If you’re looking for escapism, 2023’s book cover design trends seem determined to banish the darkness. This year feels less about the words and more about the feeling: it seems like it’s time to forget guidelines around hierarchy and decorum and just let rip. Check out the 2023 book cover design trends.
A brave teen recounts her debilitating struggle with obsessive-compulsive disorder—and brings readers through every painful step as she finds her way to the other side—in this powerful and inspiring memoir. Until sophomore year of high school, fifteen-year-old Allison Britz lived a comfortable life in an idyllic town. She was a dedicated student with tons of extracurricular activities, friends, and loving parents at home. But after awakening from a vivid nightmare in which she was diagnosed with brain cancer, she was convinced the dream had been a warning. Allison believed that she must do something to stop the cancer in her dream from becoming a reality. It started with avoiding sidewalk cracks and quickly grew to counting steps as loudly as possible. Over the following weeks, her brain listed more dangers and fixes. She had to avoid hair dryers, calculators, cell phones, computers, anything green, bananas, oatmeal, and most of her own clothing. Unable to act “normal,” the once-popular Allison became an outcast. Her parents questioned her behavior, leading to explosive fights. When notebook paper, pencils, and most schoolbooks were declared dangerous to her health, her GPA imploded, along with her plans for the future. Finally, she allowed herself to ask for help and was diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder. This brave memoir tracks Allison’s descent and ultimately hopeful climb out of the depths. Product DetailsISBN-13: 9781481489195 Media Type: Paperback(Reprint) Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers Publication Date: 09-25-2018 Pages: 368 Product Dimensions: 5.40(w) x 8.20(h) x 1.10(d) Age Range: 14 - 18 YearsAbout the Author Allison Britz graduated with her BA and MA from Wake Forest University. When not spending all of her money on books, she enjoys cooking, three-day weekends, arguing with her OCD, and extensive Netflix binges. She lives in Manhattan with her husband and their dog. Obsessed is her first book.Read an Excerpt Read an Excerpt Obsessed “I don’t think the pigs smell me. I think they see me,” Ms. Griffin says, reenacting last night’s assigned reading from Lord of the Flies. She pretends to apply mud to her face and body like war paint and crouches down, ready for the hunt. Overweight in a way that reminds me pleasantly of my grandmother, with her frizzy, out-of-control hair flying in all directions, she scuttles in between the desks at the front of the room, a ruler raised high in the air as a spear. In the fourth row, third chair back, I am using Lauren Madison’s hair as a shield to stay out of Ms. Griffin’s line of vision. I spend most English classes annoyed with Lauren’s blond, conditioned locks—the way they tumble beautifully across my desk and how they smell like expensive shampoo and roses. Today, however, her mane provides a convenient wall to hide behind while I study for my upcoming sixth-period chemistry test. I am feverishly attempting to memorize the molecular formula of a long list of compounds, most of which I have never heard of outside a chemistry textbook. Head bent forward, pencil streaming across the page, I am writing and rewriting the formula for glucose as I simultaneously whisper it to myself. “Allison, what about you?” I look up from my mound of notes, mouth agape. C6H12O6. C6H12O6. “Allison, hi. Yes, join us, please. Put away whatever else it is you’re working on. What are your thoughts on the question?” Blank stare. “I asked what you think about the mounting tension between Roger and Jack?” I continue to look at her, openmouthed. My subconscious clanks and grunts, struggling to shift to a new train of thought. Lord of the Flies. Focus. My mind is silent, my stomach tightening more with each second. Ms. Griffin, sweating slightly from her pretend spear hunt, locks eyes with me from behind her podium at the front of the class. I can see that she is enjoying this. I am the girl who other students don’t want in their classes. Brimming with anecdotes and opinions, I am the girl who raises her hand when the teacher asks, “Are there any questions?” I am the student, to the chorus of groans from my peers, who reminds the teacher when she forgot to pick up our homework assignment from the night before. The tense silence continues as I search my brain for anything that’s not an atomic symbol. I glance at her, a plea for mercy, but she doesn’t flinch. See if I rescue you next time no one is participating in your class discussion, I think moodily. Gradually, my classmates turn around to look at me. They’re torn from their bored stupor by the fact that somehow Allison, the girl who was voted Most Intellectual in the eighth-grade yearbook, didn’t do the previous night’s assigned reading. “Well, I . . . think . . .” My eyes dart around the room, looking desperately for assistance. I make eye contact with Greg Sauers, and he just shrugs at me. How did she even see me behind Lauren’s hair? “I