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We judge books by their covers. We have to. It’s not only the first tool of marketing a book has, but as humans, our brains have to sort through vast quantities of information. Book covers are one of the avenues through which we do this.
That’s not a bad thing, as determining what makes for a good or interesting book cover is subjective. Some people love an illustrated cover, as it can convey a lot of information about what might be inside. Other people love a cover featuring a gorgeous face or find themselves drawn to an absurd image.
Covers are interesting to consider, too, in a largely digital-first era. There’s a reason we went through a period with colorful blobs as the design trend: they really stand out on retail websites and social media. We’ve moved away from this design choice, mostly, but the continued focus on font-driven covers is another example of where and how design is impacted by the all-mighty algorithm. Once you begin to see a trend in covers–think the use of classical paintings or old-timey animals or retro-style horror–it’s fun to consider why those trends are happening. Chances are, it’s got to do with the bookish internet and marketing.
Book cover appreciation and discussion has been a staple in online bookish spaces from the beginning, too. People often ooh and ahh over good covers and point out details on them that they particularly appreciate. It’s been through critical discussion of book covers, too, that more attention and appreciation have been given to the designers and artists responsible for those covers. Although we’re still nowhere near where we should be in terms of publishers crediting their creative teams for good covers, it has improved in the last few years, as many of these artists and designers are also finding an online audience.
The second task for the 2026 Read Harder Challenge is a really fun one: it’s to read a book that has landed on a “Best Book Covers” list. This can be a cover on any such list from any time, across any genre, book type, or age range. Find below some awesome book recommendations based entirely on their book covers alone. The books have been sourced from various “Best Book Covers” lists around the internet, which will be linked with each title. If none of these books appeal to you based on their cover alone, know that one of the easiest ways to find a book for this task is to simply click through some of the recommended links in the reviews. Many of them offer “best book cover” roundups multiple times a year.
Cover artists and designers have been noted where possible. It is still not a universal practice to identify the creators in a readily accessible location.
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 Blob by Maggie Su, Cover design by Robin BilardelloYou don’t have to like Vi to empathize with her experiences as a college dropout living in a Midwest town where she sees herself having no future. But you will certainly be unable to stop reading this book after she discovers a blob on the street and brings it home. This is no ordinary blob, though. It’s sentient, and over the course of the story, it begins to grow limbs and a whole personality. Vi realizes she has an opportunity here: make this blob her ideal partner and finally find true, meaningful love. Blob is a weird, funny, and moving read about identity, family, and, err, street blobs. Casual Optimist named this one of the best book covers of 2025. |
 The God Of The Woods by Liz Moore, Cover design by Grace HanYou’ve now got yet another great reason to pick up this much-buzzed-about book before it is adapted! The Gods of the Woods is a novel set at a summer camp owned by a wealthy family. In August 1975, Barbara Van Laar, the daughter of the camp’s owners, goes missing. But she isn’t the first Van Laar child to disappear. Over a decade before, her brother went missing, too. Now, the whole camp is looking for Barbara, but the police begin to think that she might not want to be found, just another teenage runaway. But Detective Judy, the only woman detective in her precinct, isn’t so sure. – Kendra Winchester Lit Hub named this a best book cover in 2024. |