Don’t Judge a Book by its Cover? Of Course We Do!

Now we know we shouldn’t judge a book by its cover but let’s be honest, who hasn’t bought a book because of an interesting or divinely beautiful cover? We do judge books by their covers, and so we should… Publishing a book is an enormous project and a lot of work and thought goes into the presentation of that book. To celebrate the rich variety of book covers gracing the shelves, we’ve compiled a list of some favourites. Is there a cover that you really loved? If so, write and tell us about it.

The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart by Holly Ringland:

Flowers are always a sight for the senses, evoking feelings of spring, of sunlight on bare skin and the fresh, sappy scent of budding blooms. The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart is stunning in its design and detail – a host of colourful flowers bordering a crisp, black background. But the most remarkable aspect of the design is that the flowers are Australian native flowers, turning the cover into a testament to the beauty and splendour of our unique flora.

Boy Swallows Universe by Trent Dalton:

Nothing quite captures your eye like a cover that is doused in colour and Boy Swallows Universe is perhaps the most colourful cover of 2018. Splashes of yellow, orange, purple, and pink are spattered in a kind of controlled chaos. Then, there is a sweet blue bird in the centre – what does the bird mean? Intriguing and vibrantly beautiful, the cover of this brilliant debut novel is now instantly recognisable. 

A Theatre For Dreamers by Polly Samson:

Burning with the heat and light of Hydra in Greece, A Theatre for Dreamers is a spellbinding novel about utopian dreams and innocence lost. It transports you to the sunshine of a Greek Island, even before opening the gorgeous cover.

Shell by Kristina Olsson:

The Sydney Opera House is a much-loved, Australian icon, attracting millions of locals and international tourists each year. The structure’s beauty and majesty is partly the story of Shell and it dominates the cover that features the Opera House surrounded by a harbour that is iridescent and opaline. Tinted in hues of pink and yellow, the cover looks as if it has been painted with watercolour, and there’s a hint of glitter that adds to the dewy, sparkling design. Good enough to frame, we say.

The Clockmaker’s Daughter by Kate Morton:

There’s nothing like a vintage-inspired design to catch your eye and take you back in time. The cover of The Clockmaker’s Daughter invites you to stop time and read, its sepia-toned details with old-fashioned clock faces and copper wheels emerging from behind a pretty assortment of flowers, laid against a lovely turquoise background.

Any Ordinary Day by Leigh Sales:

Sometimes less is more and the simplest of covers captivate us most. Any Ordinary Day by Leigh Sales is a perfect example of this. Set against a stark navy blue background, dandelion seeds float upwards and around the book’s title in what looks like an elegant, purposeful dance. The dandelion seeds serve as a symbol of hope, a subtle way of communicating what the book is about. Simply stunning.

The Arsonist by Chloe Hooper:

Sometimes a cover is so masterfully crafted that for a second, you don’t see a book but rather a work of visual art. Chloe Hooper’s The Arsonist, is a flame with deep shades of red, orange and yellow bleeding into one another. Not only beautiful and eye-catching, the splash of fiery colours look almost like a work of art that should be displayed in a gallery. Watercolour covers seem to be a new trend. If so, we love it.

After the Flood by Kassandra Montag:

The pinks and blue, the rising sea… this cover is as striking as the story itself. This recent release is timely in both it’s post-apocalyptic message and it’s modern, eye-catching cover.

Little Darlings by Melanie Golding:

One of 2019’s most creepy thrillers, the cover is striking, simple and absolutely nails the genre. Open that cover at your own risk.

Paris Savages by Katherine Johnson:

It’s not out until October 1, but this is one of 2019’s more beautiful covers. Keep an eye out for it. I know I’ve “baggsed” reading this based on the cover.

Gulliver’s Wife by Lauren Chater

In this absolutely stunning novel, Lauren Chater takes one of literary history’s minor female characters and puts her at the forefront of her own tale. This beautiful book starts with an exquisite cover… a joy to hold in your hands.