Pretty Book Covers Design

pretty book covers collection
by CJ McDaniel // February 21  

In our age of digital media, we increasingly see books with beautiful, intricate covers. While some argue that we should not judge a book by its cover, an eye-catching cover can make all the difference regarding whether someone picks up a book in the first place. Something about pretty book covers beckons to us, drawing us in with its promises of a good story. However, what makes a book cover pretty? It’s hard to say, but some elements can make a cover stand out. Maybe it’s the colors, the design, or the overall aesthetic, but whatever it is, we can’t resist the lure of a beautiful book cover.

Pretty Book Covers

Our list of pretty book covers includes some of the most eye-catching, gorgeous designs. From colorful illustrations to stunning photography, these covers will stop you from browsing too fast. Look at our list and find pretty book covers you can’t resist!

1. All Along You Were Blooming: Thoughts for Boundless Living by Morgan Harper Nichols

If you’re someone who loves both books and art, then you’ll appreciate pretty book covers that have muted colors and painted illustrations. While some book covers are loud and in your face, covers like this have more subdued designs, making them perfect for those who appreciate a more subtle approach. The typography choice also matches the rest of the elements on the cover, as if giving it a personal touch. Every aspect of this pretty book cover perfectly fits the calming and inspirational poetry contained in this book. Hence, if the book cover appeals to your eyes, the rest of the book may also.

2. Angela Carter’s Book of Fairy Tales by Angela Carter

Whether browsing in a bookstore or scrolling through Amazon, other than the title, it’s easy to get immediately drawn to the books with the prettiest covers. While this is a book praised for its innovative take on traditional fairy tales, the stunning book cover is a captivating beauty that will have your eyes taking a second glance at the bookshelf. Although some are grotesque, the illustrations on the book cover are unique and very compelling, especially for people who love fairy tales. The font is also fancy and playful that you wouldn’t think this is a collection of hilariously funny and whimsical tales from all over the globe.

3. Red At The Bone by Jacqueline Woodson

What makes a book cover pretty is often subjective, but some general things can make a cover stand out. Using bright colors, interesting fonts, and attractive illustrations are all outstanding elements that, combined perfectly, can make a pretty book cover like this one. As depicted on this book cover, the figure of the girl that uses the color orange and yellow prominently stands out even against the colorful background. Although the book cover is busy with colors, the somewhat standard font is still readable with its white color. The overall effect is stunning, and it’s a book that would catch your eye on a shelf.

pretty book covers red at the bone

4. Mothers: Stories by Chris Power

Regarding book covers, authors and illustrators use different designs and aesthetics to make a book stand out. One type of book cover that always catches many readers’ eyes features pretty portraits. Although this example doesn’t fully show the picture of the lovely lady because of the pastel pink that covers half of the artwork, it’s still enough to draw the attention of those who enjoy the beauty of portraits. It’s also a cover illustration that’s minimalist by default, using a sans-serif typeface for the text.

pretty book covers mothers

5. Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

Flowers over gold patterns make a book cover pretty and elegant. As seen in this cover illustration, the intricate design that acted as a frame for the text and the stunning colors make the book look like a work of art. It’s not just the cover art that makes a book cover beautiful. The overall design of the book cover also plays a significant role. For example, the font used for the title and author’s name on the book cover is simple and elegant, with the title written diagonally for emphasis. The combination of elements in this cover illustration worked effectively to match the title and the story, making readers wonder if the “Rebecca” mentioned in the title is as lovely and elegant as the cover seems to depict.

6. Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

Color is one of the most important things that makes a book cover pretty – as you can see with the next book cover. It uses a soft, muted color palette for its background and the other figures on the book cover. Soft, muted colors usually have elegance and are easy on the eyes, giving the book cover a touch of femininity and an ethereal feeling. Peacocks usually convey beauty, glamour, and grace, and the colors used for the peacock pattern in this cover art accentuate that symbolism even more. It’s so pretty and inviting, enough to make curious readers want to pick up the book and curl up.

