Clean Romances discussion

Hi, Everyone

I don't know if this question has been asked, but I'd like to know everyone's opinion on this subject:

To all readers, when you see a book cover, mostly modern romance and chicklit, that's features animated figures, would you be drawn to it? How do you feel about them?

As a reader, when I see them I tend not to take them seriously. I think it must be a humorous romance. But as an author, I would like to give it a try, but I don't know how it would go over with readers.

Animated? How, exactly?

These for example:

https://2pa9zy3uyl15410oxq43477o-wpen...

https://2pa9zy3uyl15410oxq43477o-wpen...

https://2pa9zy3uyl15410oxq43477o-wpen...

I agree, they work for humorous romance novels / cozy mysteries, but they do look rather cheap, unsophisticated.


I prefer a more drawn style over these computer generated images, like for example:
Pineapple Lies
Murder on the Page

It looks less generic.

As far as for adult books, I think animated covers would do well for instructional non-fiction, like "For Dummies" kind of stuff.
Without reading the words, those examples first come across as children's books. But I don't think they look cheap, they just don't look like they're meant for adults.

I think it's great! A well-illustrated and engaging cover always makes me more interested in a book. I think that stock images and photos make a book look tired, cheap, and generic.

Gerd wrote: "I agree, they work for humorous romance novels / cozy mysteries, but they do look rather cheap, unsophisticated.

I prefer a more drawn style over these computer generated images, like for example..."

I agree with Gerd.

I love some of the well-drawn cozy mystery covers, and when I see one, I immediately think that the book is a cozy mystery: . For romances I like well-drawn cover art (or photos): .

I agree, the ones that the two of you show are really nice. They don't look as cheap as some of the ones I've seen. I also think that if you're going to use a full human body, those, to me, are better than stock photos. I never liked real faces on fiction novels, especially romance.

Not a huge fan of cartoony style drawn covers. They make the book look cheap and unprofessional. I'd rather see something that catches my eye like the beautiful cozy mystery covers posted above.

They are nice, QNPoohBear. I'm with you. Cartoony? No.

I have been looking at the books with the animated covers, and I've decided it's not for me. Whenever I see one, I can't take the story serious despite the fact that it's a cozy murder mystery. It just does not pull me in. If a book is about murder, I'd like the cover to portray the seriousness of it. But that's just me.

I really dislike them. I'm picking up a book, not a movie. I want an attractive cover which makes me curious about the story inside. The animation distracts me.

I must admit I associate those covers with cheap and cheerful, the worst kind of chick lit... so I tend to gloss over them.

I couldn't agree more. Thanks for your input, Jana and Louise Sparrow:) Maybe this will help more authors think before they go that route.