Clean Romances discussion

I was just wondering how many of you judge a book by its cover? I realize that some times if I don't like the cover, I won't even read the book summary to see if I might like the book. How about you guys? Unless it is an author I know, I admit, I do judge a book by its cover!!!

I don't ever look at the cover and then from that not bother with the summary (apart from if there is a dodgy looking image/partial dressed people etc) other wise I decide on the summary, but I do like the cover to look good. I mean, the cover attracts you at first in a book. So, covers are important!

I agree that covers are important. I just know that some times if I am browsing through books if the cover is bad, I won't even bother! It is sad to admit but it is true for me! I think a cover has to be nice to attract a reader to it in the first place :)

It does have to be nice, but I try to at least still read the summary! But, I imgine I have done at least once!!

I judge a book by it's cover to a point. If it has scantily clad people on it, I know it's not for me. I also don't care for sci-fi and can usually tell by most covers that they are that type.

I guess I can say that I rule out books by their cover but will read the summary if I'm not sure about it.

I totally judge a book by the cover, I admit, unless its by one of my tried and true fav authors, then cover doesn't matter so much. Also by the title, a good title can sucker me in!

Some covers are very off-putting, some blurbs are too, too exaggerated. What I do is read the first page, and/or a page in the middle. Someone once said page 99 is the perfect one to judge by!

Thanks ladies, it makes me feel better to know that some people feel the same way that I do! And I agree that some times a cover can tell me that I don't want to read the book by what is shown on its cover!

I agree...I judge my the cover. I also agree, to a point, if I know the author, I will buy more quickly even if the cover is not so great. I also agree with Melody, the title is important. Make or break.

I definitely judge by the cover even though I know it's not always accurate.

Covers catch my eye first then may download a sample before purchasing the novel.

I try not too but yes a lot of times I do.It's almost always the cover that makes me look at the book.If I think I will like it after reading reviews and the back I put it on my list to read or buy it.

Great discussion. I redesigned my book covers for this very reason. My covers do not have people on them, but they were very dark looking. Since my new publisher changed the look and feel, they have been selling much better. I also offer a free download of the first three chapters befor you buy the book. This, too has been a good feature. Feel free to check them out. I would love to have your opinion. Http://RowenaPortch.com.

As much as I try not to, realizing that often authors have minimal control of their covers... I find that oftentimes covers DO impact my buying. I can't help feeling very against buying a book with a cover that's clearly sloopily made and very ugly. The story inside might be great but the lack of quality control and artistic merit on the outside makes me question how much care is taken for the proof reading, grammar, and characters inside... The quality of some epublishers' covers is frankly shameful and imo inexcuseable. I refuse to purchase and thus reward them for it.

I judge mine by the cover considerably, particularly when I am just scanning through a list of hundreds of books. Cover and title and extremely important to me.

That being said, I will not limit my books to just those with interesting covers, but they definitely impact my buying.

I read the cover and the back blurb. If the cover looks very unprofessional and the blurb shows a plot exactly like a ton of other cliche ridden plots, then I won't buy it.

Thanks everyone for all of the comments! This is a fun discussion! I suppose that we can all say that to a certain point, we do judge a book by its cover!

I judge by the cover but I don't at the same time. Just because a romance has a garden on the front instead of a half naked person does not mean it is clean; at least that is what I have learned.