Who doesn’t love gorgeous book covers? An eye-catching cover makes a huge difference in whether or not I pick up a book. When done well, it conveys a lot about the book: the genre, the story’s tone, and an important aspect of the story, such as the theme, the characters’ relationships, or the action.
By the way, a bad cover doesn’t simply mean that it’s poorly executed. It could be beautifully, professionally executed and be a disastrous fit for the story. I’ve read books whose covers promised light chick lit, only to find it’s about some depressing topic, and vice versa. Too often, the wrong cover attracts the wrong readers.
Yes, I judge books by their covers.
My five favorite beautiful book covers
Never Turn Back by Christopher Swan
Fractured glass has always fascinated me. It looks both patterned and unpredictable in the way it distorts and warps what lies behind it. Here, it interrupts the spooky tree-lined road, the car headlights, and the shimmering wet road that reflects the trees and headlights. Note that the glass fractures even the letters of the title. Awesome.
June at Murder in Common reviewed this book and called it, “A well-written, immersive story.” It involves an English professor, a past home invasion, and a one-night stand. I haven’t had a chance to read it yet, but if the cover is any indication and blurb are any indication, I’ll enjoy it.
Say You’re One of Them by Uwem Akpan
It’s an unflinching look at the evils committed against African children. It’s not for the faint of heart, though. My husband started the first story. After three pages, he put it down again, shaken by the portrayal of a young girl prostituting herself to support her family.
Here, the cover captures that desperation. The young child running, her shadow trailing behind on the path. Her body blocks our view of the road ahead. Is she running from somewhere or to somewhere? The barren feeling of the landscape: an otherwise empty road, dark vegetation, the sun-drenched dirt beneath her feet. And that title sounds ominous. Doesn’t it beg you to ask, who are you and who are they?
You can read more about Say You’re One of Them on Goodreads.
Tapestry by Beth Duke
I was lucky enough to join the blog tour for this book and this book was a delight to read and review. It’s a beautifully written Southern novel about three generations of women, their lives woven together in a tapestry of love.
This cover feels like a tapestry, some fancy needlework embroidered by a genteel Southern lady. (Notice the needle and thread dangling from the curve of the y.) I especially like the bird. And the juxtaposition of the contrasting but complementary colors. And the way that the “Y” curls around the leaves and one leaf extends in front of the letter. It’s beautiful. The story isn’t fast-paced–though I read it in one night–but neither is needlework!
The Blind Man’s Garden by Nadeem Aslam
Set in Pakistan and Afghanistan shortly after 9/11, this book follows two brothers and their family during the tumultuous time after the U.S. invasion. It’s stunning and heartbreaking.
I love this cover for the deceptive simplicity of this image. The colorful butterfly in an unknown person’s palm is gorgeous, delicate, and vulnerable–not unlike the people of these countries dealing with an invasion. Will this hand hold the insect and allow it to rest, or will it crush it in a fist?
I also love the–I don’t even know what to call it–streaks and fractures of the photo of the hand.
Stunning. (And that applies to both the book–which I reviewed here–and the cover.)
The Lonely Witness by William Boyle
Amy lives a lonely life. When she witnesses a murder, she becomes obsessed with the killing and the killer. But this isn’t the first time she’s witnessed a murder. The problem is, she never found proof that the first murder ever happened.
Even though noir is a hit-or-miss subgenre for me, the cover made me pick up this book. The profile of a woman watching (what?) from the shadows echoes Amy’s life as she watches, ever the isolated voyeur, from a shadowy half-existence. Then there are the colorful spots of light. (I’m sure there’s a technical name for this photographic device but I don’t know it.) I don’t know the light’s source, nor what lies beyond it. For me, this perfectly captures the feel of the book. It gets five stars from me!
Other Top Favorite Book Covers
Apparently I adore darker, somewhat eerie cover images with splashes of brightness, along with images of people staring away from the viewer. If I ever get my novel(s) published, I imagine that my book covers will have that same dark/light aspect to them. Interesting.
How about you? What type of book covers do you like? Do you have a favorite book cover? I’d love to know!
As always, a share on social media is greatly appreciated. Thanks.
I’m impressed with your creativity loved Say You’re One of Them cover the most of them !