Help! I can’t decide on the cover for my new cookbook, Love Real Food. The book’s designer, Rae Ann, came up with three awesome options. I love them all, and I can’t decide which one should make the cut.
I proposed to my publisher that we let you guys pick the winner and they said yes! You all have been so supportive throughout the cookbook-making progress (thank you) and I’m thrilled that you get to pick the cover.
The book is officially available for pre-orders on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. I’m working on some final edits for the book now, and it’s so fun to see it all come together. I can’t wait for you all the see the book on May 16th!
Click through to see all three and vote for your favorite. Voting ends Wednesday, December 14 at noon CST!
Cover 1
Cover 2
Cover 3
Sorry, voting has ended! Thank you all so much for your input.
FINAL RESULTS: 7445 Votes
Cover 1 – 949 Votes (12.8%)
Cover 2 – 3425 Votes (46.1%)
Cover 3 – 3058 Votes (41.1%)
I love cover number two! Thank you so much for your help.
Ali | Gimme Some Oven
These all look AMAZING! Can’t wait to hold this book in my hands. :)
Patricia McClung
I think the circle shapes of the bowl make the cover pop more–and there is more color variation with the white noodles. Looking forward to your book!
Cecilia
I like the contrast of the white too and that cover (#1) has a less cluttered feel.
Clean.
Fresh.
Nourishing.
Penny
They look great! I voted for cover two because I thought it was more visually interesting by offering more color contrast, especially reds and greens. I also thought the food in cover two looked the most appetizing. Lastly, it seemed very aesthetically balanced – colors, shapes, textures, etc.
sassa
I agree, I voted for cover 2 for the same reasons. Great colour and a good variety of ingredients.
Lara
Yes, same reasons I picked #2. Up close, the greens in the pan of Cover #1 didn’t look super yummy, but the food in #2 looks awesome. Cover #3 is pretty, but a little too dark for my taste. Cover #2 has great looking food and nice visual contrast with the marble table and the dark pans.
Christina
Ditto
Kristen Tullis
I am SO excited for your cookbook! you are hands down my favorite blog to follow & every single recipe I’ve ever made of yours is always amazing & so full of flavor, with no hard to find ingriedients. they’re also easy to make, which as a busy mama to three littles is right up my alley! I will be patiently awaiting May when I can get my hands on your cookbook!
Mel
Wrote a super long comment that didn’t post…. But Kristen 100% summed it up. New fan! I’m cooking for an extra picky boyfriend and we’re both trying to eat less meat one day at a time. You make it exponentially easier. Everything we’ve made is a recipe worth keeping for the long run. Thank you, keep up the awesomeness and congrats with the success !
Ps voted for #3
Janell
Very excited for this! I love your recipes!
Linda
Cover two makes me want to know the recipe for the bowl at the bottom of the cover- it looks appealing.
Erik B.
Easy choice for me, Cover 2 by far the most appealing! 1 is too plain and 3 is too purple. 2 has a nice variety of foods/colors without being too busy.
Really look forward to the book, Kate!
Erik
jess
I didn’t vote because I wasn’t sure what to pick, and thought my qualitative feedback maybe would be better! So first things first, I’m buying your book no matter what :)… But if we get to weigh in on a cover, I agree with another commenter that I think the first one with the noodles is very visually appealing (shapes, color contrasts), but for me it felt like the one LEAST representative of your approach to food (not enough veggies! :)). Cover 2 really feels like a C&K recipe, and Cover 3 I love for the bright saturated purples, reds and yellows (and also feels like a C&K meal).
Michelle
Jess – you summed it up great! I ultimately chose #2 because I think it is visually appealing but also represents Kate’s approach and recipes the best. Congrats Kate on the book!
Rose
Love the colour of the #3 potential cover Kate – it’s appealing, vibrant, alive. If it were on a shelf it would make me want to pick it up to have a look at what’s inside. And then, of course, buy it. Continued success!!
Alexandra
Cover #1 is simple, elegant while still conveying the healthy message. Definitely cover #1.
