I’m back again with another collab with Alexa @ Writing the Universe! Today, we are going over five books we bought solely based on their covers and rating whether we would buy them or not. I know, I know, you shouldn’t judge a book based on its cover, but if you saw what books we’re talking about today, you would understand these are a necessity. I am a total sucker for a gorgeous book cover and if a book is pretty and fits in a genre I like to read, I will buy it. So today, here are some books I bought solely based on their covers, and Alexa’s opinion on whether she would do the same!

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No Man Can Tame by Miranda Honfleur
Published: December 26, 2018
Genre: Paranormal Fantasy
Pages: 357
Goodreads

This popped up in my email from BookBub. If you haven’t checked them out, they email you daily kindle deals and this was one of the free books they suggested. I love the horse, the dress, the roses, and the bright moon – it totally sucked me in. I’m so excited to dive into this story and see if my assumptions about this book are true!

Alexa: “Ah yes, a book I already read based off the cover. I’m here for high fantasy that’s like Beauty and the Beast retellings. Also, if you give me a cover with elves on it and pretty ballgowns, I’m sunk.”

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The Dark Tide by Alicia Jasinska
Published: August 4, 2020
Genre: YA Fantasy
Pages: 336
Goodreads

I saw this book at Barnes & Noble and seeing the cycles of the moon, blood red, with a huge gold wave just gave me intense fantasy and action vibes. I think this cover is so minimal and gorgeous, but usually books with those covers are the absolute best! I have a feeling I’m going to love this book. 

Alexa: “I don’t know if I would pick this one up. I mean, it’s pretty, but I don’t know if it would necessarily scream “buy me” without knowing what it is. It looks like it could be science fiction, but I have a feeling that it’s not. Any time I see stars and moons that’s where my brain immediately goes to. So if I pick up this book with that expectation, whether or not it’s good, and it’s not, I would be disappointed.”

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A Curse so Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer
Published: January 29, 2019
Genre: YA Fantasy
Pages: 484
Goodreads

This was a total cover buy for me! I preordered the book the second I saw the cover reveal and didn’t get a chance to read it before the event. Seeing the cover in person, it solidified that I was going to love this series and I was right! I absolutely love this series and I love all the subsequent covers for this series. So gorgeous!

Alexa: “Yes. Yes. I mean, even if I weren’t a fan of Brigid’s, yes. It’s so pretty and I don’t know what to say, I look at it and say yes. It would immediately go home with me. I wouldn’t have to read the synopsis to grab it off the shelf.”

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All That Glitters (Enchantee) by Gita Trelease
Published: February 5, 2019
Genre: YA Fantasy
Pages: 449
Goodreads

I adore this cover and though I haven’t read it yet, I will never get rid of it. It’s just too pretty! I don’t even know what the book is about, I just know that the book is very pretty, and it’s fantasy. What more could I ask for? Plus, even with the title change, I love how this book is designed with the colors of the French flag. 

Alexa: “Yeah, though I kind of like the original cover more. But yes, knowing what I do know based off the cover, I do want to read it. It just kind of screams “pick me up – I might break your heart”.”

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Furyborn by Claire Legrand
Published: May 22, 2018
Genre: YA Fantasy
Pages: 501
Goodreads

I adore the covers for this entire series so much and the contents are just as gorgeous! When I saw this book, I knew I had to have it, especially because of the crowns and the freaking sword going through it! This book looked like such an intense fantasy and it was too pretty not to buy!

Alexa: “Yes, this is high fantasy and I’m always here for high fantasy. I love the dual crowns and how the sword connects them. It’s so shiny and in your face, it screams “I’m gonna make you love me then break your heart”. and I love the contrast between all the black and the other colors.”

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It just goes to show that taste is subjective. Covers I find gorgeous, other people may not like as much, and vice versa. I loved seeing the covers that Alexa chose and getting her opinions on mine. If you want to see my reactions to the books Alexa chose, be sure to head over to her blog Writing the Universe!

Thanks again Alexa for doing this post with me. Maybe next time we’ll talk about books we loved with covers we hated . . . 

If you do this post with your friends, be sure to tag us so we can see their reactions! Let me know if I should do similar posts in the future and who you would want me to collab with!