Hello lovelies!
Welcome to the first edition of Book Girls Don't Cry...They Vent! This week we have decided to talk about mid-series cover changes. I don't know about you, but they drive me insane! So watch the video to find out my thoughts on cover changes and see some examples of where I think cover changes have done good & ones where I think they went wrong! Please Note: I know the video is minorly out of sync but I tried my damndest to fix it and failed. Please forgive me!
So, how do you feel about mid-series cover changes? Are you as anal about matching covers as I am? Let me know in the comments!
I agree with you, Across The Universe looked MUCH better before the revamp. I don't have a huge problem with covers that don't match, but I'd like it better if they did. It's just that I'm not the kind of person to go out and buy it again, haha.
ReplyDeleteRight? They were so space-y before. I think that change was for the worse for sure.
DeleteI wish I didn't care about covers matching!
I don't have problems on changing covers as long as they look good it's all fine with me.
ReplyDeleteI wish I was the same way, Lucky girl!
DeleteIsn't that funny - I immediately thought of the Across the Universe series. And I'm totally like you - absolutely anal retentive. If I have an eBook version of the first book, I want the same for the subsequent books. And vice versa. I'm into matching.
ReplyDeleteSo, Across the Universe is frustrating because I have Book 1 in the original design and hardcover. The new redesigns for the first two books are not only different (and weird and I don't like it...), but they are in paperback only! So I'll have to wait like a year for book three to come out in the paperback so that my shelves will be match. Ugh. Okay, rant over.
Love the new feature - very discussion inundated. : )
I am the same! I just bought a hardcover copy of Boundless because it's so damn pretty and I came home and ordered HC copies of Hallowed and Unearthly because I had read them in ebook but because I now had Boundless I had to have them all! LOL
DeleteUgh I hate how they do that to people! Like I said, an injustice to fans of the series!
Thanks for weighing in!
They had a mock up cover of Shades of Earth, someone tweeted it and it was so pretty. I think the cover change was to appeal to males also. Too bad they didn't use it! OMG we so have some of the same picks. I love the cover for Shatter Me, but honestly the first cover suits the book better. That eye is so pretty, but I just don't think it goes with the book. I do like the cover change on the Delirium series. I think that was a good choice.
ReplyDeleteGoodness, I have so many books on my list for my vlog for this topic haha!! I am going to have to try to not make mine like 20 minutes long. Also I don't have a lot of the physical books either since I have started not buying as many due to covers changing in the middle of a series. Lol!!
Yay for the first Book Girls Don't Cry... They Vent! post. I'm so excited to be doing this with you and Giselle. It's going to be so awesome!
I never saw the mock up cover, I would love to see it if you know the link to where it was! I can see that the new covers would appeal to males also, but it's just so not fair to people who love the series and already own the HC of the first two!
DeleteI was going to do two more but I looked at the time and was like HOLY CRAP and decided to skip one.. I can't remember which it was now.
Yeah, Across the Universe was so beautiful before. One of the best covers I have ever seen - so magical and exciting. Now it's just meh. Even guys liked it, LOL. I don't know who's attention it will grab. Yeah.. Oh and I didn't even know Bron Wicked had a cover revamp :O
ReplyDeleteShatter Me cover change all the way! I have the paperback of the new one and it's freaking insane. So beautiful and different. Yep and there is a waterfall with birds and branches ;)
This is where our tastes differ, I don't like the new Delirium cover :( I like the original one more, there are too many girls on the cover and the first one is prettier in my opinion. But.. hey, I'm in the minority with this one:)
I know that most of Julie Kagawa's fans hate the new covers for The Blood of Eden series, but I don't think they're that bad. The original Immortal Rules cover was good, but the typography one is still pretty, in my opinion.
Oh, btw, I think The Sea of Tranquility looks good with both of the cover versions - the selfpubed one and the Atria version so that was a good change.
Love this discussion and can't wait to see what Giselle and Amy have to say:)
Yes! Born Wicked has a different PB cover and it's so not as pretty as the HC one.
DeleteRight? The eyes are so pretty!
