The Next Big Trend in Book Cover Design

The Other Big Book Cover Trend

Sure, you’ve noticed that all romance covers look the same these days, but had you picked up on the lit fic trend of bright lettering over a (usually old) painting? It’s not a totally new concept, of course, but it is A Thing right now in a way that feels noteworthy. The NYT‘s Elisabeth Egan digs into the fad’s origins and explores the stories behind eight recent examples. That’s all interesting enough, but what really caught my attention is this bit of analysis:

These covers are the new signifiers of stylish literary fiction, telegraphing gravitas, wit and cool. They make a bid for a certain kind of reader — more city than suburb, more pét-nat than chardonnay. They wouldn’t be caught dead alongside a volume decked out in pop art or, god forbid, metallic lettering.

I hadn’t considered that this design trend might be a conscious choice to contrast literary fiction with the ubiquitous sprayed edges, foils, and stencils of romantasy . Whether intentional or not, it’s interesting to note, and I know I’ll be seeing it everywhere now.

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It’s Never Too Late

Oldster Magazine, founded by writer Sari Botton, is one of the great gifts of the contemporary internet, and this essay by Ruth Bonapace about what it’s like to publish your debut novel at the age of 70 is a perfect illustration of why. Bonapace recounts decades of dreaming and the false starts, impostor syndrome, and family obligations that repeatedly made her think it would never happen. Whatever you’re putting off because you think the moment has passed, think again.

PEOPLE’s Best Books of June

June is always a big month for publishing, but this one feels particularly rich with new releases. PEOPLE has rounded up the 16 best books of the month, from lit fic to horror, memoir to true crime, and there are some real gems. I can second the emotion for Actress of a Certain Age (ideally on audio), Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil, Great Black Hope, and Atmosphere (a truly great plane/beach/staycation read).

Listen Up

If you like this newsletter, you’re gonna love The Book Riot Podcast, where we dive into the week’s biggest publishing headlines, book club our way through big new releases, compare adaptations to the books that inspired them, and more. On today’s episode: TikTok’s publishing imprint folks, BookCon returns, and more.