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March 28, 2013

That Awkward Thursday: When the cover is too embarrassing to take out in public places

Hey guys *waves* So I know we haven't been participating in any memes lately but nothing actually caught our eye until this one. We have been thinking of doing more discussion posts (I don't even remember the last one we did) and thought we would join the meme Ashley @ Wholly Books started: That Awkward Thursday. Every week there is a new topic, anyone can participate if you want to join in the fun! This week's topic is:

oh boy, I am sure every one of us has suffered from this problem. I (juhina) am twenty two years old. Imagine me carrying a book with a kissing cover out in public. imagine this:

Me at my university, I am a fourth year chemical engineering student, I pull out Losing It by Cora Carmack (A book which I ADORED btw) and then my professor passes by and sees that cover or better yet some guys in my class. The mortification and embarrassment I would have felt make me blush so hard thinking about them now. 

So what are some embarrassing covers I would never take out in public?

1. Every kissing cover ever made
2. Covers with half naked guys and girls
3. Covers with a guy and girl model cozying it up
4. Covers with very childish or embarrassing titles
September GirlsErased (Altered, #2)Just FlirtBeach Blondes: June Dreams, July's Promise, August Magic (Summer, #1-3)
So I have nothing against the books included, hell some of those are all time favorites for me while others I haven't even read. Heartbreak River is an all time favorite while I highly enjoyed Onyx. I think the reason why I am embarrassed to carry these covers are self explanatory? I just think I am a person who gets embarrassed too easily and because so many people I know think of me as this smarty pants and top of her classes, they don't expect me to read fiction, let alone YA. Yes it is true, I have actually been laughed at by some friends when they saw some of the books I read so this is sort of a sore point for me. 
Heartbreak RiverPerfect Chemistry (Perfect Chemistry, #1)Babe in BoylandUnleashed (Wolf Springs Chronicles, #1)
Also, don't get me started on paranormal books and how somehow the focal point of the cover is the romance. I might get why contemporary novels have covers like that because they center on the romance, but that isn't usually the case for paranormal novels. Yes, some are heavy on the romance but there still is another major plot line. 
Finale (Hush, Hush, #4)The Dark LightOnyx (Lux, #2)Awaken (Abandon Trilogy, #3)
Ok so Finale.. reminds me of Romeo and Juliette with the way the guy is standing. As for The Dark Light, where is that girl's hand creeping to?? As for Onyx and Awaken, I don't like the touchy feel of the models, I would totally be embarrassed to display those covers out in public. 









So what do I do? There are two ways for me to avoid any potential future embarrassments and they are:

1. Buy the hardback and remove the jacket when reading the book and taking it out in public. However this doesn't solve the problem of the childish of girly title such as "Anna and the French Kiss" or "Just Flirt"

2. Buy the ebook and read it in public. If you love the book so much then buy the paper version and covet it and add it to your bookshelf. This way you can admire it at home, away from any prying eyes.

Also, Publishers could change the way they design their covers. Not every contemporary/romance book has to have such embarrassing covers. They should relate it more to the plot of the story and not slap a girl and guy on a cover just because it is a romance. hello? most YA books (99%) have a romance! Below are some of my favorite contemporary covers!  


Right of WayAfterpartyOut of ReachThe Probability of Miracles
These covers are so original and eye catching. I would definitely pick up those books at the store before the cliche guy/girl one because these covers aren't just eye catching but actually make a statement. The Probability of Miracles has to be my all time favorite contemporary cover. Yes it is simple, but it got me to buy the book and read it! 

As I already said, my favorite covers are the ones that actually relate to the story, not just the romance, but the actual plot, most of those are found in dystopian, post-apocalyptic, fantasy, and mystery novels. Unfortunately most paranormal novels have the typical guy+girl together or girls in dresses (which aren't embarrassing but just used exhaustedly) 
The Forsaken (The Forsaken, #1)Insomnia (The Night Walkers, #1)Divergent (Divergent, #1)The Girl Who Was Supposed to Die
Insomnia is amazing, the whole play on the eye totally conveys what the title is about. The Forsaken and Divergent are some of my favorite dystopian covers. The Girl Who Was Supposed To Die has such a scary cover, but the plot itself is creepy so it tells you exactly what this book is about. 

