Top Ten Book Covers in 2011

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Top Ten Book Covers of 2011

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Top Ten of 2011, a fabulous week of looking back at the best of the best this past year, is hosted by Lisa from A Life Bound By Books, Rachel from Fiktshun & Jaime & Patricia from Two Chicks on Books and Jessica from Confessions of a Bookaholic.ce

I think this might be my favourite category this week. As an illustrator, I love well designed covers, and as you can probably guess from my own personal choices, I’m not a fan of the overdone, ridiculous looking model in a designer dress that unfortunately seems to be the trend at the moment. No wonder boys don’t want to venture into the YA section!

If a book has a cover that is like a work of art, I, more often that not, will buy it regardless of the story inside.

But I have to admit, I have found that if a publisher has put that much work into the design of a book, it tends to be because it is worth reading.

Here are my particular favourites of 2011:

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The 10pm Question by Kate De Goldi

Also one of my Top Ten Reads this year. I first noticed this book because of the cover, was incredibly intrigued when I read the synopsis and then knew I had to buy it after reading The Book Smuggler’s glowing review.

Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu

This is my top, absolute favourite book cover design of this year, if not ever. This covers makes me squeal happily. It is stunning. It’s the kind of work I dream of creating myself.

Prized by Caragh M O’Brien

I love these new designs for the Birthmaked trilogy. Gorgeous colours, beautiful typography and a rustic, ornate feel. You can’t get this cover here sadly, and I didn’t love the first book, but these covers make me want to collect them all anyway. Because they would look very, very pretty on my shelf.

I’ll Be There by Holly Goldberg Sloan

Another illustrated cover. This cover is definitely one of the reasons this book is all over the blogs and I have heard the story is just as impressive.

The Night Circus by Erin Morganstern

I cannot tell you have desperate I am to get a copy of The Night Circus with this cover. Sadly it seems to be unavailable everywhere. I could just buy it with the image of the two people on front done in the same sort of style, but I’m stubborn. I want this one. 

The Girl who Circumnavigate Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente

With a title as scrumptious as that you have to have an impressive cover to match. I think ‘Oooo’ was my reaction on first seeing this.

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

Miss Peregrine has such a delightfully creepy, old fashioned cover and is just as disturbing inside, with photographs of the peculiar children throughout.

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

It may not look as impressive on the screen but Daughter of Smoke and Bone’s cover is beautiful in real life. The feathers subtly shimmer and glint. Definitely worthy as one of the Top Ten Covers this year.

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

The illustrations by Jim Kay in this book are breathtaking, dark, edgy, and utterly unique for a YA cover.

A Straight Line to My Heart by Bill Condon

Simple but perfect. Much like the book itself. I love this cover, which is also embossed for that little extra something.