15 Illustrated Covers to Lust Over, Because Holy Cow, They're Pretty

I LOVE illustrated covers. I mean to be fair, I did go to university to study illustration so I have a very big soft spot for the art. But I don’t think there is anything quite as satisfying as a beautifully illustrated cover. SO. Without further ado, here are some of the most swoon-worthy illustrated YA covers (of recent years, because let’s face it, if I had all the annals of history to go through this blog post would be about twelve times the size. As it was, I had to control myself.)

And I definitely recommend you check out all of these illustrators and designers. Without their beautiful work and dedication, we would not have the stunning covers we do and the world would be a little less magic. “Design and illustration are underappreciated art forms” is the hill I will die on. Watch me.


A Tale of Magic by Chris Colfer

Cover art by Brandon Dorman

Cover design by Sasha Illingworth

Okay, technically not YA, I know but… look at how pretty it is!

 Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson

Cover art by Charlie Bowater

And I Darken.jpg

 And I Darken by Kiersten White

Jacket art by Sam Weber

The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black

Cover art by Michael O.

Cover design by Sasha Illingworth and Becca Dunn