PROPOSED NEW COVER > Likes and Comments

I am trying a revision of my novel cover --and yes, it is a novel, not a graphic novel--and I want to get some unbiased opinions about it.

I deliberately blacked out the category on the award as that's one of the questions I'm interested in.

1) Do you like the cover and does it make you want to pick it up?
2) What do you think the genre is?
3) What age range do you think this book is for?
4) Any additional thoughts or comments?

1. It's okay. I think it's serviceable, but it could have better cohesion (there are 2 different art styles - the paper airplane looks more clipart-ish or hand-drawn while the girl on the cover looks more professional. I like the title and author font, but the subtitle throws off the harmony. For me, it's too bold and the white border is too thick.

2) Middle Grade Contemporary or Humorous Adventure (it also gives me self-help book vibes as well).

3) 8 - 12 years old

4) Congratulations on the award!

1. As DT said, there's more than one art style here and it does look like clip art. Especially the paper plane. Not a big fan of questions like, "What could go wrong?" when I have no idea what the book is about. When I see a cover that looks as if it didn't take a lot of planning to put together, I assume the writing is much the same and, no, I won't pick it up.

2. Humor.

3. I don't really write or think in terms of age groups, so I'm no help there.

4. I looked up your book and at the cover you have on Goodreads. I like it better. The one on Amazon is a little cluttered, but I think it's even better than this one. Why do you want to change?

1) Do you like the cover and does it make you want to pick it up?

No, but I dont think I am the target audience for this.

2) What do you think the genre is?

Young adult, something like Diary for a Wimpy Kid.

3) What age range do you think this book is for?

Teens, maybe younger.

4) Any additional thoughts or comments?

I've no idea what its about from the cover. If its not aimed at kids, I dont know what it is.

D.T. wrote: "1. It's okay. I think it's serviceable, but it could have better cohesion (there are 2 different art styles - the paper airplane looks more clipart-ish or hand-drawn while the girl on the cover loo..."

Thanks for the feedback. I appreciate it a lot.

Dwayne wrote: "1. As DT said, there's more than one art style here and it does look like clip art. Especially the paper plane. Not a big fan of questions like, "What could go wrong?" when I have no idea what the ..."

Fair enough... my thought was that it was clearly related to her "perfect plan" but obviously that did not come across.

Also, trust me "not putting enough planning into the cover isn't the problem..." I've done endless iterations but, again, if it comes off as cobbled together that's a problem.

Is this the one you liked? Because that one got listed on a "crappy covers site"... :)

As to your question as to why I'm changing the cover, despite the award and great reviews, it's not selling well and I keep on hearing over and over that "it doesn't look like a YA Cover" and that the cover is holding it back. So I'm trying to find a better one. I had settled on the one you saw on Amazon but, as you said, loads of people are telling me it's too busy.

P. Pherson wrote: "1) Do you like the cover and does it make you want to pick it up?

No, but I dont think I am the target audience for this.

2) What do you think the genre is?

Young adult, something like Diary for..."

Thanks for the feedback. It's useful.

Kendall wrote: "Fair enough... my thought was that it was clearly related to her "perfect plan" but obviously that did not come across."

Yes, I understood that. But, having not read the book, I don't know what her "perfect plan" is.

Does this one work better for anyone?