how to design a trashy literary fiction cover cause they all look like this

[@jeywithane130]

this series started out as almost a satire form of mockery of trashy romance novel covers, now it's basically an art/graphic design/marketing analysis seminar and i love it

[@sunnyflower9011]

sameeee

[@sunnyflower9011]

love this series

[@itsdivyag]

hah! thank you! i have some older videos from 2018-19 which are more humour based :p

[@alicedonutsedits]

if I saw this book on the shelf I would not question it. I would just assume that it was another one of those books with a huge metaphorical meaning that I would miss.

[@itsdivyag]

Greatest compliment hah ty

[@eommaeottoke9966]

So in summary, literary fiction covers are Pablo Picasso reimagined.

[@itsdivyag]

modern art 👌

[@kaixinsoh]

*for Instagram

[@tamara10]

But why aren't publishers hiring you to design book covers you always nail these fake book covers

[@subtlefire7256]

Please make a campy 80s horror or sci-fi cover, that would be so fun!

[@itsdivyag]

Ooooo good idea!!

[@wormdoodles]

I miss those old horror covers sometimes. Like, look at Stephen King's first edition of It versus the most recent edition. The old one is actually a little freaky. The new one feels sanitized.

[@rebecca7856]

This is the worst cover trend I've seen. Literally can't tell the books apart.

[@itsdivyag]

individually some of the covers are so great but i can see why it won't make much sense to have this design on all the novels esp if it doesn't even relate

[@leafleafkris]

i used to never think twice about book covers but since i started watching your videos i can’t walk through the book store without analyzing the shit out of everything i see 😩

[@itsdivyag]

Aaa love the impact haha

[@snehapradhan5591]

you're literally the QUEEN of making covers 😩😩

[@Mimi-zz3gd]

I love how there's a whole economic explanation for cover design. 10/10

[@itsdivyag]

my one marketing module and economics a level coming to good use

[@Mimi-zz3gd]

@@itsdivyag i spent a whole semester studying economics alone and this was still more useful, so good on you

[@nandinighosh7338]

As a design and CS major I literally love watching this series because you give ACTUAL KNOWLEDGE AND MAKE IT FUN

[@itsdivyag]

Wow i love how you do both aaa i did CS too haha

[@anaclarafreitas8974]

Your covers always look better than the ones we get on books

[@lofi-lila]

OK but on a serious note PLEASE give the vanishing half a chance- the cover sells it short but the story is amazing

[@linked1836]

agreed!! I loved it so much

[@Himanshi.Y]

So is detransition, baby it's probably one of the best books I've read

[@lofi-lila]

@@Himanshi.Y Preach! Reese and Jude's relationship was so sweet honestly I ate it up 😭

[@Himanshi.Y]

@@lofi-lila I'm not good with remembering characters names, who is jude? Pretty sure not one of the main characters

[@lofi-lila]

@@Himanshi.Y Desiree's daughter

[@kaylandra]

this entire video series is literally a dream come true for someone like me who loves books and graphic design.... all your analyses are amazing & you're so talented

[@itsdivyag]

Thank you so much I'm glad you like it

[@m.v.f.3209]

1:22 "well babes it's all marketing innit" PLSSS I LOVE YOU

[@eee9266]

I wish book covers carried the same significance as album covers. An insight about what the book entails, not just some aesthetic splotches of colors and maybe two people looking at each-other. I think a book cover could tell you a lot about what you’re about to read.

[@debzykvids]

Seventh! And the G stands for Divya is the *Guru* of Book Cover Design Advice. 😂🤣❤

[@itsdivyag]

Haha love that

[@baatile]

This happens with a lot of genres within fiction. Even Fantasy books have similar covers. They usually just copy the best selling book in the genre. Like, soooo many black/African books have a dark face silhouette with a yellow background because they copied Yaa Gyasi’s Homegoing cover…

[@itsdivyag]

Just looked up the cover super gorgeous but I see what you mean! Great insight tysm

[@user-fy9fr3bc7v]

When I'm published, I want nothing more than for you to roast me

[@isthatachicken]

_who in the hell put the muffins in the freezuuh_ 😂😂

[@aashitiwari2044]

honestly this cover looks better than the vanishing half's ever did

[@SM-vd2iz]

As a librarian, I'm glad this channel exists. With the number of covers I see on a weekly basis, it's clear people chasing trends. It's...it's wild.

