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They say not to judge a book by its cover. But in the case of The Can Sack Ghost by John Russell… maybe we should at least hold an intervention. This latest entry into the paranormal memoir genre is packed with ghost stories, spiritual lessons, and psychic insights....
This cover fumbles hard in its attempt to visually convey romantic drama. Let’s break down why: Visual Confusion The chaotic background–pastel leaves, erratic swirls, and disjointed patterns–clashes with the story’s darker, emotional tone. A romance involving...
What Went Horribly Wrong? 1. Zero Visual Cohesion This cover commits a cardinal sin of design: looks like it was built with PowerPoint in 1997. It uses three different image zones like it’s a high school project, not a professional book cover. The smiling stock photo...
Our reworkCategory: Erotica / ParanormalCurrent State: Seriously flawed; requires rework This cover reaches for metaphor but lands squarely in confusion, sending more mixed signals than a haunted dating profile. Art Direction & Imagery:The focal image of a human...
Our suggestionThe cover for Austin is a study in visual contradictions and design misfires, beginning with a strikingly literal case of a “floating head.” The protagonist’s enormous face looms over the Eiffel Tower in the background—but instead of anchoring the...
Our suggested reworkAt first glance, this cover screams “stock clip art on autopilot.” While the intention is clearly to land somewhere in the cozy mystery genre, the execution ends up feeling less charming and more like a PowerPoint slide gone rogue. Illustration...
Here is our suggested dramatic fixFor a sci-fi novel centered on dystopian survival, eco-rebirth, and unraveling dark secrets beneath a utopian façade, the cover for Eden Reforged unfortunately misses the mark both visually and thematically. The first and most glaring...
The Pharaoh’s Cat unfortunately falls into what many in the design world refer to as “fridge art”–an earnest but amateur attempt that lacks the polish, composition, and professionalism expected for a commercially viable book cover. It hinders, not helps, sales. The...
Here is our suggested rework of the coverCurrent Cover Weaknesses (With Genre Context in Mind): Issue - Why It’s a Problem for WWII & Holocaust Readers Inaccurate Tone & Mood - The current cover feels whimsical and lacks the emotional weight needed in WWII...
Today’s cover brings us to a perfect storm of poor design choices meeting unfortunate titling. Let’s break it down… What Went Wrong? Title Shock Factor (But Not in a Good Way):“I Hung Jesus” is clearly meant to be provocative, but without immediate context, it comes...
This appears to be a good attempt, but you will notice a lot of issues. Shadows are all wrong The light coming in from the mouth of the cave is not creating correct shadows. The wings are on fire, which would create more shadows across the bear and main character. The...
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.”