When you’re dealing with the release of a high-profile book, the stakes are high, so it can take an insane number of drafts to get the cover just right for everyone involved. To that point, last week the Sunday Book Review ran a feature on book covers that “got away”; we’ve selected a handful of our favorites from their roundup, and paired them with the covers that ended up making the cut. Click through and let us know in the comments in which cases you agree with the publishers’ decisions.
Note: In all cases the rejected covers are on the left and the final versions are on the right.
Blood, Bones, and Butter – Design by Lynn Buckley
Eating Animals – Design by Jon Gray
Netherland – Design by Heads of State
Sag Harbor – Design by Rodrigo Corral
The Autograph Man – Design by John Gall and Leanne Shapton
A Gate at the Stairs – Design by Barbara DeWild
Wetlands – Design by Roberto de Vicq de Cumptich
Repeat After Me/Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim – Design by Kelly Blair
