“Don’t judge a book by its cover” is a phrase most of us have heard over and over again. It cautions judgments based on surface-level assumptions, and it’s a good lesson to learn. But, in the world of books, we need to admit that some books should be judged by their covers.
Book covers aren’t just marketing tools; they show the art and carefully consider how the author wants their book to be presented. First impressions matter, and so do book covers. If an author doesn’t care about their book, it tends to show on the cover.
A good book cover should be well-designed. Humans are visual creatures, whether we like them or not. We read with our eyes before our minds. Just like the visual representation of a meal can impact how it tastes, a book’s cover can impact how readers see it.
Poorly matched covers are also a big problem. Think about all the cheesy romance novels that set up false expectations about their reading experience or the sci-fi books that look like self-help.
These mismatched or lazy designs can confuse potential readers or push them away entirely. Covers are a big part of storytelling; they set a tone, evoke mood, and provide context for the story, so they should be taken into careful consideration.
On the other hand, covers that are overly done can sometimes take away from the writing. They can set up really good expectations for the novel, and the writing can be mediocre.
Good books need to be well rounded, they should care about the writing just as much as the visual aspect of the novel. Afterall, the cover is what draws us in, the writing is what makes us stay.