I actually really like the new Kagawa covers too. Because they are much more simple and because there isn't a misrepresentation of the characters race shoved in your face.
I hadn't seen the indie cover for TSoT, I'll have to look that up!
My thoughts exactly on the Kagawa covers. I still haven't read the first book, but now I'm going to order one when it's out on paperback and I'm glad I don't have to go through the change now. Oooh, and I heard about that race thing. That's weird! The cover itself was so cool, but the girl was as random as a blond girl on a cover when the protagonist is a brunette. Ok, maybe not that bad, but almost, lol.
DeleteYep, TsoT's original cover isn't that symblic I suppose as the new one with the ice cream and stuff, but it was pretty and definitely momorable. For me at least.
I wasn't a huge fan of The Immortal Rules, which sucked for me because I was definitely the black sheep on that one. I hope you like it a lot better than I did.
DeleteI looked up the original cover of TSoT and it is really pretty. I like both too!
haha oh man, you're SO great at these vlogs Jenni - I love it! Congrats on the first Big Girls Don't Cry...They Vent. I am definitely anal-retentive like you and will re-buy beloved books in series' just to have them match. I definitely agree with the Across the Universe & Born Wicked books, they were much better the first time around. I did prefer the initial cover of Shatter Me too though...not because of the weird dress but I don't know...I liked the look of the girl & the color scheme.
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm curious which book series you didn't have time to mention now :P haha! Anyways great job & congrats on the launch of this MEME!
Thank you Micheline! <3
DeleteI'm happy I'm not alone in how anal I am. Oh you preferred the initial Shatter Me? It seems quite a few people did actually. The one that I didn't do was the Immortal Beloved series by Cate Tiernan in which case the new ones are a million times better.
Thanks for weighing in!
What? IB series has also revamped covers? :O I didn't know they had different ones before. They're gorgeous right now! That was a good change, indeed!
DeleteWell the first book in the series had a terrible hardcover. I didn't like it at all.
DeleteGreat topic! (Love the hoodie, by the way, love!)
ReplyDeleteI think I am most disappointed in the changes for the BORN WICKED series. The first book (hardcover) is SO gorgeous, but then the publisher decided it was too "sexy" for YA, so they changed the paperback to reflect something more tame, and the rest of the series will follow that theme, too. So now, when STAR CURSED comes out, it won't match my beautiful BORN WICKED cover... it's going to drive me absolutely bonkers!
Ugh!
/rant
Yes! The Born Wicked cover was gorgeous before! Now it's much more mainstream. Not a fan at all.
DeleteHey Jenni! Great post. I completely agree about the Born Wicked covers, I love the seductiveness of the older one (HC). Another set that I think took a turn for the worse are the Blood Of Eden books- Immortal Rules has a great cover and they are changing them to be text now :/
ReplyDeleteanywho... loved the post.
Steph
I'm actually a fan of the new Blood of Eden covers, I didn't like the Alyson's race was mis portrayed on the original cover. I saw the inside jacket of the new one and its pretty cool! There is an Asian girl on the inside.
DeleteThanks for weighing in on this weeks topic, Steph!
It's always nice to have matching covers for the series but I'm okay when the covers don't match.
ReplyDeleteThe new covers for Born Wicked and Across the Universe series do reflect some unique elements from each of the books, although I have to agree, the original covers look better :)
I wish I didn't care so much, I really do!
DeleteOh good to know, those are both series that I know I need to get started on and I feel like a failure for having not already!
I'm one of the few who actually really likes the new covers for the Across the Universe trilogy. I tend to really like text-focused covers (Between the Devil is AWESOME), and from what I've heard, the new covers have more to do with the books than the old covers, and also, I just didn't really like the first covers. I thought the cover for Across the Universe was of a chicken embryo until, like, four months ago, and the second cover just looks weird to me. It's like, okay... you're in a transparent orb, touching space? *shrugs* (It's not a Blythe comment without shrugging!) I really like the covers for the Delirium trilogy, and while the first one was pretty, it was boring. I love the colors of the new covers - especially the red in the last cover, that cover's my favorite. And I ADORE the new covers for Shatter Me. The old cover was so meh and these new ones are just so gorgeous. And yay! I got a shout-out! LOL. Awesome vlog, hon! Can't wait to see Giselle and Amy's vlogs, too. :)
ReplyDeleteOooh you like them? huh I'm not a fan. I do love a lot of typography covers but I thought the originals looked better in this case. Love the cover for Between The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, good call on that one!