Georgette Howell
I agree. This was my choice as well…although it was tough!
Molly
Agree! Love the clean feel of the marble counter. I also think the accompanying toppings in tiny bowls is trending and will be appealing to buyers!
Anna
They all look great, especially the first one, if I have to choose! I like the bright background tone and the cast iron on it. Looking forward to holding it in my hands! Thank you and good luck Kate!
Susan
Congratulations, Kate!! I loved covers 2 and 3, but ultimately decided on #2 for there colors. I liked that #2 was a little more broken up and had some counter space. Can’t wait to see which one wins!
Grace
Cover 1, is my favorite though it does kind of edge on the “love and lemons cook book”. It looks the most enticing but may not stand out in the market.
Cover 3, is beautiful as well (the composition of the photography is the strongest) I like the deep rich colors. Interestingly in this example I think you could lower the opacity on the white text container. its too much of a contrast from the photograph. If it was slightly more transparent it would flow seamlessly… just some thoughts to play around with.
Jillian James
Marble distracts; black makes purple pop.
Holly Botner
Love the simplicity of #1.
Sarah
I can completely understand how this may be difficult to choose — all love beautiful! I voted for cover #3 :) Can’t wait to have this cookbook in my kitchen! Your blog is already my go-to…which means your cookbook is easily going to become my little recipe-bible! Cheers!
Hellen Sims
Love #2 …variety & colorful.
Stacy
I picked #2. It makes me want to eat that food..
Korie
I love cover 1. It lets the title stand out!
Julie S.
Love them all but #1 feels like a cleaner look, which perfectly ties into your clean, simple and healthy recipes.
Melanie Post
Hi! All are beautifuI options but I ultimately voted on cover 1 – it is nice having the fresh basil, contrasting the cooked and more prepared ingredients. It also creates a good balance and has more dynamic and different components than 2 & 3. Options 2 and 3 are beautiful photographs of their repective recipes, but give away the whole finished meal. Option 1 matches the title of the book, along with keeping you guessing on recipes on the inside, which make me want to open it. Good luck! Can’t wait to see the final product :)
Eija
I can see why you have difficulty choosing the one – I especially liked 1 and 3. But number 3 gets my vote – I love the colors – and I think is the most representative of you – colorful, healthy and pretty!
Susan
Choosing a cover was a no-brainer for me (I’m sure it was easier because I don’t have an emotional investment in the book). I really like #2 because of the variety of color and it’s not too busy.
Pooja
Love the third one – the colors really pop! Congratulations – can’t wait to read it!
Linda R.
Really looking forward to your cookbook! Can’t WAIT! I agree with Erik B.’s comments and voted for Cover 2. It has the most variety of colors and foods. There is repetition of the bean and grain dish in both bowls of that one, however. You might consider replacing the top bowl in Cover 2 with the purple dish in Cover 3. Adds even more color and interest.
Dora
#1 was my favorite! Wasn’t quite sure what was in #2 bowl and #3 had too much color! Simple and appealing! Can’t wait for your cookbook!! Love all your recipes.
Tina
The third cover is absolutely fantastic! I would buy it purely for the beautiful purple colour! Thank you so much for your wonderful recipes Kate! I check your blog weekly for inspiration, and have made quite a few things so far – enchiladas were on the menu last weekend. Totally delicious! You’re doing a fab job! Lots of love from Ireland!
Sophia
I am so excited for your new cookbook! I make your recipes almost every week and my family loves them. Thank you for creating such delicious food!
Monica Anghel
They all look amazing, but without even thinking or realizing what this was at first, my eye was automatically drawn to the third one. The colors are beautiful, deep and just gorgeous! You just know delicious and decadent yumminess will be hiding under that beautiful cover. I’d snatch that book up in a heart beat. Number two has more variety of color which is also great so that would also work, I’d buy that one too! Keep up the amazing work- I love your recipes!
Sabrina
Can’t wait!
