Fuck 2016 Episode 3: The Best YA Book Covers Ever

We're done talking about the worst. It's time for the best.

If you have been following our blogs lately you would know that Lyka Cali and I have been doing a little bookish marathon. So far we have talked about stuff we, to put it kindly, did not necessarily like. But now it is time to flip the coin and talk about the things we really enjoyed and liked starting with this "episode", THE BEST YA BOOK COVERS EVER.

Back in Episode 1, we talked about some of the most atrocious book covers out there and we felt like it was only fair to write about the best ones too. There are some pretty amazing book covers out there and we have got to give credit to the artists for their work. It attracts readers when they go visit book stores therefore giving them good first impressions when they pick them up. I am not saying a book is automatically good just because it has a great cover but it does give the buyers some optimism when starting it. That has certainly been the case for me in numerous occasions. This is why it is essential to not take book covers for granted because they truly do have an influence on the reader. My list below covers some of the books that I felt did a great job at capturing the readers' interest because of their aesthetic and because it goes hand-in-hand with the story inside.

As always, this list is in no particular order.

1. Red Queen (Red Queen # 1) by Victoria Aveyard

(Photo from: victoriaaveyard.blogspot.com)

Red Queen's cover is just beautiful there is no doubt about that. It is simple, yes, but it still gives off a strong and elegant aura that is quite hard to find sometimes especially if the book focuses on royalty. Usually they crowd the cover with symbols and pictures that mean power but Red Queen proves that  a minimalist approach is enough. The crown and the red blood dripping from it conveys enough of the premise that it intrigues you. The tag line at the bottom adds a lot of impact too. The whole thing together is just a formidable and pleasing sight which is good since the book itself deserves it.

2. Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

(Photo from: www.rainbowrowell.com)

Carry On is a good example of covers that give you a feel of the book. The two silhouettes that take up most of the cover let you know immediately that their relationship will be important in the novel which is indeed true since those two are Simon and Baz. The silhouette of the castle is of course indicating where the book will be mostly based at. It doesn't only give you a good feel of the story but it also is quite simple and good-looking as a whole. The colors don't clash and the font looks good with the other elements. Basically it's another good cover for a deserving story.

3. The Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer

(Photo from: www.freeiz.com)

Say what you want about Twilight and how it's a blemish to literature and all that bullshit but it's got some damn good covers. It's another set of simple covers (I think you guys can guess that I love simple covers) with a specific image in the middle. The images are all metaphorically significant to the story, more specifically to Bella. The font compliments the design and the colors are lovely, more potent because of the contrast. It was awesome when I first saw it, it's awesome 'til now and I'll probably think it's awesome until the day I die.

4. Six of Crows Duology by Leigh Bardugo

(Photo from: pentatwine.blogspot.com)

God these covers are absolutely gorgeous! I am pretty sure no one can disagree with this statement. The majestic crow, the wonderful font, the splendid colors and the way it contrasts with each other, and the background all come together to make extraordinary covers. Six of Crows drew me in the first time I saw it and the same can be said with Crooked Kingdom. The vivid colors of the pages also adds to the stunning aesthetic of the books. No disagreements here when I see this duology in others' best covers list.

5. All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

(Photo from: www.goodreads.com)

The All The Bright Places cover is composed of things that have a significant role in the story itself arranged in a way to make the product look really pleasing. It's really clever and simple and just beautiful. There's something about the cover that gives off an aura of authenticity and purity that I think really conveys the book as a whole. The cover is elegant, and lovely, and a "bright place" for every fan of the sweet book.

6. What We Saw by Aaron Hartzler

(Photo from: www.harpercollins.com)

The cover of What We Saw is composed of a simple picture of a slightly opened door but the way it was edited elevated it to the next level. The lighting as well as the blurred background immediately adds a mysterious and tense atmosphere which is appropriate since the book itself has this all throughout. This plus the powerful tagline produces a strong cover that captivates you immediately. Truly an effective cover for an important book.

The "Don't Judge A Book By It's Cover" is very easy to abide if the covers are as gorgeous and as full of impact as the books above. They all did their duty of being aesthetically great and being closely related to the story. There are many more out there but these six really are the top books I think about when I think of the best. There are thousands more out there and I am glad when I see them because not only do I see investment in the books themselves but I see that they know the importance a cover has because whether we like it or not, it does have a effect. A surprisingly big and essential effect. Lord knows I never want to see another cover wherein a teenage girl is staring blankly ahead with her hair blowing in the background. Do you?