Monthly Archives:: January 2013

Thursday, January 31, 2013

Book Girls Don’t Cry: Mid-Series Cover Changes

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Inspired by Book Buzzers, Book Girls Don’t Cry is a weekly feature where we each discuss/vent/advise on the chosen weekly bookish topic. Don’t miss Jenni on Mondays, and Amy on Saturdays:

Mid-Series Cover Changes!



I am certain I’m not  the only one who noticed a trend this past year or 2–changing the cover of a series at book 2 or 3 or 4. What is UP with that? I used to be obsessed with having matching covers, and I say “used” to be because now I just don’t buy them at all. I rather buy a cheap busted used book and give it away after  reading, than having unmatched covers on my shelf! That would be a travesty, peeps! A travesty!!
Let’s see some of the cover changes that garners the most vocabulatory from me >.<

 Changed to:

Now, I kind of get this one. I get why it was changed. I mean, when I first saw White Cat before I ever heard of it, I picked it up and went “WTF? A book about cats and a creepy old dude in the 60s? No dice!” So yes, as a store browser, I’m not sure the cover would attract as many readers as the new ones. However, once I got home, selective reading and all, I started seeing this series all over the place. So I caved, said eff it I’m reading creepy cat man, and you know what? It was awesome! So these are the covers I grew to love. I bought book 1 and 2, and guess what? AGSFGFAGSF *foams at the mouth* They. Change. The Covers! And they change it AFTER they had already released the planned 3rd cover to match. So why not release that freaking 3rd cover, and then release the new ones on paperback and newer editions hardcovers? I mean, is it all a marketing plot to get me to buy the first 2 books again? Not gonna happen! (!!)
Anyways, I love the new covers, I think they will sell more books, but I’m not buying em. This is me, giving the finger to cover changes!


Another series that changed recently that I have a few words for:
Changed to:

I liked the original cover of this one. It’s not mind blowing, but she looks pretty evil and that’s cool.  But those new ones, man, they look fan made. Or placeholders for the actual cover to come. Actually the problem I have with this one is this. The first cover is whitewashed, the protagonist is Asian, and this girl is not. I’m not sure if this was actually the reason for the cover changes but I know Kirkus commented on it as well as the general fanbase, and poof there is a new cover. BUT, instead of putting an Asian girl on it, they put none at all… I don’t know, that annoys me for some reason. It’s like it has to be a white girl, or none at all? 

Oh and what about this one, guys?
  Changed to —-> 
Ok this one is a little cheating because it’s not even out yet, but COME ON!! That original cover is not even comparable to whatever the heck that new one is. Are those… are those happy/sad faces? *dies* This book is now for stoned people!

But honestly, why is is SO COMMON?
Look at this:
  —–> 
  —–> 

  —–> 

  —–> 
  —–>
  —–>
And these were just the FEW that I could think of, there are so many that I am actually surprised when a cover is not changed mid-series. I’m convinced it’s a conspiracy! What? Can’t they decide on a cover on the first go? They could at least release the rest, and just wait and make the paperbacks only into the new covers. The way they’re going about it, it kind of feels like it’s a marketing thing if I’m being completely honest. They know they can get people to re-buy the first books, I know people who do. Food for thought?

 What do YOU think of cover changes mid-series? 
Which one annoyed you the most?

Also, don’t forget to leave suggestions for future topics here! 🙂
XOXO, Book Girls!

Waiting on Wednesday (71)

Posted by on 01/30/2013 • 34 Comments

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine  and spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.  My pick this week:

Me Since You Laura Wiess Genre: YA Contemporary Release date: September 3rd 2013by MTV Books

“Laura Wiess’s masterful prose kept me turning the pages. This is the first book in a very long time that made me say, ‘Wish I’d written this’” (Ellen Hopkins, author of Crank, on Such a Pretty Girl).