think . . .” “Okay, Samuelson High, it’s Thursday, and you know what that means!” My hesitant mumbling is interrupted by an announcement crackling through the school’s intercom system. A peppy female voice echoes against the whitewashed cinder-block walls. “Thursdays mean JV football, Bulldogs fans, and tonight we are facing none other than Hamilton High School.” A low-toned “Boooooo” lilts through the hallways. “Make sure you come out and support your JV boys tonight at eight p.m.! As always, go, Bulldogs!” With her last syllables, the bell rings, and the entire class lurches into action. Saved by the intercom, I quickly gather my disarrayed chemistry notes into my binder and dodge through the crowded classroom, launching myself into the hallway to avoid Ms. Griffin. I make a mental note to myself to catch up on Lord of the Flies tonight. After that performance, Ms. Griffin will likely target me again in the future, if only for her own entertainment. “Allison, hey!” The familiar soprano voice of my best friend, Sara, lofts over the chaotic hallway scene. In my rush to escape, I completely forgot to wait for her outside class like I always do. In the strict social hierarchy of Samuelson, many unspoken guidelines govern the student body. One of the most important: Never walk anywhere by yourself. In between classes, on the way to lunch, after school in the parking lot, have enough pride to never be seen alone. Sara is my best friend, of course, but also a convenient built-in walking partner. “Dude, Ms. Griffin totally called you out. It’s like she has some sort of radar or something. She only calls on me when I forget to do the reading,” Sara complains. “It’s as if she can see the guilt in our eyes.” I let out an exasperated breath before she even finishes her sentence. Sara has been my closest friend since she sat next to me on the first day of summer camp when we were nine. She is pretty in a way that tells you she’s been told it her entire life. Her raucous auburn curls and winged eyeliner are the antithesis to my simple blond bob and light mascara. Her Rolling Stones T-shirt clashes with my pink cardigan and pearls. “Okay, first of all, you never do the reading, and second, I didn’t forget to do the homework.” I cast her a sidelong glance with a slight headshake for good measure, acting more annoyed than I am. “I have a chemistry test this afternoon and I was up all night studying, so I didn’t have time to do the assignment. It’s called prioritizing. I’ll catch up on her reading after this test.” “All night? Get a grip, girl!” Sara exclaims with concern in her eyes, an edge of judgment in her voice. Since childhood, she has proclaimed it her mission to get me to “take the stick out.” “Life is too short for this. You haven’t been to one JV football game this year.” False. “Hello, I’ve been with you twice already! You know cross-country practice goes until seven and the football games start at eight. An hour isn’t enough time to get home, shower, change. It’s just not worth it. . . .” “Yeah, yeah, I know. And you do the long loop on Thursdays.” Sara isn’t on the cross-country team, but by now she knows our workout schedule by heart. “Exactly. We do the long loop on Thursdays. Seven miles. I’m so exhausted when I get home. Sweaty, sore. Making it to a football game afterwards is just a lot for one night. Not to mention having to do homework after we get back at almost midnight.” I’m trying to sound resolute, but it comes out more like a whine. “Yeah, well . . .” She pauses and, glancing around to ensure secrecy, half whispers, “Let’s just say you’re not going to get anywhere with Sam with a social schedule like that.” We look at each other, and she shrugs. “Look, he asked you out for ice cream, y’all ate some delicious treats together and laughed a bit. Then he texted you two consecutive days in a row. Two!” She stares at me intently, her pointer and middle fingers in the air as a visual aid. “Now it’s been what, five days, including a weekend, since you’ve heard from him? You have to do something.” She is emphatic, energized. If we were standing still, I know she would have stomped her foot. “He always goes to the Thursday football games—the whole basketball team does. Tonight after practice, drive home, take the fastest shower of your life, and then come over to my house. I’ll do your hair and makeup and we’ll get his attention.” Sara grabs my hand and beams at me, and suddenly, optimistically, I have changed my mind about the night ahead. I see myself sitting in front of a mirror, in a bathroom almost as familiar as my own, as she straightens my hair and gives me a lesson on bronzer. “Look”—she leans in and whispers from the side of her mouth—“I know you’re nervous. I know it’s scary. So let me help.” We make brief eye contact and she shows a small smile. My heart swells with gratitude for her and her genuine concern for my prom prospects. She doesn’t know that I check my phone multiple times a minute hoping to see Sam appear on the screen. She has no idea that I
Sue Gent's latest decorative book cover for Joanne Harris is revealed
We’re elated by the design that has been dancing across bookshelves of late. Here are 30 of our favorite covers of 2021.
