The Best Book Covers of July

We all judge a book by its cover. There’s no shame in that—covers are the biggest marketing tool a book has. But not all book covers are created equal. Some are better than others for reasons that range from being unique, for giving a fresh twist to a design trend, or just because. Everyone’s taste differs, and what makes a book cover “the best” is a little science and a lot of subjective preferences.

Here are six of the best book covers of July:

• Man Overboard by Kathleen Rooney, a cover full of movement
• Nightjar by Emily Ruskovich, which has some of the finest feathery details in a while
• We Will See You Bleed by Ron Currie, centering some menacing crows
• Tsubaki Stationery Store by Ito Ogawa and translated by Cat Anderson, featuring a gorgeous palette and design packed with fun details
• Some People by Parini Shroff, utilizing a fresh font face and pulsing with energy (and a cat!)
• Astronaut! by Oana Aristide (cover by Utku Lomlu), which gives a little girl tremendous power and punctuates that power with dynamic font placement and colors.

It’s maybe not a total coincidence how many of this month’s knockout covers feature animals.