Books I’ve Bought Based on their Covers

Last updated on 8 January 2025

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‘Never judge a book by it’s cover’

It’s a saying that I have never, nor will I ever, adhere to. I have always, ever since I can remember, judged books on their covers. But only at first glance.

It doesn’t swing both sways. If I have read the book and loved it, but it has an atrociously bad cover, it won’t sway my final verdict on the story. But I probably wouldn’t pick up a book that I hadn’t heard of if the cover didn’t immediately grab my attention.

There are many books on my shelf right now that have both been read and are waiting to be read that I have picked up from stores and book sales purely based on their covers. I might have read the back description, sure, but it was their covers that really grabbed me, pulled me in and whispered, ‘buy me, I’m pretty’. Like these ones…

Books I’ve bought based on their covers … oops

The Bone Season | Samantha Shannon

I hadn’t heard of this book before I bought it. But the cover definitely grabbed me. I love the layers of this cover. The numbers, and the gold arrows, the flower at the top. Love.It. Read my review here.

Solitaire | Alice Oseman

You can’t tell in this photo, sorry, but the spine of this book is bright orange. I think it was that that made me pull if from the store shelf. And then I saw the cover and that was it. Of course, the description interested me too, but it was the cover and spine that made me pick it up.

Endgame – The Calling | James Frey

Now this one I had actually heard of. But it was really when I saw it that I decided it would be worth a read. Yikes, as I write that I know how bad it sounds. THat’s the truth though. I love the gold of this cover, and the snakes eating each other’s tails. I haven’t read this one yet.

Firstlife | Gena Showalter

What I love more than an hourglass on a book cover is an hour glass with cities in it. This is such a neat idea and I love it. Hadn’t really heard of this book because I saw it at the store.

A Thousand Pieces of You | Claudia Gray

I had actually heard of this one before I bought it, but it was definitely the cover that grabbed me. Look at it. Look.At. It. Love the cityscapes and the greys in the top half vs the colourful bottom half. Such a great combination. Well done, cover designer, well done. Read my review here on Blogger’s Bookshelf.

City of Halves | Laura Inglis

Had never heard of this book or seen it anywhere until I spotted it in a sale bin or something similar. I like the double exposure effect of this one; the city elements and the faces. Loving the green on black too. Unfortunately, this wasn’t the greatest book. I mean, it was okay, just not fantastic.

Venom | Fiona Paul

Another one I had never heard of before I saw it. But I liked the dress. And that’s about it. I did read the back, and it sounded okay. Have yet to read it, but it’s set in Renaissance Venice, which is an era I never read so I thought I’d give it a go.

The Jewel | Amy Ewing

This is such a pretty cover! I love the colours and the dress and while it’s quite Matched-esque, it’s really neat. I haven’t read this yet either, but I’ll get there.

Carnival of Souls | Melissa Marr

This book is also called Untamed City – Carnival of Secrets (it’s confusing, I know).  Another one I found in a sale bin and hadn’t heard of. I loved this book, and not just the cover. But it was the cover that got my attention. I love the fire and the mask. So great. Read my review here.

Dance of Shadows | Yelena Black

Yet another one found in a sale bin. I love the blues and reds in this cover, and how her dress sort of crumbles and floats off her.

Fire Spell | Laura Amy Schlitz

I love love love this cover. I love the puppet, the moon, the cityscape, the firewriting. It’s just so great. Had never heard of this, and still haven’t read it.

The Fire Sermon | Francesca Haig

Maybe it’s a fire thing. Or a red thing. But again, really enjoy this cover, and it wasn’t one I had heard of before seeing it.

Fire and Flood | Victoria Scott

So glad I judged this book on its cover, because it was a really cool book. I loved the feather on fire, and the dark and the red. Ah! So good. Read my review here on Blogger’s Bookshelf.

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So there we have it! Quite a few books, the majority of which are ones that I bought not knowing anything about them, or only briefly seen them on Goodreads or elsewhere, which I have bought based on their covers.

*Raises a glass to cover designers* Because although it’s the story that really draws people in and makes you fall in love fictional characters, and want to travel to different cities, different worlds…it’s the cover that really grabs the attention, especially at first.

There must be books that you’ve seen and either bought or borrowed from the library based on their cover?
It’s not just me?
Do share!