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!
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Canadian blogger, wife, mother, coffee lover, and sarcastic at heart! She has had a love for all things bookish since before Amazon and eReaders existed *le gasp*. You can also find her organizing tours and other fun things at Xpresso Book Tours.

Latest posts by Giselle (see all)

113 Responses to “Book Girls Don’t Cry: Mid-Series Cover Changes”

  1. Mel@Thedailyprophecy

    Oh yes, I hate this! I wasn’t in love with the cover from The immortal rules, but it’s so much better than the new one.. They are so standard now. Some cover changes are good, like Ashes from Ilsa Bick. The new covers are much more appealing to me. But it’s annoying if you can’t get the matching covers. I wouldn’t mind if they just completed the series – and then release the new cover.

    Oh, I clicked on the form so I could leave some suggestions, but it says I’m not allowed to show the document 🙂

    Mel@thedailyprophecy.

    • Giselle

      Yes some are good. I wasn’t in love with the Immortal Rules at all but the new ones look like place holders! Plus like I said, is it either a white girl or none at all?

      Oh and I fixed the form! Thanks! 🙂

  2. Ellen Faith

    Don’t forget the Shatter Me cover change. I think that one was one of the cover changes that got the most outrage.

    But I definitely agree with it being annoying. I like having matching paperbacks/hardcovers on my shelf. It looks organised and as if they are a part of the set.

    The also changed the Across the Universe covers when they released the cover for the third book and had to change 1 and 2 to match. *sigh* I understand why they do it, but it makes me so frustrated.

    That’s why lately I just buy them on my Kindle and if I like them enough when the series is over I’ll purchase them all in paperback.

    Ooh, and the Lux series (by Jennifer L Armentrout) changed after releasing the cover for book #2. All these book cover changes are popping up in my head now… and it’s making me want to rant! Haha.

    • Giselle

      Yes the Shatter Me and AtU were part of Jenni’s Post so I didn’t include them here, though I actually DO like the new ones better for those series 🙂

      Oh I didn’t think of the Lux! I’ve also been not buying print copies as much just for that reason. I’ll wait until I can buy the whole set together them I’m assured I won’t have a stroke! 🙂

  3. Jenea Whittington

    The Immortal Rules is one that has really irritated be. I like the first cover. I just think the new one is boring, at lease the first one matched what the books was about. WTH!! I fell out laughing about the cover of The Symptoms of My Sanity. That is too funny. It is a strange cover. My husband ask me why I just don’t buy the books on Kindle, then I don’t have to look at them on the the shelf not matching. He just doesn’t understand. lol… There are a few series that I refuse to buy until the series is done, just for this reason. I’m a little OCD, if you couldn’t tell. 🙂

    Jenea @ Books Live Forever

    • Giselle

      Haha that new Symptoms cover is crazy I have NO idea why the hell they decided to change it. The first one was just so cool and original, and they replaced it with.. that O_O

      I’m the same with ebooks some series I want to own. Plus I refuse the pay 8-9+$ for an ebook. I feel injusticed!! lol

  4. Ayanami Faerudo

    I hate some of them cover changes. I said some since /some/ are not bad and are better than the original ones. But when I’m collecting a series, then I agree with you – it messes with my neat organization of books. As you said, why don’t they just release the original-covers’ books and print new editions with the new covers?

    • Giselle

      @Ayanami: Yeah I’ve stopped buying them. But it’s still annoying because it seems like Every freaking series gets a cover change and I dunno, it looks like they do it on purpose to sell more books, almost. I get that sometimes the original cover did not attract the right audience so they change it, but can’t happen THAT often!1

  5. Sam

    The number of series that have had cover changes mid-way through is ridiculous! I am the sort of reader who likes to have a matching set on my shelf, too. I don’t mind if there are new covers (some of the re-designs are pretty gorgeous), but don’t do it without releasing the final books in the old style! Not everyone will be prepared to buy a whole new set (I know I’m not..)

    • Giselle

      I think they could at least release the rest of the series it their original covers and THEN switch to the new ones in paperback and the newer hard cover editions. Like with Twilight, they re-released the whole series in white but they did it after the others were done–though I imagine if the books would be coming out now they would change them midway. *sigh*

    • Amy Fournier

      This is why I almost never buy physical copies of books in a series anymore. I will buy them for my ereader and when the whole series is out buy them all with matching covers.

    • Adriana NaNa

      That is a great idea Amy!! I’m going to start doing that ;D Even though I do like buying the trilogies or series at the bookstore but I’m seeing this so many damn cover changes that it’s so annoying.

    • Amy

      I usually forget to, or want to spend my money on books coming out that I don’t already have haha!! I also will buy books in a series if I am going to a signing, because then who cares if they match, they are signed!!

