I Always Judge a Book by Its Cover

Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma. This design demonstrates the importance of perspective. Tilt the cover 90 degrees and you’d have a relatively interesting photo, but nothing fantastic. Yet this visual is gorgeous and impossible to look away from. The ripples of the water’s surface extend vertically with the length of the girl’s body, even as her auburn hair, flowing white dress, and bright red ribbon float perpendicular to her limp form. Due to the scene’s strange angle, her reflection within the ripples creates a sort of distorted portal, something to mirror her fears. The beautiful blue underwater surroundings set an oddly peaceful mood, yet the red ribbon starkly contrasts such a notion. The girl’s free-floating form and the ribbon wrapped around her arm like a trail of blood leads viewers to believe that this story is far from peaceful. My only complaint is the rather obvious, not to mention trite, tagline, though these are (unfortunately) common with YA covers.

Readers’ Average Rating: B

I Wore the Ocean in the Shape of a Girl by Kelle Groom. This cover is lovely, and not just because of its fantastic title. The graceful, unraveling blue scarf (or perhaps ribbon) creates an intense contrast against the billowing, stormy clouds in the background. The photography is beautiful, touched just right with an effect that is somehow both sharp and hazy, an eye-popping combination that is very popular right now. The bright blue of the scarf is gorgeous and likely symbolic of two words in the title: “ocean” and “shape.” The delicate, curly typography weaved into the scarf adds just the right feminine appeal for the memoir detailing a woman’s descent into alcoholism. This design is both aesthetically stunning and incredibly effective at creating visual (and textual) allegory.

Readers’ Average Rating: B

The Psychopath Test by Jon Ronson. This is a pretty risky cover, but the designers pulled it off. Why risky? Because viewers have to adjust to two very different color schemes and two very different themes simultaneously. On the left side you have formal, bordered black and white parchment, complete with standard serif text and the stagnant image of a rabbit. Yet this side appears to have been ripped away to reveal the invading right side, which boasts psychedelic colors, shredded typography, funky texture, and a ferocious leopard, apparently out to eat the rabbit. It isn’t quite an inversion, but close. Yet this Jekyll-and-Hyde design speaks to the “madness” within the pages, which is somewhat unsurprising given the title. Rarely do we see covers with such outrageous contrast, but the risk is ultimately one worth taking.

Readers’ Average Rating: B+

The Time-Traveling Fashionista by Bianca Turetsky. The artwork here is gorgeous. YA titles often have dazzling cover designs, but rarely through illustration, as is the case with this novel. The most stunning part of the cover is of course the dress, which is awash in sparkles, texture, and bounce. It is so grand that it seems to be wearing the girl, rather than the girl wearing it. The girl herself is clearly depicted as illustration, but it works terrifically with the dress and the background of subtle creams and pink baubles. The typography within the dress is fun, feminine, and fitting for such an interesting title. The black of the font does well to remind us of the other black accents, like the girl’s hair and stockings. This is a marvelous design that perfectly eludes to a girl’s journey through time and fashion.

Readers’ Average Rating: B+

The Archaeology of Home by Katharine Greider. The use of selected color in this design is magnificent. Immediately the eye is drawn to the color gradient that highlights a specific Lower East Side apartment in this photograph. The gradient fades from red to white to turquoise, like a funky patriotic theme, breathing unnatural life into the old structure. This apartment literally stands out from the rest of the black and white photo, which is a great illustration of the story to come. I like that the edges of the cover (and photo) are beset with faded smudges, a grunge look before grunge was cool. Finally, the use of the titles slanted to the perspective of the street line and building rise is indeed a clever (and appropriate, considering the ties to architecture) design move. If the story is as interesting at the cover, readers of memoirs will want to pick this one up.

Readers’ Average Rating: B-

In Stitches by Anthony Youn. One look at this cover inspires intrigue, if not fascination. Between the title and certain visuals, viewers can ascertain that this is a memoir concerning a medical incident. Yet the design is set up so creatively that even those not normally interested in said memoirs must look twice. The cream and tan color scheme intermixed with bright red provides an appropriately sterile design with bits of pizazz. The Barbie doll torso and arms on either side of a red candy sucker suggests a number of puzzling possibilities. I love the band-aid backdrop for the author’s title, yet another indication of the story’s medical premise. I must admit that the design is somewhat misleading, however—judging by the Barbie body parts, I would have guessed this memoir surrounded a woman’s tale of the body, not a man’s tale of the mouth. Even so, the cover is a success in terms of cleverness and color.

