2019 has been a fantastic year for book releases! I firmly believe that nailing the cover is one of the greatest things a publisher can do to set a book up for success. Yes, the content needs to be good and needs to match the tone of the cover. But the fact is, if the book’s cover doesn’t grab you, there’s not much reason for you to pick it up.
As the book people we are, we’ve seen some gorgeous covers adorn bookstore shelves this year. And the types of designs that are trending right now are fantastic. Gold foil, bold fonts, intricate flowing graphics. There is so much to admire!!
Here are a few of our favorite book covers of 2019:
The Memory Thief by Lauren Mansy
Why We Love It:
It’s dark, dreamy, vaguely steampunk, and 100% intriguing. The antique-style lock on the front literally makes me want to open the cover and unlock the secrets that this story holds. In addition to the design, the brass elements are raised on the hardcover jacket, making it a delight to hold.
Romanov by Nadine Brandes
Why We Love It:
This cover is incredibly enchanting, and it goes perfectly with this modern fantasy take on the tale of Anastasia. The dark background paired with the gold and deep red elements evokes a sense of royalty and exclusivity, making it a real treat to hold. The longer you look at this cover, the more details you take in. It’s a delight.
Tiger Queen by Annie Sullivan
Why We Love It:
THOSE TIGER EYES!! This one got a lot of buzz at BookCon this summer, and for good reason. Not only is the gold and red very on trend right now, but the look does such a great job of representing the content. The ferocity of the protagonist is reflected in the tiger’s eyes. The desolate desert setting is evoked in the sand dune background and gold text. The subtext under the title is so gripping it makes me want to cancel every appointment I have and hide in a reading nook with this book all afternoon so I can dive into the story (to be one of our favorite book covers, it's important that the look makes us actually want to read the book!)
To Best the Boys by Mary Weber
Why We Love It:
Once again, the more you look at this cover, the more awesome it gets. I love the photo-realistic hedge design that blends artful illustration style with the imagery. It creates a dreamy, fantasy-type look without being cartoony. The geometric lines that seem to show hexagons represent the strong scientific motivations of protagonist Rhen, who is driven by her scientific and medical research. And, the way the title weaves in and out of the hedge is SO dreamy. More, please!!
Live in Grace, Walk in Love by Bob Goff
Why We Love It:
Bob is known for his love of balloons, which often appear on his book covers. However, we love the way that this striking devotional cover stands out against the pack while incorporating elements that nod to Goff’s previous work. The paper airplanes nicely represent Goff’s playfulness as a person, and the bright colors against a matte black backdrop are GORGEOUS. It’s so simple but so genius. Plus, it’s a 365-day devo, and the paper airplanes represent the idea of a personal journey so nicely. Easily one of our favorite book covers this year.
The Enlightenment of Bees by Rachel Linden
Why We Love It:
Another one that got a lot of, shall we say, buzz at BookCon (please don’t hurt me). And who wouldn’t want to pick this book up with this cover! Bees play an important role in the book (not to mention in the title), and this cover starts the theme off strong. The yellow and white stripes are delightful, as are the little drawn bees. The silver details of plants and swirls add an extra touch of whimsy. The font is even lovely. Every detail goes together beautifully, and I’m already dreaming about rereading this, poolside, next summer.
To Hell with the Hustle by Jefferson Bethke
Why We Love It:
This one is just so. Real. There’s no not getting the message of this cover. No, the book’s not about coffee, but it’s about the hustle culture that is typically accompanied by unhealthy amounts of coffee. This cover immediately makes me think of movies like The Devil Wears Prada and The Proposal. The representation of a stuffy corporate culture in which people try to claw their way to the top by hustling – aka fetching coffee and working outrageous hours to please the boss. Any book that makes me think of those amazing movies is a win in my book anyway, but the cleverness of this simple image makes it noteworthy this year.
The Seasons Edition – Winter Classics Collection: Little Women by Louisa May Alcott; Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte; Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen; A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
Why We Love Them:
Lumping this collection together pains me a little, but if you gave me the mic to talk about each of these covers individually, you’d get tired of my gushing pretty quickly. To start, these covers are SO unique. The laser cut jackets are things that I’ve never seen anywhere else, especially on a collection of classic literature. But the real stars of the show are the designs. We got to see the design process for each of these, and I am so so in love with the final look. The details of Paris and London in the cityscape on A Tale of Two Cities, the adorable profiles of the March girls on Little Women, and the palpable tension between Darcy and Bennet on Pride & Prejudice are stunning. I think the moody tree on Wuthering Heights may be my personal favorite. The colorful covers contrast beautifully with the white jackets, and the gold foil titles add a touch of class. Overall an admirable achievement and a set of covers that will hold a prominent place on my bookshelf for a long time (okay, basically forever.)
There were so many amazing book covers this year, picking a small list was not easy! What were some of your favorite book covers from 2019? Tell us in the comments!