  6. Sarah (saz101)

    I’m normally pretty chill with cover changes. They irritate me, but I’m leaning more Bd more towards buying ebooks and… BUT. Where once I would order matching books halfway through a series I was loving, now I won’t. I’ve been burned. The only cover change I’ve ever been really truly devastated over is Beth Revis Shades of Eartj. The first 2 were cover perfection for me, and then… 🙁

    It doesn’t bother me so much when they choose a new cover from book 1. But of it’s a trilogy with 2 existing covers? *grumbles*

  7. Mary @ BookSwarm

    While it’s definitely a bit irritating when they change the cover after the first book, it drives me bonkers when they change it after the second — especially when it’s only a trilogy!! I mean, come on. They have to know how anal us bibliophiles are and how we like our covers to match. It’s a plot, I tell you! An evil plot!! *shakes fist*

  8. Amy Fournier

    Yay! We actually only have two of the same covers!! SO funny that we both have a lot, but not that many duplicates. I think I have two that Jenni did too. Ugh!! Damn them and their cover changes. And LOL about The Symptoms of my Insanity being for stoned people!! The new covers for the Blood of Eden books suck!! I really liked the original even though the cover model didn’t match the book character. Like the Unearthly series has a brunette cover model when Clara has blonde hair, but those covers are still awesome and thankfully they didn’t change those. *pets pretty Boundless cover*

    • Giselle

      LOL. I didn’t mind the whitewashed Blood of Eden cover either I read an interview with Julie that she said didn’t even bother her bc I guess her race is unknown in the book for a while–or the character doesn’t know it. Dunno I didn’t read it but anyways. I never realized about the Unearthly series covers! I think because the whole cover has a colored hue that she could be like a dark blond model, eh? That’s what I’m going with! I hate covers that don’t match the book >.< I'm surprised they didn't change those, too! 3 whole books without a change! We should give them a medal!

    • Amy

      Lol!! They definitely deserve a medal for that!! It seems that Harper is pretty good about not changing their covers. I mean, the Delirium series did, but I think that was for the better anyways lol!! Obviously there are others, but I think they do it less than a lot of other pubs.

  9. Anya @ On Starships and Dragonwings

    Definitely irritating, though I’m not quite as concerned with matching fortunately for me. I also rarely own an entire series since I do the library thing more often ;-). What cover changes do to me is confuse me! I am so visually based that I rely on covers to remember if I’ve read the book when browsing randomly in stores and if I’ve read the previous books in series, so if the covers change, I won’t have any idea! I might buy a book that I’ve already read *doh* or not buy the third book in a series I love (and read a while ago and so forgot about) when browsing because I didn’t realize it was out yet… marketing fail on that one!

    • Giselle

      Oh wow you bring up a great point, here! I never thought of it that way but you’re right. Especially for people who aren’t as much in the book scene as book bloggers I can see them buy a book they read already with the old covers. Another proof that it’s a conspiracy! Muahahaha.

  10. Jenni @ Alluring Reads

    LOL I love when you foam at the mouth! I really like the new Blood Of Eden covers, there was a post a week or so back where they showed inside the jacket on the two sides and theres a girl standing on the one side and she actually looks asian! How neat that they actually get the MC’s race right.

    I really like the new Fakuda covers oh and the new Vortex and Tempest are really nice as well. The Ilsa Bick ones I am so torn on. THe original was so creepy and I kind of would have liked to see where they would have taken that style with the next ones but I like the new ones too.

    Love the post!

    • Giselle

      Oh I didn’t know about the inside cover. Why not put her on the outside though? It’s like they’re scared to have a non-white model on a book cover it’s annoying. I do prefer the new Fakuda and Tempest covers too those were definitely an improvement. The Ilsa Bick, on one hand I love the new covers because they’re really eye catching and bright colored, plus they’re kind of neat looking, but on the other hand I don’t find them especially original. I’ve seen that look/cover design a lot of times before–like how the design is inside the letters and the rest of the book is just one color (The Way We Fall for example).

      *rubs my foam on you*

    • Jenni @ Alluring Reads

      Yeah! It was really cool, I have no idea where it was or I would link you. I had just randomly clicked on the link on twitter. I agree it is annoying not to put her on the outside, but I like the new ones better. They’re grungy! and really organic looking. I agree that the new Bick ones have been done a million times before, I guess they go with what works!

      That. Is. Gross.

      *runs away*

  11. Tammy Sparks

    I think it all boils down to social media, and how easy it is to voice your opinion on cover art. Obviously publishers listen to book sellers, but I think they also listen to bloggers, and when a cover gets enough negative attention, they feel compelled to change it. I absolutely LOVED the first cover of The Symptoms of my Insanity (in fact I had it earmarked for a top ten best cover entry of 2013!) I also suspect publishers might be trying to trick buyers into purchasing a book they already have, but they don’t recognize the new cover. Too cynical?

    • Giselle

      The Symptoms of my Insanity I would have bought for the cover alone. It’s safe to say that,s not the case anymore. I don’t even have any interest in reading it. Bleh.