7. The Crying Book by Heather Christle

There’s just something about a pretty book cover that can make us weak in the knees. Whether it’s the colors, the design, or just the general feeling, it evokes, a beautiful book cover can make us want to read it, even if we know nothing about it. For example, this book cover’s creative use of shapes, colors, and typography effectively made the book look dreamy and inviting. The irregular shapes formed two eyes with flowing tears, with the tears looking like a cutout of an illustration of the galaxy. Such book covers are not just pretty and dreamy; they will surely make one wonder if the book makes them cry galaxies or take them into a new world hidden in outer space.

8. The Stationery Shop by Marjan Kamali

Floral designs make book covers look pretty because they are visually appealing, convey a message, and add texture and dimension. Flowers are visually stunning as they come in various shapes, sizes, and colors and can be simple, complex, subtle, or bold. This book cover expresses this idea. It used the flowers as a border around the edge of the book cover, with their vibrant color standing out against the image on the background. Beyond being pretty, the flowers also helped the cover artwork evoke feelings and emotions like love, happiness, and passion. The flowers combined with the other design elements in this book cover give it a more romantic look, fitting this specific book’s genre.

9. Unsettled Ground by Claire Fuller

Let’s face it: nature is inherently beautiful, especially in its full glory. People feel drawn to nature scenes since even a simple design can communicate a message of peace or serenity. That’s why it’s bound to turn heads when you add a nature-related design to a book cover. After all, who wouldn’t want to stop and look at a book with a beautiful nature scene on the book cover like in the case of this book? It features a silhouette of a man and woman covered with plants and flowers, with a butterfly landing on one of the flowers. The dark blue background does a great job at making the creative visual and title in white stand out. Although the title says “unsettled,” it’s a book cover that’ll make you want to settle on the ground to read for an hour or two!

10. Pond by Claire-Louise Bennett

Still-life photography is a genre of photography that focuses on capturing still objects, such as plants or everyday items. It can be a great way to create pretty book covers, making creative compositions visually appealing and symbolic. For example, the floral still-life photograph on this book cover effectively reflects the flowers on the water and the book’s title. The flowers are also beautiful, colorful, and vibrant, becoming great focal points for the book cover. The serif font for the title was an excellent choice, too, as it contributes to the existing elegance of the floral still-life photograph. It’s a book cover that shows you don’t need too much to make your book stand out: sometimes, it only takes the right background image and typography to make things a simple book cover stunningly pretty.

pretty book covers pond

11. Yolk by Mary H.K. Choi

Many authors shy away from bright and vibrant colors like orange and yellow, but that didn’t stop this book from being pretty! The yellow background makes this book cover look stunning quickly, creating an eye-popping contrast with the rest of the colors. As for the title, it seems simple yet playful, with the letter O resembling the title itself-a yolk. Of course, it’s impossible not to notice the gorgeous illustration of a girl in a white dress falling mid-air. Once you check the book’s entire cover, you’ll see the hand of this girl held by another on the back cover. It’s a clever illustration to preview what to expect in the book about two estranged sisters. Isn’t that a compelling conceptual touch?

pretty book covers yolk

Conclusion

Ultimately, a pretty book cover makes an excellent first impression and encourages people to pick up the book and give it a chance. Many book cover designers put a lot of thought into their work, carefully crafting each element to create a cover that grabs attention and communicates the book’s tone. While there is no surefire formula for designing a pretty book cover, the right combination of elements such as image, typography, and color makes a design promising so that the book stands out even on the most crowded bookshelf.

For others sources of inspiration for your next book cover design project, check out our Book Cover Ideas Blog!

About the Author

CJ grew up admiring books. His family owned a small bookstore throughout his early childhood, and he would spend weekends flipping through book after book, always sure to read the ones that looked the most interesting. Not much has changed since then, except now some of those interesting books he picks off the shelf were designed by his company!