Follow Friday is hosted by Parajunkee’s View and Alison Can Read.
Today’s Question: Have you ever looked at a book’s cover and thought “This is going to be horrible” but were instead pleasantly surprised? Show us the cover and tell us about the book.
I don’t know that I’ve ever thought that before reading a book, but there are a lot of books that I think deserve more accurate covers. I feel like so many YA novels have such teeny bopper covers (maybe that’s not exactly the right word, but you know what I mean), and it really sells the actual content of the book short.
The Boys Next Door by Jennifer Echols is just one example. You guys, I am IN LOVE with this book. For real. And I don’t hate the design, I just think the cartoonish cover makes the book look fluffier than it is. It doesn’t fully describe the awesomeness that is inside.
There are many other examples but I’ll stop for now. (And yes, I am aware that the cover design for the bind-up of The Boys Next Door and its sequel was changed partly because of this reason. Yay!)
TGIF is hosted by Ginger at GReads!
Promote an Author: Is there a particular author you wish got more recognition? Pick on author and tell us why we should read their work.
Vivian Vande Velde! I feel like nobody has ever heard of her, which is RIDICULOUS because I adore her books and she definitely deserves more recognition. Her books are usually all-out fantasy or have some element of fantasy to them, and they’re funny, which I love.
One of my favorites is Heir Apparent (which apparently is aimed at slightly younger readers but I totally DO NOT CARE because you guys, this book is AWESOME). It’s about a girl who gets stuck inside a virtual reality game and the only way to get out (and save her life) is to win the game, but she keeps dying and the game keeps starting over and over and over. Very clever writing and lots and lots of laughs.
My other favorite is Companions of the Night which is actually one of my favorite books of all time. It’s about vampires, but it’s not the same tired vampire story that I see so much of these days. It’s beautiful. I always recommend it when someone says they’re looking for a good vampire novel.One of my best friends has been lucky enough to meet Vivian several times, and she’s been kind enough to get me signed copies of a few of her books (the two mentioned above, among others), which I will treasure for ever and ever.
Go check this author out, everyone! You won’t regret it, I promise. :) (Also, does she not have the coolest name ever??)
Find Vivian Vande Velde:
Happy Friday, everyone! Let me know if you’re a new follower and I’ll come follow you!
This Week on From A to Z:
I am really not a fan of the cartoonish covers either.
ReplyDeleteOld Follower!
Beth ^_^
http://sweetbooksnstuff.blogspot.com/
that cover is kind of bland, huh? LOL
ReplyDeleteI’m a gfc follower.
http://notjustnonsense.blogspot.com/2012/03/feature-13.html
Same thoughts here on The Boys Next Door. I read a lot of those cheesy books when I first got back into reading after high school. This one was definitely the best one of them I read. Great pick! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for stopping by my blog. I am a new follower! :)
ReplyDeleteUgh, I totally agree with you about that cover. I really hate "teeny bopper" covers because then just look cheesier than what their content might actually be.
Not a fan of the first cover either. It looks way too cheesy! :P
ReplyDeleteThanks for dropping by!
New follower :)
Nick @ Nick's Book Blog
I totally get where you are coming from. Sometimes such a cartoon-ish cover doesn't do the story justice.
ReplyDeleteThank you for stopping by my blog. I'm now follwing back :-)
Happy Friday!
FollowFriday
Great pick for the cartoonish cover. I really like the one book by Jennifer Echols that I've read, but the cover of that one would just put me off straight away!
ReplyDeleteHope you have a great weekend!
Stephanie
P.S. Don’t forget to enter my International Giveaway of 3 books, a journal, bookmarks and more!
I'm not a fan of covers that are cartoonish, they remind me of children's books.
ReplyDeleteThanks for hopping by my blog...it appears I'm your 300th GFC follower so congratulations on the milestone :)
Vikki @ V's Book Life
Thanks for stopping by! Followed you back :) Great cover choices - love the two boys in the background fighting over the inner tube, lol!
ReplyDeleteJamie@Addicted2Heroines
OOOh I remember reading Vivian!! Actually read Companions of the Night! Totally loved it! Although the ending made me sad! Also read Being Dead which had a selection of short stories that were pretty creepy!
ReplyDeleteSometimes the cartoony cover can work. Although I do admit to being thrown off a bit when I first encountered them! Victoria Laurie's covers are all like that too, but they are just soooo awesome! The covers usually fit into the story too in a way.
Here's my Friday Hops
Have a GREAT weekend!
Old Follower :)
I agree about Jennifer Echols books! I've actually never read any of hers, and part of the reason is because the cover never appealed to me! I kept seeing them at the library and figured they had to be good since the titles rotated so much (meaning lots of people checking out), but the covers were just too floofy and cartoony for me. Since joining the book blogging community I've learned that Jennifer Echols is almost imperative to read, so I'm hoping to finally read one of hers soon!
ReplyDeleteGreat pick! (I'm an old follower :))
My FF
Wow thats a Jennifer Echols book???? That just surprised me, such a bad cover. I love illustrated covers but thats not creative.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting my blog :) Im following back.
Oh my gosh, I absolutely LOVE Vivian Vande Velde! I think I've read A Well-Timed Enchantment and Dragon's Bait more times than I've read all 7 Harry Potters combined! (And that's a LOT). I always recommend VVV whenever I can. Her book about Modred is also exquisite! Thank you for bringing her to everyone's attention!
ReplyDeleteI'm a new follower!!! I got to say i like the cover neatness and color. true it does make it look young.
ReplyDeletehave a great friday!
My FF
Hopping through. I like that cover but I would definitely expect it to be fluffy.
ReplyDeleteMy Hop
I agree the biys next door don't make me want to read it, despite it kind of cute.
ReplyDeletehere is mine
I can't help but like that cover... it reminds me of all those great Simon Pulse Romantic Comedies that I read in high school. (Favorite: "How Not to Spend Your Senior Year" by Cameron Dokey.)
ReplyDeleteI agree though, the more mature cover is more enticing for most potential readers.
And yay for VVV! She's at the Rochester Children's Book Festival each year - most of the people who see her there are looking at her children's book, and little do they know that she's written some kickass YA books! "Companions of the Night" is totally a hidden gem. Thanks for the reminder!