Isn’t this what we think of when we think of erotic romance covers? A couple in a hot embrace with plenty of skin showing?

Then FIFTY SHADES OF GREY came along and now we’re seeing more of this:

 What do you think of the new covers? Would rather your romance cover be less sexy and more “mainstream” or as many have said, “more respectable” ?

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By Miscellaneous30 Comments on To judge or not judge a book by its cover…that is the question.

30 Replies to “To judge or not judge a book by its cover…that is the question.”

  1. I’m not bothered by covers either way. But I do like how a more conservative cover can entice a reader who might be wary of purchasing a romance novel because *they* don’t want to be judged for their reading tastes. So covers without the man chest or nekkid embrace can help authors, I think. 🙂

    Although in a perfect world, it wouldn’t ever matter. 😀

  2. I like the new covers shown. (But I haven’t read those books.) Often, I find covers turn me off books more than they draw me in. I prefer characters to “look” like the author’s description, rather than the cover models who frequently don’t match. It really bugs me when a blonde appears as a brunette, or when a terribly scarred hero is model-perfect on the cover. And why do 5’4″ heroines stand eye-to-eye with their 6’2″ heroes? Maybe I’m too literal, but visually interesting covers that relate and don’t mislead are my favorites.

  3. Most of the time I like the sexy covers (there have been only a few that I thought went a little too far but to each his own). It definitely let’s you know what kind of a read it is so no surprises. The real conservative covers may shock some readers – the ones that don’t pay attention lol. I have never been afraid to let people know what I am reading.

  4. I definitely like when the covers are subdued, if a couple is all naked and making out on the front cover it makes the book seem more trashy and people definitely judge the book without giving it a chance.

  6. I prefer the more conservative covers but I definitely have a sliding scale for the sexy covers. The one above is quite tame compared to some I have seen. I just will not buy one that has over the top sexual cover art.

  8. I guess it depends for me what the cover looks like. I do feel like the covers for erotica are trying to hide the fact that they’re erotica by subduing sexy covers. It’s like hiding the fact that you’re reading a romance novel [especially an erotica].
    But I due love my sexy covers for Historical Romances!

  9. I’m sorry but I can’t tell BARED TO YOU is an erotic novel…I like to tell something about a book from it’s cover. For example I expect plaid on the cover of a Scottish Highlander Historical. If it’s romance and not just mainstream female fiction I want to be able to tell from the cover. I am a loyal author reader and if I know an author already I’ll buy their book no matter the cover…But if the author is new to me the cover has to grab me to get me to pick it up and investigate! I really don’t need to add to my author list but if the cover get’s my attention I will consider it. The next step is the blurb on the back. If it peaks my interest then I’ll thumb through it to see if I’ll buy.
    Cover’s grab my attention by color & artistry, design/layout and props that let me know what kind of story it is.

  10. I think it’s all part of the natural evolution of book covers —

    I miss the painted covers of the 80s and 90s — and now we have lots of photos/digitally-rendered covers.

    We also went through a period of “discreet” book covers back then (I’m thinking of the original covers of Johanna Lindsey, Julie Garwood and Judith McNaught — and then the covers of their succeeding printing) —

    The new covers are fine — it will be a challenge to market the books properly, though because one can’t tell what it is about based on the covers.

    1. Yeah, I agree. If readers can’t figure out what genre it is at first glance, it’s harder to market them. But the covers I have above are being heavily marketed as erotic romance. Not sure books with cover like that that are NOT being heavily promoted will find their targeted audience.

  12. I would like for “romance novels” to look like any other genre’s novels, but like Tin says – how the heck would we know it’s romance??

    50 has a good point, but I will personally avoid anything that uses its marketing strategy. It looks like the publisher is unsure of its own product and wants to mimick someone else’s. Well if they don’t think the book is outstanding and original why do I want to read it? I don’t. (Sylvia Day has no worries. She’s Sylvia Day.)

    I’d love for the front and spine to look like a regular novel and for the first page inside be what we’re used to seeing. That or someone start selling paperback “covers” to cover our romance novels. It’d be cool to personalize that.

  13. I don’t mind sexy covers but sometimes I feel silly bringing them to the counter if they are too ridiculous.

  14. I purchase alot of my reading materials via amazon, and I have to say, I ABSOLUTELY HATE the new covers – mainly because amazon doesn’t seperate “erotica” from “historical” like it does “historical” versus “contemporary”. I used to be able to tell from the covers, but I have found that now I have to look at each and ever word in the blurb about the book to determine whether the book is something I want to read.

    1. Oh I never noticed that. Since its electronic they could use whatever erotic-type cover they want., too. I wonder if they’re losing sales…

  15. I prefer the old fashioned clinch covers with people. I don’t like covers with inanimate objects. I find them very boring. I prefer bright covers and pretty background scenes.

  16. I want something that’s going to catch my eye. If it doesn’t going to catch my eye then I’m not going to decide its something for me to read. I’m not sure if I like the whole 50 shades theme that some covers are going towards.

  17. I guess it would make it easier to read outside of the comfort of your home, but the covers are not as eye catching and if I were going for a steamy read would skip over them for some hot skin on the cover.

  18. Until I bought my kindle you would never catch me buying a book with an overtly sexy cover. OMG I would blush uncontrollably if I had to walk up to the counter..and if it was busy. Eeeeeek!!! I will say that now buying a majority of books on Kindle has opened up a lot of books that I might have passed up before.

  19. I always thought the woman pulling her dress up to show her leg was downright silly, but I guess I like women in colorful dresses. They catch my eye. I liked the partials of women in famous paintings – Candice Hern’s Merry Widows series come to mind.
    I didn’t like either of the grey covers you showed. In a store I would never even pick them up to read the synopsis on the back cover.
    I noticed that the last year brought a deluge of monochromatic covers. Some I hated. Some like “Scandal Wears Satin”, “Ravishing the Heiress”, and”A Night Like This” I found very lovely and bought them immediately. Of course, I love those authors’ books and would have bought them anyway. The covers seemed very romantic. 🙂

  20. I like covers with romantic couples– it is romance, after all! I think I see what they are trying to do– attract a broader aduience, maybe– but really, the cover changes nothing to the book itself. Everone still knows what your reading. I mean, come on. It doesn’t matter what the cover is. It could be a picture of a nun and say 50 Shades of Grey and everyone would know what you were reading– cover ain’t foolin no one! 😉 Don’t be ashamed to read what you enjoy– no matter the cover!

  21. I have been stopped in my tracks by a colorful and gorgeous cover be it man, woman, gown or couple. I have ended up reading new Authors and books because the cover caught my attention . Well, that and the back blurb. I liked the 50 shades for Christian’s story but I’m not really fond of it with so many other books. For me it makes m think dark, down and troubled
    Thanks for the post.
    Carol L.
    Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) com

  22. I’d prefer book covers to be original. As a YA librarian, I’ve had to suffer through all of the Twilightization of contemporary YA fiction covers as well as reprints of classics. YUCK. So, I’m really over the 50 Shades of Grey like covers. I understand marketing, but I think book designers might be losing their creativity. Also, I don’t mind a little bit of beef cake on my cover.

  23. It is hard not to make a snap judgement about a book when the cover is rather blatantly flaunting half naked bodies. I really do appreciate a more subtle approach. Landscape or item covers make you read the blurb to find out more about the story and make a bit more of an informed choice. The covers should reflect at least some of the elements of the story.

  24. I like the Fifty Shades type covers better. I think it is in keeping with most other types of stories nowadays where there are clues about the story but it is left to your imagination.

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