Happy New Year! It’s time for our annual tradition of reflecting on the last year through the amazing projects our artists worked on. Our roundup of 2025 book illustration projects showcases expert visual storytelling.
Katt Phatt illustrated the cover for The Gilded Blade, the shattering finale to Jennifer Lynn Barnes’ bestselling Inheritance Games Saga which Katt has been the cover illustrator for from the beginning.
Illustrated by Robert Ball, the latest covers in the new Goosebumps: House of Shivers series from R. L. Stine were revealed.
Lucy Rose illustrated Emily Rath’s spicy regency romance series from Kensington Books — including beautiful botanicals for the deluxe edition’s stenciled edges.
Stephanie Singleton brought her signature touch of surrealism to the cover illustration for Sherri L. Smith’s Candace, The Universe, and Everything, which made the School Library Journal’s Best Books of 2025 among many other accolades.
Sarah McMenemy illustrated History Hiding Around Broadway from Running Press, in which seasoned Broadway dresser and theater historian Teale Dvornik takes readers on a tour of New York’s famed Theater District.
Chris Wormell illustrated the Folio Society Edition of H is For Hawk by Helen MacDonald, including a binding design, endpaper motif, title-page, integrated vignettes and full-page illustrations.
Dawn Cooper‘s latest book covers for cozy, magical tales stood out for their bright colors.
Amy Grimes illustrated gripping murder-mysteries for Harlequin.
Lucy Davey illustrated the new paperback covers for Debbie Macomber’s cozy Blossom Street romance series.
And Kate Forrester illustrated and hand-lettered a whole host of titles this year, including mystery, romance, dark fantasy, and even an activity book for those who want to learn lettering.