  12. Lisa (Lost in Literature)

    I used to be one of the ones that had to have matching covers… But not anymore. I can’t keep up! It seems like every series keeps changing! I wonder if it’s simply a money thing? Hoping obsessive readers like us will buy the new copy too? I don’t know. But being such a Cover Girl myself, I just adore covers and I do love the beautiful matching covers. It breaks my heart when they change them… And I find myself buying the kindle one instead, rather than a series on my shelf without matching covers. Silly, I know. But I just can’t figure this out. And I’ve been wondering about it myself lately. I just finished Shatter Me, which was the audiobook with the old cover. I do love the new covers on this series, but once it changed I was honestly happy I hadn’t purchased the book with the old cover because this one I would have had to get the matchy matchy ones for my shelf. 🙂

    • Giselle

      I know it seems like they do it SO often. I get it when a cover REALLY doesn’t garner attention or got awful comments, but this doesn’t happen that often. Especially when a cover change is so slight like Tempest. I don’t see the new one would get MORE sales than the other. Sure they may be shiner but…

  13. Sara @ Forever 17 Books

    I HATE changes. I also like to collect the books and need them to match, but seriously, I am more likely to not want to buy the books at all if the cover changes midway and I already have 1. For instance, I had JUST gotten a copy of Across the Universe when it was changed. And it was what, the 3rd time? I think there is a different paperback cover too or something. I honestly will not bother to buy the rest of the series and get them from the library instead because they won’t match. I don’t mean to be anal about it, but well, I am.

    One that worked for me this year was the Legend cover change because it was slight and I think it still fits with the Prodigy cover. Slight changes are best, in my opinion.

    Really, all I think publishers are accomplishing is making a lot of book readers sketchy to buy books until the series is complete, that way they can be sure everything will match. Until then, the library is great.

    • Giselle

      Oh Legend I forgot about that one. And actually that one I didn’t mind so much either because it wasn’t a complete redesign, just a slight change and the original–for those who already have it–would still sort of match the sequel. So that’s ok I guess. 🙂

      I agree about affecting sales negatively at least until the whole series is out, and by then a lot of people don’t bother or have them on ebook since they didn’t want to wait.

  14. Anonymous

    The covers that turn simpler are horrible. They really show more when they’re more designed and have more emotion in them. Or else it looks like the author is slacking off and I’m not waiting even wasting for a cover reveal. The immortal Rules suck and Cold Fury is horrible (which you didn’t add here), so I don’t care about their cover reveals!

  15. Steena

    The covers for Tanith Lee’s Claidi Journals managed to be remarkably consistent, except on one key point, the spine. So, when sitting on a shelf together books 1 and 2 have their numeral listed at the top and 3 and 4 are listed on the bottom. RAGE FACE. My OCD is irked.

  16. suprmama5

    Well lately I’ve noticed when the covers change so does the price and sometimes so does the story. Take Abbi Glines Vincent Boys. It went from that to a new cover and new material and you had to pay double for the updated version. All of it is really irritating.

    • Giselle

      That’s interesting! I know the Vincent Boys was bought by a publisher though (S&S I think) so that might be why some of the content and price changes. But otherwise it def is irritating!

  17. Nickie

    I usually get all my books from the library (I am an infernal cheapskate) so I don’t worry about matching covers. But it is weird when they do a re-design midseries. I get confused! Is it the same series or not? Argh.

    Out of all the ones you posted here, the redo for ‘The Tempest’ seems the silliest. The people on the cover are the same. it looks like they just changed the background. Why? I don’t get it.

    • Giselle

      LOL I agree on the Tempest. That is the one I think of when people say it might be bc the original cover didn’t work. It wasn’t changed enough to make a difference..

  18. Jasprit

    Cover changes mid series annoy the heck out of me too, I think the most recent one that had me miffed was the Unearthly series, it wasn’t really a cover change as such but the UK publisher decided not to Publish Boundless over here, so we had to make do with ordering the US hardback instead, so I had the first tow books with UK covers and the third in a US cover! I definitely agree with you regarding The Immortal Rules cover, I really liked the first cover, I think it did a much better job at portraying what the book was about, the new covers are pretty, but hat the heck are they about? Thanks for updating us with the cover changes! Fab post Giselle! 🙂

  19. Alexa Y.

    Oh goodness, yes! I totally get frustrated with changes in the cover design – especially when I was a fan of the original covers (like in the case of Beth Revis’ books for instance). I like collecting my books, and I like having them look the same!

    One cover change that I CAN appreciate however is the one for Shatter Me/Unravel Me – I like the new ones!

    • Giselle

      I do like the Shatter Me change a lot not being a fan of the original. Though I’d like to know what the eye has to do with the story. Maybe bc she’s being watched?

  20. Ashleigh Paige

    The Across the Universe series takes the cake for cover changes. They had a new design for EVERY EFFING BOOK, but the paperback for A Million Suns never even got to come out, I don’t think. I like the first set of covers (the stars) and the creepy sci-fi second cover set fits the series tone well, but the third set is just ICK.

    The Glow series’s covers also don’t match their tone. Those books are DARK, not happy enough to warrant pastel pink and blue.

    Also, the whitewashing WAS one of the reasons Harlequin Teen changed the cover for The Immortal Rules. I saw either them or the author say it somewhere, but I can’t remember where for the life of me.

    I think I’m going to like this new feature!

    • Giselle

      LOL you know that’s what I thought it wasn’t the only time. I didn’t read that series so I din,t follow the cover changes but there seem to be a lot of different versions floating around the interwebs!

      Also about Glow–I didn’t know it was dark and TBH I would never expect it O_O

  21. Ali Ginger-Read

    I don’t mind them changing the covers if the original is awful or makes no sense and they make them better. An example would be Shatter Me. The original cover is just silly and the new cover is pretty spectacular. Unfortunately, change for the better is not always the case and I just don’t get it.

