Top 6 Coolest Book Covers of the Year

It´s such a tough choice, simply because there are so many good cover designs out there ... And it seems, book covers keep getting better and better, more stunning, more creative, more innovative. Yet, I did manange to make up my mind and chose my favorite covers for 2022. Here they are:

Top 6 Best Book Covers

6. The Book of Goose, by Li

Why this one? It doesn´t even have anything special about it? To be honest, I just love these old paintings and how publishers use close-ups of certain scenes for a cover. And it goes so well with the actual story. I guess it´s really just a personal taste thing ...

 

 

 

 

 

 

5. Putin, by Short

Contrast & minimalism - those are the two factors creating the eye-catching power of this cover. I must admit, I haven´t read the book yet, it´s still waiting on the shelf. The design, however, convinces me. The thing with minimalistic design is that there´s a narrow line on which it works before it´s too simple, meaning too plain and boring. If done right, like in this example as I believe, it can have a stronger effect than other designs, which appear a lot more "sophisticated".

 

 

 

 

4. Crow Moon, by McKerrow

Oh, I truely love this cover, even though some might think it a bit cheesy. I like birds as a design element, I like how it´s part of the woman´s portait. I like the cosmic coloring, I like the font and the constrast of font color. The entire designs fits well with Danny´s intriguing story of myth and magic.

3. I want to keep smashing myself until I am whole, Canetti

I have neither read nor bought this book (yet), but I have seen it a few times now - online as well as in shops and it catches my eye every time. It´s not just that it draws attention to the viewer. The whole consept of fragmentation and identity is elaborate and thought-out, the way the second, colored portrait is interlaced with the black and white one, the shape how it´s cut out and pasted, the way it kind of gives the man four eyes. The creator has also arranged the title and author´s name (and the rest) very well, making the design well-balanced. I wonder, if the content can keep up with the cover ... I guess it´s something I just find out - by reading the book.

2. The Darkening, by Mara

Maybe by now you might have noticed that I like book covers with drawn or painted portraits somehow incorporated into another theme. And this example is so well done, the kind of tiny tornado, which holds this mysterious city and a black hole, with all those clouds or waves and yet it is all part of a woman, as if this cityscape is found within her. I also think it´s powerful that only the lower half of her face is seen, and some strands of her curly hair. I know it´s been a trend (go look through pinterest, plenty of drawings and painting there showing only the nose and below), but it has it´s reason: It simply creates a strong effect. Perhaps it leaves the viewer with enough mystery. The surrounding was kept clean and simple as not to overload the design. Love it!

1. Boys, Beasts & Men, by Miller

This book cover has everything: It´s striking and loud, it´s chaotic and yet sophisticated, it feels disturbing - with all those eyes and missing eyes of this conglomerations of beasts - and yet it makes me want to look at it intently. I also enjoy the drawing style (see the wolfish face on the lower left with the serpent tongue). The dynamics of the design go hand in hand with the intense topics of the short stories: guilt, pain, heartbreak, inner turmoil, anger, violence and so on.