Welcome to Redesign Reactions, where we talk about books, covers, and what happens when new cover designs take over a series!
On this edition of Redesign Reactions, let’s talk about
The Start of Me and You by Emery Lord
THE START OF ME AND YOU got a redesign for its paperback release unlike Emery’s debut novel, OPEN ROAD SUMMER. It seemed to be a fan-favorite upon its unveiling and I really liked the creativity and how it applied to the actual content of the book! Let’s take a peek at the old and new covers:
OLD COVER: The original cover immediately grabbed me. I’m a sucker for lots of color on a cover, especially shades that have a sort of ombre effect, whether as a design itself or incorporated into an actual image like this fading sunset. The purple text on top added one more color in there to tie it all together. I also really liked the text placement as well as the font. For me, it wasn’t as noticeable that “and you” was a different font and it didn’t stand out as much as I feel like the new cover does.
NEW COVERS: I feel like lots of fans really like this new cover! It applies to the book a bit more with a water scene and a person (who I’m assuming is supposed to be Paige?) diving into a pool. I think that really brings a main topic from the book and slaps it on the cover which I always love! It’s definitely simpler and a little softer and I love the blue “waves”.
Which do I like better? Lots of people seemed to love the redesign but for me, it’s all original cover! I’m just such a sucker for these colors!!! I also really like the boy and girl on the front. I don’t always like people on the covers because then the cover models have the possibility of changing how I see a character but without seeing their faces and with hair color and whatnot obscured by the colors, I didn’t find that it affected how I pictured anyone at all. I also generally prefer the font, especially the cursive lettering when comparing side-by-side.
The redesign doesn’t really do it for me. I really do like the “waves” but I really don’t like that girl diving into the pool at all. It feels much too cartoon-y and really brings the whole cover down for me. I feel like it makes the cover look much younger instead of cleaner and simpler. It definitely does have less going on and that heart in the water is cute but it all feels a bit too cutesy for me. This is a book with a lot of emotion and this cover makes it feel like the inside will be a bit fluffier.
So tell me! Which design do you like better? Take the poll below and let me know in the comments which you prefer and why! I’d love to hear your reactions!
[bctt tweet=”Which cover for The Start of Me and You do you like better: Original or redesign? Take the poll at @bookaddictguide!” via=”no”]
10 thoughts on “Redesign Reactions [5]: The Start of Me and You by Emery Lord”
I somehow missed this redesign! I actually love it. I voted for the original but I love them both. I feel like it a good transition cover between her previous book and her upcoming book (since ORS and TSoMaY had similar colors). I’m excited for the new addition to my shelf. I agree, it is misleadingly cutesy.
Those cover are completely different. I really like the first cover, although I think the newer cover is really trendy. I haven’t read this book, but the sunset cover really caught my eye.
I prefer the original too! I don’t have a strong dislike of the new cover as there are nice design elements of it, like the waves as you mentioned, but I think the first cover is really beautiful and captures the spirit of the story better, even if there’s no scene like the one on the cover in the book. Also, when Paige dived into the water she had on all her clothes, not a bikini! I think oddly enough that’s my biggest gripe about the new cover, that and the cartoony feel you mention.
I’ve not read this book, but I like the original cover better, I think. I have a feeling I’d be more attracted to that one in a bookstore than the new one. I agree, the new one is very cutesy and I like the font on the original cover better as well. I don’t know if this makes sense, but the new cover just seems really trendy to me (which may be what they’re going for for marketing purposes). It’s got the pretty pastel colors, the chevron pattern, the cute little heart, which are all kind of “in” these days.
I love them both so much there both so good but in completely different ways, but like you I’m asucker for those colours on the original one!
Oh wow those are totally different! While I like both covers, I have to agree that the original is better. I haven’t read the book yet but the old one immediately appealed to me. While I would still pick it up if I hadn’t already, the new paperback looks a little bit too basic to me. It feels like it’s trying to fit into a certain aesthetic instead of standing apart.
I haven’t read the book yet. I’ll be reading it in March for my new author challenge. Maybe I’ll have a different opinion then, but I think the paperback cover is super cute. I don’t really like books with models on the cover. I love the heart in the water and the hand drawn girl. The colors work better for me on the paperback as well.
I LOVE both covers. This is the book that made me fall in love with Emery Lord’s writing. I look forward to owning the paperback, even if it doesn’t match my collection 🙂
I prefer the original, as well – mostly because I think the original more accurately reflects the tone of the book. The paperback cover seems like it’s more appropriate for a light fluffy romance – and while there’s nothing wrong with that – and Emery Lord is a goddess of writing awesome swoon-worthy romance (and let’s face it, the main reason I grab her books), her stories are more layered with depth to the characters and their emotional journeys. Or maybe I’m overthinking it! 😉 Thanks for your always great posts! I may not comment as much as I used to, but I do still love your blog!
Wow, what vastly different cover designs! I like the idea of the simplicity and pastel covers on the new book, but it definitely gives it a “fluffier” effect and I’ve heard Emery Lord really writes deeper than the cover gives the impression of. I actually just picked up a paperback version of the old cover from a Scholastic Warehouse sale and I’m glad I was able to snag it!