  22. Millie

    Ahh! This makes me so upset! There are no words for the passionate anger I get from mid-series cover changes. Some of them makes sense. I mean, I too looked at the cover of White Cat and was most confused. I still haven’t read it, in fact. But others, like the Across the Universe series by Beth Revis and Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood COMPLETELY DRIVE ME INSANE. The cover changes make no sense and they don’t match the ones on my shelf so I refuse to buy them.
    Great discussion post!
    Cheers!

  23. Jennifer Messerschmidt

    I don’t mind if they make different covers for the paperbacks but I want them to match. I want all the hardcovers to stay with the same theme and then the paperbacks can have a different theme. I buy most of my books on kindle now so I don’t have to worry about it lol

    • Giselle

      If they would change it for the paperback and STILL release the original covers at least for those who bought the originals I wouldn’t care as much, if even at all. I also rarely buy series books for that reason unless I find em for 5$ >.<

  24. Camille Picott

    Love this post, Giselle! I have a theory as to why covers change mid-stream. 1) Books aren’t selling as well as publisher would like, so they try to beef up sales by giving the books a makeover. 2) Publisher gets a new marketing person who wants to leave his or her “mark” on the products and does it by giving book covers a makeover. (I see #2 happen ALL THE TIME in the corporate world.) Marketing screws with products all the time. I love that you’re sharing consumer feedback to the changes they make, and how aggravating it can be. And I’m with you — who wants mis-matches covers for a series??

    • Giselle

      I’m sure those theories are often the reason for changes. I think #2 works against them though, changing the cover for THEIR own feelings is a lil dumb lol. And the 1st, sometimes I’m sure that’s the reason, but other times the change it so slight that it would surely not affect sales in any way–like the Tempest change.

  25. Aman

    I haven’t read any of the books mentioned above, but the one mid series book cover that annoyed me the most was Nightshade series by Andrea Cremer. I loved the first book cover, it was purple, glimmery, and very attractive, but then they changed the covers for the second and third book. They weren’t horrible, and I was still very frustrated with the change.
    Maybe it is a conspiracy.

  26. Aleksandra

    I hate mid-series cover changes 🙁 I especially can’t get over the Curse Workers change, I’m still really irritated. Sure, before I read White Cat, I wasn’t a big fan of the cover, but when I read it, I realised that it’s absolutely the perfect cover for the series, the same as the sequels, but when they announced the change, I was really mad, I mean why change the covers that perfectly capture the tone of the series 🙁 I’m all about publishing new editions with different covers, but at the same time they should publish the originals, too, for the new books. Also, it seems they’re doing this only in YA series as far as I can tell. And yeah, I want my books to match, too, and I won’t be buying the new editions if I already own a book, I just won’t buy the rest of the series, maybe only as ebooks if I really want to read them.

    • Giselle

      YES! The cover is not attractive if you don’t know ANYTHING about the book–creepy cat dude and all, but it’s completely perfect for the series. Plus those new ones, they don’t convey at all what the book is about and might not attract the right readers either.

  27. Asheley (@BookwormAsheley)

    I kind of roll my eyes at mid-series cover changes because either it is marketing or someone just came up with BETTER covers. But truthfully, I don’t really care if the covers match on my shelves. I mean, I have the old Shatter Me cover and I’ll get Unravel Me, for example, but I’m not gonna cry because they don’t match. One nice thing that comes from it, for me, is that one of my local discount stores will do big sales on the older editions with the older covers, so I can go thru and buy a ton of the older covers for like $2.99 for hardcovers or $1.99 for paperbacks, which I’m ALL FOR.

    I love to fawn over pretty covers, I really do. But more than the cover, I love the book on the inside. I TOTALLY understand and validate other readers that are irked by this issue, though. We all have our things. I certainly do. This just isn’t it for me. BUT it is a GREAT topic for this discussion!

    • Giselle

      I wish I wasn’t so anal about it sometimes hah. But I’ve stopped caring since the cover changes started being a thing. I just look for uber cheap books too now and give them away after >.<

  28. bookmarkedpages

    I was actually considering doing a post about this! I don’t mind when the covers are changed, say when the series comes out in paperback, but why change them in the middle of a series? Its just frustrating and confusing. I like to have matching covers especially if I liked the old covers.

    • Giselle

      Paperback new covers are fine and I like them it gives a new look for them, but they could at least release all the hard covers in matching covers!

  29. Holly Letson

    This doesn’t bother me as much as it does most people, since most of my books are bought used. I buy them to read, and not to look at, so it’s more important to me to be able to read the entire series than for them to have matching covers.

    Speaking of cover changes, what bothers me more is when they reissue a book from the 90s in like 2008 or so as an omnibus with a new title for the series and no chance to get the books you didn’t read in the 90s without buying the omnibus edition with one or 2 books you’ve already read. Even worse is when they decide to continue that series now, when you read most the books in the 90s, and you’d have to re-read the originals in order to catch up. (Series in question here being Christopher Pike’s *The Last Vampire*/*Thirst* series.)

    But, as for the one cover change mid-series that really did irritate me, it was the *Sweet Valley High* series, but it was much later than middle of the series. I hated when they went to having the real twin girls (Brittany and Cynthia Daniels) on the covers instead of the pretty paintings of the girls that had been on the covers for 10+ years.

