Covers are something I talk about a lot on Young Creative Press so I thought why not do a roundup of my favourite 2021 covers. Obviously, there are other covers that I may enjoy more than these, however, I wanted to keep it to books I’ve actually read. 

Below are four of my favourite YA covers of 2021 along with their Goodreads synopsis’ if you are interested in learning more about them. 

Love Is a Revolution by Renée Watson

I really really love this cover. Unfortunately the same cannot be said for the book, but that’s not what this post is about. 

The green is so wonderfully eyecatching and Nala (the main character) looks absolutely beautiful. What’s not to like about this cover?

Goodreads synopsis: “When Nala Robertson reluctantly agrees to attend an open mic night for her cousin-sister-friend Imani’s birthday, she finds herself falling in instant love with Tye Brown, the MC. He’s perfect, except . . . Tye is an activist and is spending the summer putting on events for the community when Nala would rather watch movies and try out the new seasonal flavours at the local creamery. In order to impress Tye, Nala tells a few tiny lies to have enough in common with him. As they spend more time together, sharing more of themselves, some of those lies get harder to keep up. As Nala falls deeper into keeping up her lies and into love, she’ll learn all the ways love is hard, and how self-love is revolutionary.”

A Dance with the Fae Prince (Married to Magic #2) by Elise Kova 

I have never seen a bad Elise Kova cover and that’s on facts. With each release, her covers get more and more stunning. I really wish I owned physical copies of all of her books just so I could sit and stare at them all day, but sadly that is not the case. 

A Dance with the Fae Prince is a particular favourite of mine. The colour scheme and the style of drawing/painting are just so visually pleasing. I’m a huge fan of blue and purple-hued covers so this is right up my street.

Goodreads synopsis: “She knew her hand in marriage would be sold. She had no idea a fae prince was the buyer.

Katria swore she’d never fall in love. She’s seen what “love” means through the cruelty of her family. So when she’s married off to the mysterious Lord Fenwood for a handsome price, all Katria wants is a better life than the one she’s leaving. Feelings are off the table.

But her new husband makes not falling in love difficult.

As their attraction begins to grow, so too do the oddities within her new life: strange rules, screams in the night, and attacks by fae that Katria never thought were real. When she witnesses a ritual not meant for human eyes, Katria finds herself spirited away to the land of Midscape.

Surviving the fae wilds as a human is hard enough. Katria must survive as a human who accidentally pilfered the magic of ancient kings – magic a bloodthirsty king is ready to kill her for in order to keep his stolen throne – and her new husband is the rightful heir in hiding.

The power to save the fae is in her hands. But who will save her from a love she vowed never to feel?”

A Pho Love Story by Loan Le 

I mentioned this book on my most recent favourite covers post so I don’t want to say much about it here. But I love it so much that I knew instantly it had to be mentioned in this post also. 

Goodreads synopsis: “All’s fair in love, war and noodles . . .

If Bao Nguyen had to describe himself, he’d say he was a rock. Steady and strong, but not particularly interesting. His grades are average, his social status unremarkable. He works at his parents’ pho restaurant, and even there, he is his parents’ fifth favourite employee.

If Linh Mai had to describe herself, she’d say she was a firecracker. Stable when unlit, but full of potential for joy and spark and fire. She loves art, and she dreams of making a career of it one day. The only problem? Her parents rely on her in ways they’re not willing to admit, including expecting her to work practically full-time at their family’s pho restaurant.

For decades, the Mais and the Nguyens have been at odds, having owned competing, neighbouring pho restaurants. Bao and Linh have resolved never to befriend each other, for fear of pushing too far and bringing on undue heartbreak. But when a chance encounter brings Linh and Bao closer, sparks fly . . .

Can Linh and Bao’s love survive in the midst of feuding families and complicated histories?”

Chain of Iron (The Last Hours #2) by Cassandra Clare

The Last Hours really is the series that said “I’m going to have stunning covers”. I’m already obsessed with this series for other reasons, but the fact that the covers are just gorgeous really is an added bonus. 

The yellow against the blue really is striking and I have immense love for Lucie Herondale so it’s a winner all round. 

Goodreads synopsis: Cordelia Carstairs seems to have everything she ever wanted. She’s engaged to marry James Herondale, the boy she has loved since childhood. She has a new life in London with her best friend Lucie Herondale and James’s charming companions, the Merry Thieves. She is about to be reunited with her beloved father. And she bears the sword Cortana, a legendary hero’s blade.

But the truth is far grimmer. James and Cordelia’s marriage is a lie, arranged to save Cordelia’s reputation. James is in love with the mysterious Grace Blackthorn whose brother, Jesse, died years ago in a terrible accident. Cortana burns Cordelia’s hand when she touches it, while her father has grown bitter and angry. And a serial murderer is targeting the Shadowhunters of London, killing under cover of darkness, then vanishing without a trace.

Together with the Merry Thieves, Cordelia, James, and Lucie must follow the trail of the knife-wielding killer through the city’s most dangerous streets. All the while, each is keeping a shocking secret: Lucie, that she plans to raise Jesse from the dead; Cordelia, that she has sworn a dangerous oath of loyalty to a mysterious power; and James, that he is being drawn further each night into the dark web of his grandfather, the arch-demon Belial. And that he himself may be the killer they seek.”

WANT TO SEE WHAT I’VE BEEN READING LATELY? CHECK OUT MY GOODREADS HERE

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Like this post? Why not read this one too: The 12 Books of Christmas: The Winter of Second Chances by Jenny Bayliss