I’ve always heard the phrase “don’t judge a book by its cover.” In many ways, this is true. But, when it comes to books, I don’t always keep this in mind. Sometimes, I see a book cover that I think is beautiful and I immediately want to buy it without even knowing what it’s about. I don’t always like to admit it, but sometimes I do judge a book by its cover.
Here are a few of my favorite book covers:
The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden
Not only do I love the wintry landscape of the cover, but I love the story as well! Inspired by Russian folklore/fairy tales, The Bear and the Nightingale follows a young girl as she grows up discovering she has special abilities that will help her protect her village from a looming evil presence.
The reason I wanted to read this book was because of its cover. I love the fairy tale-esque painting on the front. It made me want to cozy up next to the fireplace with a blanket and cup of hot chocolate.
Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare
Lady Midnight is part of a long, on-going series that follows the world of Shadowhunters: super-humans who fight demons and protect the human world.
Pictures online don’t do the cover justice; the deep blues and greens really stand out and I love the movement of the hair and fabric in the water. The light breaking through the water shines on the cover in person.
A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
The cover and illustrations throughout this story are beautiful and haunting. The images make it seem like this will be a really scary book, but it’s not. It warms and breaks your heart at the same time as it follows a young boy experiencing the effects of grief.
Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi
Ignite Me is the third installment of the Shatter Me series, which follows Juliette; she is an orphan who has the power to kill anyone she touches. She is first used as a weapon by the government, and eventually learns to accept who she is and embrace her powers to use for good.
The warm colors and intense focus of the eye stand out to me and make me love this cover. The blooming flowers convey themes of hope and new beginnings, which are big motifs in this book. I love that the cover is meant to symbolize the themes of the story so strongly.
It by Stephen King
Specifically, this new cover that was released with the film. I love the simplicity of it; it’s really striking and a little creepy with the clown smile. The story of a group of kids trying to defeat an evil clown is intriguing enough, and this cover makes me want to read it even more.
The Girl Who Drank The Moon by Kelly Barnhill
The beautiful artwork as well as the title immediately caught my eye and made me want to read this book. The story is just as charming as its cover; a magical girl is raised in the forest by an old witch, a tiny dragon, and a friendly swamp monster.
What are some of your favorite book covers?
Happy reading!
Caroline Reads 