admiring book covers > reading (apparently)

Hey everyone!

I will admit I love the appearance of books. Even if it seems occasionally shallow to focus on looks and looks alone, I will continue to do it. They are mini self-standing pieces of art you buy, and artists spend too long thinking about them for me not to judge the covers. One of my favourite parts of owning books is staring at them. It is no surprise that cover reveals are my favourite kind of book news. Right or wrong, I am big on book covers, okay? Okay.

🍄 Favourite International Book Covers | brace yourself, there’s a lot

Today, I wanted to take some time to admire my favourite covers, or rather my favourite style of designs. To focus on the variety of qualities that give them individualistic flair and hints at the story within. I was in love with the illustrative face designs on books (you know, *the* era), but I actually got bored of it. As beautiful as they are, they often had the same facial expression with limited backgrounds to reveal any further details. I grew much more intrigued by distinct covers, and this is what I hope to showcase in this post (with the occasional melancholy face).

I tried to credit the cover artists when I could find them, but unfortunately, they are sooo hard to find. I am sorry I couldn’t do it for every book. Please let me know any I missed that you know.

LIT & NON FIC

Not always books I read but popular on Instagram and I adore the aesthetic. Often moody but beautiful, and some are even straight-up random. I do think a lot of these covers have a strong personality whilst still having a collective brand. I can’t pinpoint it exactly, but I love it.

If An Egyptian Cannot Speak English by Noor Naga // I love the name and its boldness on the cover. The illustration is stunning and I love that the person is looking away.

Sirens & Muses by Antonia Angress // cover by @casacassie // Moody in bed. YES. I love the art style most, almost like you can intentionally see the brush strokes yet so realistic.

Just By Looking At Him by Ryan O’Connell // I love the border around the illustration, so the title doesn’t take away from the art. The figures are also well drawn, but what really draws my attention is the ocean. It is glistening. It almost gives the illusion of moving. Sooo beautiful.

Out Of The Sun by Esi Edugyan // I will always love the reimaginings of famous art in new ways. Therefore it is no surprise that I love the cover, especially with the design being contained by itself so nothing is covering it.

Briefly, A Dangerous Life by Nell Stevens // You will soon see, I love any floral notes on a cover, especially a moody portrait. It perfectly suits the title too.

The Dangerous Kingdom of Love by Neil Blackmore // Blackmore covers tend to be historical portraits with colourful additions and I couldn’t be happier.

100 Boyfriends by Brontez Purnell // cover by @keepingthewolvesat_bay // I love the photo strip aesthetic and how there are multiple ones. It tells you more about the book itself. Of course, love the pink palette too.

I Love You But I’ve Chosen Darkness by Claire Vaye Watkins // It is a simple design but I love the little parts on fire. You can take the symbolism as you want. The pop-art style adds a lot, even the sky is so much more interesting.

My Government Means To Kill Me by Rasheed Newson // I love how thoughtful and effective this cover is; the arch, the title placement, the colours. You immediately know the themes of the book and I think it is simply beautiful on its own as well.

Ghosted by Jenn Ashworth // Flowers replacing heads works *claps* every time *claps* and I love the arm placement.

Post-Traumatic by Chantal V. Johnson // Black and white photography covers are basically a whole genre of their own. Sometimes I love them, sometimes I forget about them. I love how they can be unaesthetic or “every day”, but the black and white can make them seem like an indie shot. I particularly love the placement of this one.

Kokomo by Victoria Hannan // Pastels colours can be effective and once again I love the square image surrounded by a border. Despite how often I have mentioned it so far, I wouldn’t want it on every book but it is a little treat when I see it.

RETRO

If I could have a retro style for every book cover, I would. I think stylistically it is so fun and atmospheric. This section is definitely one of my favourites.

The Bewitched by Jill Dawson // This cover looks even better in the flesh because the gold foiling shines bright. It all works very well together; the title down the middle, the nature imagery and the colours.

All’s Well by Mona Awad // cover by @katedotdotdotsinclair // It is a striking cover for its simplicity. First, the gorgeous font. Then the arrow-shot woman lying down in the middle. It is dramatic and artsy in the best way. Perfect for a book inspired by Shakespeare.

In The Ravenous Dark by A. M. Strickland // cover by @lydiablagden // This book simply screams the 1920s. The golden lines shape the book so well and I love the addition of the big flowers.

Velvet Was The Night by Silvia Moreno-Garcia // Silvia has been blessed with many glorious covers. This cover perfectly reflects the noir genre, fitting in with the gritty detective genre of the 1970s.

Delayed Rays of a Star by Amanda Lee Koe // This cover looks like the characters have been cut out and placed around the cover, and I love it. It reminds me of something, I just don’t know what.

OBSOLESCENCE, edited by Alan Lastufka & Kristina Horner // cover by @shortwavebooks & Morysetta // I love the ghostly vintage vibe here. An amazing illustration; I love the eyes, clothes and flowers. Plus, the title encourages the vintage feel and I love the breaking up of the word too.

