Have you ever had a sense of deja vu when picking up a book, thinking “Haven’t I seen this cover before?” That’s because just like fashion and music, and movies there are trends for book cover art too. Publishers pay attention to what’s trending, from images and colors to font choices, and incorporate those things into the artwork.

Here are just a few trends that have jumped out at me when looking at 2021 releases. What other trends have you noticed lately?

Handwritten Capitals

I’ve been seeing more and more titles written in all caps, in fonts that are designed to look handwritten and organic. Check these out.

Collage

Torn edges, layers of images—these covers all have a hand-crafted collage feel to them.

Illusions and Geometric Shapes

All of these covers are a little mind-bending, and some of them have quite a retro feel as well.

Jewel Tones

Here’s a trend I can get behind. I’m loving all the beautiful jewel-tone colors we’ve been seeing lately!

All Title, All Day

These covers are standing up and getting noticed, with big, bold titles!

Retro Vibes

Lots of retro vibes in covers lately, especially from the ‘50s, ‘60s, and 70’s. Are you pro retro artwork on book covers, or do you prefer a more modern take?

Minimalist

Limited decoration, simple fonts and neutral colors are the name of the game for these covers.

Drop me a comment and let me know what other fun trends you’ve been noticing lately!