    • Giselle

      Oh that would be a great topic for the future. Re-released or reanimated series. I didn’t know the Thirst series was one but I never really looked what they were about I just remember the covers. It also sucks for Sweet Valley high I didn’t even know. When I think of those books it’s the original painting ones that will always come to mind.

  30. Candace

    I HATE, HATE, HATE when they do this! And the Holly Black books were the worst because I thought it was a perfect cover and I owned the first two. So now yes, my third book doesn’t match and I get mad every time I see it on my shelf.
    Another series they did that with was the Across the Universe books. My third one doesn’t match the first two.
    I’m kind of okay with the cover change on The Immortal Rules cause I didn’t like the original cover but I agree the new ones look like place holders. But I don’t hate them. Fortunately I never bought the first book. I might have an ARC (I can’t remember if I borrowed it or it was given to me) but at least I didn’t dish out money.
    Yeah, they really need to stop changing the covers.

    • Giselle

      I own the first 2 as well. I bought the 2nd book like 3 days before the new covers were reveals. GAH. At least it was on sale–now I know why lol.

  31. Jenn@OwlReadIt

    I hate when they change the covers midway through! It’s even worse if they do it on the last book though. Nothing pisses me off more than to have a whole series and then BAM, new covers for that last books. It’s awful. I just gave up caring about them matching for now. I will eventually get around to having them all match.

  32. Amanda

    I totally agree. Cover changes mid-series are the worst. I’m anal enough as it is that if I want to buy books in a series, they need to not only have the same cover designs, but they need to be the same format. I borrowed a copy of Daughter of Smoke & Bone from the library and liked it well enough that I decided I’d want to buy it and the rest of the books in the series. But since the paperback of the first is now released, I had to specifically request the hardcover of that so it would match my new Days of Blood & Starlight. Some of those cover changes do look more appealing, but honestly I think it shows poor marketing strategies or something to change like that. So are some of these changes that happen mid-series happening to the paperback versions of the first books and brand-new hardcovers of current/future installments? Because that’s seriously the worst ever.

  33. Grace Lo

    Ahh, the forever aggravating mid-series cover change. Often, because I don’t buy a lot of books, I don’t mind because I’ve never had the need to have all my covers changed. But are the changes really necessary? Sometimes, it looks cooler, more modern, more minimalist, but at times I feel a huge bout of WTFkery. To be honest, I’d be more inclined to the original Curse Workers covers than the new ones. The originals manage to tell a story, and hint at what the book promises to bring you.

    A bit more follow-up to your post. Beth Revis’ Amy and Elder trilogy actually went through several changes. Apparently the original Across the Universe hardback is slightly different than the original A Million Suns cover, though I didn’t notice it until another blogger mentioned the switch, but there has also been several more changes, including the paperback covers and the new look that Shades of Earth sports. I don’t particularly have a love for the paperback ones, since it kind of follows the scheme that the US version of Under the Never Sky has: a person walking, with a background of the setting. However, I feel like the originals of the hardbacks and the newer looks are both pretty good, the first obviously showing off its space theme, and the latter hinting at the plot.

  34. fishgirl182

    i hate mid series changes, too. it’s like if you’re going to do it, wait until the series is over and then re-release them. i am totally not buying the set all over again. the immortal rules new covers look super generic.

  35. E. Van Lowe

    When my novel, “Boyfriend From Hell,” was first published I liked the cover. But sales were slow. I was with a smaller publisher and I got them to agree to change the cover. I even found the cover artist and paid her myself. The result was the book became an Amazon Best Seller. The series is doing well. Fortunately this change happened after a few months so not too many people purchased the old cover. Now I have a new series, Hollyweird, with a new publisher and I believe the cover needs to change again. Uh-oh!
    E

  36. Maji Bookshelf

    ugh, i hate hate hate when they change mid series.. i am not made of money! I can’t keep on rebuying the first or second books to match the new books, since it is a pet peeve of mine to NOT have matching covers.. but like you i’ve started to maintain my obsession because if not, i will run out of money soon. I just don’t understand their redesigning.. they should release a sort of draft cover.. see the public/blogger feedback, and then change it if the feedback isn’t that great, this way WE won’t have to re-buy them and also the covers are a hit from the beginning. I got really frustrated when they changed the covers of Born Wicked series (the new covers are GORGEOUS, but what was wrong with the old one!?!?!?). It just annoys me to no end and the not so hilarious thing is when the new covers are actually a “what the hell did they do to it?” moment.

    great post!

    – Juhina @ Maji Bookshelf

  37. Eileen

    OMG I SO agree! I mean, I don’t really mind having mismatching covers and formats and all that on my bookshelf, but it just annoys me because sometimes they’ll redesign a book cover for no reason! I mean, I can understand there being one set of covers for ALL of the hardcovers and one set of paperback covers, but why change it halfway through? And most of the times it’s a change for the worst! This one’s a really old one but the old Nightshade covers were GORGEOUS.

    GORGEOUS. I’m not even joking.

