Are Millennial Pink Book Covers: Drab or Fab?
Millennial Pink Book Covers: Are they Drab or Fab? They were all the rage in 2017!
In 2017, I asked this question on Trending Thursday, a periodic blog feature in which I used to lok at some kind of trend in YA, be it cover trends, plot element trends, or something else that catches my eye…Here’s what I said:
“I noticed a certain trend in pink book covers but didn’t know what was behind it until I was flipping through a fashion magazine and discovered: Millennial Pink. A bit of background: something called Rose Quartz was announced an “it’ color of 2016 by Pantone:
Then Rose Quartz became Millennial Pink — apparently because the color has become trendy all over social media, from lip gloss to iPhone cases.
For the record, I love pale pink as a nail polish, a sweater, paint on a bedroom wall, or a glass of rosé … but I’m really not crazy about this shade of pink on book covers. Book covers need to pop, and to me, this color just sits there meekly, waiting to be noticed.”
I do think the black heart and silhouette improves the Alex & Eliza cover, but overall I’m not loving this muted pink on book covers.
WHAT HAPPENED NEXT:
In 2024, I transitioned this website to be a Y2K YA nostalgia site and what better signature color? Hello, Rose Quartz.
Thoughts? Tell me your opinion of Millennial Pink Covers in comments!
The only blah pink cover that I've seen and liked is It's Not Like a Secret. Probably because it has a few bright colors thrown in to make it pop.
I'm with you. It's a nice color but doesn't really make a book stand out to me.
Also, Alex & Eliza is much nicer in real life. It has variations on the pink and a slight texture.
For What It's Worth
The Alex and Eliza one is a little more to the salmon end and that black heart helps a lot. I really really dislike the pink on It's Not Like a Secret – the pink color looks dingy to me.
I think I'm with you. Although it works for me on the No Saints in Kansas cover, I don't really like most of the other ones you've posted. As much as we say not to judge a book by its cover, it still should grab me in some way. Fun post!
We definitely do judge, and I think what I look for in a lip gloss isn't necessarily what works on a cover!
I like the pink covers. What matters more to me is the way they embellish it — the graphics, font size and colors, etc.
Thanks for offering a different perspective! And I agree that the pink is much improved with some graphics or a pop of color!