What do you guys think? do any of the covers that embarrass me also embarrass you? do you agree or disagree with my solution, have you actually done any of them (I am guilty of the jacket and even ebooks from time to time). What about some of the covers that you find embarrassing to take out in public? I would love to hear your thoughts on this topic! 

29 comments:

  1. I don't really read in public... It's too noisy for me usually! Beaches are an exception though! They're, like, the perfect place to relax and unwind with a book in hand... :D

    Anyways. I totally agree with everything you're saying! I would definitely not take out a cover where the MC and their love interest are kissing or posing in a touchy way either! It would be wayyyy to embarrassing! Young, cartoon-like covers too. :3

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    1. oh yes, the simon pulse romantic comedy books! some of them are so cute but I wouldn't be caught with a copy of one of them in public..

      - Juhina

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  2. I'm quite shy and get embarrassed easily too, so I can totally understand where you're coming from! It seems like almost all covers these days are half-naked guys and girls either kissing, almost kissing, or just standing pressed really close together. I don't even like them, so forget about reading them in public! I want something that relates to the story too...how hard is that? Why do they all have to be about sex? Or the better question: why are YA publishers trying to sell sex to teens, since that's who the books are intended for? I like covers that are eye-catching and evoke some emotion or curiosity or something that makes you really want to read the story. Great post! :-)

    ~Marie @ Ramblings of a Daydreamer

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    1. I totally agree.. I actually now feel covers that have these touchy feely kissy covers are less appealing to me than covers like most of the dystopian ones. I love it when the cover RELATES to the story. Also, good point, I don't know why publishers want to sell as all these sex related covers to teens. I hope this is only a phase they'll get over soon.

      - Juhina

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  3. I don't feel that publishers should feel compelled to redo a book's cover just because someone might be embarrassed to be caught with it.

    When I'm running errands or am on my lunchbreak, I tend to have my e-reader with me. I suppose that cuts out on embarrassing situations, though I've definitely been caught in the past. :)

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    1. I am not saying for them to redo the original covers.. but to change this style for any new covers of books they are planning to release. And yes, I started only using my ereader outside.. less change for an embarassig situation to occur

      - Juhina

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  4. I am with you! I often select a different book for reading in public due to covers. Since I do read some adult books to I do always only read the romance books at home (and when no one is visiting). I think you covered my thoughts (and covers) exactly. I don't read in public or with other people around much, so it's not a big issue, but if I was in college I would probably have some problems since so much reading would be in public.

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    1. exactly! When I was back in university I always only get my ereader and a hardback without the jacket if I dont have the ebook.

      - Juhina

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  5. I don't mind covers. The only ones that bother me are the one where the guys or girls are half unclothed or kissing. One time I was reading, The night huntress series, Eternal Kiss of Darkness,and this guy walks by me and raises his eyebrow at me! God! I was so embarrassed! never again will I get caught reading at work.

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    1. Haha I just saw the cover... That must have been really embarrassing :P

      - Juhina

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  6. I love this post. It's so true. I was really limited to what I could take to classes. If something had half naked people, focused on the romance heavy (like you said) or has blood splatter all over it (my Dexter books), I could take it to class or else I'd get weird looks. I hate feeling embarrassed about the books I read -- because I generally love them.

    Your solutions are fabulous, and what I generally do. I usually take off the book jacket if I have a hardcover book. It just bothers me when I'm reading and then I don't have to worry if the cover might embarrassed me. Also, that's the great thing about my kindle. No one needs to know what I'm reading.

    Your favorite covers are some of mine, too. I love it when you might not fully understand the cover, then you read the book, and then you're like wow, now that makes sense! Same goes for the titles.

    Again, great post!

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    1. im so glad we totally agree on this topic! I hate how it does embarrass me to have these covers out in public but that's just how it is and I am glad we at least have an ereader and jackets huh?

      - Juhina

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  7. I agree. Whenever I go to my library I feel stupid taking out some of the YA books when the person at the check out counter is a guy my age. But then I try to remind myself that I don't care what they think. I'm the one that's reading it and I don't want to take out more "mature" cover just so I won't be embarrassed for five minutes. I used to bring VA to work and read that during lunch at my desk lol. I think the only types of books I'd hide are 50 Shades types of books or ones that are really naked like Altered.

