“Design can be art. Design can be aesthetics. Design is so simple, that's why it is so complicated.”
― Paul Rand
There’s no denying the appeal of a beautiful cover. It’s such a big part of what draws us to the story inside the pages. I’m in awe of the way cover designers can interpret the heart and soul of a book using a single image.
And I’m definitely guilty of owning more than one copy of the same book because I fell in love with an alternative cover! Limited shelf space or not, sometimes a new special edition is just too stunning to pass up.
These days, book covers are mostly consistent across different geographies, especially for ebooks. But there are still a few exceptions, and the differences between UK and US paperbacks are one of them.
Because I love discovering new covers (and also because a blog post doesn’t take up any room on my bookshelves!) I thought it would be fun to compare ten YA books I already own to see if I would have preferred the US cover. UK covers are on the left and US on the right.
I hope you find my choices interesting and thank you very much for visiting my blog today 💕.
1️⃣
Once Upon a Broken Heart, by Stephanie Garber.
This is an easy one! Although the US cover is lovely, I can't help choosing the UK cover because of its fairy tale look and feel, the intricate illustrations, the colours, and the beautiful font. Also, there are foxes, foreshadowing a certain important ballad...
UK 🏆
2️⃣
A Darker Shade of Magic, by V. E. Schwab.
Looking at these two covers, I'm wondering if I can break my own rule and allow a draw! They're both brilliant in their own way. The UK cover focuses on Kell's coat and the colours of London. The maps beneath his feet are a neat way to represent his particular magical ability.
The US cover also hints at the coat, but it highlights Kell's eyes and the stone too. And although it shows Kell's face, there's enough shadow to allow the reader to fill in the gaps with their own imagination. I think, on balance, the US cover is the winner.
US 🏆
3️⃣ The Crimson Moth, by Kristen Ciccarelli, or Heartless Hunter as it's known across the Atlantic. The taglines, like the titles, are also different:
UK: A moth to flame. A witch to burn.
US: Her deadliest enemy or her greatest love?
The UK tagline is more about the plot, whereas the US tagline is all about the romance. Both covers are beautifully detailed, and the imagery and colours are also similar. However, the US cover is a little simpler and sharper, which for me just gives it the edge over the UK version.
US 🏆
4️⃣ A Treachery of Swans, by A. B. Poranek.
Although both covers focus on Odile and Marie, the two main characters, they're completely different in both style and tone! It's hard to believe looking at them side by side that the stories behind these two covers are identical.
I prefer the UK cover because I think the gold and blue colour palette works really well. However, I have to admit that the US cover does a better job of presenting the conflict between Odile and Marie.
UK 🏆
5️⃣ The Outlaws Scarlett & Browne, by Jonathan Stroud.
The font and layout for the title and author name might be identical in both versions, but the images behind them couldn't be more different. About the only thing they have in common is that they both show the protagonists, Scarlett McCain and Albert Browne.
The UK version shows them at a distance, standing still, silhouetted against a dramatic sunset. The US cover puts them front and centre, running from at least two shadowy pursuers, their faces and hints of personality clearly visible.
It's a tough call, but the UK cover works better for me in showing the dystopian landscape of the story. It's a key part of the challenges faced by Scarlett and Albert and a lot like the Wild West.
UK 🏆
6️⃣ The Wicked Lies of Habren Faire, by Anna Fiteni.
Looking at the beautiful original illustrations on these two covers, I can only admire the talent of the artists 💜.
Each cover does an amazing job of representing Sabrina and Prince Neirin. My choice is based on how I think they fit the vibe of the characters and the story (as I experienced them), and the UK cover is a closer match for me. I think the brighter colours and the slight asymmetry of the layout also work really well.
UK 🏆
7️⃣ The Reappearance of Rachel Price, by Holly Jackson.
OK, so these covers are, on the face of it, very similar! And yet, when you take a closer look, so many of the details have been changed. The US version doesn't use caps for the title. It doesn't have polaroid photos. The fonts at the top and bottom are different. And the background colour is neutral.
I went back and forth between both versions for a while, but I kept coming back to the UK cover because it looks a bit less cluttered. I also think the blue background is more eye catching.
UK 🏆
8️⃣ Thorn Season, by Keira Azar.
This one was definitely a more straightforward choice! Although both versions have a rose or roses, I love the illustration on the UK cover. And I've already mentioned how much I like the combination of blue and gold, so on that basis, the US cover was probably never going to appeal to me in quite the same way.
UK 🏆
9️⃣ The Invocations, by Krystal Sutherland.
This is another case of two covers that look as if they belong to completely different books! They're both brilliant in different ways. The UK cover focuses on the main characters and hints at the importance of their relationships with each other. The US cover is all about the conflict and darkness within the story, as shown by the image and also the tagline: Give your demons hell.
I prefer the UK cover because it does such a good job of showing Zara's mingled determination and desperation. It really gives you someone to root for going into the book.
UK 🏆
🔟 Of Curses and Kisses, by Sandhya Menon.
Another duo of very different covers to finish. I love both of them.
The accuracy of the characterisation on the UK cover, along with the layout, the colours, and the font with its curling decoration top and bottom, combine perfectly.
But the US cover is so pretty. The font is unusual, and I think it really works. So does the brightness of the colours and the little details like gold edges on the rose petals. It might not show Jaya and Grey, but I think it wins because the cover taken as a whole just stands out.
US 🏆
Final result:
UK 7
US 3
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