Sixteen-year-old Rowan is still reeling from her father’s suicide four months ago, after he failed to stop a man from leaping off an overpass to his death. The only witness is Eli, a teenaged boy wrapped deep in mourning for his own father, killed in action in Afghanistan. When Rowan…

Review: Breaking Point by Kristen Simmons

Review: Breaking Point by Kristen Simmons

Posted by on 01/29/2013 • 20 Comments

As I got back into the desolation that is is Ember’s world, it didn’t take long until the rush of it all came right back. The first book, Article 5, was a lot of fun with tons of action and wonderful characters, leaving me dying for this one. The sequel begins where Article 5 one left off, with short recaps along the way for those of you, like me, who forget everything they’ve read previously. I often have difficulty getting into a sequel because don’t remember the story, nor my connection to the characters, but Kristen has a great way of bringing it all back as if no time had passed.

In Article 5 she created a world that was extremely dreary, yet believable for a futuristic setting; in Breaking…

Young Adult Giveaway Hop

Posted by on 01/29/2013 • 22 Comments

To give back to all my wonderful followers who read this blog and give it its reason to be, I’m joining in the Young Adult Giveaway Hop as a thank you for being so supportive! Special thanks to I Am A reader, Not A Writer, and BookLove101 for hosting!

What’s up for grabs? One YA book of choice at The Book Depository up to a value of 15$.  Open Internationally as long as TBD ships to you (is your country on the list? Click here) Giveaway ends on February 4th, 2013

Use the Rafflecopter below to enter

This giveaway was made possible by The Book Depository affiliate program. Help support future giveaways by using the link below or on my sidebar to shop at TBD

a Rafflecopter…

Review: The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay

Posted by on 01/28/2013 • 32 Comments

The Sea of Tranquility Katja Millay Genre: NA ContemporaryPublication date: November 13th 2012by Atria Books

Former piano prodigy Nastya Kashnikov wants two things: to get through high school without anyone learning about her past and to make the boy who took everything from her—her identity, her spirit, her will to live—pay.

Josh Bennett’s story is no secret: every person he loves has been taken from his life until, at seventeen years old, there is no one left. Now all he wants is be left alone and people allow it because when your name is synonymous with death, everyone tends to give you your space.

Everyone except Nastya, the mysterious new girl at school who starts showing up and won’t go away until she’s insinuated herself into every aspect of…

Xpresso Weekly: Stacking the Shelves (40)

Posted by on 01/27/2013 • 59 Comments

Xpresso Weekly is my edition of Stacking the Shelves hosted by Tynga’s Reviews featuring the books I got this week, and I also mention blog news/happenings of the past week. This week at Xpresso Reads

Wow what a week. Ok so, did you all see the new feature that we’re launching next week? If you missed it, have a look here! 😉 So we’re all excited to start that. And honestly other than that I have not much to say this week. Hmm. So let me slather you with the cute! My devil had a haircut today:

That is all.

Reviews on the blog this week:

 

New at Xpresso Book Tours

— Tour Sign Up: Surface by Tiffany Daune — Tour Sign Up: The Kings of Charleston…

Fresh Batch (Jan 27th – Feb 2nd)

Posted by on 01/26/2013 • 17 Comments

Exclusively titled for Xpresso Reads, Fresh Batch features the hottest releases of this upcoming week.

Flavor of the week:

Sins & Needles Karina Halle Series: The Artists Trilogy, #1 Publication date: January 28th 2013by Metal Blonde Books

Ellie Watt is used to starting over. The daughter of a grifting team, Ellie spent her childhood being used as a pawn in her parents’ latest scam. Now she’s much older, wiser and ready to give her con artist life a rest. But returning to the dry desert town of Palm Valley, California means one more temptation than she bargained for – Camden McQueen. Once known as the high school weirdo, Camden is bigger and badder than the boy he used to be and a talented tattoo artist with his own thriving…

Plagiarism: The Saga Continues!

Posted by on 01/26/2013 • 109 Comments

We have all been aware of some plagiarism recently. It seems to have spiked for some reason. I don’t know if it’s the new year, or the fact we all survived the apocalypse or what. But here I am, with my unfortunate story that I feel obliged to share.

I hate drama and wanted to settle the matter privately, but after the follow up that arose, and being warned that she was going around telling people I was falsely accusing and bullying her, I have no choice but to show my side of the story.

I was approached by a friend of mine who was on this blog reading a review of Alice in Zombieland. They found some similarities to my own review and approached me about it. After reading…