DeleteYeah the Delirium is a tough one for me because the original was really pretty but I like the new ones better I decided.
LOL I was getting so excited and I wanted to write you back but it would have been pretty boring for people to watch me do so.
The Across the Universe change infuriates me, because I have the first two books with the original covers. ARGH!!! Now they don't match!!
ReplyDeleteI haven't decided on the Shatter Me covers. I haven't read the book yet (though I own the original cover), so I'll wait and see. If I love it, I might replace my copy.
Oh that is the worst when you own them already! Andrea brought up a really good point and said that publishers should offer free book jackets for people who already own the series, I think that's a great idea!
DeleteOh my goodreads! (I've decided I'm going to say that all the time now :P haha)
ReplyDeleteWhen I saw the title of this post I couldn't help but start chanting "Yes, Yes!" haha I completely agree! I HATE mid-series cover changes! They make me sooooo angry!!! I'm totally fine with it changing when all the books are in paperback...but I totally agree that they should all match in Hardcover...I just hate it so much and it makes me sad. :S
I totally preferred the original Across the Universe covers too...and I loved your guesses on what's happened in the books! Too funny! :P Altho I've only read the first one so far...so maybe you're right. ;) I hadn't actually looked at the two Born Wicked covers side-by-side yet, but I do like the original better...it was so regal looking and so pretty...the new one looks kind of like a typical cover. :P
I love the new Shatter Me cover! I have the original in Hardcover, but at least it's shiny...I do agree that the new one is better though. It's pretty wicked looking! :D I also do love the new covers for the Delirium trilogy...and in that case I did buy the first book twice. :P haha
I also hated the cover change for the Curse Workers trilogy by Holly Black...hate, hate that one! The new ones are so ugly. :S And I hated the Nightshade trilogy one too...the new ones look so skanky....and I actually mean skanky. The cover model is posed in leather pants with her legs spread wide open in the second one...just horrible. I just find them to be such ugly covers. :S
In general with cover changes it depends on the series. In the case of the Across the Universe and the Curse Workers trilogies I bought the last book in a different cover...which frankly really bothers me...and makes me feel slightly OCD. :P If I'm so/so about a series I just boycott the rest of it. I got an ARC of Wolfsbane (the 2nd Nightshade book), and I didn't like it that much...so I just never finished the series. I might eventually take the third book out from the library again though...we'll see. But, my knee-jerk reaction is usually to boycott the hardcover...if it's not gonna match already I'll usually borrow it from the library or wait to get myself a paperback since it already doesn't match anymore. :P
hahaha I like that! OH MY GOODREADS!
DeleteIt makes me sad too, I really wish I didn't care as much as I do but I hate having mis matched books.
LOL the ship was frozen and then it melted! It sounds plausible to me!
Oh I didn't know the Shatter Me original one was shiny. I like shiny!
Yeah it's way better when it's a series that I don't plan on continuing on with, it only stings when it's a series that I love.
I'm gonna try and get it to catch on. :P haha
DeleteI wish I didn't either. I've been trying to not care as much, but I haven't had much success. :P
Totally plausible! Now I don't need to finish the series. :P haha
It's really pretty actually, and sooooo shiny! I do really like the new ones though. They're a lot more unique...especially since the "girl in a dress" cover is pretty overused. :P
My thoughts exactly! :)
I am with you. I dislike when you get a series and you can tell that the cover NO Where near matching the ones you have in your collections or when you order a book online and you find out that the book you order is not even close what the seller is describing. (I am sorry but to me library withdrawns that have marking and tags still on the book aren't like new acceptable maybe ...)
ReplyDeleteOh wow, yeah that is not good. When I see like new it better not have anything stuck to it (stickers or otherwise) and no creases!
