Has anyone else noticed how eerily similar new book releases look lately? I was at the bookstore yesterday, surrounded by a sea of pastel romantasy covers, dark academia aesthetics, and those now-ubiquitous illustrated people-facing-backward designs. It seems publishers have cracked the “BookTube thumbnail” code, and now every book looks like it was designed for social media first, story second.
Remember when covers were wonderfully weird and unique? Now it feels like we’re in an endless loop of “if you liked this aesthetic, you’ll love this similar-looking book!” I’ve caught myself reaching for books purely because they’ll look good on my Instagram shelf tour, only to find the content doesn’t match the carefully curated cover.
The strangest part? I’ve noticed readers (myself included) dismissing potentially amazing books simply because their covers don’t fit the current “aesthetic.” Publishers are clearly aware – just look at how many classics are being reissued with BookTok-friendly covers.
Are we letting social media’s obsession with aesthetics change not just how books look, but what we choose to read? Let us know in the comments below!
