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 to 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. 

So what September book covers deserve a little shoutout for their designs? Here are six of the best from the month. Design teams are credited where that information is available.

→ Cloud Six by Amy Fusselman: There are few true cartoon covers out there, but this one not only is, but it fits the tone of the book. The space in the design—image at the top and the title at the bottom—creates a lot of visual intrigue, too. That’s not to touch the bright colors. 

→ Fallow by Sarah Anderson: Anderson’s book is described as “slyly funny and tender,” and what better image to project than a cow straddling the worlds of boring corporate offices and gorgeous, lush natural landscapes? 

→ Female Life on Planet Earth by Laleh Khadivi: A design that unfurls the longer you look at it, this cover utilizes a lot of shades and shapes of pink. The face–with a slight smirk–in the top left and the hand gesture contrast with the book’s title and simple font choices, inviting intrigue. Is it a gender reveal smoke bomb or something else (or both)?

→ Garden by Hiroko Oyamada, translated by David Boyd and Lucy North: There have been several really memorable bee covers in recent years (see Meat Bees by Dane Erbach, for example). But this one’s all about how detailed the small image is and how it pops against the background. 

→ Ply by Hernan Diaz, cover design by Jason Boohe: This is a font-driven cover, and the use of what look like folded strips of paper makes the title font unique and memorable. The starkness of the cream and peach against the green really makes this one pop. 

→ Switzy by Emma Cline: Deceptively minimalist, the design for this Booker Prize longlist title packs a punch. The illustration is from Little Nemo in Slumberland by Winsor McCay, published in the New York Herald in the early 1900s. It depicts a boy whose dreams are full of fantastical adventures.

• The image connects to the story’s main character, who wrestles with dementia and the mental fantasies that haunt him. That connection, plus the color choices here, is outstanding

There were many good covers this month, and it’s always great when some of the best covers are for books that may otherwise go under the radar. —KJ