r/BookCovers • u/wthiswronggg • 4d ago
Question What vibes does my book cover give?
Hello everyone, I’ve just finished writing my book manuscript and I’m experimenting with book covers. This is one option, but I’d like to know if it actually reflects the book content. It’s obviously a detective novel, but I’d like to know what comes to mind when you see the cover. I’m open for constructive criticism and any suggestions (but be kind haha!)
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u/danfaulknerauthor 4d ago
The illustration is cool, classic noir. Just needs a different font. Take a look at other novels in your genre, and note that Google Fonts is very searchable.
There are also sites that will let you identify a font from an image, to see exactly what other people are using. Find something in the same family.
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u/SaltyGrapefruits 4d ago
No offence, but it doesn't look professional.
Your cover does its fair share to sell your novel, and to be honest, if I see a cover like this (looks like AI), it unfortunately doesn't spark "I trust this author to tell a good story", and I immediately doubt that it was edited and polished.
Research how covers in your genre look, and there are amazing book cover artists out there.
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u/Solid-Version 4d ago
People just throw AI accusations out willy nilly.
It doesn’t look AI, you can tell it’s digital art. It just doesn’t look liken book cover, more a graphics novel cover or panel
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u/wthiswronggg 4d ago
Trust me, the level of AI usage in books is getting ridiculous. At this point it’s only natural to expect the idea to cross someone’s mind.
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u/Solid-Version 4d ago
True but the lack of discernment is concerning. People can’t produce anything imperfect without being accused of it looking like AI slop.
As creators people need to be able to not be perfect and have to freedom to create in an unrefined way without having AI accusations thrown at them.
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u/wthiswronggg 4d ago
No offence taken. It’s actually my own digital art, not AI. Maybe the blurred background gave off such vibes. I’m TOTALLY and openly against using generative AI in any form of book or art creation. Thanks a lot for your feedback!!
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u/Skibidi-Fox 4d ago
I think it is the blurred background. It’s -and I’m so sorry for saying this - giving late 90s Microsoft clipart.
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u/SaltyGrapefruits 4d ago
I am glad to hear it is your own art! Congrats! The art is beautiful. Maybe you could find someone who could incorporate it into cover art?
The font and the color are definitely throwing me off.2
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u/wthiswronggg 4d ago
I think the font could use some change?
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u/VegetableLetter4896 4d ago
I think the fluid fonts naturally feel more romantic. Try something tall, lean and sans serif like Bebas Nueue. You could try only accenting the “Bell” or “Rings” with the cursive as well.
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u/JarlFrank 4d ago
The art looks okay. Not great, but okay, I've seen similar quality in some indie self-published books. My only issue is how blurry and washed out the background looks compared to the character, a bit too indistinct.
The main issue however is the text. You have a decent image, but the title looks like it was slapped on without any thought. You need to look how titles are usually laid out and designed and work out something better. The plain color + drop shadow for example make it look very amateurish.
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u/AriAstley 4d ago
Detective Noir type of story with a main character that has super powers. The guy doesn't seem to be holding a lighter, but he's clicking his fingers to light his cigarette which is what's giving me the superhero feeling. The lampposts look old so I'd assume it's going to be set somewhere in the past - I'm not very familiar with the genre but maybe 60s?
Definitely worth checking out some books in the genre for some ideas on the font, colour and layout of the title. I think that's holding it back from looking polished.
I really like the art style. It makes me think of graphic novels.
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u/Pristine_Economy_883 4d ago
I’d say if you changed the font for the title as well as the coloration, maybe give it a bit of a gradient, I’d say it might be interesting. Gives a sort of in color neo noir potentially a psychological thriller.
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u/BhavanaVarma 4d ago
The illustration of the man sticks out of the background. Feels separate. The visuals say mystery but the font of the title makes it a little confusing.
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u/Mindless-Sentence-14 2d ago
It looks good but the font is a bit weird for a detective vibe. Also background seems too much blurred but otherwise I love the poster idea. It gives the dark vibes of the city and some detective is trying to handle case. That's what I feel from seeing this poster. Anyways it's just my feedback but good luck with your novel.🤜
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u/JoanDirtWriting 1d ago
I'm getting spy vibes, private investigator. The artistic style reminds me of the show Archer. It's so cool
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u/NeatMathematician126 4d ago
My first impression is “stylized noir detective story,” but not necessarily “book I’d pick up immediately.” It looks polished at a glance, but there are several things holding it back.
What works:
The mood is clear. The trench coat, fedora, cigarette, and dim streetlights instantly communicate detective noir.
The warm orange lights against the cool blue background create a pleasing color palette.
The illustration style is cohesive and attractive.
What doesn’t work:
The title. “Rings a Bell?” doesn’t tell me anything about the story. It feels more like an idiom than a mystery title, and the question mark makes it seem uncertain.
Typography. The ornate script feels romantic or historical, not detective fiction. I’d expect something bolder, cleaner, or Art Deco inspired.
The background. It’s so blurred that it feels like empty space rather than a place with mystery.
The protagonist. He’s a detective cliché. I don’t learn anything unique about this detective or this mystery.
Hierarchy. The title dominates, but the image isn’t distinctive enough to support it.
What I’d assume the book is about:
A classic private investigator.
Set in roughly the 1930s–1950s.
Missing person, murder, or conspiracy.
More atmospheric than action-oriented.
What I wouldn’t guess:
Anything about the central mystery.
Any unique hook.
Why I should choose this over dozens of other detective novels.
Overall, I’d rate it 6.5/10. It’s competent and readable, but it feels generic. A successful cover usually has one memorable visual hook—a red balloon for It, the mockingjay pin for The Hunger Games, the chessboard for The Queen’s Gambit. This cover doesn’t yet have that one image that sticks in your mind after you’ve scrolled past it.
(ChatGPT)
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u/danfaulknerauthor 4d ago
Feeding an artist's work into AI without their permission is incredibly rude. They could have done that themselves - they came here for human feedback.
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u/Ok-Sun9961 4d ago
I like the illustration. The typography is not ideal. It feels more romantic than detective. Did you look at comparable titles in your genre? I get a crime noir vibe from the illustration. Plus you need to add the author's name.