Book Lovers Inc.
Romance Novel Reviews, Author Interviews, Commentary
The Good, the Bad and the Are-You-Kidding-Me?
Welcome to this new edition of The Good, the Bad and the Are-You-Kidding-Me? This week we will concentrate on efforts on different editions of the same books. As you may have noticed we have a slight cover addiction and our shallowness can be seen in our shelves. BUT there are times even a cover addict has to make a choice. Not only can we choose between pretty and ugly, UK or US but the price always plays a role at times. Or as in Susi’s case a little bit of stupidity (head hangs in shame).
So here take a glimpse at the books we have in shelves- same content different outside.
Susi : These books are a case of Susi going on a book binge without proper caffeination. *le sigh* I bought the first 3 before book 4 was out and I browsed amazon.de and selected them and nearly DIED when they arrived and I realized I didn’t pay attention to the publisher imprint and edition. #headpalm Well so now all my books have a different size and it sucks to put them in a shelf because the first one is the smallest and I usually try to size-sort my book so they have to be in the wrong order GASP or at the end of a shelf. *pouts* I want a pretty boxed set like Caro.
The covers are great- all of them. They always make me ohhh and awww. But well those damaged pages in one of them are over the top though.
Caro : Susi’s story is pretty much mine on so many other series. I have series where I have 4 or 5 different versions none matching. At first I only looked at the price and now I have some heavily mismatched series. *sigh* I have been lucky with the Nora books. I was late to this series and they were already all out when I got interested. When browsing the Amazon.com (which is just torture since shipping to Europe usually costs an arm) I saw this pretty boxset which was on SALE! Even with the shipping it cost less than 2 books separately. Yes I also have a Boxset addiction. They are purrfect.
Susi : I have to admit that I wasn’t fond of the Sugar Daddy cover when I bought it. But I got it because it was cheap and I wasn’t sure if I would like the book. Now I love the cover. Well it seems to be prettier in real. And I got the other 2 because well I wanted the same edition for once. I don’t get why the dude on Blue-Eyed Devil stand on that road shirtless and all and well the book is blue. The Smooth Talking Stranger cover is awesome though. She has great legs. I have to say I do like Caro’s covers. Soooo pretty and well they look more modern.
Caro : For long I didn’t get these books because the US covers just didn’t do a thing for me. Let’s be honest the first 2 really aren’t attractive (nor very interesting). I completely fell for the UK editions. SO gorgeous. I have NO idea if they fit the books at all but I love them so much I don’t care LOL. Every time I look at Blue-Eyed Devil I feel the need to run in a field. It screams SUMMER to me *g* *pets pretty books*
Susi : When I realized how much cheaper the UK version is and well I was buying so many books at that time I grudgingly decided to get this one and buy the US when I have more money and it’s out in paperback. LOL The UK cover sucks- it’s blue and Anna has a gun. O_O I love the US cover and Caro is teasing me endlessly with the prettiness of her copy. Want.
Caro : I’m sooooorry *looks ashamed of herself* I pre-ordered the US copy months before the release to get a better price. I like the US cover but it’s not my favorite. I have to say I chose that one because I find the UK covers Fugly. Why would Anna have a gun? And well I just really dislike the whole UK covers for this series.
Susi : I have to say I do like these old fashionded covers. They remind me of the paperbacks my dad read- you know the Bradburrys. I find it annoying that on all these covers they say Nora Roberts writing as J.D. Robb– why have a pseudonym when you put the real name on it too. Silly.
For the UK covers I think they have nothing to do with the books and they don’t look like science fiction or futuristic romance at all. I always wonder if they do that to lure unknowing people into buying them.
Caro : I’m right there with you on the stupid pen names. I understand pen names but having both on the cover is just o_O . I don’t like much the US covers. They indeed look like old mystery books and I’m just not a fan. I am shallow and I want pretty feathers and butterflies even if it doesn’t match the story at all LOL. I really love the pretty UK covers. If I get the following books in the series I’ll keep buying these.
Susi : LOL well the Paolini collection. As you can imagine we started after we saw the sucktastic movie and wanted to know if the book is any better. After we got the cheapest book available (it even has stupid movie pics in the middle) we bought book 2 in paperback and were hooked. I got book 3 on release day in Hardcover because I didn’t know that Book Depository existed and amazon had only that edition. I was more clever with book 4- which is a HUGE paperback. After book 3 we said we will get a boxed set after book 4 is out because as you can see book 1 and 2 are both read more than once and it does show. But now that I read book 4 I’m not so sure anymore.
