UK vs US Book Covers | Why are they different?

In which I talk about the differences between UK and US covers . . .

*More About My Debut Novel*

My debut novel, The Secrets of Hartwood Hall, is publishing 28 February 2023 in the US and 30 March 2023 in the UK. It is a gothic historical novel about a governess and what happens when she takes a new position at a mysterious country house . . .

*Books Mentioned*














*General Links*

[Sarahac]

You explained everything so well! I'm a US-based book cover designer in NYC and I really enjoyed hearing from the UK editorial perspective. I've worked on covers for most of the publishing houses and each imprint has such a distinct personality and sense of design. For example, the covers I work on for Amazon Publishing are entirely different than the covers I work on for, say, Simon & Schuster or Penguin Randomhouse. Typically when I work on books, I have no idea what the UK cover looks like but occasionally I'm asked to work on a cover for a book that did really well in the UK and is coming to the US with an already designed UK jacket...this is always a challenging task because it's often already beautifully packaged but I must design something distinct for the US.

I will say that the biggest trends I've seen in the USA as a cover designer are BIG type (must read well 'digisize' or on instagram) and artful illustrations/collages (ie: designers Sara Wood, Na Kim, and Michael Morris). Whereas what I see in the UK is more playful typefaces, and a unique illustration style (ie: the wildly talented Holly Ovenden, Michaela Alcaino, and Henry Petrides).

I know this comment is getting long but please feel free to ask me any questions if you have any! One question I have for the UK—do you see a lot of books with gold foil/embossing? I'm seeing less and less of this in the US so I'm just curious.

[MrBoJangles]

Since i grew up also reading comic books i find myself being drawn to artistic covers.

[marshaprice]

I have wondered why US and UK editions have different covers; so I thought this was quite interesting.

[Thecatladybooknook_PennyD]

I definitely lean more toward buying UK covers. I'm in the US so I'll order from Blackwells or BookDepository even if it takes longer to arrive.

[debbiepass]

UK book covers are definitely nicer. I’m personally glad I’m in the UK and have these ones.

[mariaborgvall]

I'm on the UK side regarding faces. The book paints the characters for you, and unless the cover artist has read the whole thing they will get it wrong. I also don't think photos work on covers in most cases, because again, a book paint pictures. Photos is great on menoirs, travel books, cook books... But on novels no.

[staceydarlington]

I can't wait to read your book!!! I have it on order!!!

[annespan]

I for one cannot wait to receive here in the USA my hardback copy of the UK edition of your novel -- what a beautiful cover! I feel like it takes me right into a room inside Hartwood Hall. Wishing you great success, Katie!

[HamsavahiniVajraasthra]

Hi Katie😁This was an amazingly informative video- absolutely loved it !!!😁😁😁😁

[bookreview]

what a great video explaining different covers. Thanks for sharing!

[ashleycaulfield]

I loved this video! I could have watched hundreds of more examples. This was great. Thank you!

[davebonello]

(Melanie here) Excellent video. Loved it. I do prefer your book cover in the UK version.

[Dinadoesyoga]

This was such a fun video! I'm a 100% utterly predictable American - in every single case I preferred, often strongly, the US cover. Don't get me wrong, the UK covers were very pretty artistically, but the US covers make me far more inclined to read it. Those publishers sure know what they are doing. 😉

[isabellabeckett-smith]

This was such an interesting video! Can you make a series about different aspects of the publishing industry? That would be really cool :)

[dena.]

Here is some info about the Demon Copperhead US cover. Barbara Kingsolver actually had input on this cover. I attended a live author event when this book was released last year and she said she wanted a cover with a Victorian feel and specified the illustrated items she would like to have included, ie. the kite, shoes and other things significant to the story. The original design presented to her was a nondescript, colorful abstract version that told you nothing about the story itself. She did admit that maybe because she was a more established author that she got to have some input. I don’t know how much input an author has in their book designs. I’m so glad they went with her ideas, because I think it is an absolutely beautiful, interesting cover and gives off that Dickensian feel.

To clarify, she asked for input after the original design she was presented with was less than exciting.

[GalaxyFur]

As an American, I prefer the US covers more. I like that they offer more information. They sell the book to me more personally. The UK covers are very pretty. But they often remind me of the 1980s or 1990s embroidered wallpaper I saw so much in people's houses growing up. The overdoing of embroidery is a turn-off in many cases. Not in a yuck way. But in a Meh type of way.

The American books just speak to me more personally. (On average) But sometimes the UK version can be better. On average, though, the American covers seem nicer and more interesting looking than the more stylized UK covers, which are too heavy on the colors and patterns.

But the reality is that American and British publishers know each other's markets and what sells books in their respective markets.

And I just looked it up. I didn't realize how big our book publishing industry here in the States really is. The U.S. book publishing market is larger than the European Union and the UK book publishing markets combined! Thats crazy! LOL! The U.S. book publishing market is worth over $41 Billion in revenue as of 2022. And that's down just slightly since COVID restrictions were lifted in 2022, and people started to go outside again. (A lot of things were down in 2022 due to restrictions lifting last year, to be fair, though.)

[TheBookishLand]

What a fantastic discussion and I loved seeing all the comparisons. I usually prefer the UK covers but never really thought about the marketing reasons behind different designs in different countries, but they all made sense after you mentioned it. I sometimes compare English book covers to their translated Chinese book covers and found that interesting too. I always find the Chinese translations are more simplified compares to the English versions, now I have new angles to look at it! Thanks Katie!

[LedgerAndLace]

Really interesting comparison! I LOVE that "Godmersham Park" U.K. cover. Genius!

[myrarucker]

Yes!! It’s getting closer to the 28th!!!!

[FullyBookedMelissa]

I can confirm that lessons in chemistry us cover looks like a rom com. I hadn't heard anything about it but had seen the cover and I assumed it was a rom com. I prefer it when the book covers give you a hint of genre or what the book is about. That's the point of the cover for me. I don't want my sci-fi books looking like lit fic.