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Stephanie Perkins Pretties

Do you kind of want to die of the awesome in these repackaged Stephanie Perkins covers? I do. With today's EW reveal of the cover of Isla and the Happily Ever Afterthe much-anticipated third installment in Perkins' adorable companion novels, Dutton unveils a dramatically new look for the series. I am a fan. The new covers are sophisticated without losing the life, light, and charm of the books themselves. I re-read Anna (for the first time) not long ago and it held up incredibly well the second time around. It also left me very intrigued to read Isla's story and get to spend some in-depth time with her (and Josh). September's a long way off, but in case you hadn't run across it, Ms. Perkins released a deleted chapter of Anna to help tide everyone over. Happy pining!

Comments

  1. Anonymous12:30 PM

    I like them, but I think they look slightly generic :/ Do you know if these will be in hardback or paperback form? Or both?

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    1. ISLA will be in hardcover. The other two will be paperbacks releasing in July. You're right they're slightly more generic look. That is likely in response to readers who thought the originals were too cutesy and/or cheesy.

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  2. I'm in the group that thought the originals were too cutesy/cheesy, so I love the redesign. While they're slightly less original, I just think they "look better" and will probably reach a larger audience (deservedly so). I'm wondering if people are more upset that their books won't match, or because they actually dislike the covers...

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    1. Yeah, ANNA's cover was on the cheesy side for me for sure. LOLA's was cute. I'm with you on reaching a larger audience, which I think is absolutely worth the redesign. I'm one of the ones who like my sets to match (if possible), but I like these covers (and their innards) so much I'll just get all three!

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  3. Thanks for posting this Angie, I hadn't heard/known/seen this before. I do find the originals very cutesy-cheesy, but I'm not sure I'm a fan of the new ones either. They clearly went for something very different and, as you said, more sophisticated, but they seem also a bit darker, moodier, and for me they lack personality and life. I know female readers gravitate towards books with female characters on the cover (marketing research has shown that books don't sell as well when they have men on the cover, or no people at all - isn't that interesting?), so I guess my brain is just wired that way. Not that I'm going to stop reading her book, no cover could do that!! ;)

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    1. They are darker, you're right. Definitely targeting an older audience, I think. And that is very interesting about marketing showing female readers tend to gravitate toward people on a cover. I tend the opposite way, actually, because the people depicted almost never look the way I picture them in my head. I also favor illustrated people over actual photos. But I may be an outlier there. Either way, can't wait for ISLA!

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    2. That's the excuse publishers always give ("people on covers") yet Divergent, The Hunger Games, The Twilight Series, and (online) the Trylle series, Beautiful Disaster, etc. sold JUST FINE without any people on them, so color me skeptical...

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    3. Those are the ones that popped into my head as well. I think it just has to be the *right* design, people or not.

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    4. (I just replied and my comment vanished! There must be some ether where lost comments go ...)

      Oh I definitely agree, there are lots of beautiful covers that don't feature people at all. I've noticed that cover designs have really changed over the last decade or so; covers are more like works of art these days, and they're stronger, bolder, or more subtle. I've been known to buy a book just because I've loved the cover so much, which had no people at all. It's a very good change! The article I read, a while back now, talked only of adult fiction/literature, but it'd be interesting to know whether the data has changed now, if you factor in the newer sales figures etc.

      Angie, these new covers have really grown on me. I kept thinking about them and have really come to like them. I like the broad view of the famous cities from up high, gives them a sense of, what, greater scope? Can't think of the word. Anyway, it took a while for them to grow on me, and while they aren't my favourite cover designs, I do like them.

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    5. Grrrr. I hate it when that happens, Shannon. Thank you for retyping it!

      They have REALLY changed over the last decade, you're right. My sister and I talk about that all the time as we're perusing the shelves at the bookstore. And I frequently buy books based on their covers alone. It's fun and adds some spice to the whole experience not knowing as much going in but being in love with the packaging all the same. Interestingly, the covers that do have people on them that I love, I love with an unholy passion. So I guess when you get it right for an individual reader, you really get it right!

      I'm liking people's evolving opinions on these new covers. My cover feels always evolve over time as well. I think it is that broad cityscape view that's working for me here. I love each of those cities and I know how much a part of these characters they are and/or become. So it hits a sweet spot. I also love the colors. But I do miss Lola & Cricket from their original cover. They were perfect for me.

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  4. I honestly think that Penguin is being smart in targeting a crossover audience with these covers. I know people love the originals, but I thought they looked very young (I would've assumed the characters were 14-15) and both books had maturity to them that the covers didn't bely. I can't tell you the number of people I've encouraged to read Anna who assumed they wouldn't like it because of the cover--and that sucks.

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    1. Agreed. Anything that makes them easier for me to hand out is a good thing.

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  5. Glad to see the cover makeover in time for Isla's debut. But the new cover treatment won't match my old set, unfortunately.

