I know the adage says, “Don’t judge a book by its cover,” but can I confess something? I always notice a book because of its cover! I say notice because I’m not necessarily judging, but it’s usually something that catches my eye. I think most people do this even if they won’t own up to it. But whatever your stance, you can’t deny that the cover appeal, or lack thereof, can impact how you interact with a book.

If you’ve listened to any episodes of the Professional Book Nerds podcast, you know that I talk about covers often—whether they appeal to me, how I find them, what the U.S. version looks like compared to the U.K. version, etc. So, when I was asked to write about book cover art in 2023, I jumped at the chance to share some of the trends I love and what was popular this year.

Now, you be the judge! Which cover trends do you love or loathe? What trends do you think we’ll see in 2024?

Solid colors with a singular image

This is one of my favorite cover trends of the year. It’s colorful. It’s bold. I believe we’ll continue to see covers in this style.

The Haunting of Alejandra by V. Castro
Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison
The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw
Family Lore by Elizabeth Acevedo
The Guest by Emma Cline

Front and center typography

Sometimes, the only way to convey your point is by having a BOLD title. Why not lean into the typography with the design and have the words speak for themselves?

I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai
The Breakaway by Jennifer Weiner
The Only One Left by Riley Sager

Up close and personal

This year, we saw lots of famous faces on our digital bookshelves in the Libby app. Here are some notable stories and faces.

Spare by Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex
Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson
My Name is Barbra by Barbra Streisand
Thicker than Water by Kerry Washington

Moody florals & botanicals

I find something so appealing about a moody floral. This trend can encompass simple flowers but seems to have taken a turn to the sinister and botanical, where the flowers are wrapped around or entangled with the subjects in the book.

Foxglove by Adalyn Grace
The Witch and the Vampire by Francesca Flores
The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi
Together We Rot by Skyla Arndt

Illustrated

Romance and YA covers are keeping in line with trends of recent years—the illustrated cover included. It’s not going away anytime soon. Expect to see more gorgeously drawn characters in 2024, too.

Happy Place by Emily Henry
Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood
Wildfire by Hannah Grace
Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez

These books are a work of art (both inside and out!). Borrow them in the Libby app from your library.

Want to see the book cover trends of 2022? Go back in time and feast your eyes on the styles that pulled us in last year.