As always, I asked fellow Rioters to weigh in on the decisions this year about the best book covers of 2020. You’ll find included a wide range of genres and age groups, including covers you’ll know immediately, as well as many that may be new to you. I’ve done my best to find information about the designers and artists for each of the covers. But finding that information is not always easy, so that information may be lacking in some of the covers. I’d love to hear who to credit those designs to—were it not for the hard work of artists and designers, we wouldn’t have the opportunity to highlight great covers. Don’t lie: you judge a book by its cover. Let’s celebrate that with a look at the best book covers of 2020.
The Best Book Covers of 2020
So many incredible books were eligible for the best book covers of 2020, so consider this but the tip of the iceberg. —CJ Connor Cover design and illustration by Elizabeth Turner Stokes. —Susie Dumond Cover art by Bijou Karman and cover design by Erin Fitzsimmons. —K.W. Colyard Cover design by Luke Bird. —Margaret Kingsbury Cover art by Alyssa Winans and cover design by Christine Foltzer. —Carole V. Bell Cover art by Alex Cabal and cover design by Chris Kwon. —Katisha Smith Cover art by Rachelle Baker and cover design by Erin Fitzsimmons. —Alison Doherty Cover art by Xiao Wang and design by Jaya Nicely. —Cassie Gutman Cover design by Caroline Cunningham. —Carole V. Bell Cover design by Laura Eckes and cover art by Hillary Wilson. —Cathleen Perez Brenycz Cover design by Kerri Resnick and cover art by Daria Hlazatova. —Nikki VanRy Cover design by Sharismar Rodriguez and cover art by Geneva Bowers. —Jamie Canavés Cover design and illustration by Faceout Studios/Tim Green. —Alison Doherty Cover and jacket design by Cassie Gonzales (including white doodles) and cover art by Kat Goodloe. —Margaret Kingsbury Cover design by by Lisa Marie Pompilio. —Summer Loomis Cover design by Nicole Caputo. —Kelly Jensen Cover design by Ploy Siripant. —Hannah VanVels Cover design by Samira Iravani and cover art by Ashe Samuels. —Susie Dumond Cover design by by Emily Mahon and cover art by Tallboy/Night Watch Studios. —Sophia LeFevre —Summer Loomis Cover design by Henry Sene Yee. —Isabelle Popp Cover art by Leni Kauffman. —K.W. Colyard Cover design by Lynn Buckley. —Kelly Jensen Cover art by Sasha Vinogradova. —Nikki VanRy Cover design by Sean Thomas. —Leah Rachel von Essen Cover design by Mary Austin Speaker and cover art by Fumi Mini Nakamura. —Jamie Canavés Cover art by Larry Rostant and cover design by Katie Anderson. —Nicole Hill Cover by Robin Ha. Itching for more great book covers? You’ll love the best book covers of 2019 and the best book covers of 2018.