[@SkeletonFlake]

she did it again, flawlessly explaining the effect of marketing tactics on book cover designs while turning rats into leaves

[@one_smol_duck]

I was legit looking at books in Target yesterday and wondering why they all looked like this lmao

[@kaixinsoh]

As an (amateur) graphic designer, (with all due respect to the designers who made these covers, who are all certainly remarkably talented) it looks like what I would do if you told me I had a deadline due tonight 2359 and I just basically cut out a few shapes and filled them in with bright colours on Illustrator. 🤣

[@itsdivyag]

Loooool we all know that stress

[@helenlittle7761]

Did these book covers remind anyone else of Henri Matisse’s colorful paper shapes phase?

[@rhiannaisabella7174]

You should (if you want to) do a video where you turn movies (midsommar) into trashy book covers!!! (midsommar)

[@itsdivyag]

I might! (midsommar)

[@MsGloomyLamp]

damn, I love how you started this 'how to design' series with mindless entertainment (that we loved) and graduated into actual analysis and I'm just sitting here saying 'wow that's so interesting!!' over and over again, and I didn't expect that going in this video. A round of applause from me!

[@screech5325]

The Queen has done it once again. Rising the bar for everyone else.

[@itsdivyag]

😩👌

[@faberquidam]

we’ve seen it up close and personal!

[@iangonzalvo4716]

Notification gang eeyyy

[@itsdivyag]

Gang gang

[@aaliyahjade5091]

I was laughing at this because I thought I didn’t own a book with this type of cover but then as soon as I check my bookshelf, the absolute horror of a truth was right in front of me. It glared at me, with it’s greens, yellows and flicks of orange. It says to me: “ why haven’t you read me yet?” Because I am deeply embarrassed. It was like I wasn’t aware when I bought it. But for the sake of a story I will definitely read it! (I am exaggerating immensely) Recommendation: A girl is a body of water

[@lina5699]

Your French accent is a gift to humanity

[@ncitiddies656]

im not sure she has a french accent..

[@jampsonn1826]

I saw The Skin We're In by Desmond Cole in the beginning during the color talk - just wanted to recommend this bc it's NOT literary fiction but is actually non fiction discussions and stories about racism in Canada! No metaphorical meanings to be had when all of the events are real. Lol

[@itsdivyag]

Yess there’s actually a few books in the Pinterest which aren’t lit fic which I mentioned but just included because they fit the trend ☺️

[@priisawallflower]

THE G STANDS FOR GOOD LORDE, I JUST NOTICED THE SAME THING AND NOW KWEEN DIVYA G IS AT IT MAKING THIS VIDEO

[@itsdivyag]

GREAT MINDS 💖💖

[@francescakyanda9182]

Love the combination of learning and tomfoolery, I live for it girl

[@itsdivyag]

I try g tysmm

[@s0ggywaffles338]

okay but like The Death of Vivek Oji and The Vanishing Half are both beautiful, amazing books

[@itsdivyag]

Hi guys I hope you are well! I would like to reiterate that the "trashy" refers to my own work which is a jumble of all the trends and not the designers! Also it's mostly just for continuity in this series purposes. Also it would be a dream to reach 100K soon (maaaybe by the end of this year?) so if you like my content I would appreciate a subscribe or a like or anything really! If not, that's okay too. I appreciate you guys either way. Thanks gs ^ ^

[@lar_s]

it's just the literary version of Corporate Art Style™

[@isthatachicken]

Your bangs are so cute bestie🤭

[@itsdivyag]

Thank you g 💖💖

[@lapissed9620]

It kind of reminds me of corporate art style but in book covers.

[@imogenf5866]

that's exactly what i was thinking!

[@februerik]

i love that we get a breakdown of what the style is and why it's used feeling big brain 👏🏼👏🏼

[@itsdivyag]

honestly feeling big brain is a mood

[@JesminMaria]

You know...I was writing just right now and the notification popped up....why!? Really why!? Why do you have to distract me like that!