Readers’ Average Rating: B+

Exposed by Kimberly Marcus. It’s unusual (and brave) to see a YA design devoid of color, but I find the desaturated state of this cover appropriate and effective. The black background provides extreme contrast to the titles. The reel of film looks at home in a black and white setting, and the way it winds and curves off into black oblivion gives viewers a sense of fading history. Only two photographs are clear to the eye, though even these are cloudy and vague. The two young women represent the storyline surrounding two best friends, one of whom finds love in photography. The haze of the photos likely symbolizes the way the two friends drift apart, for excruciating reasons. The design is simple but bespeaks the sorrow surrounding this young friendship.

Readers’ Average Rating: B+

I Think I Love You by Allison Pearson. Pink is a bold design choice, even in women’s fiction, but the hue suits this cover. The lovely shade of pink used for the background is not overly bright, but maintains a feminine appeal. I’m a fan of simple, focal shapes, which is why I enjoy the use of the record as a smooth, circular visual point. The record also acts as symbol of the 1970s musician “character” in the book. The sleek black of the record surrounds the inner red circle, a clever way to bring attention to the novel’s title while embedding it in the visual. This curved title appeal is further explored on the outer rim of the record, with the white letters showing a nice contrast. Nearly all of the words on the cover are white, even though set against different colored backgrounds, which is another favorable consistency. Finally, the lipstick print on the record adds a touch of fun, feminine mystique.

Readers’ Average Rating: B

One of Our Thursdays is Missing by Jasper Fforde. I love absurdity, especially when it’s found on a book cover. This sequel’s design raises more questions than it answers, which seems perfectly appropriate given the novel’s title. The blue background is streaked in light beams that reach up and spread across the title. The title itself is blurred and evidently part of the background, which is an unusual and bold move. The author’s title, on the other hand, is commanding with its bright yellow and serif facade. What I like best about the design is the visual scene—a bookshelf containing old paperbacks on the precipice of a fall, followed by a Norman Rockwell-type illustration of a woman who actually is falling. Evidently, the books have upset her of her spot on the shelf. The scene does an excellent job of alluding to the literal and metaphorical literary world of the story.

Readers’ Average Rating: B+

The Story of Beautiful Girl by Rachel Simon. Although it is not necessarily the visual element one notices first when looking at this cover, I most enjoy the way the titles of the novel are made of colorful gradients—reds, pinks, oranges, yellows all fading together. The typography itself is very elegant and fitting of a story whose words center around a “beautiful girl.” The sparse, elongated curve of a letter, an “N” here, an “R” there, brings something subtle yet dainty to the design—much like the silhouetted woman herself. She is not, however, completely shadowed in, and her side profile manages to emit a sense of vulnerability and strength at once. The stray curls of her hair fall in line with the elegant curled typography. These visuals triumphantly convey the title character, a woman who, though considered “disabled,” finds a way to love and be loved in return.

Readers’ Average Rating: A-

Moonwalking with Einstein by Joshua Foer. This cover is fun on so many levels (literally). Viewers are immediately drawn to its multi-colored floors, as though looking into a very odd adult dollhouse. With each floor having its own color, every level is able to retain a unique state, along with some very unique characters: a dinosaur, nurse, monkey, sumo wrestler, and patriotic sex symbol seemingly have nothing in common, yet they share an uncommon space. This symbolizes the fascinating and surprising facts and random anecdotes found in Foer’s quest for memory. I also like that each floor strategically holds text to make up the title of the book and the author’s name, along with a nicely-placed subtitle between the first and second floor. The design is fun, innovative, and strangely nostalgic by tying in to many of our childhood play times—which is fitting, considering the story revolves around the art and science of remembering.

Readers’ Average Rating: B+

Girl Wonder by Alexa Martin. This cover is a great example of how typography can “make” a design. Undoubtedly, the best part of the cover art here is the wonderfully flowing and elegant font for the novel’s title. The girl’s pink and blond hair blows back from her hidden face as though by a strong wind, and the title seems to curve and stretch back right with it, nestled in a colorful setting. The bright pink of the girl’s hair is also oddly attractive, both for its contrast against the large white title and its eye-popping saturation. The typography of the author’s name sticks with the color scheme and is very understated, as is appropriate next to the grandeur of the other title. The design shouts drama, youth, and femininity—perfect for a young woman’s high school tale.

Readers’ Average Rating: B+

The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen. This UK design flawlessly illustrates the many charms behind every family’s history. The deep night sky of the background brings out the simple white details, the entirety of the color scheme. A glowing bracelet sits in the sky like a constellation, surrounded by a multitude of cute and unique charms: a kitten, a hummingbird, a butterfly, a cupcake, and hearts and flowers, all of which undoubtedly represent some facet of this inter-generational story. The cover uses the title of the novel in a literal sense, depicting a young girl who points toward the moon. A sprinkling of luminous stars and comets add the finishing touches. I’m not normally a fan of subtitles for fiction covers, but the simple description here really speaks to the design and the special story behind the art.