Caro volunteered to make the comparison of UK/US Sigh covers with her own copies (which I didn’t even know she had both)– mine are currently being read by a friend. I have the US ones and would also like to get the UKs. The US copies are way cheaper but also ugly. But well the UKs weren’t out when I bought mine so I’m now stuck with those. *sad Susi*
Caro : About the Paolini: YUCK! I think the books got so bad I could just burn my copies (of course I won’t! I’m not a hillbilly). I just want to say *point finger at Susi* AH AH you got the movie tie-in!! LOL I have exactly the same editions of Eldest and Brisingr. It makes me laugh when I see the covers with each dragon because it reminds me of a poster with the evolution of mankind…only with dragons.
*hides in shame* Of COURSE I told you I had the UK and US editions of the Psy books…didn’t i? LOL Well I only have the 2 of them in UK. I really dislike the US covers. REALLY REALLY dislike them. I don’t love all the UK covers but these 2 did work for me. I am a little ashamed of having them twice but I couldn’t resist. NOMMMMM
Do you buy books because of their cover? Would you pay more for a book if it has a prettier cover?
Do you buy books of the same series in different editions? (UK/US/paperback/Hardcovers…)
Do you also have books in more than 1 edition? (come ON just admit it! I can’t be THAT crazy right?)
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I buy whatever is the cheapest so of course my books comes in all shapes and sizes, but well, I need to go with money.
Like the Patricia Briggs books, I got one little paperUK, one big trade UK, and the rest are US. Such a mess
I have to do that from time to time too as you can see. Usually I may be too OCD to do it.
I usually bought the cheapest but now when I can if the difference is not too big I order the one I like.
No I only buy one edition of a book unless I pick a second one by mistake; and when authors change their format after so many books I end up with the first ones in paperback and the latest in hardcover, I’m not going to wait for the newest one to be out.
I so get what you mean. I’m usually rather angry when they switch to hardcover in the middle of a series. My shelves only have so much space for them. BF made most of them paperback height so it really ruins my book shelf master plan. LOL
No to mention that you have sometimes to wait a YEAR for the paperback. Blerrrrrh
Yes. (Not JUST their covers. But it’s a key factor. I won’t by a paper book if the cover is too hideous to allow into my house. That’s what ebooks are for.)
Yes. (Pre- Book Depository, I would shell out a small fortune for the UK or AU versions of my favorite series. Particualrly if the US version did that ridiculous “translate” thing. Contrary to publisher’ opinions, many Americans can figure out the meanings of petrol, mum, telly, mobile, and trolley and knickers based on context.)
No. (Although this may change soon. I still haven’t bought Timeless or Heartless because the last two covers are so godawful. I skipped over Magic Slays for the same reason. I am waiting for an superior international cover edition to be released.)
Yes. (I have ebooks and paperbacks of many many series. And I will buy new editions of books I already own if I like the cover better. Or because it’s special – like the 10-year Good Omens re-release.)
LMAO about the translate thing. And I am a special edition buyer too. I got an awesome limited one for the Hitchhiker books. In leather and with shiny golden print on cover. *g* LOVE that one.
Amen! LOL If we can understand books from the US or from UK I’m pretty sure they can too! It’s ridiculous to change words . But like with movies if it’s not 100% US made it seems they can’t ‘relate’ or so the publishers and producers seems to think.
As you well know, I DO buy books for the covers. Yes, I have the entire set of Eragon/Inheritance series in hardcover, but they are signed by Christopher Paolini himself so that does take the sting out of them (I also have a signed poster of the series).
Another series that I insisted on hardcover is the Leviathan series by Scott Westerfeld. The hc versions have glorious maps of a steampunk pre-WWI Europe whereas the paperbacks only have black and white versions of the maps – so NOT the same! Yes, I had them signed by Scott Westerfeld, too. Yeah, I have a thing about buying YA books and getting them signed, I guess.
So, the consensus is that the CARESS BY ICE cover sucks? Because I had thought that maybe I just didn’t appreciate Timothy Adams or something.
I adore signed books and well I would buy a shiny book for that too. LOL
Well I detest this cover (US) but maybe others do like it! LOL *shudders*
Hehe I’m also a signed book whore! I loooooove them.
