Books that look like other books
Hello friends!! The other week I commented that the only reason I picked up a book on my Kindle was because I thought it was part of a series I had started. Because the covers looked the same to me. So, today I’m going to be talking about books that look like other books.
Now, this is absolutely NOT me saying that cover designers are ripping off other covers. I think it’s actually about trends in cover design, similar traits in books, or maybe it could be the same cover designer. Or, possibly, it’s publishers wanting to emulate success that other books have achieved. Whatever it is, I feel like I’m seeing it a lot. And based on your comments maybe you are too?
I find cover design and the trends in it super fascinating. There was (and still is) a whole bunch of YA books that Charlie Bowater did the art for. And like, good on her, because when I see her art, I know that she’s read the character description and brought it to life. There are a heap of artists out there who bring books and stories to life through art. (And honestly I hope the trend to go back to photos of real people on covers never comes back.)
But it’s not just about the art. A lot of the time it’s the fonts used, or how the title is placed on the page, that trick me into thinking these books are part of a set. And most of the time, this has nothing to do with the author or the artist.
So, let’s look at some books that I think look like other books!
books that look like other books
ice hockey romance (yes, we’re starting very specifically)
Title: Behind the Net
Author: Stephanie Archer
Pub date: 30 Jun 2023
Series: Vancouver Storm #1
Title: Pipe Dreams
Author: Sarina Bowen
Pub date: 2 May 2017
Series: Brooklyn Bruisers #3
Title: Rival Darling
Author: Alexandra Moody
Pub date: 26 Mar 2024
Series: The Darling Devils #1
Title: Arresting the Hockey Player
Author: Willow Fox
Pub date: 5 Dec 2023
Series: Ice Dragons Hockey #3
Title: Sin Bin
Author: Anastasija White
Pub date: 19 Apr 2023
Series: Sinners on the Ice #1
contemporary / romance
fantasy
Title: All the Hidden Paths
Author: Foz Meadows
Pub date: 5 Dec 2023
Series: The Tithenai Chronicles #2
Title: Broken Throne
Author: Victoria Aveyard
Pub date: 7 May 2019
Series: Red Queen #4.5
Title: A Crown of Ivy and Glass
Author: Claire Legrand
Pub date: 13 Jun 2023
Series: The Middlemist Trilogy #1
Title: From Blood and Ash
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Pub date: 29 Mar 2020
Series: Blood and Ash #1
Title: A Storm of Secrets and Sorrow
Author: Melissa K. Roehrich
Pub date: 29 Feb 2o29
Series: Legacy #2
Title: The Serpent and the Wings of Night
Author: Carissa Broadbent
Pub date: 30 Aug 2022
Series: Crowns of Nyaxia #1
Title: A Sword of Shadow and Deceit
Author: Lucinda Dark
Pub date: 21 Mar 2024
Series: Mortal Gods #1
Title: To Kill a Shadow
Author: Katherine Quinn
Pub date: 28 Nov 2023
Series: Mistlands #1
historical / fantasy
Title: A Restless Truth
Author: Freya Marske
Pub date: 1 Nov 2022
Series: The Last Binding #2
Title: A Market of Dreams and Destiny
Author: Trip Galley
Pub date: 12 Sep 2023
Series: N/A
meeghan
Hi!! I'm Meeghan 😊 I like books (surprise). I also like games (board, video and D&D), baking (mostly cakes) and travel. I live in Canberra, Australia with Husband and 3 black rescue kitties.
6 Comments
booksare42
The ice hockey romances with the illustrated covers and cursive font always throw me off!
meeghan
Yes!! This is how I ended up reading books from two different series!! 😂
Kristina
Oh my god you’re right ! Especially Icebreaker & Behind the net! aswell as Offside & Collide.
meeghan
Hahaha, there’s so many of them!!
dbsguidetothegalaxy
Go look at Plot Twist by Breea Keenan’s cover because it’s LITERALLY EMILY HENRY’S BOOK. Or well the UK version of the new Emily Henry because US is bright pink? idk, I don’t keep up with her books.
Oh yeah, there’s so many fantasies that look completely identical. That Powerless book by ?? Laura someone? the YA fantasy – I kept thinking it was an Adult fantasy book because it looks a lot like other adult fantasy books lol
Literally those ice hockey books are just.. copies lol
and now there’s the whole thing of the blank faces on romance books which just makes them all look the same even easier
meeghan
OMG yes!! Maybe we should join up and do a part 2… I also have all of these screen shots in my phone of book covers with that exact same snake image on them from a few years ago. It still makes me laugh.