They say to never judge a book by its cover, but most of us are guilty of picking up a shiny novel just because of the awesome book cover image. It’s hard not to be enticed by a particularly cool graphic or just the right picture to whet your appetite. Book covers are works of art in and of themselves, pulling in the audience and setting the stage for the reading experience to come. But if you’ve browsed enough bookstores, you start to notice that some of the covers look alike.
Maybe it’s a bold print, or a similar type of photo, but soon you’re recognizing the same images in book after book. It makes sense: just like with fashion, book covers tend to follow certain trends. These trends change by year and by season, reflecting reader interests just as much as the book industry itself.
Right now, there are a lot of cool covers we’re into that contain bold prints and high-level graphic images! But here are two recent cover image trends that caught our eyes and the books we found that best showcase them:
Trend# 1: Shattered Glass
Shattered glass is mostly used with thrillers and mysteries, the current shattered glass trend is visual and creepy, promising readers a journey filled with both intrigue and suspense.
Deadfall, Linda Fairstein (Dutton, July 25, 2017)
A murder investigation dealing with illegal animal practices turns up the heat – and the broken glass in Fairstein’s latest Alexandra Cooper novel.
Once Stalked, Blake Pierce (Self-published, August 13, 2017)
The 9th book in Pierce’s bestselling Riley Paige series is both visual and deadly as Riley works to understand a killer’s psychology before it’s too late.
Shattered Mirror, Iris Johansen (St. Martin’s Press, April 24, 2018)
Johansen’s beloved Eve Duncan series doesn’t return until next year, but fans are already clamoring for Eve’s latest adventure involving a skull, a twin in danger, and a cover that’s clearly ahead of its time.
Private: Gold, James Patterson & Jassy Mackenzie (BookShots, May 2, 2017)
Quick, suspenseful, and well-written, Patterson’s latest is connected to his Private bookshot series, giving us the story of Joey Montague and a routine job that is anything but easy…as well as a cracked glass cover that immediately catches the eye.
Trend# 2: A Woman’s Back and Shoulders
This elegant trend works for romance novels, classic novels and more, giving us a glimpse of the main character without revealing too much.
No Place I’d Rather Be, Cathy Lamb (Kensington, August 29, 2017)
This heartfelt Montana-based story about family and second chances uses the back trend to perfectly set up its country vibe.
Rage of Angels, Sidney Sheldon (Grand Central Publishing (reprint), June 27, 2017)
Sheldon’s classic 1980 novel of romance, crime, and the law was reprinted in June with a brand new cover for a brand new audience – featuring a woman’s back, of course.
Emerald Coast, Anita Hughes (St. Martin’s Griffin, August 1, 2017)
The back trend goes international with this novel about a broken marriage and a fated vacation set at a high-end resort on the Italian coast.
Love Blooms, Jamie Pope (Dafina, July 25, 2017)
This romance about a childhood enemy turned new love draws you in with its simple but perfectly poised cover.
Got a favorite? We’d love to know.
