Welcome to Trending Thursday, a periodic Thursday feature in which I pick a YA trend and we debate and discuss.
I've noticed a newish cover trend that I liked at first, but now that I've seen more and more similar bright pastel covers, I'm beginning to feel like I ate too many jellybeans.
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
This Raging Light by Estelle Laure
Ana of California by Andi Teran
The Wrong Side of Right by Jenn Marie Thorne
Under a Painted Sky by Sherry Lee
The Wrong Side of Right by Jenn Marie Thorne
Under a Painted Sky by Sherry Lee
Seed by Lisa Heathfield
First of all, I'm sure it's just a case of "great cover designer minds think alike," but some of those covers look way too similar for me to keep them straight.
And is anyone else getting a 90s toy vibe?
First of all, I'm sure it's just a case of "great cover designer minds think alike," but some of those covers look way too similar for me to keep them straight.
And is anyone else getting a 90s toy vibe?
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Published in 2015:
Silent Alarm by Jennifer Banash
Charlie, Presumed Dead by Anne Heltzel
Published earlier:
Black City by Elizabeth Richards
The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty
Dark Song by Gail Giles
Rainbow Bright? Exploding Flowers? Yes or No? Tell me in comments!
Okay, the exploding flowers is such a cool trend, I can't believe I never noticed it before! Not so much a fan of the pastel covers though, and the eyes in Seed are just plain scary.
ReplyDeleteI made a Pinterest board of them a year or so ago, and I keep seeing them!
DeleteHmm I like them both. I was thinking these covers could make pretty good wall displays. Not sure about Seed though. The face seems creepy.
ReplyDeleteElla @ The Filipina Booknote
It makes me think of Silence of the Lambs, with the face and the petal/wing thing over her mouth...
DeleteCan't say that I like either of those trends.
ReplyDeleteAll *trends* do is make pass over books either because I thought I already read it or they all become a blur and I lose interest.
Karen @For What It's Worth
Yeah, I'm sure the lookalike covers are unintentional but they are way too similar!
DeleteYes I have noticed colorful trend and love that you'd think of Rainbow brite :) I didn't realize that there was an exploding flowers one lol
ReplyDeleteHa -- the 90s was not that long ago ;)
DeleteI love the exploding flowers! I don't know why, maybe because of what you say about beauty and violence. But I don't like the colorful covers. I rather just one or two solid colors.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I love to see book covers!
I love them too. Even though I feel sad for the flower...
DeleteThanks for putting all of these together. I thought I kept seeing the same book over and over, but now I realize I wasn't.
ReplyDeleteYeah, those rainbow ones are eerily similar!
DeleteHow very perceptive of you! Excellent article <3 It's funny, I'm sure we're all looking at the same covers all the time, but it never would've occurred to me to keep an eye out for repetitive patterns :) And you're absolutely right about the flowers, that contrast IS delicious.
ReplyDeleteThanks -- I started out doing Pinterest boards of similar covers and then incorporated it into my trend posts.
DeleteI do like the exploding flowers theme, but I'm over the rainbows. They seem kind of generic looking to me.
ReplyDelete"over the rainbow" You're funny!!!
DeleteI love how you spot all these trends!! Hahaha 90s toy vibe for sure ;)
ReplyDeleteI read somewhere that unicorn toys are back!
DeleteI actually thought books one and two were the same book cause they are pretty similar. I like the bright colors. Which is saying a lot considering my favorite color is black. I also have a thing for those exploding roses...
ReplyDeleteThe first two are WAY too similar IMO...
DeleteYES TO EXPLODING FLOWERS. They're quite epic. XD And though the rainbows are catchy, they're not really my favourite. Too bright. *dons sunglasses* Give me my dark creepy shadows pleaseandthankyou.
ReplyDeletexD
Yeah, too many of those bright pastels are not so good...
DeleteI just got excited because I saw your My Little Pony picture hahahaha!! But you're right I'm totally getting that vibe! Also, they ALL look the same!! whats up with that? lol, definitely a trend. I don't really read many contemporaries so I probably won't read any but those covers are so prettyyy!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your kind tweet Jen <3
My Little Pony!!! However, those colors were designed to appeal to 5 year old girls. So there's that...
DeleteI love both of these haha. I love the simpleness of the bright colours and I'll always pick up a book like that. The exploding flowers are gorgeous and that's exactly why I bought Black City. Unfortunately the pretty cover is not enough to save that one. Unfortunate seeing as the other covers in the series are lovely too!
ReplyDeleteIt's sad when you love the cover but are disappointed in the book!
DeleteI love the exploding flowers! However, the bright colors is very blinding haha
ReplyDeleteI love seeing them all together. I'm so weird!
DeleteHah hah, too many jelly beans and exploding flowers. I like some of the covers pictured above like THE BRILLIANT LIGHT OF AMBER SUNRISE (wow, that's a mouthful) and THE HUSBAND'S SECRET, but taken together, especially the bright covers, it's kind of a lot.
ReplyDeleteYou're so good at spotting/gathering trends! Fascinating.
Wendy @ The Midnight Garden
LOL for 90s toy vibe! That's the best comparison I have seen and it's stop on. It really reminds me of that time and honestly I don't think I like it. I'm all for colors but this is not what I have in mind. About those flowers it was really nice Black City appeared, but now it's getting old. Great post :)
ReplyDeleteOKAY BUT THE WRONG SIDE OF RIGHT HAS SUCH A GORGEOUS GORGEOUS GORGEOUS COVER. I'd be lying if I didn't say that was 80% of the reason I needed to get my hands on it ;P
ReplyDeleteRemember Lisa Frank? That's what all of these colors remind me of! I definitely love this trend though, it's so eye-catching!
ReplyDeleteI love the pastels, The Wrong Side of Right & Under A Painted Sky both have beautiful covers. I see the explosion flowers quite often now. I love these posts!!
ReplyDeleteI also love the exploding flowers kind! It hints that something explosive is about to happen, and, like you said, the the contrast between beauty and violence has its charm. The rainbow thingy, I'm not exactly too sure about it...it kind of reminds me of candies and bubble gum, to be honest... not something I'm 100% a fan of! Haha.
ReplyDeleteFaye at The Social Potato