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    1. We have self-checkout, so I don't have to worry about judgmental librarians. Plus my *cough* nephew conveniently likes to read YA...which is what I say when I two hands full of secondhand MG books from the donation aisle. ;)

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    2. oh man, that is true. I actually had Pushing the Limits on hold at my library but when I saw the checkout was a guy I totally just walked past and got out without taking the book! I am a sorry excuse of a confident person :P I get too embarrassed. I had self-checkout when I was in university.

      and haha that nephew story is very handy!

      - Juhina

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  8. I love how you broke your post down! So awesome!

    I have removed dust jackets before but I'll be honest I didn't do it because I was embarrassed I just didn't want the jacket to get messed up. Lol. That is a good solution for hardback. I can definitely see how some of these books could embarrass you! I loved your example of Losing it! I mean really that would be awkward to be reading in a college class!

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    1. haha thank you! and omg yes Losing It... that cover just generates a ton of very inappropriate images to anyone who sees it!

      - Juhina

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  9. Erotic books are ereader only for me. I'd totally die if someone saw me reading one in public. Anne Rice's Beauty series is the exception. People automatically think of vampires when they see her name.

    Great post! I've been borrowing quite a few books from the library and I've noticed that I'm very picky with covers. I want books that are dark and gritty not puppy dog kisses or half naked people.

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    1. yea exactly.. I think a ton of people my age have started to shy away from such covers because of how embarrassing they are!

      thanks for commenting :)

      - Juhina

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  10. Love this post! Thank you for sharing. <3 And yeah, I do agree with you. I just don't read in public, because I'm home all the time, so I don't have that problem :) It does sound embarrassing, though. I do love your solution ;)

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  11. I totally know this feeling. I always carry a book with me to my classes and then I'm always careful what I'm taking with me. Some are really embarrassing. I agree with your solution, especially the last one. Sometimes you can't make difference between YA and adult novels.

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  12. I totally get what you mean, though I am not easily embarrassed some covers are a bit much. Losing It is definitely one of those covers that might get some looks lol!! Kissy covers don't bother me too much though. Great post!

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  13. I totally agree with everything you said! I'm also twenty-two and embarrassed to carry around certain books because of their covers. The ones with couples who are just about to kiss are the ones I loathe the most!! You're totally right about contemporary covers not having to be romance centered, the ones that are different and unique are always my favorites. I'm guilty of both removing the dust jacket and reading an ebook instead. Great post!

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  14. I think most Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance covers should never see the light of day. I would never take those in public. But the rest? Maybe it's because I am older, but if I read 50 Shades of Grey (don't do it--it's horrible), I would take it in public because I just don't care. I draw the line at shirtless dudes and bodice ripper romance covers, but I don't read these anyway, so I'm good. That being said, I mostly take my e-reader in public and not actual books. Great topic!

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  15. This is exactly why I LOVE my kindle, lol! I love looking at the cover of Perfect Chemistry because it's so passionate but I don't want to be caught with that cover. The last book of that series is even worse, though. It's a couple in the shower, Chain Reaction? I think that's the name. Great post Juhina. :)

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  16. Hahah, I don't mind these covers OR the cute titles at all, but that's because I've done my fair share of reading urban fantasy and paranormal romance in public. Now THOSE covers are embarassing! Swords, lions and a naked male torso or two, all with that super cheap feel. :) After that, Perfect Chemistry feels like a badge of honor! :)

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  17. I agree! But also things like candy or lipstick. I was reading TTYL at work one time. Me and this guy I worked with were 25. He asked me what I was reading. I think I went beet red. Never again...

    My fav covers are the creepy books ( Lisa McNabb, Meghan Miranda), verse novels, and sci-fi/ dystopian. Sometimes contemporary does very well but others I would never take with me. I am guilty of using self checkout at the library just so I dont feel embarrassed bringing some of them to the librarian.

    I love this meme. You should do more!

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  18. HA! I feel ya. Some of these are rather scandalous.

    For me, I'm 36 so walking around with covers that look "young" makes me feel odd. I once had a Barnes and Noble employee ask if I was a teacher. Thankfully I now carry my books on my iPod.

    Great cover.

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  19. I can't believe I haven't responded to this, because to everything you just said - YES! I also remove the dust jacket when I take books out in public (though that is mostly to protect it haha). And I have just gotten and e-reader and seriously, it's the best solution ever! Because though I don't really care if people judge me for reading YA, some covers or titles are just a little... too much ;)

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