Lol, great post ladies. I like both the Nora Roberts covers. I think the left Lisa Kleypas covers are to warn people those are not historicals like all her other books (writing style is totally different too!). The UK version of the Patricia Briggs book is ugly! Hate it!
Ohhh yes that could be and yes they are. *hides her copy behind the pretty books*
I get that they wanted to show those weren’t historicals but well…the UK shows that too. *shrug*
By the way, I do have Lisa Kleypas’ A WALLFLOWER CHRISTMAS in paperback but NOT the hardcover because the former has Paul Marron on the stepback (no stepbacks for hardcovers).
LOL that wasn’t very clever for the hardcover then.
Ohhhhhhh! I don’t have that one yet! LOL So now I know I should get the paperback and not the HC! *g* I love stepback covers
I like both JD Robb covers, I don’t always buy them brandnew, so I have lots of differents. I do want to exchange my hardcovers and big paperbacks for normal paperbacks though, so they fit better on the shelve.
No opinion on Eragorn, did not read them.
I loathe the UK covers of the Nalini Singh books. All those creepy scarred guys with the blood running. Although Tangle of Need is pretty horrible too.
Finally someome who shares my shelf problem. All those trades and paperback don’t fit in paperback shelves! LOL Well I have some for those but they’re nearly bursting.
And btw I do love the Singh UK guys. *dreamy look*
*covers her ears* Lalalalalala I’m not hearing you! LOL I love the UK covers of the Nalini books!!! LOL Well that can’t be helped LOL
🙁 Hardcovers are a pain to include in shelves. Most of mine can’t fit. :/
I always buy my book based on price. Over € 6,00? Then no, no matter how much I want it. The only exception I have is for Bertrice Small, and her books are always very expensive.
Wow, that is strict. And you wouldn’t get any books in German for that price. The usual paperback price here (at least for the books I want) is between 10-16€. Paperback I mean- Hardcover starts at 20€
Bwahahahaha same thing in France you know. Here paperbacks cost mimimum 7-8€. Then we have the ‘kinda trade’ but a bit bigger between 13 and 16€ and hardcovers starting at 18€ to 28€. Ebooks cost around 10 to 12€
LMAO good thing I order books in English.
But still 6€ sounds pretty cheap. I don’t think I see many of the books I get at less than 7 or 8.
Do you buy books because of their cover? Nope
Would you pay more for a book if it has a prettier cover? Nope
Do you buy books of the same series in different editions? Sometimes
Do you also have books in more than 1 edition? Nope
Seriously, gals, I’m spending my precious book $$$ on books I want to read, more than on books I intend to save.
Caro—You really need to see the cover of a Kleypas book? You know it’s going to be good, just get the thing!
LOL I know I know! Proof is that I have (nearly) all her Historical romances even though the covers sucks 😉 But for some reason I resisted the contemps for a long time. I still haven’t read them btw! LOL
Well Ladies I am in disagreement with both of you then, but I much prefer the UK Patricia Briggs covers (hate the US ones, brr), even though they cost more I bought the silver/black Mercy series because it looked much more classy.
Poor Susi, I feel for you re: the Nora books, it seriously sucks when the books ina series are different (and it angers me when it’s the publisher who decides to change things mid-series! urgh)
Caro, I haven’t read Lisa Kleypas’ series yet, but your beautiful edition amkes me want to ahve them on my shelves 😀
And I’m with Caro, I don’t mind that the JD Robb covers have nothing to do with the story, they look pretty! and futuristic 🙂
I’ve noticed that in general UK covers are more beautiful and classier than the US ones, the problem is that they are more expensive as well.. *sighs* 🙁
Thanks for the fun post Ladies!! 😀
Oh my! LOL as much as I agree that usually the UK covers are more classy they just don’t work for me for the Briggs or Ilona Andrews books.
See? The Kleypas as sooooooo pretty I would have picked them up in a store even not knowing the author.
It’s a shame that they are more expensive though 🙁 I’m also super annoyed that they aren’t released as the same time as the US ones. Meh
Muahahahahah Stella I’m already looking for ordering the next JD Robb Muahahaahah
i use economic principal when buying a book. the cheapest is the winner 😀 i don’t really care about the cover, but if there are choices with small difference in price i’ll choose the one i like more.