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Strap on your sneakers and tighten that fanny pack, folks—because we’re taking a scenic walk through the design equivalent of a roadside souvenir stand explosion. Today’s cover catastrophe is 3 MPH by Polly Letofsky, a title that proudly proclaims the speed at which...
When you think of the word “runaway,” you might expect action, urgency, or even a whisper of drama. What you probably don’t expect is a book cover that looks like it wandered into a museum gift shop, tripped over a public domain painting, and never got back up....
Welcome to the misty fever dream that is Moon’s Knight, where every design choice boldly asks, “What if physics took the day off?” This cover doesn’t just throw shade — it throws perspective, logic, and every last ounce of restraint off a moonlit cliff. Let’s start...
Behold For the Witches—a cover so chaotic it feels like it was summoned from the depths of a discount cauldron-themed Canva template. Where to even begin? At first glance, it’s unclear if you’re looking at a paranormal romance collection or the promotional poster for...
Nothing says “Christmas spirit” quite like a pair of ghostly lovers hovering ominously over a log cabin like they’re haunting a snow globe. Welcome to The Christmas Wish in Twinkle Falls, a cover that took a sleigh ride straight into the uncanny valley—and crashed...
Some book covers whisper “I’m professional.” Others shout “I’m visionary.” And then there's What Every CEO Must Know, which positively screams “I was designed during a layover on Microsoft Publisher circa 2006.” Buckle up, boardroom warriors — because this cover is...
At first glance, The Christmas Contract wants to sell itself as dark, moody, and sophisticated—an edgy holiday romance wrapped in black fabric and red menace. Unfortunately, a closer look reveals that this cover isn’t brooding so much as malfunctioning. What initially...
Let’s take a moment to appreciate what happens when a motivational poster, a gold foil sticker, and a cracked iPhone screen walk into a book cover. The result? Nobody’s Legend—a cover so confused, it might need to sit down and read its own subtitle. Let’s start with...
Somewhere between a high school chemistry worksheet and a pharmaceutical ad lies Gemini Rising — a book cover that’s less "mysterious thriller" and more "PowerPoint template gone rogue." Harley Christensen’s entry into A Mischievous Malamute Novel series leaves us...
What happens when you mix corporate branding with Sunday morning zeal and wrap it in the most uninspired design choices imaginable? You get Awakened Identity by Greg Simas — a book cover that awakens absolutely nothing except your inner graphic designer's scream for...
If you’ve ever wondered what would happen if a medical pamphlet and a Pinterest craft tutorial had an identity crisis, look no further than Parenting Redefined. This cover isn’t just redefining parenting — it’s redefining what it means to throw every mismatched design...
What happens when you pour glitter on chaos and call it a book cover? You get Firebird Strikes, a fantasy title that’s clearly about a woman, a lion, and some fire, beyond that, we’re on our own. This cover doesn’t just whisper “Photoshop,” it screams it, flings...
A Note to Authors Featured Here
The purpose of Horrible Covers is not only to critique but also to highlight how much cover design matters to a book’s success. Many authors set out with the best intentions but end up with covers that don’t reflect the quality of their writing — sometimes because they tried to do it themselves, sometimes because they relied on someone who wasn’t a professional cover designer.
We understand how frustrating that can be.
Our aim is simple: to help writers put their best work forward with cover art that does justice to the story inside. If you’ve been featured here and are ready to level up your presentation, reach out through our contact form and mention “Horrible Covers Author.”