10 Book Cover Design Trends that Await Us in 2025

22.12.2024

A book cover grabs the audience’s attention, creates the first impression, and encourages readers to buy your story. That’s why it’s essential to invest in it.

When choosing a cover design, keep two things in mind. 

First, adhere to genre standards to signal to potential readers that your book is what they seek. Second, follow design trends to ensure your cover meets the market requirements. 

Today, we want to share 10 book cover design trends coming in 2025. Be ready to see some eye-catching examples and get motivated!

How to predict future book cover design trends?

Predicting the future is difficult, but we will try. So, what book cover design trends await us in 2025?

First, book cover trends are more or less stable and permanent. After all, the industry has established rules on what a marketable book cover should look like. It often does not make sense to reinvent the wheel. The main thing is to ensure that your book cover looks professional and harmonious, meeting the genre standards.

So we started by analyzing the past year’s trends and bestselling books to understand the secret to those covers’ success. 

In 2024, book design was characterized by maximalism, bold typography, nostalgic revival, abstract art, and others. Most of these trends are effective and timeless, so we could see them even during the past few years.

Then, we looked into general graphic design trends and outlined techniques for book covers. For example, mechanical botanical elements and motion effects will be popular in 2025. We can apply these trends to create realistic characters and enchanting fictional worlds. 

Finally, we have analyzed the covers of the most anticipated books of 2025. Some have already had over 10,000 people add them to their wishlists. Their covers also played a role in this hype, don’t you agree?

What are the top 10 book cover design trends in 2025?

Now, it’s time to get into practice, explore the upcoming trends, and see some striking examples. Perhaps some of them will guide you on what cover design your new story needs.

1. Illustrations are taking over

Colorful illustrations and drawings are some of the most popular trends. They set the right mood and evoke certain emotions essential for the story plot. Readers are more likely to enjoy vivid characters and bright settings than realistic photos.

Colors are vital as they grab the audience’s attention, spreading positive and romantic vibes. As for typography, choose large serif or cursive sans serif fonts depicted in bright hues.

Genre: Romance, Young Adult, Cozy Mystery.

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2. Eye-catching in thumbnails, stunning up close

Book designers have a new mission: make covers pop as tiny thumbnails while still wowing readers up close. On a phone screen, the cover keeps it simple, sleek, and super clickable. 

But to zoom in, readers spot clever textures, hidden details, and maybe even a sneaky little message tucked into the design.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Mystery.

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3. Pop art and retro elements

A trend for vibrant pop art and retro elements in book cover design is returning this year. Bold typography, explosive colors, and iconic imagery from the past century create a unique atmosphere. 

These covers scream fun and individuality, promising a reading experience that’s as lively as the design itself. 

Genres: Romance, Romantic Comedies, Women’s Fiction.

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4. Animated book covers

Animated GIF covers are making waves, adding movement to the traditional design. Think of subtle motion like a flickering flame, shimmering water, or clouds drifting across the sky. These dynamic covers grab attention online, making scrolling past them nearly impossible.

It’s a playful and modern way to show a book’s vibe, perfect for digital formats and social media. These designs promise to intrigue readers and make books stand out in a crowded market.

Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Thriller.

5. Gothic art

Gothic-inspired book covers include ornate details, moody color palettes, and imagery like towering cathedrals, ravens, or moonlit landscapes. All these elements set the tone for an atmospheric read.

These covers capture a sense of elegance mixed with foreboding, pulling readers into stories filled with intrigue and shadowy secrets.

Genres: Gothic Fiction, Dark Fantasy, Horror.

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6. Intriguing collages

Do you remember those days of cutting and pasting in art class? Collages aren’t just for glue and scissors anymore. They’ve taken over book covers! Photographs, handwritten letters, and quirky snippets come together to create a visual feast. 

These covers tell a story before opening the book, giving the audience a taste of the eclectic charm waiting inside. It’s a delightful mix of the old and the new, promising a unique reading experience.

Genres: Women’s Fiction, Romance, Memoir.

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7. Abstract cover designs

Abstract cover designs tease the readers’ imagination with a glimpse of the narrative’s soul. These covers are like visual puzzles, where bold shapes and vibrant hues are blended together, leaving room for interpretation. 

Eye-catching abstract covers invite readers to a visual journey that sparks their curiosity and leaves them craving more.

Genres: Romance, Memoir, Non-fiction.

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8. Typography as a key element in book cover design trends

This trend proves that we don’t always need attractive main characters, iconic objects, or fantastical landscapes to create a selling book cover. Sometimes, it’s enough to use creative book cover typography, which takes a central place in the composition or generally makes up the entire book cover.

This trend involves choosing an unusual font, combining various options, placing it, or playing with colors and textures. After all, typography can also create the right mood and evoke emotions.

Genre: Romance, Science Fiction, Thriller, Horror, Non-fiction.

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Are you curious about choosing the right typography for your book cover? Dive into our blog post with effective tips on selecting fonts.

9. Discreet covers with bold palettes

Discreet covers keep things clean and simple but bring in vibrant colors to make a statement. These designs use just one or two striking shades against neutral backgrounds, creating a perfect balance of subtlety and impact.

It’s all about letting a single bold element, like a vivid color or a small, symbolic image, do the talking. These covers intrigue without giving too much away.

Genres: Mystery, Literary Fiction, Contemporary Fiction.

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10. Flowery and botanic motifs 

This trend has stayed relevant for many years; however, designers implement it differently each time. 

In addition to the classic decoration of the book title with flowers and plants, we can see how the designers use botanical motifs to play with the main character’s appearance.

Genre: Romance, Young Adult, Fantasy.

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Summing up book cover design trends

We hope you got a dose of inspiration for your new book cover. Let’s recap what creative and extraordinary book cover design trends await us in 2025.

  • Illustrated designs are popular
  • Covers that look great as thumbnails and up close
  • Pop art and retro vibes
  • Animated covers
  • Gothic-style artwork
  • Unique collages
  • Abstract designs
  • Typography as a main focus
  • Simple designs with bold colors
  • Floral and botanical themes

However, trends are not obligatory rules. They can inspire you or help you find a direction to move. It’s essential to design a book cover considering your genre standards and target audience.

What book cover trend do you like the most? Share your opinions in the comment below.

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