Angela
Looks the most intriguing to me. Honestly makes me want to tuck in
Brittany | Words Like Honeycomb
I WANT TO VOTE FOR ALL THE COVERS lol that was soo hard <3 I am big on color, however, when it came down to it I feel like cover 1 is the most in line with current trends and very visually pleasing as well as modern and expensive looking! Probably the one that would make it on my coffee table :)
R. Gadsby
Great photos but 3 is too busy 1 is too bland….as they say in the nursery rhymes 2 is just right.
Best of Luck
Carol
Number 3 because eating a lot of different colors is an easy way to make healthy vegetable choices.
Tanae
I voted for 1 because my eye was drawn to it the first, maybe because the marble background balances it out well, I’m not really sure. I think the food in #2 looks great with all the colors but I still like the lighter balance on #1. good luck it will be fun to see how it all works out and I can’t wait to get a book.
Colleen
3. The black background energizes the color of the food making it look super fresh
Judit
Love them all, but the second one catched my eyes because tye colorfullness of the plates
Samantha
I voted for cover 1 because although I love all of the cover choices, I ultimately feel that cover 1 embodies the core message you send about food – keeping it simple, about real, whole foods. Kind of like back to the basics, to where everything starts. Also, I’m so excited about your cookbook!!! :)
Eve
Definitely cover #2! more colors, more variety of veggies – more appealing to those unfamiliar with your recipes. I am buying it anyway! I personally love your step-by-step photos of all recipes – it always catches the eye even more that just seeing the final dish! I haven’t seen similar approach with other food bloggers, and that makes “Cookie&Kate” really stand out. If I could make cover #4 – it would be cover 2 + smaller circles of step-by-step pics of these amazing quinoa bowls recipes. Love your recipes! Good luck Kate!
Heather
More colorful and exciting!
Sarah @ Making Thyme for Health
I can see why you’re having a hard time deciding! They’re all so beautiful. Can’t wait to see which one wins! :)
Sarah @ Making Thyme for Health
p.s. I voted for #2. It’s the perfect balance of color and I feel like the recipe is begging me to look inside and find it! ;)
Layton
I cannot wait for this recipe book!!!
Linda Fitzpatrick
#3 really makes an impact and stand out from other cook books making the buyer want to,pick,it up and see what the book is about. Number 1 is so safe and boring, number 2 is ok but number 3 is the bees knees as one would say
Good luck with your book!
Alessandra
They all look really good!! I had a hard time deciding between covers 1 and 2. I feel like they are both really visually appealing and that the food displayed would appeal to a wide audience. I love the clean look of cover 1 but ultimately I picked number 2 because I feel like it best represents your food. Simple and beautiful but also with a variety of ingredients and flavors.
Karen Smith
I vote for cover 3, why if I saw it in the store I would definitely pick it up, the colors and simplicity draw you in, cover 2 look too healthy and would scare people away from you if they never followed or cook your food, and cover 1 too boring and that is not who you are. Cannot wait to get my hands busy in the kitchen, every recipes I made of your is always an explosion in my mouth!
Liz
Loved 2&3, but 3 is my favorite as it is different and isn’t purple the new green?
Brittany
They all look so pretty, but #2 is my fav overall. Just voted.
Weronika Lewkowicz
I love your website and I certainly love getting emails with new fun ideas for each month. Can’t wait for the book! Love it
Eve-Marie
Love cover #1 for its simplicity!
Patricia DuMont
So excited for you!
Vicki
1- too sparse
2. Balance of food and colors
3 almost went with love the color
I picked 2 ,,,,maybe add some purple to 2
Martina
I like cover 3 because of the beautiful colors!
Sophie
I like cover 2. They all look very appealing but I think the second one would catch my eye if I was browsing through a book store.
Melanie
No 2 is my favorite. I asked my son as well and he likes that one best as well. Good luck with finalizing the cookbook and am looking forward to it .
Ann
I can’t wait for your cookbook! I voted for cover #3 because I found the colors visually appealing. Purple fruits/vegetables don’t seem to be showcased as often and I think this cover really highlights them.