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    1. Mine either, Lin. *sigh* The woes of book collectors, right?

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  6. I looked these up earlier this morning, and I agree they're so much better than the old ones. More mature but the little icons are fun and quirky. I told my friend that I can actually see myself reading these books in public and not feeling embarrassed by them haha. I haven't read Lola yet, but I do plan on reading that eventually and then Isla when it finally get published!

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    1. Yeah, I think it was the icons and the colors that kept the fun in them for me. I will definitely be reading these in public. :)

      LOLA is much fun. I'm sure you'll like her.

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  7. Ahhh how did I not know about this cover reveal for Isla?! I hate school >_<

    I...am not a huge fan of the covers BUT it is true that these work better for cross-over appeal. And I'm down for anything that can get these books to a wider audience.

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    1. It really gets in the way of the important things, doesn't it, Sandy? ;)

      Yeah, I can see how these wouldn't be for everyone. I can't imagine all the discussions that must go into designing new covers for an established series. Hopefully, they will draw in some new readers that might not have picked them up otherwise.

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    2. It certainly does ;)

      I can't imagine either! But what's good about these covers is that they're not downgrades from the original hardcover images. Idk, the more I look at them, the more I start to like them.

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  8. Angie, I'm not a fan of the new covers.

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    1. Sure. Too generic? What don't you like?

      I will say that the original cover of ANNA bugged me because she didn't look anything like Anna. They couldn't be bothered to put the stripe in her hair? The original LOLA on the other hand is perfect. I love it.

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  9. Oh wow. Very different. I really liked the original ANNA cover (yes, cheesiness and all - obviously in a minority here!) but had to look LOLA's up as I couldn't remember it.

    I do like the backgrounds, as I think the sense of place is very strong in each book, so that's clever. I think they've lost *something* though - the sense of fun/quirkiness/whatever is not coming through.

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    1. Definitely a departure. I had mixed feelings. Loved LOLA's cover. Not so much ANNA's. I agree, the location backgrounds were a solid choice. She's so good at settings. But you're right that these definitely tone down the lightheartedness and fun factor.

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  10. I actually think these are quite pretty! I love the colors and playfulness of the title treatments. I understand why fans (who have been collecting the books since the beginning) are upset, though--publishers keep doing this switch late in a series and I like my books to match, too. But fortunately for me, I don't have any of these as hard copies yet. Might be time to remedy that. ;)

    Wendy @ The Midnight Garden

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    1. So do I. I think we all can sympathize with the collector's issue, and it's true there seems to have been more and more of it lately. The same thing goes for when a series switches from paperback to hardcover mid-way. But as long as good books are finding the audience they deserve, I'm good.

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  11. I love them but I'm sure you're not surprised! Such an upgrade from the Anna cover, though I still adore the original Lola. Thanks for posting!

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    1. Nope. Knew you would. :)

      Still love the original LOLA cover as well. Just right.

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  12. Oh, these look so pretty! I am such a sucker for matching covers by authors. Obviously, publishers know that they can get people like me to update their collections!

    I've not read any of these books, but I know Anna and the French Kiss is available on audiobook at my library, so maybe I'll do it that way - light and fun is how I like my audiobooks :-)

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    1. You are not alone. Total sucker here.

      ANNA would be a great audiobook. Let me know what you think!

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  13. Anonymous6:13 PM

    I like the new covers, but not for this series. And though I wasn't wild about the original covers for Anna and Lola, the spines really pop out nicely on my bookshelf. I'm mainly disappointed this is another series that has changed its style for the third book. KarenS

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    1. Yeah, the mid-series problem seems to plague a lot of us these days. Wish they'd either wait or put them out in both versions. It's only fair.

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  14. The only thing I hate about these is that it makes it impossible to get a completely matching set. Even if I wanted all three of these, one would be hardcover and the other two would be paperback. UGH. Like you said in an earlier comment, it's just a problem for book collectors but it's still annoying:-/

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    1. That does bother me, Flann. Why not put the last one out to match and then release all three together in paperback with the new covers? What could they lose?

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  15. Whoa! I didn't realize they were doing this. I've kind of grown attached to the original ANNA cover, but I totally know what you mean that these covers are a little more sophisticated while also making them utterly marketable.

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    1. Yeah, and that's probably my favorite thing about them. Spread the word, new covers! Quick like bunnies!

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  16. I am super excited at the prospect of Isla so the cover doesn't matter that much, in that I am going to read it in public. Having said that, while these new covers do give a taste of the locations, I am not sure they give off the fun vibe that these books have and that the original covers did represent pretty well for me.

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    1. Yes, in the end the cover doesn't matter for me. I just want Isla's story! After recently rereading ANNA, it just really whet my appetite for more of Isla and Josh. You're right that the fun factor is decidedly downplayed with these new covers. Probably to do with the older audience target. But. They are that fun. So it's not a perfect representation to be sure.

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