Zibby Mag

By Sherri Puzey

Though I may not judge a book by its cover, the cover is certainly the first thing I notice when I’m reviewing pitches for Zibby Mag or am looking through publisher catalogs of hundreds (and hundreds!) of books to consider stocking at Zibby’s Bookshop. When I’m browsing at a bookstore, covers catch my eye and provide the first insight—however small or even incorrect—to what’s inside. At Zibby Books we spend hours deliberating over cover briefs and comps, trying to land on just the right design to strike the tone and message of the book in the best possible way.

With all of the time and attention I’ve been giving to covers, I’ve found myself mentally rearranging them, drawing comparisons and pairing up covers that resemble one another. At Zibby’s Bookshop we organize books based on mood, identity, and interest. But what if a bookstore organized its collection based on the covers alone? What categories might emerge over the years as trends come and go?

Here are ten shelves I put together for some of the cover trends I’m spotting in 2023.

Beach Babes

Girls’ Night Out

Fruit Punch

#HairGoals

Eye Catching

Keep Your Chin Up

Animal Lover

House Envy

Flora and Fonds

Pop Art Inspired

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Sherri Puzey is a Phi Beta Kappa, summa cum laude graduate of Virginia Tech with a BA in international relations. She is a contributing editor at Zibby Mag, the marketing director at Zibby Books, and a buyer at Zibby’s Bookshop. She currently lives in Seattle with her husband and daughters. Find her book reviews and recommendations on Instagram @whatsherrireads