers included a short description of the cover artist’s thought process.
Alicia @ A Kernel of Nonsense
I love that you chose this topic. Sometimes covers can be really misleading. I particularly hate when they put models on covers and then the character is described completely differently. Great topic!
crushingcinders
That is so frustrating. I want to scream he has dark hair at the publishers!
Leslie
Hi! I definitely wouldn’t have chosen that Laurie Halse Anderson cover for a book about Iraq PTSD! Great idea for this week’s post 🙂
Leslie
crushingcinders
I would never have guessed it either.
Tanya @ Girl Plus Books
LOL Great post! ? I’ve never been a fan of that particular cover of Me Before You. I’m not sure which edition it is but it’s definitely misleading. I was howling at your initial take on The Smell of Other People’s Houses. Too funny. With Don’t Look Back, I understood the significance of the cover pic (after reading the book) but I’ve never been a fan of the cover,
Jo
Great twist on this week’s topic!
My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2017/05/02/top-ten-tuesday-105/
Melissa's Eclectic Bookshelf
OMG! Loved this…you should make this a regular feature!!!
crushingcinders
Thank you! You’ve made my day! ?
chucklesthescot
If you look at covers and don’t read the blurb, it’s amazing how misleading the covers can be. You’d expect that an author would want a book cover that reflects the stories but the choice of the publishers can be baffling! Makes you wonder if those selecting the graphics know anything about the books! Nice post!
Shannon @ It Starts at Midnight
I do that a lot. Mostly when there are birds on covers? Because my mind starts yelling at me “NOOO AVOID, BIRDPEOPLE”. I can’t help it, it’s a problem. But Nora & Kettle is one of my favorite covers of ever- and books, actually. I am cool with it being extra pretty since the actual book is so gritty. Laughing too at your assumption of The Smell of Other People’s Houses bwhahaha. And I definitely would NOT have guessed that about The Summer I Wasn’t Me, wow! This is a fun take on the topic!!
The Book Filled Day
I love what you did with this topic! Covers can be totally misleading and it’s frustrating when it happens.
Emily Seals
I LOVE your spin on this. It’s absolutely wonderful. Please do more. 😀
Here’s my TTT!
crushingcinders
Yay Thank you!
Cait @ Paper Fury
Ahhh I love how you did this!! ? I get confused off cover-judging ALL THE TIME. And like sometimes it’s totally the covers fault??!? Tbh I’m really surprised Don’t Look Back doesn’t feature ballerinas…that’s just odd. And The Impossible Knife of Memory bothers me every time because like isn’t she getting frostbite there?!??
crushingcinders
??
Arwen @ I Love A Good Book
I love your twist on this weeks topics. I haven’t read any of these title but yes sometimes the cover doesn’t mash up with the story. The Moonlight Palace would be one for me.
My TTT: https://books.thetechchef.net/top-ten-tuesday-23/
crushingcinders
Thank you. I really like your choice of Nancy Drew covers too.
Rebecca
OMG! I can’t stop laughing. I seriously have the biggest sh**-eating grin plastered on my face. This is the best.
crushingcinders
Awww… Thank you. You’ve made my day!
Poinsettia
Covers can definitely be misleading. I don’t think I’ve ever bought a book based only on the cover for just this reason. Covers that don’t match the story are very irritating! Here is my TTT.
crushingcinders
They can be so misleading but it still one of the main reasons why I choose a book. Thanks for visiting.
Kimberly J. Sabatini
Hahahahaha!!!!!
Lori
I love the way you did this! That cover for Me Before You is definitely misleading.
My Top Ten
Sue @ Crushingcinders
Aww thank you. I know! I still can’t figure out why it’s called me before you because that was just in the beginning of the book.
Poem Fanatic @ Poems and Poets
Covers can belie and so can titles, but it’s a topic that I’ve never really considered for a blog post! You’ve done a great job with this one!
Sue @ Crushingcinders
Thank you! I’m hopping over to see your TTT.
Grace @ Rebel Mommy Book Blog
Love what you did with these!!! Yes covers can be so misleading. My favorite is Nora & Kettle – Tea parties and family picnic.
crushingcinders
Thank you. Now I want to go on a picnic!
Vena Isabella
Covers can be quite misleading can’t they. XD
crushingcinders
I wonder if someone has the job of finding ways to confuse readers – that would be a fun career!