Clown in a Cornfield by Adam Cesare // cover by @mattryan // A very stranger things design or rather 80s horror. It immediately transports you to the setting and I love the clown face in the field.

Motherthing by Ainslie Hogarth // cover by Mark Abrams // Every time I see the design of a vintage woman screaming I always think it would make a great poster or t-shirt. I just love the style so much. I love the whole placement of the cover too.

The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson // designer @heart_shape, artist @the.bookcover.artist // I have loved both of Alexis’ book covers. They remind me of old portraits hanging on the wall with added horror details. SO. PERFECT.

The Walls of Sparta by Charles Lloyd // It literally looks like vintage art is the book cover. I will love it every time.

Nobody Somebody Anybody by Kelly McClorey // This style of cover has become popular following ‘My Year of Rest and Relaxation’. They are not historical books and I am obsessed. They are the book form of seeing actors from period films doing modern-day things in costume (another thing I am obsessed with). I particularly love this one because she is swigging the glass and for the way she is holding the tray. Genius.

Gwen & Art Are Not In Love by Lex Croucher // designer Olga Grlic, illustrator @neobees // I want to own this cover (the US one because it has a much nicer colour scheme). It is cute meets medieval! The combo I never knew I needed. Bonus this book is compared to A Knight’s Tale (I love that movie soo much)

TITLE/FONT

Focusing on the titles isn’t always the most interesting as I don’t know many people who care about fonts. But no one can deny that the title is important for books. I think colour, placement, size and quirkiness are elements that can make the title an exciting part of the cover.

Rainbow Milk by Paul Mendez // This is probably one of my favourite covers ever. The stillness of the photography with the vibrant title. I love that the font resembles the title in a literal manner too. It is simply stunning.

No Big Deal by Bethany Rutter // I love how the title takes up the whole cover and the incorporation of the character resembling the letter I. It is creative and stands out. Plus, the colour combo of red and pink is always a great decision.

Let’s Talk About Love by Claire Kann // Another book where the background is simple and all the colour is in the title. Electric purple is an underused colour and it worked so well here. It looks like such a joyful cover. The brush style of the title is great too.

Winter in Sokcho by Elisa Shua Dusapin // cover by @lookbird // The title was used to make the cover look like an old-school postcard and it works so effectively. I love it.

The Twisted Ones by T. Kingfisher // I haven’t seen this book in the flesh but online it seems like the title is repeated on the background in a shiny material. So when the light hits it, you can see the title again and again. It is so different and creative.

It’s Not About The Burqua, edited by Mariam Khan // I love how the title is effectively a cut out to the image behind it. Another creative idea. It suits the fact that it’s a short story collection too as it alludes to multiple voices.

You Don’t Know Me by Imran Mahmood // Two titles for one? Thank you. I love the layered design, almost like it has been desperately scrawled multiple times. The ordered and the emotional. I love that the “o’s” have images inside them as well.

Babel by R. F. Kuang // The title easily stands for Babel and the intricate design around the letters is beautiful. Especially in the flesh where you can see the foiling. It had to be silver after all.

ILLUSTRATIVE

Obviously illustrative styles are beautiful and here are some of the covers that draw my eye and hopefully show how different the covers can look from each other. The reasons for liking these covers are pretty self-explanatory so *looks myself in the eye* I AM going to be briefer than brief when talking about them.

So This Is Ever After by F T Lukens // illustrator @sam.spectre, designer @bookdesignbee// Fae meets hot pink = perfection.

The Deep by Rivers Solomon // Even better in the flesh, one colour but it has so much depth. It is sooo stunning.

The Dragon of Jin-Sayeng by K. S. Villoso // illustrator Simon Goinard, designer Lauren Panepinto. // Is it just me or does the throne look like an anatomical heart hybrid? I love it. Plus, she looks fierce!

The Goddess of Nothing At All by Cat Rector // cover by @gracezhuart // I love the placement and use of light.

The Sisters Grimm by Menna van Praag // an elemental masterpiece.

The Dragon’s Promise by Elizabeth Lim // cover by  @afterblossom_art , @lydiablagden // This style is so distinct. The colour scheme is just as beautiful.

When The Tiger Came Down The Mountain by Nghi Vo // The tigers look like they are prowling!! It is perfect.

Foxglove by Adalyn Grace // illustrator artist @teaganwh, designer @lydiablagden //The flower. The eyes. The colours. Beautiful.

The Female of the Species by Mindy McGinnis // cover by @coreybrickleyillustration // I love that the illustrations are in claw marks and the different emotions on each face. Female rage, yes, please.

Flowerheart by Catherine Bakewell // illustrator @sh0tze, designer @catleeart // Cottage core rights.

It All Comes Back to You by Farah Naz Rishi // illustrator @zuhhruh, designers @daveedy, @booktypography // The vibrant colours and body language! Obsessed.

More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera // cover by @alexis_art //Once again, I love the brush-style art (the smudges on the background!) and the face is really well captured. It suits the story really well.

