Which cover is better?

[Gregg Bell]

It's a romance novel. Thanks!

[Penforhire]

I like the first one better. Something about the wood color being at all similar to the hair color doesn't sit well with me, like a bad association. I thought I would like the second one more, as it leads the eye to your title along with the dock perspective. But my reaction is strictly emotional to the colors.

OT, I don't like the title font. The capital T stem is too swoopy for me, unless you are intentionally trying for a test/jest superposition.

[ATDrake]

Is it a romance set in wintertime or in a cold climate? If so, then the 1st, which has a "frosty" sort of cool blue look to it might fit, especially if there's some sort of thawing of the heart theme going on.

Otherwise, I'd say that the 2nd looks "warmer" and more romantic for a book which presumably doesn't have that setting/theme to play upon.

[Emil Crise]

I like the top one better. The color of the pier blends in symbolizing a a possible journey of mystery. The smile on the guy seems misplaced (first impression was he bought dental insurance and felt good about it) Like the look the woman has maybe cut guy out leaving only his shoulder?

[arjaybe]

It depends on the nature of the story. The top one is more bleak, the bottom more promising. Or the top one is more New York, the bottom more California.-) Or top more winter, bottom more summer. My first impression is I like the bottom one better, but is that a calculating look in the girl's eyes?

[Maggie May]

I prefer the first cover, everything blends very well together.


Mag.

[Nabeel]

The second one definitely looks friendlier.

There is a problem with that 'T'. It could be read as 'The Jest', which isn't a bad title, I suppose...

[burnafterreading]

both covers are of a book that i wouldn't touch with a 10-ft pole. but since you're the author, only you know the content of the book right now and how the story develops!

top is cold, distant, sombre, someone cheated on someone else and there's resentment, lack of forgiveness, calling oneself stupid for trusting the other, etc...

bottom is warm, happy, forgiveness, commitment, maybe it's a test of inlaws accepting the chosen partner, or struggles to retain a relationship in spite of distance, etc

top one is like most movies on Lifetime / W Network
bottom one is like The Lake House (movie)

and yeah, good call on the woman's eyes looking conniving or scathing.

[gmw]

I like the way she seems to be peering through the "e" of shutterstock

I pretty much agree with the other comments so far: the top needs to be a cold weather setting or a "cold, distant ..." story, the bottom might suit a warmer story or setting. I like the top image better if it fits the story. As already noted the "T" - if it is a "T" - is too exaggerated for comfortable reading.

I think you might have to see the image without "shutterstock" to really get a feel for the expression in the girl's eyes.

[Dr. Drib]

I'm afraid you won't like my reaction to part of this:

1) I'm having difficulty with your title. When I read that, my mind wanders into STD difficulties.

2) On your cover, I like the one on the bottom since it adds some color that the top one (in my opinion) lacks.

3) Reaction seems to be split on the cover. Have one on the front and the other one when they reach the end of the book.

[mr ploppy]

The woman looks too sad for a book called The Jest. It makes me think the man is a bit of a bastard to her and she'd be better off without him.

[Gregg Bell]

Thanks very much everyone for the great feedback!

[burnafterreading]

from a purely photographic standpoint:

top one is not balanced - it's primarily blue/gray/green, and the only reds are the text and her hair, so the focus is nearly all on her hair. it's a bit jarring.

bottom one is balanced - her red hair at top, the red trees mid-frame, and the red dock at the bottom. it's more calm.

[HomeInMyShoes]

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

1) I'm having difficulty with your title. When I read that, my mind wanders into STD difficulties.

Could be a pregnancy test.

Seriously though, I prefer the top one. While colour balancing might be better as stated with the hair and the pier, I tend to think the people are more important and the focus is more on the couple in the first. I find the pier catching a lot of my attention in the second. Maybe that's important and maybe it isn't.

There isn't a right answer here. It depends on what you want the cover to say as they both read differently.

[Dr. Drib]

Looks like I mistook the 'J' for a 'T'.