Readers’ Average Rating: B+

Wither by Lauren DeStefano. This hot YA dystopian is turning heads for more than just its reputation—look at the gorgeous cover! I daresay everything about this design is gorgeous. The rich blue and green hues bring out a color scheme that is busy, but flattering. The background has a velvety texture that fades into a lighter gradient behind the young woman. The girl herself possesses a kind of melodramatic beauty, with her voluminous golden hair, pouty face, and extravagant dress. The bird cage somehow fits with the antiquated feel of the design. What I also love about this cover is the use of lines and geometric shapes to both connect the cleverly-situated titles and subtly enhance certain features of the design, like the bird in the cage and the girl’s ring. This is a dynamo cover whose words within reportedly pack as much punch!

Readers’ Average Rating: A-

Happy Birthday, Turk! by Jakob Arjouni. War violence meets childlike simplicity in this design. Who would guess the two could go together? Yet the message is executed marvelously with this cover, as is usually the case with Arjouni novels. The black background efficiently offsets the red and greyscale color scheme. The title and author sit within what appear to be cutouts, giving the design a rough, crafted feel. The knife, too, looks like a one-dimensional cutout that is nevertheless creepy in its spattered and cruelly-shaped state. The “blood” running off the knife is like a ball of yarn, something that a child could have crafted. This roughly-hewed design exhibits a dangerous yet childish approach to a clever war thriller.

Readers’ Average Rating: B

Tiger, Tiger by Margaux Fragoso. This gorgeous cover art in no way speaks to the devastating truths within the pages. With a triadic color scheme of blues, greens, and yellows, the design emits a sense of deep peace and beautiful settings. It is interesting, too, that the forest (and cover itself) is framed by black vegetation, a kind of burrow opening into a magical place of nature. The trees themselves are illustrated with delicacy and ethereal grace. The yellow title sits naturally against the blue-green background, neither jarring nor camouflaged. Perhaps the sense of safety and calm expressed by the design is a metaphor for the memoir’s subject matter—pedophiles tricking children into their dark grips. Either way, the cover is misleading, yet undeniably mesmerizing.

Readers’ Average Rating: B+

Tornado Warning by Elin Stebbins Waldal. ‘Tis the season for tornadoes, so why not celebrate (if you’re into tornadoes) with an appropriate cover? What I love most about this design is the high contrast color against the looming thunderous sky. The clouds in the background are various shades of grey, exuding the chaotic violence of such a storm. The disintegrating flower, or perhaps dandelion, is bursting with color against the ominous background. The stem is bright spring-time green and the exploding petals are vibrant orange-yellow. This provides space for the title, which is bold white against the flower. This design is the picture of spring and one of nature’s most furious acts. My only complaint is how misleading the title and design is—no one would ever guess this is a memoir about teen dating violence unless they read the fine print.

Readers’ Average Rating: A-

Heart of the City by Ariel Sabar. I love New York, so it’s no surprise I love this cover. Part grunge, part classic Big Apple dedication, the design captures the unique persona of its subject matter: love in a city as anonymous as New York. Anyone can spot the familiar “I <3 NY” logo through use of the American Typewriter font and large red heart. I like that only a magnified chunk of this logo makes its way to the cover, with the red heart encasing the appropriate book title. This part of the cover looks to be a page torn out of an old book, and rests atop what appears to be a peeling, painted facet that could reside in practically any alley in the city. Whether you see it as city grunge or tribute to real-life New York romances, you have to admit this is a design worthy of such a city.

Readers’ Average Rating: B

Jane’s Fame by Claire Harman. Is there anything more lovely than a stack of books? I think not, and this cover proves it. The baby blue background sets the design in a calming, comfortable environment, much like Jane Austen’s prose. The stack, comprised of books both old and tattered and new and fresh, is a wonderful tribute to the classic author, one that symbolizes her success through many years. The china dish on top that holds the elegant little teacup (embroidered in Austen-esque accents) and cookie of some kind tops off the pleasant visual. I especially enjoy the many different typefaces used for the subtitle, which are stamped into the bottom edges of the books. All of the fonts are classic and bold except for “Jane Austen,” which retains a more delicate, feminine design.

Readers’ Average Rating: B+

Deadly by Julie Chibbaro. I seem to be attracted to silhouettes lately, and this design is no exception. What first catches my eye about this cover is the jarring yellow background and the mix of yellow accents. Yellow doesn’t exactly scream “deadly,” but that adds to the intrigue of the design. I don’t think I would have chosen orange-red for the title color, but it certainly draws attention. I especially enjoy the detailed silhouette of a young woman from the early 1900s—the dress and the hairstyle immediately tell us that this is a historical novel. Finally, the spindly, cell-like images whirling around the black silhouette are a bit bizarre, but once viewers are aware that this tale surrounds Typhoid Mary, they make perfect, if not a bit grotesque, sense.

Readers’ Average Rating: B+