a critique site for book lovers, hosted by author Jude Hardin
Thursday, January 5, 2012
The Devil Has Dimples by Pepper Phillips
What's the genre? What is it you like or don't like about this cover?
Does it make you want to know more about the book? Does it make you want
to BUY the book? Discuss.
This looks like a light-hearted YA to me. It conveys energy and catches my attention. After looking it over just now, though, I realize the face with sunglasses is supposed to be a man--but he has rather feminine lips so I never realized that before. Or it could be me...
Yeah, my first thought was humorous chick-lit. They seemed a little old for YA, but it's hard to tell. I agree with Stephanie about the lips, though I didn't notice them first. I knew it was a guy right away just from the slashy cheeks and square jaw (sorry girls who have that too).
I think it's really cute. In all honesty, I don't tend to go for cartoon covers. I guess it makes me think I'd be watching/reading a cartoon. But plenty of people will go for it, and clearly you knew it was cartoon when you started. This one's really well done.
I don't care for cartoon covers, either, but this one is okay. It's probably romantic comedy. Maybe a 5 o'clock shadow would help make the man's face more masculine. The reflected image in the sunglasses is a nice touch. Overall I think this is well done. I wonder why the title isn't centered over the author's name, which IS centered on the cover. That looks odd to me.
The cover clearly says romance to me, probably romantic comedy. I like how the "cartoon" drawing of the dimpled fellow matches that genre, and I like how the heroine is reflected in his sunglasses.
For my tastes, the guy's mouth is a bit too feminine, and I'd like to see the author's name larger. She's branding herself, not this book specifically.
I'd definitely give the book a second look, especially if I were looking for a romcom.
This screams fun, light-hearted read, even the title says it. It's an eye catcher. There's a male and a female on the cover so you know is M/F romance. No naked bodies, so it's not going to be erotic. It's very clear and still clear when no larger than a thumb print. I like this cover and it's in my TBR pile. I'm certain I'm going to like the book.
Looks like lighthearted romance. I agree with most of the comments; somehow the guy is pretty feminine looking. I like the reflection of her in the cover.
Given that the rest of the artwork is flat, I do not like the bevel on the title text and yeah, it's off center. And because the author name IS centered, it kind of jangles the eye.
I expect it's a romantic comedy. The man is the point-of-view protagonist, and the woman is his love interest who exasperates him. He probably views her as a 'devil'.
On the other hand, if she's the 'devil' of the title, shouldn't she have visible dimples? So maybe I'm mistaken.
By the way, the asymmetrical random placement of the title doesn't bother me, not even in connection with the centred byline. I didn't even notice it until Robin pointed it out. Although I've noticed it now, it still doesn't bother me in the slightest. In another cover, it might be jarring, but in this cover, it's not a problem for me.
I don't find the face feminine either. I saw at a glance that it's a man. True, some of the features are androgynous - the lips, the narrow bridge of the nose, the dimples - but it's still a masculine face (to my mind, anyway).
I like the cover's simplicity. It works well at thumbnail size.
I'm still not clear who's the PoV and who's the devil - but this probably doesn't matter. The cover doesn't need to tell me everything. :-)
I'm not crazy about cartoon covers, in fact; I don't think I've ever read a novel that has one. But this might well appeal to romantic comedy or light comedy fans.
As J.R. said, I'm not crazy about the cartoon cover trend either. But within a certain vein (romantic/paranormal comedy?), they seem to be selling. I wonder why they don't just center the face and be done with it. It doesn't really aid it in any way to have it off-kilter - to me it just looks a bit rushed. (As most covers in this vein do, to me. But as I say, this is a current trend and I guess it works. Have seen better along these lines, but overall not bad.)
One downfall to this style though: These books tend to look alike. Cookie-cutter, almost as if done by the same author. In the long run that can't be a plus.
I like the cover a lot, it says romantic comedy to me, but the sheer quantity of red hair, enough to take up a second lens on his glasses, shrieks Mary Sue to me, so I might hesitate to pick it up. Nobody has that much hair.
Actually, yes, it does. And the title too. As a matter of fact, I own it. Now to get down to my TBR pile!
ReplyDeleteThis looks like a light-hearted YA to me. It conveys energy and catches my attention.
ReplyDeleteAfter looking it over just now, though, I realize the face with sunglasses is supposed to be a man--but he has rather feminine lips so I never realized that before. Or it could be me...