    And then Calla (the MC) turned into a stripper on a book cover. She legit looked like one in the second book with her black leather pants and her entire posture. It just TOTALLY annoyed me just because it was like “OMG instead of really fierce makeup and flowers and shiz we’re going to have super dark covers with a blonde in a sex position WOOHOO!”

    Not criticizing anything but the covers.

    Just had to have my rant >.<

    Totally agree with you Giselle! It’s been happening so much more often now and usually there isn’t a really good reason to change the covers! If the first one didn’t represent the book right or they were so bad nobody bought it, then fine. Change it. But if the new one AND the old one are pretty much the same thing in quality and the representation of the book what’s the point?

  38. Tara

    Whenever I think of cover changes I think of the “Nightshade” series. I was so NOT a fan of the cover changes. I think the new Ashes Trilogy covers are awesome though and I also love the New Hunt & Prey covers!

  39. Tabitha

    OH! These really bother me. I hate to say this but some of the new covers put me off. I mean the originals were good – like the Across the Universe series? I was iN LOVE with the original covers and the new ones are so-so. But there are definitely the books where a do-over is understandable. I think the thing is – some of us are really… precise about our books matching, so when there’s a cover change – I almost feel obligated to buy the new covers, and that really sucks because I should be buying books I haven’t read!

    It’s like a never-ending cycle for me… BUT I’ve stopped buying books I already own unless I find a really good deal.

    Great post!!

    • Giselle

      Oh! I had not noticed but now I totally do!! Great point! Not sure that’s a good thing though. You should go into a book with the right expectations IMO.

  40. Jesse Burgoyne

    I absolutely hate mid-series cover changes. Loathe them. Deplore them. I feel like the new covers ALL tend to look like placeholder images. I like to see a well designed cover that shows me clues to what the story is about, not just a cool looking graphic. And I totally agree that the Immortal Rules cover change sort of irks me. I really liked the first cover. I know it’s wrong that they whitewashed the girl, but does changing the cover to a graphic really make it any better? Personally I don’t think so. I think I saw on Julie Kagawa’s blog that the new cover has a picture of an Asian girl on the inside of the jacket. Somehow I feel that including a picture of a non-white girl on the INSIDE of the cover is even more offensive than having a whitewashed cover. I don’t know. It made me sort of upset when I heard that.

    Jesse @ Pretty In Fiction

    • Giselle

      I was JUST talking to Jenni about this yesterday when she told me about the Asian girl on the inside and that is exactly what I said. So they are ashamed of having a non-white girl on the cover, but to appease people they hide her on the inside and put this random design on the front? Not ok!

  41. Carissa St. Amand

    I have no idea why this happens, it’s the thing that irritates me THE MOST in the book industry. I understand the need to appeal to a bigger audience, etc… but when 2/3 have already come out with a set of covers, for the love of God just change the paperbacks. At least then my bookshelf would semi-decent instead of being traumatized (by that damn Curse Workers cover change<–that one I STILL rage about, I only get over by telling myself I have the first one in paperback anyway, so it would still bother me even if they had all the same covers.)

    Longer series, like Artemis Fowl-it has two cover changes!, tend to go through multiple cover changes, which is really annoying as well, but at least it’s not utterly new covers when the series is so close to finishing…

    • Giselle

      I’m seeing longer series getting cover changes lately too. I don’t mind at all when the series is over, but that would suck hard to have 5-10+ books in a series and bam the covers get changed before it’s over. >.<

  42. Jenn Renee

    I am completely with you on this one. I am so ocd about my books. If i buy the first hardcover, they all have to be hardcover and vise versa. So yes this totally bugs me and I am one of the ones it works for. I get rid of my old ones and get all new ones. Slaps hand! yes they do this for suckers like me!

  43. Christina

    So…I’m disappointed you didn’t do a vlog, BUT that means we get better cover images than on an iPad, so I will accept it.

    Oh man, they released what the third cover would look like and then didn’t use it? That’s mean. I don’t like the first covers, except for White Cat, which is hilarious, but that sucks.

    The new Blood of Eden books DO look like placeholder covers. *snorts* Agreed on the Asian girl. There are some seriously badass covers with Asian girls, so…why not make one of those? Asian girl + katana = win! Julie Kagawa said they did a study with teens who apparently thought the wallpaper covers looked more “dystopian.” Ummmm, okay?

    I am SO PISSED about the change to the Raf cover. The new one isn’t bad, but OMG the first one was one of my favorites. Fuck this change.

    Also, of all the ones in the big list, there’s only one that I think got better, and that’s Shades of London, which, honestly, I’m still not a huge fan of. Tempest is okay I guess, but meh.

    I am most annoyed by the change to Jackson Pearce’s fairytale retelling books. The first two have the freaking coolest covers, but they weren’t creative enough to think of anything for book three, so they changed them to lame, blah covers. *gives middle finger to whoever approved that*

  44. Megan K.

    Oh, GISELLE. I have a huge confession to make: I don’t really mind when the cover changes in mid-series. I know. I’m just not OCD in that area, I guess. I love some of the new covers, though. Like Holly Black’s series, the new covers are absolutely GORGEOUS. I’m having mixed feelings about the new cover for THE IMMORTAL RULES (I don’t know which one I prefer), but THE ETERNITY CUBE is so purty *O*

    Other than that, though, I guess I don’t have much to say, since this kind of thing doesn’t bother me that much.