DeleteOMG, JENNI, COCER CHANGES GIVE ME A RAGE-BONER.
ReplyDeleteI loved Shatter Me, but I refuse to read Unravel Me b/c I freaking hate the new covers. I hate the new covers of the White Cat books by Holly Black too.
You know what? Publishers should offer readers FREE or very cheap jackets when they do a re-design. That way we can have matching covers. Even when we hate them.
I liked the old The Sea of Tranquility cover. The pennies and water were very symbolic. But that always seems to happen when self-pubbed sell.
So. It seems I have FEELINGS on this subject.
Rage-Boner bahahaha LOVE IT!
DeleteOh no! That's not good when you hate the change so much you don't want to continue on. I never read the first one in that series.
That's such a great idea! (Better than my idea of stealing book jackets LOL) I had never thought of that!
I looked up TSoT's original cover and I really like it too, I am curious about the pennies!
I love the feelings! Bring em on!
There are a few series that I really want, but I am not going to buy them until the series is done. I am OCD and things have to match, it is so irritating to have them change them. So I am right with you.
ReplyDeleteJenea @ Books Live Forever
It's a good idea to hold off until all of the books are released. It seems like pretty much every series is getting revamps these days.
DeleteI did a post on this awhile back because I'm just like you and judge every book by their covers =X lol It's hard not to though. And really that's the purpose of a cover in the first place right? I also agree that I like to have all my books match, but sadly I'm too poor to buy new versions of books (unless maybe I justify it by doing a giveaway for older versions?) haha. Here's my post if you feel like checking it out. http://harleybearbookblog.blogspot.com/2012/07/cover-makeovers-good-or-bad.html
ReplyDeleteYes! I am so happy to not be alone. Doing the giveaway for the older version is a good way to justify the purchase for sure. I will have to go and check out your post.
DeleteI didn’t watch the video because I’m pretending to work but OMG, I freaking HATE cover changes! Except for The Vincent Boys series by Abbi Glines, I don’t think I’ve liked any others. The most tragic is the Across the Universe series. The originals where so beautiful, why change them at the last book.
ReplyDeletePublishers take note: don’t change covers mid series!
Love that you still wanted to weigh in even having not watched the video! Yeah the Across the Universe ones are bad, I talk about them in it.
DeleteMid-series cover changes don't bother me when they're for the better, but they're often not. I will never be not pissed about the change to the Jackson Pearce covers. *throws things*
ReplyDeleteBoo, you (cover) whore!
I don't care about my series matching, because I buy my books used most of the time, so it's sort of catch as catch can. Well, stealing book jackets probably wouldn't work, because the first book usually only comes out in paperback with the new cover.
Yup, Across the Universe got so much more boring. It actually had another set that came out with the second one. Then it was redesigned again with the third book. This is redesigning gone MAD. I've read it, and I think the first redesign was perhaps most accurate, but I like the first set better. The final covers are boring and ugly. I also like typography, but that font is blah.
Graaaar! The new Born Wicked is so lame and cheesy. If they ever make it into a made for tv movie, though, they've got the poster now!
Ugh, I hate the new Shatter Me cover. There are way too many eye covers. Also, why are the eyelashes trees? The poofy dress doesn't work either. I don't think either has anything to do with the book. Ugh, eye cover. HATE IT. SO BORING AND NOT UNIQUE. Neither is unique, but I'd take the dress.
I also prefer the original Delirium cover. The other two look weird because of her face. I like the first one sort of, but meh.
I'll have to look up the Pearce ones, I don't think I have seen those.
DeleteMean Girls FTW!
I love that you don't care about it. It probably adds personality to your shelf to not have everything all perfect matchy matchy, but I just can't do it.
Yeah I noticed that there was another cover change in that series but didn't even want to touch on how often it changed in the video.
Movie poster is a good idea, very good idea! Have you read that one? I still have to.
Yeah? I really like them! That dress is so bad, I just can't like that one over the eye. It's so bad. Though someone mentioned that it's a very shiny dress cover and I like shiny!