Jil Coffey
My eyes were drawn to
Cover 3 because I could
‘Feel’ how crunchy and healthy the food pictured would be. Cover 2 was a close second because of the colors; I found cover 1 visually boring.
Sue
I was initially going to vote for #3 because of the vibrant colour, but I like the variety of items in cover 2 and, as someone else said, it feels like a Cookie and Kate recipe. Overall I love 2 and 3 for different reasons. Definitely not #1; too sparse.
leona dressler
Hi Kate, I have been enjoying your colorful and healthful recipes. I did
vote for cover #3 for your upcoming cookbook. I want to
mention that I think the title would look better in the lower
right hand side. I think it’s a shame that the title is covering
up such a brilliant salad photo. Just a thought. And good
luck with your cookbook.
Sincerely,
Leona Dressler
Lauren
Beautifully done!
LoveBeingMama
I think each cover is beautiful and makes me want to cook. The first makes me think the cookbook will have Italian recipes and #2 will have Mexican. I vote for cover #3 because the food looks most representative of your recipes. Thank you for the healthful inspiration!
Jen
Dear Kate,
I hope it will be a ebook as I always download my books.
Best wishes with your book.
Tracy
2 for sure – the noodles in 1 are bland looking and 3 is too repetitive – 2 is beautiful and shows range
Arianna
Definitely 2 or 3! The colors draw me in more than cover 1. I can’t wait for it to come out! I’ll be pre-ordering it no matter what cover you choose :)
Giselle
I voted for option #3. It seemed like the hands-down winner to me and my vote counts more than others since I’m a graphic designer (just kidding!!!) Congrats, Kate. I can’t wait to order my copy.
Zeeshan
Hi Kate! Congratulations on your upcoming cookbook! I just voted and wanted to leave a message here to let you know that yours was one of the blogs that inspired me to start my own. All your tips and advice have really helped me get started, so thank you! Best of luck with your new book! I can’t wait to grab one!
Jo
All Covers look great. My preference however, is no.!. I love the simplicity. The other 2, while colourful , are a little too busy on the eye for me.
Julie
1: too white. 3: too purple. 2: just right!
Heather
agreed!
nancyabc
I love the vivid colors of number 3.
Beth
Go with # 2
Brooke
Colorful food grabs my eyes!
Cass
Really, really hard to choose. I voted for #3, but all three look fantastic!
Phyllis
All 3 covers are very attractive and inviting. I voted for Cover 2 but you can’t go wrong with the other two either!
Pia
Katie, this feels like such a special occasion, as being involved in choosing a book cover is certainly not something readers get to do often -at least not that I know of. So exciting! And I’m already curious to see which one “wins”(the reader’s choice award. haha).
Also, as a random and completely irrelevant side-note: Do you know what makes it all extra fun? The fact that we’ll get to see it on May 16th, which happens to be my birthday. Strange. Very strange indeed…
Hugs and pats, as always xx
Marianne
Ist choice – Cover One has a good Coffee Table appeal.
Cover Two for the recipe and colours ( 2nd choice due to the purple cloth).
Cover 3 – too much going on. I guess I just don’t like purple.
Leo Doehl
Oh, that’s sounds really exciting that it’s getting to the publication stage. Looks like the effort really made it happen before etch fall of 2016. Well done, congrats and, of course, Merry Christmas to you!
Cover 2 has the better contrast and visual appearance for the cover I’d say. Everybody has their own thought though, so I look forward seeing what the consensus will be :-)
Debbie Gill
I follow you on Instagram. You and Cookie are a treat! I like Cover #1 because it is simple AND elegant. Looking forward to the Cookbook.
Karen Corsano
Hi Kate,
I look forward to getting the cookbook! I voted for 3 because the colors were so OUTSTANDING. I think the food pictured in 2 was more diverse but visually I thought 3 had more verve!
Good luck and thanks!