[@itsdivyag]

I hope you got your work done hahaha

[@rhianx]

The G stands for Get out of the way I'm just commenting for the algorithm so that normies can find our girl Divya 🤷🏽‍♀️

[@itsdivyag]

Love that community service

[@fantasylovemagic]

As a neurodivergent, these types of covers mess with my brain more than anything, I just want to look away from them, I can't even read the title it distracts me too much 😭😂 whereas more sober, simple, recognisable designs attract me way more ! It can still be whimsical, like the Wolf and the Woodsman or Beasts and Briars, it's gorgeous and at least it's not attacking my eyes !

[@MrsDaedalus_]

I feel you! I am highly sensitive, and these colours are overloading my senses. My eyes are hurting. I am glad that I am not a fan of these types of books in general.

[@isabellazago8193]

i cannot express how much i love her voice/accent like i also have a british accent but hers is just so... scrumpdilytious

[@michellecasey1890]

I literally hate this style of cover so much and it seems like they all look like this these days, I'm glad I'm not alone in my disdain lol

[@rubydoe2881]

1:43 i think it’s kinda ironic that one of the books here is actually the vanishing half, j the uk version of the cover not the american version so it’s different

[@SincerelyTahiry]

ummmm i just found your channel and im OBSESSED!! Where have you been my whole life?? 😅😭💗💗💗

[@suprajasridh]

the g stands for graphic design analysis

[@itsdivyag]

Yapyapp

[@abbyshewrote]

the g stands for gbabe wake up, new divya video

[@itsdivyag]

gimme gfive gmore gminutes

[@kaitlinvandenberg8202]

okay we can not ignore the fact that the book cover you made was literally so good!!!

[@itsdivyag]

Thank you aaa!!!

[@yperboreus]

This video is literally a rip-off of "The Endless Life Cycle of Book Cover Trends" by Alana Pockros, all the same talking points and examples

[@itsdivyag]

That article is great. It's even in my video. In terms of talking points: design being instagrammable isn't a new theory it's almost half a decade old and regarding examples, the pinterest board were the most prolific ones i could find. the vanishing half is the most well known out of the bunch and so lends itself well for the analysis. As for the rest of the video, it's a shame you didn't find much value in it but thanks for giving it a try anyway.

[@elll2184]

My eyes glaze over when i see book covers like this

[@BriasRebellion]

I've worked with books for decades and this is 💯% accurate!! I could totally see this on a shelve!! Look at the trend with historical fiction too! Always a lady walking on a street not looking at the camera with muted colors.

[@SoulbirdCreative]

This is kind of like the art nouveau-inspired concert poster typography of the 1960s that forced you to stop and scrutinize the letters until you could decipher what it said. And of course the bright acid-trippy colors.

[@Annafilmz]

FINALLY, someone brings this up. The repetitive cover art was REALLY starting to pluck away at my sanity.

[@charissahan2542]

i know you make these as jokes, but you're so talented

[@rananajjar]

If I was an author I would want you to make my book cover.

[@wolfobsessive]

I feel like at this point, you could just use your youtube videos as a resume for a legitimate job as a cover designer. I'm surprised you haven't been contacted for a job actually!

[@ananya6939]

I appreciate the small science lesson😂 And who put the muffins in the freezer 🤔

[@ikamille]

Finally!!!! Someone said it. I am writing a fiction “psychological thriller”. And I am stuck on a cover design based on the trends. Im old school, Stephen King style. I’m going for the Stardos Stencil big font title in black with a white cover. With a small hint symbol image. Very small… I am watching this as I type. But thank you for addressing this. 😩🙏🏽♥️

[@HelenaSummer]

Hey dear, you are brilliant. I sent you a little email, looking foward to connecting 🙂

[@christian-br5nu]

fourth.

[@theodorrenberg9156]

If I write a book one day I want you to designe it! :D

[@digitalstudiotutorials]

love this, but can you please take a breath between your sentences? You are talking about a "trend' in book covers, but this UNINTERRUPTED talking on KZbin is ALSO a trend and it's becoming a bit annoying.

[@juliettanornidante]

made possible with crime that's why it's TRASHY. EW.

[@lindajohnson4204]

Why? 1. The same designer designs many of them. 2. The look becomes popular and/or expected, and other designers follow suit.

[@ONYXPages]

you're funny and salty and smart and this was great!!!