The truth of the matter is, people do judge a book by its cover. So here are some outstanding examples for you to judge. Muzli is a new-tab Chrome extension that instantly delivers relevant design…
If you’re looking for escapism, 2023’s book cover design trends seem determined to banish the darkness. This year feels less about the words and more about the feeling: it seems like it’s time to forget guidelines around hierarchy and decorum and just let rip. Check out the 2023 book cover design trends.
Despite the not-so-great start to the year, it did bring with it a silver lining—more time to read books! When choosing one off the shelf (or on your Kindle), the cover is often one of the biggest deciding factors.
Amazon.com: The Hurricane Wars: A Novel (The Hurricane Wars, 1): 9780063277274: Guanzon, Thea: Books
For what is now the seventh time in a row, I am pleased to present the best book covers of the year—as chosen by some of the industry’s best book cover designers. This year, I asked 31 design…
We’re elated by the design that has been dancing across bookshelves of late. Here are 30 of our favorite covers of 2021.
It's a whole new season of fresh reads!
Creative printable book covers for students are a fun way to personalize and protect their textbooks. With an array of designs and patterns available online, students can choose a cover that reflects their personality and interests.
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A collection of what we believe are 50 of best book covers you can find, and get enchanted along with us by the high level of these artworks!
A few years ago I made this epic list of 300+ fonts to use for every genre. But the truth is, I rarely use those anymore, and some are even cringeworthy. So recently I spent a lot of time going through my collection and choosing NEW fantasy fonts I love. Keep in mind: most of […]
March is here! Every sane person's least favorite months are over! Plus, a stupid number of great new books
Based on reviewing 1000+ covers and inputs from 12 authors, our list represents the best mystery and thriller book covers of 2017.
Looking for some graphic design inspiration? Here you will find inspirational galleries and articles, covering all aspects of graphic design.
Custom book cover design portfolio for different genres including fantasy, fiction, romance, science fiction, thriller, urban fiction and nonfiction book cover designs.
Based on reviewing 1000+ covers and inputs from 12 authors, our list represents the best mystery and thriller book covers of 2017.
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Award-winning Rachel Hartman's newest YA is a tour de force and an exquisite fantasy for the #metoo movement. "Tess of the Road is astonishing and perfect. It's the most compassionate book I've read since George Eliot's Middlemarch." --NPR In the medieval kingdom of Goredd, women are expected to be ladies, men are their protectors, and dragons can be whomever they choose. Tess is none of these things. Tess is. . . different. She speaks out of turn, has wild ideas, and can't seem to keep out of trouble. Then Tess goes too far. What she's done is so disgraceful, she can't even allow herself to think of it. Unfortunately, the past cannot be ignored. So Tess's family decide the only path for her is a nunnery. But on the day she is to join the nuns, Tess chooses a different path for herself. She cuts her hair, pulls on her boots, and sets out on a journey. She's not running away, she's running towards something. What that something is, she doesn't know. Tess just knows that the open road is a map to somewhere else--a life where she might belong. Returning to the spellbinding world of the Southlands she created in the award-winning, New York Times bestselling novel Seraphina, Rachel Hartman explores self-reliance and redemption in this wholly original fantasy. NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY NPR * BOSTON GLOBE * The Chicago Public Library * KIRKUS REVIEWS Four starred reviews "The world building is gorgeous, the creatures are vivid and Hartman is a masterful storyteller. Pick up this novel, and savor every page." --Paste Magazine
