Top 10 Audiobook Covers of 2022

True Biz by Sara Novic

Designer: Jack Smyth

Not only is this one of my favorite books of the year, but the UK edition cover is absolutely beautiful! It stands out to me in its simplicity and clever nods to the novel’s content. Go buy this book immediately—trust me.

Strangers to Ourselves by Rachel Aviv

Designer: Rodrigo Corral

Rodrigo Corral does it again. This isn’t his only book on my top 10 list, and for good reason. Take a look at his site and I’m sure you’ll recognize a ton of covers from your shelves. This cover proves you don’t need a lot going on to make a statement.

Bliss Montage by Ling Ma

Designer: Rodrigo Corral

This is the second cover by Rodrigo Corral on the list. I was always going to buy this book since Ling Ma is such a talented writer but the cover sealed the deal for me—I needed it on my shelves.

Olga Dies Dreaming by Xochitl Gonzalez

Designer: Lauren Peters-Collaer

The bold red makes this book jump out on the shelves. I love the layering of patterns, the use of color, and how the title’s type frames the face.

We Do What We Do in the Dark by Michelle Hart

Designer: Grace Han

This is a book I started reading because the cover jumped out at me. When I opened the jacket I was unsurprised it was designed by Grace Han. She has such a distinct and beautiful style. The intertwining limbs, the colors, and the type with the harsh shadow just works so well here. Spoiler: This isn’t the only Grace Han cover on the list (shocker).

The Book of Goose by Yiyun Li

Designer: Na Kim

Another Libro.fm staff member suggested I include this cover, and I had to add it to the list. Not often do I wish I had a huge print of a book cover for my wall, but the simple layout of this one just nails it.

Either/Or by Elif Bateman

Designer: Na Kim

One of my favorite covers this year is another one by Na Kim. A colleague here at Libro.fm called it reminiscent of of ‘erasure poetry’, and said it reminded her of a palimpsest or marginalia so this cover felt adjacent to many ideas and art forms she finds compelling. Personally I love how the red line snakes around the word leading your eye through it in an orderly way at first before sinking through the letters haphazardly until you get to the ‘A novel’ in handwriting.

This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub

Designer: Grace Han

Grace Han is one of the most consistent and talented book jacket designers out there. I highlighted a few covers of hers last year and had to do the same this year. I loved Emma Straub’s This Time Tomorrow (and even interviewed Straub for our Libro.fm Podcast). Here, the line on the cover could be the line of a story, but instead of being linear it is moving through the title in many different directions, which nods to the story inside.

(PS. If you have a chance to see this one in person in paper format it has a really nice finish to the colors that shimmers.)

All This Could Be Different by Sarah Thankam Mathews

Designer: Elizabeth Yaffe

Not only is this one beautiful to look at, but you actually see MORE of the artwork on the audio version because of the square format (a fun detail). The mix of the serif fonts with handwritten details makes this cover stand out. It was also named one of the Best Books of 2022 by NPR, Vogue, Vulture, and more, so I need to read it ASAP.

Til the Wheels Fall Off by Brad Zellar

Designer: Alban Fischer

Last but not least: this cover by Alban Fischer for Brad Zellar’s 2022 novel Til the Wheels Fall Off. Alban has designed 400+ books and it shows. The type couldn’t be executed any better – the wave draws you in and makes you wonder what the book could be about. It feels like a 70’s album cover and contemporary at the same time. This falls into the “I would hang this as a poster” category yet again.