I think to like the original Delirium one I would have had to have seen how they did the second one to match and how they tie together, but I didn't get that opportunity. *sigh*
I'm so glad you aren't giving up the discussion vlogs completely - I think I would miss them! And YES I am totally anal about that, too. Maybe not as bad as you because I wouldn't rebuy the new covers because I'm cheap. But it frustrates me just as much. The Across the Universe series is one of the worse offences. The original covers were actually some of my favourite all time covers so I'm sad that they felt they should change it - I assume they feel that the new covers will be more boy friendly and hopefully attract new male readers. But yeah, completely agree with your choices, both for the better and for the worse!
ReplyDeleteWHOO so excited for this!
ReplyDeleteOk the Shatter Me I agree the original was lamers, but WHAT THE HECK DOES THE EYE MEAN? I'm one who has GET the cover and what it has to do with the story (hey this could be one of our topics!!!), and when there is no connection I get annoyed. And the eye, it makes no sense! I like the new Delirium etc covers better. The old was kind of plain I found.
I totally agree with you on the Beth Revis covers, I loooove the original, and I didn't even realise it was the same series when everyone has been raving about the 3rd one.
ReplyDeleteI loved the original Delirium :( and it was hardback, and the second 1 was only in
paperback (that I could find in shops here).
I hate when they change the size of books as well! Like sometimes they have a big paperback version, and it just doesn't sit on the shelf nicely.
I love your vlogs, except the only thing I could think of during this one was that you pronounce meme like mee-m and I always thought it was mem. Is mee-m an Americanism?
I don't mind if they do different covers for paperbacks but I prefer that all hardcovers and all paperbacks match. I was very upset about Shades of Earth. The first two were so pretty and I expected a beautiful scene of the new planet to be the cover and then it was just plain old text on a stone thingy! Shatter Me wasn't an exciting cover but I also don't get the eye thing. I actually rather liked the plain Delirium cover. I like the new covers too but I feel like all three new covers look practically the same. All Lena. I mostly buy kindle books now so I guess it doesn't matter too much. I only buy series from my favorite authors or when they all have the same covers that I like LOL
ReplyDeleteThis totally infuriates me! I can not afford to keep rebuying books to make the covers match on my shelf...so I end up buying a lot less and borrowing a lot more! Wonder how that affects their marketing?!
ReplyDeleteAnd the worst is when you have a signed copy! And then they change covers! You can't just run out and get a new signed copy with the new cover! *cries*
Oh man it's SO frustrating when covers change! I end up trying desperately to track down the covers I want, although I refuse to throw more money at publishers rebuying books (maybe that's their evil grand master plan!)
ReplyDeleteTotally agree on the Across the Universe series - I don't like the new covers at all, the original ones are so pretty and the new ones are kinda cold.
I loved the original cover for Delirium, the girl faces are just a bit generic for me.
I definitely prefer covers to match. AND the size of the books. I have Carrie Ryan's Forest of Hands and Teeth series and the first book is just a smidge shorter than the other ones. It drives me nuts!
ReplyDeleteI really didn't start to care about covers until blogging though -- NOW I want my books to be the same covers, same size, etc. I hate it when I own and love books in a series and then they change the covers. Like Beth Revis's Across the Universe series. That one is crazy mixed up for me -- I have the first one in softcover, the second on hardcover (both signed), and now the third one is out in hardcover BUT with a changed cover from the first two.
Ah well. It ticks me off sometimes but there's not much I can do about it. I wish publishers would at least release a set of the same covers before they go changing things.
Cover change-ups drive me absolutely nuts!! Although I didn't mind the first Shatter Me cover, I do agree that the new ones are very eye-catching and unique. But this particular switch really irks me because I met Tahereh Mafi a couple days back and had her sign my original Shatter Me. Then I purchased/got Unravel Me signed as well. I didn't want to pay for a book I already had, so now I've got both different-styled books sitting on the shelf tormenting me D:
ReplyDeleteI definitely think that they should continue with one design, and then either re-release the hardcovers, or paperbacks in the "better" design. It almost seems like a business ploy to get us to by more books!