The last time I blogged, I shared the responses readers gave when I asked what inspires them to try a new author. You seemed to enjoy that data and since I’m a data-loving girl, I’m back with the results of a few polls I recently ran concerning cover preferences!
You may have noticed in recent years that contemporary romances as well as some historical romances published in the wider “general” market now have illustrated covers. That style of cover has done tremendously well in that market so I was curious to see how my core group of Christian fiction readers liked illustrated covers.
I showed them the two cover examples pictured below and asked which style they preferred for a Christian contemporary romance. A photo? Or illustrated?
On Facebook, 69% preferred photos, 18% preferred illustrated. A third of both those groups indicated they’d read either type. 13% didn’t have a preference.
On Instagram, the number who preferred photos was even more decisive. 78%.
So then I ran another poll. I showed them the below two cover examples of photo covers and asked which style they preferred for a Christian contemporary romance. With people? Or without people?
This result was much closer!
38% preferred a photo of people. 38% were happy with both types. 24% preferred no people.
In reading all the comments, it became clear that almost across the board readers hate it when the cover people do not resemble the characters described in the book.
Other interesting patterns that emerged…. Quite a few readers who prefer covers with people don’t want to see their faces. Some commented (and I agree) that covers with people are more likely to go wrong than covers of scenery. They don’t love covers that are “too busy”. But they do enjoy covers that give a feel for the setting and/or symbolize some aspect of the story.
I’d love to hear your thoughts about the above! What are your cover preferences?
My friend Courtney Walsh and I are currently running a Valentine’s giveaway! Two winners will each win print copies of both of our upcoming books — What Matters Most and Turn to Me. One winner will also win a box of chocolates. And the other winner will receive a nail polish set. Enter via the box below! USA only, please.
Happy Valentine’s Day! Love, Becky
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Becky Wade
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This is fascinating! Thanks for doing the research for the rest of us, Becky! Really interesting stats!
I love asking questions like this and then keeping track of the answers! I’m always interested in the perspective that provides. 🙂
What an interesting post, Becky. I love seeing what other readers think. In covers, it’s fun to see the characters faces. It’s a glimpse into the story before it begins. Have a beautiful weekend!
Those who enjoy seeing faces on covers enjoy that for exactly the reason your mention — it helped them visualize the characters.
Courtney, your post comparing covers with photos vs illustrations is wonderful. I’ve wondered about everything you mentioned, and I’m glad to hear you did polls on the subject. Very interested to hear that the readers who prefer photos on the covers hate it when they don’t look like the characters in the book.. You’ve done some great research here!
I’m glad to hear you found the post interesting! Thanks for stopping by the blog!
Yikes, I goofed and said the post about covers is by Courtney. Wrong! So sorry, Becky Wade. In looking back, I see you are the brilliant author of the post about covers! Please accept my apologies!
– Lois
Absolutely no problem at all! 🙂
I love covers with photography. To me, illustrated covers are distancing. I feel more included in the story when there’s a photograph.
Good insight! There is something about a lovely photo that does draw you in. Maybe because you’re seeing what the photographer actually saw at that moment in time?
Interesting results to say the least. I must say that for those who are bothered when the people on the cover don’t resemble the characters descriptions in the book, here’s the thing. Authors don’t always have the last say on the cover design. One of my books from a while back described the heroine as a brunette and when the book came out the woman was very blonde!!! I was shown the cover before the book went to press and asked the designer change the hair color on the model to brunette, but she said she didn’t know how. So blonde it stayed and I had to go through the entire final draft and change every reference to her hair color to blonde. Still to this day, I picture her as a brunette LOL.
Ha! I can well imagine why you still see that character as brunette — seeing as how she WAS brunette in your head from the start. 😉
You’re exactly right — if authors are with a publisher they usually don’t have the last say on cover design. Which can be challenging in a situation like the one you describe.
Thank you for the giveaway.
My pleasure!
This is so interesting, Becky. I’ve noticed the trend for illustrated covers, especially for books with lighthearted themes, whether historical or contemporary. I think the illustrated covers help a book stand out in the current landscape since they aren’t as common, so I was expecting the numbers in your poll to go the opposite way. Being an author with photographic covers, I’m rather happy that readers still feel drawn to those covers most strongly.
I was surprised by the preference for photo covers over illustrated! Personally, I really like both styles. It seems that general market readers are leaning toward illustrated covers so it was interesting (and affirming) to learn that the majority of my readership still sides with photos.
I prefer photo covers, but it’s a huge pet peeve of mine when the models do not match how they’re described in the book. I get that it’s out of the author’s control at times, but it’s off-putting when they don’t sync and makes me wonder if the publisher even read the book.
To me illustrated covers are cute and quirky, but doesn’t have the same draw or connection to me as a photograph.
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“I prefer photo covers, but it’s a huge pet peeve of mine when the models do not match how they’re described in the book.” I found that many, many readers echo this sentiment. I understand and agree!
I first see color. Bright spring and summer colors are favs. Because my eyes are getting ‘old’ clear contrast of color is next component to hold attention. I do love a picture that gives a ‘preview’ of the content.
I love reading the making of a book cover posts that include the models and equally fascinating is reading a bit about the model(s) on the cover. And I ADORE that you feature real life couples on your covers. I think I fall in the “I find both types equally appealing”, but do love the back story when there are people on the cover.
Absolutely hate it when the people on the cover do not match the descriptions of the characters in the story. I wonder what the publisher was thinking. I can go either way on whether or not the covers should show people. I do like it when a cover gives me an idea of the setting of the story and genre through the scene presented.
In the four-book series I wrote, just concluded, I’ve supplied my publisher with vintage postcards from my home area where the books are set. I’ve been able to find postcards fitting the storyline for each book. Both the front and back covers. A headshot of the heroine is always included on the cover. I’ve loved the covers, but now I’m wondering if on my next book, which will include the storyline partially set in the same area, I should continue with the postcard on the cover (if my publisher agrees). The story will still be set in the same area but with new characters. By the way, postcards are considered public domain. I haven’t yet started writing the story, so there’s time to think about it LOL!