Karen
Heather
We need more “I love #1” commenters! I’m predisposed to classic, clean and simple, but I also think this one best embodies the Mediterranean vibe I know and love from this blog. I cannot wait to get my hands on my copy. We are all celebrating with you – so happy for ourselves and so proud of you!!! And Cookie. Because I’m sure Cookie’s taste-testing approval was a critical element in developing the cookbook. ;)
Marissa
All the covers are beautiful. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to vote-so fun! I chose #3 because it felt the most representative of a Cookie and Kate recipe…colorful, bold flavors and fresh. And, I love the black background. ;)
Millie lev
The purple cabbage does it. Regal colour even royalty might take up cooking. Recipes fit for a king.
Jackie
They are all beautiful. Cover #2’s layout is tighter than the others and feels more finished and inviting to me. The purple napkin with fork add dimension. The colors are fresh. I wish the bowls had different foods from each other rather than repeating but I still vote for it. Good luck! Looking forward to having it on my shelf.
Fran
Cover 2 is the most balanced of the 3.
I love the red tomatoes. This adds just the right “bright” color-draw…
No. 1 is “empty” of ingredients and bland in color.
No. 3 is way too purple for me.
I will wait till it gets officially released to buy.
Want to see some of the interior…
Angela palumbo
Cover 3 pops out at you. Elegant and has crisp look.
Congratulations on the book!
Angela
Nicole ~ Cooking for Keeps
Oh my gosh, all so beautiful! Can’t wait to see the book in person! You’re so close! Casting my vote now! :)
Jerilyn
I loved cover #2 and cover #3. I thought cover 2 best illustrates the food you prepare for the blog, but cover 3 was so colorful and vibrant, the colors popped off the cover and would definitely catch my eye if I was looking for a new cookbook at the store or online. So I ultimately chose cover #3 because of the stand out colors, and if I was not someone who followed your blog, this would most catch my attention.
Christine Crane
It was tough between 1 and 2 but I thought which one might sell the best out of the two and in my opinion it was 2.
Annie
2 is so colorful and yummy looking with a variety of ingredients in the pic. It drew my eye right away and made me curious about the recipe.
Lauren
Congratulations Kate, I can’t WAIT to get a copy. Every recipe I’ve tried of yours has been awesome, you’re my go-to site for new vegetarian ideas. Good luck, and please let me know if I can help promote you in any way.
Cindy
Cover 3 is my choice. So colorful and eye catching; you eat with your eyes first and this cover caught my eye more than the other 2.
Alaina
3. I love 1, but lots of books have that sort of cover, so 3 is awesome and more atand out.
Sarah
They are all so beautiful! I voted for #3 because it was so bold and felt like it would really stand out on the bookshelf/ while browsing cookbooks on Amazon. But beautiful job on all three :)
Dhyan Atkinson
I am looking forward to your cookbook, Kate. It is now on my Christmas wish list! Dhyan from Boulder
Carleen
The rainbow food colors look great with the white countertop.
Lynn
Great color in 3 but oh, the depth in the second – #2 gets my vote!
Allison
I really like them all but the 3rd cover is my favourite!
Andrew Paul
I voted for cover #1. I like the clean feel and the variety of colors in the shot. It makes me want to know more about what other dishes are just out of camera shot and on the pages inside.
Marianne
I just voted AND pre-ordered. Can’t wait!!!
Teaspoon
Goodness! All the covers are gorgeous but I was drawn to #3. It is vibrant, healthy and visually exciting! Kate I love your food. Thanks for providing recipes for such wonderfully delicious meals!
Jackie
I can’t wait to own your cook book Kate. The recipes I’ve picked up from your blog are my favourite of all time. You are a true talent and inspiration.
Heather
Cover 2 has the best mix of colours I think.
Cover 1 is a little too white/beige for me, although I do understand those who are calling it elegant.
They’re all gorgeous!
Gayatri
So excited about your book, Kate! I had a hard time choosing the cover too :) Cannot wait for it to be available in India!