YA Book Cover Trends to Look for in 2019

Let’s talk about YA book cover trends. I love book covers so much that it might be unhealthy. Half the time, I buy books based on their covers alone. As a visual person, I can’t resist a beautiful book cover.

Just like trends in YA book genres change over time, book cover styles do too. Remember when paranormal romance was all the rage and YA book covers mostly featured girls in gorgeous dresses? Or how about a few years ago when hand-drawn text was hot (it still is) and graced the cover of every contemporary YA book?

In the past year or so, I’ve noticed a few emerging trends in YA book covers. I’m always interested in new and developing trends in the publishing industry, so I collected my observations into this blog post. So have a look and let me know about any other design trends in YA books you’ve noticed recently.

Whether you’re looking for inspiration for your own book cover or you’re a design-freak like me, here are the YA book cover trends to look for in 2019.

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YA Book Cover Trends in 2019

Trend #1: Illustrations

Book covers used to be dominated by photographs and photo composite artwork. In 2019, illustrations are all the rage. From contemporary novels to fantasy and everything in between, illustrations are reigning supreme. It doesn’t matter if the artwork is realistic or stylized, original illustrations are massively popular on YA book covers.

Field Notes on Love by Jennifer E. Smith | We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal | All Our Broken Pieces by L.D. Crichton

Aurora Rising by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman | Bright Burning Stars by A.K. Small | Skyward by Brandon Sanderson

*Also, do you notice how many of these book covers have dark colors? They’re sporting dark blues, grays, and purples.

Trend #2: Symbolic Covers

I’ve noticed this cover design trend a lot in the fantasy genre. Covers that rely heavily on symbolism or a single object to encompass the feel of the book are popular right now. Crowns are especially popular (think Red Queen series by Victoria Aveyard), but I tried to find examples of books that used other symbols as well.

Four Dead Queens by Astrid Scholte | Lady Smoke (Ash Princess #2) by Laura Sebastian

Gravemaidens by Kelly Coon | Song of the Dead by Sarah Glenn Marsh

*Again, we’re seeing a lot of dark colors (blues and purples) in YA book cover trends. I was surprised by the light colors too. Quite a few YA fantasy books are sporting a light color scheme of whites, greys, and blues.

Trend #3: Abstract, Typography, and Ornamental Covers

Floral elements, watercolor, abstract, and ornament-heavy designs are popping up on YA book covers. Calligraphy and typography are popular for this age category too. The main thing with this trend is that nothing on the cover hints at the story or characters. You may get a feel for the genre or mood of the book, but the plot is safely locked away behind the pretty book cover design.

We Set the Dark on Fire by Tehlor Kay Mejia | Vow of Thieves by Mary E. Pearson | Hope and Other Punch Lines by Julie Buxbaum

House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A Craig | Finale (Caraval #3) by Stephanie Garber

*Again, you’ll notice the black, blues, and purples of some of the books. But we’re also seeing some vivid hues as well. This leads me to the next trend in YA book covers.

Trend #4: Vibrant Colors

Bright reds, punchy pinks, and exquisite yellows are taking center stage in YA book covers. The brighter the better. You’ll also notice that some of these book covers include elements of the other trends I’ve mentioned—like illustrations and typography-heavy designs.

My Ideal Boyfriend is a Croissant by Laura Dockrill | Your Brain Needs a Hug by Rae Earl

Girl Gone Viral by Arvin Ahmadi | Warhead by Jeff Henigson

Trend #5: Adult-Looking Designs

This is one of the more interesting YA book cover trends I’ve noticed. Young adult book covers that could easily be mistaken for adult book covers. This trend might be due to more YA books targeting adult readers or possibly an attempt by publishers for teen fiction to be seen as “serious” literature (I’m not sure why anyone thinks YA isn’t serious literature?). Either way, it’s something to look for.

The Lovely War by Julie Berry | Let’s Go Swimming on Doomsday by Natalie Anderson | The Speed of Falling Objects by Nancy Richardson Fischer

The Last Voyage of Poe Blythe by Ally Condie | Wicked Saints by Emily A. Duncan

* This category also showcases examples from the other trends I mentioned, including abstract/text-heavy designs as well as dark colors and vibrant hues.

Trend #6: Dark Colors

I’ve mentioned this trend all the way through this article, but here are a few more 2019 young adult book covers to illustrate my point. Dark colors are IN right now. Dark blues, purples, greens, grays, and blacks. My theory is that dark colors stand out better online. Most websites have white or neutral backgrounds, so a dark color creates a strong contrast a draws the eye.

Nyxia Uprising by Scott Reintgen | A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer | Courting Darkness by Robin LaFevres

How to Make Friends with the Dark by Kathleen Glasgow | Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim

*Lots of these covers also use symbolism, illustration, and typography-heavy designs.

One Last Book Cover Trend: Big Titles

Lastly, if you scroll back through this article, you’ll notice a big emphasis on big, easy-to-read titles. Even books that use a script or a hand-drawn font are easy to read. Again, I think this boils down to being able to clearly see the book title on a website. Whether it’s on a blog, on Instagram, or on a retail website, readers need to be able to see the title of the book easily and clearly.

What YA book cover trends have you noticed? Tell me about them in the comments!

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