    I’M WEIRDDDD, I KNOW. D:

  45. Micheline D

    Congrats on the new feature & for your inaugural post!! I can’t stand mid-series cover changes although I can understand why it is done…sometimes. I just wish they’d offer the continuation theme for those who already bought the first book(s). But, I’ve been lucky so far, and it hasn’t happened to me yet! I think the worst example that comes t mind for me was the Across the Universe books – I liked the original covers SO much better..though I can see how the new ones would appeal to boys more. Flipping it over, I have the paperback edition of the Mistborn Series I’m a HUGE fan of and I love the covers on my version MUCH better than the original hardback artwork..which I why I got the paperback instead >.<

  46. Melissas Eclectic Bookshelf

    OMG! This infuriates me like nothing else! If they want to change the covers….finish out the Hardcovers and make the change for the paperbacks and the re-released hardcovers!!! Come on already…do they think we have enough money to double buy books because they decide to change the cover!

    And you know what makes me the most mad?? When I have a signed copy and then the new books do not match! It’s not like I can run out and get a new signed copy with the new cover!!! URGGGHHHH!!

    So guess what…they lose money on me now…I either buy e-books or borrow from the library or read the ARC and “wait” to buy the books until the whole series is out…and by then guess what…there are hundreds of other books that I want to read so I buy e-books or borrow those books and I end up buying less and less physical copies!

  47. Molli @ Once Upon a Prologue

    This drives me IN-FREAKING-SANE. My copy of Tempest is the original (beautiful) cover. I’m not that fond of the new covers; luckily, I was gifted Tempest and received Vortex for review or I’d have been mad. We spend our hard-earned money on books (and sometimes let’s admit, I spend too much of it on books) and some of us *coughs* are weird about wanting the covers to MATCH. UGH.

    I’ve noticed recently that covers are being released, then changed before the book is even out! It happened with a few books – you’ll see a “cover reveal,” then weeks/months later, a cover re-reveal.

    What’s next, a cover re-re-reveal?! I mean, where does it end?

    *rage*

    It’s just very annoying. Anyway, GREAT topic!

  48. Renae M.

    Oh gosh, don’t even get me started on the cover changes. Grrr! They are the one thing I absolutely hate that publishers do, even if the new covers are waaay way better. True fact: I don’t buy books anymore unless all the covers in a series have been released or announced. Except, I guess, with the Curse Workers series even that wouldn’t have worked.

    But seriously, one would think that, with all the complaints, publishers would figure out that NOBODY LIKES IT WHEN THEY DO THIS.

  49. Kara_Malinczak

    Great post, Giselle! I’m not a huge fan of mid-series cover changes, but they don’t upset me like some others. What I am not a fan of, however, is white washing. I am truly glad they changed the cover of The Immortal Rules because that was so fucked up and wrong. For the record, there is an Asian girl inside the book on the flap, she is just not on the cover. So they did do something. It could have been better, but at least they acknowledged that they made a mistake. Hopefully other publishers will follow suit.

  50. Nereyda @Mostly YA Book Obsessed

    I. HATE. COVER. CHANGES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    It will even make me want to stop reading a series JUST because of the cover changes. I stopped reading the Nightshade, Across the Universe, Delirium series when they changed covers. I refused to buy the hardcover of the old Shatter Me and have the new Hardcover Shatter Me with the new cover. The new old Shatter Me cover is only available in paperback. So I either have matching formats or matching covers. I just bought the ebook instead which is sad because I like to have books on my shelves.
    I wouldn’t mind cover changes if they released the covers in paperback and still offered the original covers in hardcover. Everyone is happy, everyone wins!
    I was lucky enough to buy the original Obsidian cover. Love it so much better than the new cover. You can’t even see Katy! Plus the font on the original cover looked more alienishy.
    I think they are making new covers to appeal to more adults but also to appeal to guys. Across the Universe new covers look like guy books!
    Well, I’ll just stop right here or else this comment will go on forever.
    NO COVER CHANGES!

    PS-I actually don’t mind when SOME Indies change covers. The new Vincent Boys covers by Abbi Glines or so much better. Then again, I loved the old Crash covers by Nicole Williams way better than her new ones.
    #Ifeelzconflicted

  51. @HarleyBearBooks

    I totally thought The 2nd Immortal Rules cover was a place holder until they made the real one. That blue one is just so boring and tells us nothing about the book! =( I don’t particularly like cover changes either.