Yeah, my first thought was humorous chick-lit. They seemed a little old for YA, but it's hard to tell. I agree with Stephanie about the lips, though I didn't notice them first. I knew it was a guy right away just from the slashy cheeks and square jaw (sorry girls who have that too).
ReplyDeleteI think it's really cute. In all honesty, I don't tend to go for cartoon covers. I guess it makes me think I'd be watching/reading a cartoon. But plenty of people will go for it, and clearly you knew it was cartoon when you started. This one's really well done.
I don't care for cartoon covers, either, but this one is okay. It's probably romantic comedy. Maybe a 5 o'clock shadow would help make the man's face more masculine. The reflected image in the sunglasses is a nice touch. Overall I think this is well done. I wonder why the title isn't centered over the author's name, which IS centered on the cover. That looks odd to me.
ReplyDeleteThe cover clearly says romance to me, probably romantic comedy. I like how the "cartoon" drawing of the dimpled fellow matches that genre, and I like how the heroine is reflected in his sunglasses.
ReplyDeleteFor my tastes, the guy's mouth is a bit too feminine, and I'd like to see the author's name larger. She's branding herself, not this book specifically.
I'd definitely give the book a second look, especially if I were looking for a romcom.
This screams fun, light-hearted read, even the title says it. It's an eye catcher. There's a male and a female on the cover so you know is M/F romance. No naked bodies, so it's not going to be erotic. It's very clear and still clear when no larger than a thumb print. I like this cover and it's in my TBR pile. I'm certain I'm going to like the book.
ReplyDeleteLooks like lighthearted romance. I agree with most of the comments; somehow the guy is pretty feminine looking. I like the reflection of her in the cover.
ReplyDeleteGiven that the rest of the artwork is flat, I do not like the bevel on the title text and yeah, it's off center. And because the author name IS centered, it kind of jangles the eye.
Overall a good cover though.
This is actually one of my favorite covers I've seen recently. I'm not usually a big fan of cartoon covers either, but I love this one.
ReplyDeleteI like fun reads and I think the cover definitely displays that. Love the reflection in the "devil's" glasses.
ReplyDeleteThis cover works for me.
ReplyDeleteI expect it's a romantic comedy. The man is the point-of-view protagonist, and the woman is his love interest who exasperates him. He probably views her as a 'devil'.
On the other hand, if she's the 'devil' of the title, shouldn't she have visible dimples? So maybe I'm mistaken.
Oh, I love it, Pepper! It's perfect.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, the asymmetrical random placement of the title doesn't bother me, not even in connection with the centred byline. I didn't even notice it until Robin pointed it out. Although I've noticed it now, it still doesn't bother me in the slightest. In another cover, it might be jarring, but in this cover, it's not a problem for me.
ReplyDeleteI don't find the face feminine either. I saw at a glance that it's a man. True, some of the features are androgynous - the lips, the narrow bridge of the nose, the dimples - but it's still a masculine face (to my mind, anyway).
I like the cover's simplicity. It works well at thumbnail size.
I'm still not clear who's the PoV and who's the devil - but this probably doesn't matter. The cover doesn't need to tell me everything. :-)
This cover definitely works for me.
I'd say romantic comedy, and it definitely looks like fun.
ReplyDeleteLove the heroine's reflection in the sunglasses. (And the title.)
Barbara
Wow, lost of comments on this one.
ReplyDeleteI would also go with romantic, not sure about the comedy that the other talk about. I remember too many comedies have the word Devil in the title.
I would say that this cover works and does stand out and works in thumbnail.
I'm not crazy about cartoon covers, in fact; I don't think I've ever read a novel that has one. But this might well appeal to romantic comedy or light comedy fans.
ReplyDeleteAs J.R. said, I'm not crazy about the cartoon cover trend either. But within a certain vein (romantic/paranormal comedy?), they seem to be selling. I wonder why they don't just center the face and be done with it. It doesn't really aid it in any way to have it off-kilter - to me it just looks a bit rushed. (As most covers in this vein do, to me. But as I say, this is a current trend and I guess it works. Have seen better along these lines, but overall not bad.)
ReplyDeleteOne downfall to this style though: These books tend to look alike. Cookie-cutter, almost as if done by the same author. In the long run that can't be a plus.
I like the cover a lot, it says romantic comedy to me, but the sheer quantity of red hair, enough to take up a second lens on his glasses, shrieks Mary Sue to me, so I might hesitate to pick it up. Nobody has that much hair.
ReplyDelete