Outed by my book-buying habits

If it wasn’t made clear in past posts, I’m bisexual.

I wasn’t privy to/able to process this piece of information until my mid-twenties.

So it goes.

It took me until NOW to realize that many of the SFF YA novels I’ve purchased over the years have similar cover art.

You’ll see what I mean in a second.

Book: Matched by Ally Condie
Purchased in: 2010
Age read: 17

I, a self-professed allocishet teenager, spent years buying every single YA novel with a redheaded cover model.

Per the narrative, this protagonist’s hair is supposedly aUbUrN.

I don’t want to talk about it.

Book: Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken
Purchased in: 2010
Age read: 17

Something told me this book was really good.

(It was the comps on the cover.)

(In case you were curious.)

Book: The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross
Purchased in: 2011
Age: 18

At the time of purchase, I was a brunette with body image issues. (….still am, in fact.)

I wanted to look LIKE, not look AT, the woman on the cover of this book!

Thank you, no further questions!

Book: Wither by Lauren DeStefano
Purchased in: 2011
Age: 18

Steampunk was a Thing when this book came out. (See previous entry)

I bought this one for the aesthetic!

Book: The Selection by Kiera Cass
Purchased in: 2012
Age: 19

I bought this book because of the cover model’s incredible dress (and no other reason.)

In fact, ALL of the covers for this series were flawless.

Yes, I bought the sequels.

For the DRESSES.

OBVIOUSLY.

Book: Defiance by C.J. Redwine
Purchased in: 2012
Age: 19

I am…incredibly predictable.

Book: For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund
Purchased in: 2012
Age read: 19

I excitedly showed this book to my college boyfriend.

“Look how cool and aesthetically-pleasing this cover is!” I said without a hint of irony.

(Fun fact: he was a redhead.)

Book: Fallen by Lauren Kate
Borrowed in: 2013
Age: 20

Have I mentioned my previously-unacknowledged and suitably-massive crush on Amy Lee, frontwoman of Evanescence?

Book: Mistwood by Leah Cypress
Purchased in: 2014
Age: 21

WOULD YOU BELIEVE THIS WAS A BLIND DATE BOOK?

I’M NOT JOKING.

I BOUGHT THIS WITHOUT SEEING THE COVER.

I SWEAR IT.

SURELY my taste in book covers isn’t THIS specific.

Someone tell me this trend doesn’t go all the way back to the beginning.

Book: In the Hands of the Goddess by Tamora Pierce
Borrowed in: 2003
Age: 10

Oh no.

“Hey, Lauren. Does the same go for book covers with male cover models?”

Not really.

I rarely see men on book covers, much less redheaded men.

…well then.