Independence by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni // Architecture should be used on book covers more and I love the positioning, especially with the three figures entering the light through the arch. *chef’s kiss*

Red Queen by Juan Gomez-Jurado // the shading!!!

The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez // The hand in the middle is so different and pretty.

Blood Debts by Terry J. Benton-Walker // illustrator @khudeejuh, designer @lesleyworrell // body language, background, fashion!!

THEMATIC DECISIONS

One of the most thoughtful types of covers and I love how you get to know so much about the topic of the story. Not necessarily always the most classically beautiful, but probably some of the most impactful covers nonetheless.

Tell Me Lies by Carola Lovering // You know this is about a toxic relationship and all the lies you want to believe. I love the use of handwriting over the text!

Scorched Grace by Margot Douiahy // cover by @unusualco // A stained glass window for a nun smoking!! It makes me want to read the story as soon as possible.

Reward System by Jem Calder // cover by @alexmerto // A dedication to Instagram which is naturally very relevant for today’s society. I think the loading picture seems poetic and the face will look even better in person.

Asking For It by Louise O’Neill // The barbie figure says so much without having to say anything. It’s genius.

Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata // cover by @lookbird // The name tag with the unsmiling photo. It is every day but you know that’s why it will have so much to say.

Self Care by Leigh Stein // Pretty pink oozes unsatisfactory liquid. What goes on behind the scenes? It immediately gets you thinking.

An Unusual Grief by Yewande Omotoso // The tear in the page causes the loss of colour. How poetic. Plus I love that it plays with the fact it is a book cover.

Your Driver is Waiting by Priya Guns // It takes no detective to see the link to driving through the cover if somehow the title failed. What I like even more is how the cover successfully connects the book to the movie “taxi driver”.

LINE WORK

Typically simple designs, relying on blank spaces as much as details, but one of my personal favourites. I love the bold confident lines and it is a style I lean towards for home decor, therefore seeing it on books is right up my alley.

Sorrowland by Rivers Solomon // I love the colour combo even though it is blue on blue. There is something very ethereal about it. It looks like an incredibly detailed drawing and I love the hand reaching out. I want to know more about the story immediately.

An Emotion of Great Delight by Taherh Mafi // I adore the outline of the person so much. It is so effective! The added details of the eyes having colour and then teardrops looking like they are on the cover itself are brilliant.

Permanent Record by Mary H. K. Choi // cover by @ohgigue  //The undercover of the hardback as I think the cover looks better with less blue on it. I love the aesthetic a lot. Especially the eyelashes. Mary H K Choi is known for this style of cover and rightfully so.

The Forest of Stolen Girls by June Hur // cover by  @pedrotapa // How many flowers? So many flowers. This is incredibly detailed but I think the black and white is very effective with the bold red of the title.

INTRICACY

These covers must take a certain level of dedication and they are wasted on screen. They need to be seen in person to be appreciated. The detail and the shading. But when you do, they are truly some of the most breathtaking covers. I have a soft spot for them as I think they are so suited to book covers as they need something to centred them, like the title. It is like they are made for books and I love it.

Sorcerer To The Crown by Zen Cho // The gold is so shiny on this cover. It looks amazing and 100% feels regal.

Ignite The Sun by Hanna C. Howard // I love the colours, how it uses red, orange and yellow evenly across the cover in the swirly patterns. The framing of the title is great. The only thing is… I would prefer it without the four icons in each corner.

Under The Pendulum Sun by Jeannette Ng // This is sooo detailed. I can’t imagine what it looks like in person. Everything seems so well considered; the border, the centring/mirroring, the corners, the titles. I really can’t wait to hold it in my hands.

River Sing Me Home by Eleanor Shearer // I love the colours on the covers soo much and how no space is wasted. The flora and birds around the outside are especially effective.

SERIES

Thornchapel Series by Sierra Simone // designer Hang Le, photographer Vania Stoyanova // This is an erotica romance series and whilst the covers are similar to the classic style, aka focus on chests, I think the series does a great job and making them distinctive. The use of nature and their colour theme make them pull away from the covers so often labelled “trashy”. I like that they seem more serious, emphasising beauty and sombreness over lust, which suits the series.

Bright Falls Series by Ashley Herring Blake // illustrator @lenikauffman, designer @heart_shape // The artist of these covers does extremely good romance covers, mostly because the clothes and body language say so much about the characters. It doesn’t waste the opportunity to reveal personality and it elevates the covers sooo much.

Heavenly Tyrant by Xiran Jay Zhao // cover by @ashmackenzieillustration // I love these covers because they do not waste their background. It feels so dynamic with bold, bright backgrounds. Another series where the clothes are well-detailed too which works in its favour. Plus, there is even more detail on the spine and back. All books should do this!

The Founders Trilogy by Robert Jackson Bennett // cover by @unusualco // I love the archway design. The title can shine on its own and the central illustration draws you in. I love how each book has a different colour theme and how the light seems so bright. Whether due to the black border, the centre appears amazingly vibrant, each with their own light source.

What are your favourite book covers? What do you look for in covers? Are individualistic traits important to you? What covers do you hate?