  52. ShreShre

    OK, I have a lot to say about these “cover changes”. First of all, it’s quite alright when the cover changes go from drab to fab, (not necessarily drab, but you get what I mean), like Shatter Me, and the Glow and Spark series, and the Ashes series, and JUST maybe even the Tempest series. You see, all of these were IMPROVED. But of course, there are others out there which make me want to shed a tear or two. Like you mentioned above, WHAT WAS UP WITH THE IMMORTAL RULES COVER!? You’re right, it DOES look like a place-holder, and when I first put my eyes on it I wondered whether you accidentally put the wrong cover on it. Also with that series, I honestly don’t see much of a difference between the first and second one except for the color-change…it’s just..so boring! I honestly wouldn’t pick it up if I ever saw it O_O And IF it is because they’d rather change it to that then put an Asian girl on the cover…then that’s just sad. OK, I HAVE to bring this series up because I think it had a BIG impact on everyone….*wait for it*….thheeeee ACROSS THE UNIVERSE SERIES. WHAT. THE. HECK. I heard that they were maybe just trying to appeal to the guys…but seriously!? Just because you change the cover doesn’t mean you can change the content *rolls eyes* The first two were so beautiful damnit! And now my bookshelf has been reduced to…to *sputters* THIS!? WHY I SAY!? WHY!? *sigh* And they kind of look like the Artemis Fowl series covers now….am I the only one who thinks that? hmmm…ANYWAY. I think people need to stop having worse mood swings than a pregnant lady and changing beautiful covers to….shake-your-head-in-shame covers…..I’d really like to go deep into to their minds and find the source of this madness 😉 LOL, anywho darlin’. Awesome post to rant out my feelings on, hehe! Loved it <3

    Shreya@CCReviews

    P.S-I hope it’s not too long O_O I’m sorry! EEP!

  53. Melissa

    Delirium! I have the original hardcover, and the second book doesn’t match. Also, I waited to order the paperback of Across the Universe and it’s so ugly compared to the hardcover version that I STILL haven’t read it 😛

  54. Lindsay

    Lots of comments to read through. 🙂

    Some cover changes bugged me, like Nightshade and Across the Universe and Curse Workers, but some I didn’t mind. I like the new Shatter Me covers, I read SM before there was a cover so seeing that girl in a white dress with all the glitter bugged me. And I don’t mind the Delirium change.

    Blood Magic by Tessa Gratton is another cover change, there’s a big difference between the HC and the PB cover. Same with The Space Between by Brenna Yovanoff.

  55. Marmaladelibby (aka Ange)

    LOVE this! We rant about this constantly! I HATE IT when I buy the first book(S) and then they change them…Shatter Me is one I have a signed HC of the 1st book, and now I have a unsigned paperback on the 1st book…grrrr…But your first example was perfect! Holly Black’s Cat series was awful! those covers were TERRIBLE! They completely turned me off! CREEPY, but then what do you do when you only have some? ARGH!!!! It makes the publishers seem like moneygrubbers!!! 🙁

  56. A Canadian Girl

    Love this new feature, Giselle!

    I actually don’t care about matching covers – *gasp* I know! – but I know lots of people do and feel bad that publishers change book covers mid-series as it does feel like a marketing ploy at times. My peeve with cover changes is that I don’t think they’re usually better. Whatever it is that’s unique or eye-grabbing the first time gets replaced by some cover that blends in with all the other covers out there 🙁

  57. Johanna

    Hey guys,

    I just hate those cover changes. But as you know, it’s not only the covers that change. Don’t know whether it’s my inability of finding the right book version (or has something do to with me living in Germany), but I had some problems with Graceling and the sequels. Cashore seems to have changed publishers, so the books variated in size, font, cover and almost everything else. That just annoys the hell out of me!
    By now, I mostly buy ebooks. On my Kindle, I don’t care how the books look like. Luckily, German publishers hardly ever commit crimes like that. If they do, they change the cover of a completed series, which is fine. So I buy German books for my little home library and most English books for my e-Readers.

  58. Michaniya Cunningham

    I absolutely hate cover changes midseries!!!!! I love to have my favorite books on my bookshelves and part of the appeal is to see the pretty books side by side in a cohesive manner. Why would I want the first two books looking one way and then the last two looking another way? And I think the publishers know that and is hoping we’ll rebuy the previous books in the series.

    I think your whitewashed comment about The Immortal Rules is exactly right. Why not put an asian on the cover in the first place, and then when people complain you decide to not put anyone at all. What makes it worse is that the cover change is most likely going to hurt sales. I checked out Immortal Rules because I liked the cover. I would scroll right pass that new cover.

  59. Kaina

    Gosh, mid cover changes *shakes head* they annoy me so much!! Especially when you have a set of books from a series all nice and pretty and then they change the covers HALFWAY. Then they look all messed up on your shelf >.< Dont even get me started on the whole paperback & hardcover situation…. Great post! 🙂

  60. Anonymous

    So…cover changes. You guys do realize that a major reason for a cover change is because the book isn’t performing as expected sales-wise, right?

    Publishers aren’t changing them midway through so that 2000 rabid collectors will buy a second set. They’re changing them because the sales number are much lower overall or in a certain demographic and they’re trying to increase sales across the board. Look at some of the cover changes and tell me they weren’t changed so that the book would appeal both to teens and adults or both to to girls and boys. If you slap a romance cover on a murder mystery in space you’re going to get a lot of teen girl sales. But if you replace those covers with more boy-friendly, adult-friendly covers you stand to increase your sales by way more than 2000 copies.

    Just food for thought…

  61. Elise

    To me the most annoying cover change yet is the one for Proxy by Alex London. Amazon made it official last night and it made me go bonkers. The first cover was pretty good, and they already had a matching cover released for the sequel and then BOOM they change them both. The second one original cover wasn’t that good, so I guess that’s why they changed them… But the new covers look like cover holders. Its horrible. 🙁