By The Cover: YA 2021 Book Covers I Adore

“Don’t judge a book by its cover.” has to be the worst advice I’ve heard especially when it’s taken quite literally… in literature (i know that was a good one).

Hello and welcome to By The Cover! By The Cover is a small (I do think for now) blog series about book covers and the books they represent, because the truth is covers do represent books. Book covers are the face of books, like how you have a person or group of people as the face of an organisation, book covers work just like that. In By The Cover, I celebrate book covers or give my thoughts on them and sometimes evaluate books by their covers.

So you might be thinking why this? Why pick something so superficial? Well because humans are a superficial race, or maybe I should stop here and talk about myself. Yes, to some extent I am superficial. I love aesthetics and pretty things, and when I want to get something one of the requirements is does it look nice? Will I feel happy just by looking at it? Will I be proud to show it off? Being able to look past appearances is great, it’s a very good thing actually but I can argue with book covers appealing to the aesthetic/superficial nature of people is the best strategy. So I say again that the advice don’t judge a book by its cover doesn’t apply to actual books because like it or not book covers are an important marketing strategy.

Today on the opening issue of By The Cover, I’ll be starting by showcasing some of my favourite 2021 book covers that have been revealed so far and a surprise book cover reveal 👀 (The cover has already been revealed on Twitter, but I can’t change this part of the post now). This list was hard to curate because there are so many book covers already revealed that I loved and I wanted to have a manageable number of books on this list. 

My list, as usual, contains mostly diverse books — which means they feature authors or characters from marginalised backgrounds. And today to kick this series off, I’m going to start with a rather gorgeous surprise that I know you’ll all love! 

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• Unveiling the Cover (Cover Reveal): A Psalm of Storms and Silence by Roseanne Brown 

BOOK AND COVER INFORMATION 

TItle: A Psalm of Storms and Silence 

Date: June 1, 2021

Preorder link: Click here 

Cover Artist: Tawny Chatmon

Cover Designer: Jessie Gang 

Models: Tania Toussaint and Aidan Wheeler 

Where to find the author: @rosiesrambles both on IG and Twitter

Surprise! I know you loved that cover because have you seen it?! *sobs uncontrollably*

It was so hard keeping this a secret for most of the week because I needed to scream about it to someone. The models, the outfits, the colours, the brilliance… I think the people who are truly relieved about the fact that I can show y’all this cover are my mum and sister because they must be tired of seeing me flailing and trying not scream around the house.

But yes, that is the cover! No, I am still not ok. How is it possible to love a cover so much?

Remember to check out Rosie’s Twitter and IG for her announcement also and follow her!

• A Chorus Rises by Bethany C Morrow

Is it possible to tattoo an image on your brain? Because I’ll like to have this cover tattooed on my brain so I can never forget the brilliance of it. The colours, a dark skinned Black girl on the cover, her facial expression, the magic of it all. Wake me up when the book is out already.

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• Witches Steeped In Gold by Ciannon Smart

I can say a lot about this cover. The colours and the homage to the Jamaican flag, the illustrations, it’s overall beauty. Black authors are winning in 2021.

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• Meet Cute Diary by Emery Lee

If this book cover had a smell or taste, I bet it’d smell and taste like pink bubblegum. This cover is the cutest thing I’ve seen, just looking at it raises my serotonin levels. It is so C-U-T-E. My heart feels so full from the adorableness

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• Descendants of The First by Reni K Amayo 

On the day this cover was revealed, I tweeted that I wasn’t ok and I am delighted to announce that I am still not ok. The details on this cover! The Black and Igbo excellence. I need to lay down.

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• The Forest of Stolen Girls by June Hur

Ok, Zainab. Deep breaths. You are fine. I am not fine! This cover is absolutely gorgeous. Who gave the cover artist the right? I need to have a word with them.

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• The Ones We’re Meant To Find by Joan He

If I was given the choice to go back to the moment before I saw this cover, despite how this book lives rent free in my find and the beauty haunts my dreams, I won’t take it. This cover is just…

No words.

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• Tokyo Ever After by Emiko Jean

I mean they already had me at synopsis so I don’t understand the need to reduce my lifespan with a cover this gorgeous because whew.

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• The Infinity Courts by Akemi Dawn Bowman

I just want to stare at this cover for the rest of my days.

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• Love Is A Revolution by Renée Watson

*takes a full minute to sob* I will never get over Black girls and boys on book covers. I will never get over dark skinned Black girls and boys on book covers. I will never get over seeing Black love displayed on covers, but this cover is just everything. The colours, the illustrations, having a fat dark skinned Black girl on the cover, the loud and proud celebration of Black love. I love this so much.

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• The Mirror Season by Anna-Marie McLemore 

The fact that this book is by Anna-Marie McLemore so I didn’t need any convincing to add it, but that cover *screams*. The cover! The colours, the angles, proportioning…*deep breath*

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• Jay’s Gay Agenda by Jason June

Not gonna lie, they already had me at the name and the cover is so cute omg. I love illustrated covers.

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• Simone Breaks All The Rules by Debbie Rigaud 

I mean given all that pink, it’s no surprise this cover is on my list and also the cover is freaking gorgeous.

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• Angel of Greenwood by Randi Pink
  I. Love. This. Cover. So. Much.

I am once again saying that Black girls on covers! And the colours. Oh my God the colours are so bold. I cannot.

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• Like Home by Louisa Onome 

I know this sounds kinda punny, but the cover also feels like home. It’s soft, warm and gives this happy energy like what home should feel like. It’s a perfect cover for this book.

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• The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna

I’ve known about this cover for almost a year and I still can’t believe how gorgeous it is.

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• Xoxo by Axie Oh 

I love how warm this cover is, the art itself and honestly, it’s about Kpop idols so I don’t even need any other reason to yell about it.

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• The Other Side of Perfect by Mariko Turk

The colours, omg! This cover is just so beautiful.

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• Sisters Of The Snake by Sarena & Sasha Nanua

I’m actually speechless because of the beauty of this 

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• Rising Like A Storm by Tanaz Bhatena 

The only thing I can say is I am looking…quite respectfully I must add.

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• Broken Web by Lori M Lee

When I saw the cover to prequel I was properly wowed, but the cover actually tops it.

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• One of The Good Ones by Maika Moulite and Maritza Moulite 

I love this cover so much! The details, the Black girls on the cover and the variations in their skin tone, the way it showcases Black hair, it’s absolutely brilliant and I just want to hold the book.

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•  We Free The Stars by Hafsah Faizal 

Let me do everyone a favour and not start with this cover because it is so gorgeous 

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• When Night Breaks by Janella Angeles

First, I need a minute to feel pleased about how well this cover matches its prequel. Second, I can’t…pretty.

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• She’s Too Pretty To Burn

I love the colours on this cover so much and the illustration is beautiful.

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• In Deeper Waters by F.T. Lukens

I have nothing to say, the cover speaks for itself.

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• A Vow So Bold and Deadly by Brigid Kemmerer 

It’s so boldly and beautifully red, I’m in awe.

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• Darling by K. Ancrum 

This cover is just…wow. It’s so gorgeous. I know I’ve been talking about colours a lot but the colours!

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• Lost In The Never Woods by Aiden Thomas

Ok, I’m losing steam and my knee is hurting bad now, but I don’t love this cover any less than the others. I love the colours and the eerie vibes.

Preorder 

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That’s it for today’s post. I hope you have/had a lovely day

What 2021 YA book covers do you love?

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