Do you judge a book by the cover?

[creypaper]

I do. I admit it. It's my first impression and it does matter. I am sure I have passed up many good books just because the cover looked cheezy or the guy was not appealing.

What about you?

[InsomniaTonight]

Yes, and I've regretted it in some cases. I always declined taking the Sookie Stackhouse books out of the library because the covers are so cheesy, with the glitter and the cartoonish pale vampires. I eventually read them and bought the set (even though I admit that I've not really liked the last few, I love the first group in the series). Same with the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs, I don't care for the covers so I passed them by. Read them online and now? They are a series I buy and read and re-read, and I bought her Alpha and Omega series right away because I loved the other one so much.

[Afraima]

I do too. Although I've learned to read the summary as well to make my final decision on whether to buy a book or ebook. Even then, I am sometimes disappointed in the stories itself. That's why I like to download from fora first. If I really like a (e)book, I'll go out and buy the proper copy. Never judge a book by its cover... it sometimes helps, sometimes it doesn't.

[WP8]

I also must admit I judge a book by its cover. Sometimes there are authors I have never read before and have read a book because I liked the cover.

[Aglaea]

I often do, though I usually read the summary as well.

I understand the writer often has no control over the cover, so I try not to hold that against them. I have passed up books because of bad/crappy covers, though.

When it comes to self-published books, which are pretty common nowadays, I try to not judge as harshly. Not everyone has access to photos or means to make a great cover. So for those I try to judge based off the summary or reviews.

One other comment about covers with Mills & Boon and Harlequin -- I wish our H. Presents covers looked as appealing as M&B Moderns. Why do they get the brighter, fresher covers? I like theirs so much more!

[anji4lu]

Mills & Boon have been going for over a hundred years, seems like they've had a long time to get it right and know what appeals and brings in the readers and buyers, both men and women. I say all the best to them...they have brought lots of enjoyment to maybe billions of people!!

[Valie]

I often bough a book just because the cover was appealing !

The cover can be a very important parameter when I try a new author. If I don't like it, I don't even try !

[Pily19]

Me too, I prefer reading on my Ipad beacuse on my kindle I can't see the cover!!!

[moseleydeb]

I too fall in the group of judging a book by its cover. And have pass up several books to read a book with an appealing cover.

[godiva]

I rarely do it the last years, because every time i did it i regretted it. I always read some things about the book and then buy it or read it.