[@itsdivyag]

Tysmm

[@duckhongjoong]

professional book cover designer: h- divya: I'm about to end this man's whole career

[@thenuyogi5751]

Yo this ACC looks dope!!! The Zendaya astigmatism joke sent me. The rat is between me and you xox but in all seriousness you smashed this

[@mollydarling1993]

I know it's super basic but I do love a colorful cover. Maybe I'm just mentally 5 years old

[@talkingqueen9587]

I wish i was half as good at making covers as you are lol

[@LadyAstarionAncunin]

I've not watched the video yet, but (aside from what I've heard about the thumbnail) I assume they want them to look good on the coffee table and turned face front on a bookshelf, like some mini abstract painting.

[@theunluckiestboyintown]

I’m going to go make a fantasy book about a masquerade ball where some bored gods and goddesses meet but than the god of the over world and god of the underworld invade and just try to murder everybody and than the goddess of night just steals the goddess of the over world and just runs away with her and the underworld god Litteraly spends 5 chapters sending demons and other underworld creatures to get her back And in the end the night goddess ends up dying and the over world goddess freaking murders the underworld god because he killed her friend ( wife cough cough.. )

[@raegardens8339]

These videos are so well made and interesting

[@itsdivyag]

Thank you!!!

[@Oskar_A.]

This is by far the worst book cover design trend to date, in my opinion. It's very hard on the eyes and they all just tend to look the same. But you did a great job re-creating it! lol

[@spacefreak4563]

That rat got turned into leaf cracked me up

[@jennypan4055]

idk if this is a real "genre" but like. books that are a little Fucked Up In The Head. idk if that's an aesthetic but it'd feel like a fun video

[@kathlynarchibald-drew4395]

New to the channel! JUST SUBBED! 🙏🏾

[@ordinarygurl24]

notification gang👌👌

[@riyamars641]

Here I am~

[@gideongrace1977]

I just found this channel and these videos are amazing.

[@davebijoux]

So is the accent fake American or fake English?

[@literaryWonder]

To me, they are so ugly I don't even spare a second glance. It hurts my eyes.

[@UzayrKader]

Shout-out to the midnight library getting half a second while u scrolled through the instagrammable covers list

[@itsdivyag]

Shout out to the only book we have in common HAH

[@Mimi-zz3gd]

The g stands for....... *completely different sentence*

[@itsdivyag]

gnot going gto glie git's getting greally ghard gnow

[@ell4736]

ok but these books are always absolutely amazing tho

[@kiishaokezie7332]

Reccomendation: seven days in June. One of my favourite books ever 😫

[@Mario_Angel_Medina]

I'm still confused about why all those covers choose the same style. I get the practical marketing thing, it needs to draw attention in an online catalog while being like 7x10 pixels in size. But most of the time an artstyle is indicative of a genre, their logic is "this is similar to a popular thing so if you liked that popular thing you will like this too", and also some times cliches shared by those text are reflected in cliches shared by the covers, soo... what's the conection here?

[@itsdivyag]

Sometimes publisher's reference best sellers and use that as a reference point and so we have a bunch of designers who might get a brief like "make it look like [popular book]".

[@Mario_Angel_Medina]

@@itsdivyag dissapointing but accurate 😒

[@ddwivedi6002]

cover aside detransition baby is very good!!!!

[@shethewriter]

I hate this new design trend so much

[@cestlb7741]

God I wish you could design my book cover, you’re incredible

[@annanelson4934]

I’ve been doing art since the age of five (so almost 16 years at this point in time) and I’ve learned more from this video than almost a decade and a half of art and graphics classes

[@opsimathics]

how is this "trashy" It looks exactly the same as the real deal

[@junokalita_]

Commenting for the algorithm

[@maywestman5558]

food for the algorithm-monster

[@koenlenting4117]

I love how her accent sounds like a fake British accent, even though she is actually British

[@itsdivyag]

please my accent is just whatever it feels like doing haha

[@nenes24]

ive been interested in graphic design (for real, not the meme way) for a while now and you make it so much fun to learn and watch! from a happy new sub :)

[@itsdivyag]

I'm so happy!!! This is awesome tysm

[@zionim2529]

1:22 the great gatsby 😵‍💫 idfk

[@e443productions9]

Have you tried being a legit cover artist?

[@kriziaamber4548]

They are so colorful, but oh so boring

[@Jay-vz7og]

That rat was so unexpected and made me crack up 😁