We Can't Get Enough Of These Upcoming Illustrated Romance Novels

illustrated romance novels, books
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If these books are as great as their covers, we've hit the jackpot!

Lovely Illustrated Romance Books To Be Released

You have to be living under a rock to miss the current big trend in romance novel covers: the illustrated romance cover. It's typically complete with bright, one dimensional colors and often features small hints of something telling can be find inside the book's pages such as a suitcase, a dog, or a wedding cake.

For ages people have been using illustration in books, movies, ad campaigns, and more. Now illustrated book covers are wildly popular for all the same reasons. Illustrations can tell a story that regular photography can't. Illustration brings a sense of whimsy and wonder to romance books that the traditional stock photo of a couple is unable to. Relying on color choice, drawing style, composition, layout, and more, illustration has a never-ending story to share with readers.

As demonstrated by the 15 upcoming romance books with illustrated covers in the article, this is a trend that has staying power. With all the freedom it affords people, that isn't surprising in the least. And, if you're a reader like me, it means that a lot more incredible book covers to look forward to!


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1. Of Curses and Kisses by Sandhya Menon

Amazon

What's not to like about this cover about a story involving centuries-old feuds, plots of revenge, and falling in love with your mortal enemy? I'll tell you: absolutely nothing because this cover is gorgeous and we're eager for next February when we can finally get the book in our hands!

Of Curses and Kisses will be released February 18, 2020.

2. The Happy Ever After Playlist by Abby Jimenez

Amazon

In The Happy Ever After Playlist, a dog brings together Sloan and Jason, the romantic scene perfectly captured on the joyful cover of the book. Even without knowing what the story is about, this book look like one we're eager to dive into.

The Happy Ever After Playlist will be released April 14, 2020.

3. Orpheus Girl by Brynne Rebele-Henry

Amazon

It's hard to tell what's most striking about this book cover: the gentle colors of the background contrasting against the inked characters, or the fact that the myth of Orpheus rescuing his beloved from the Underworld is so perfectly encapsulated in just one image.

Orpheus Girl will be released October 8, 2019.

4. Grumpy Jake by Melissa Blue

Amazon

The more I stare at the cover of Grumpy Jake, the more I fall in love with it. For starters, the front-and-center image of protagonist Bailey is just breathtaking. And then there's the reflection of Jake in her sunglasses, the man she falls for throughout the book. It's perfect imagery!

Grumpy Jake will be released November 8, 2019.

5. The Gravity of Us by Phil Stamper

Amazon

If you weren't aware that YA has been killing it in the book cover department compared to all other books, then I don't know what to tell you. With the touching image of first love between Cal and Leon and the lovely sky surrounding them, The Gravity of Us is certainly no exception.

The Gravity of Us will be released February 4, 2020.

6. Open House by Ruby Lang

Amazon

The first book in Ruby Lang's Uptown series had a great cover, meaning we had high hopes for the sequel. Well, the sequel stuck with the same general idea of the first book, added in the details pertinent to this story, and delivered a downright gorgeous cover! We're eager to read Ty and Magda's story ASAP!

Open House will be released November 11, 2019.

7. Love Her or Lose Her by Tessa Bailey

Amazon

You wouldn't know by looking at the cover of Love Her or Lose Her that Rosie and Dom are already a couple at the beginning of the book. But when you do find out based on the synopsis, the intrigue heightens because it looks like the couple on the cover are just getting to know one another. In reality, they are, just in an unexpected way!

Love Her or Lose Her will be released January 14, 2020.

8. Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert

Amazon

How refreshing is it to know that, by the end of the book, the fat, Black, chronically ill woman will get the guy? I can't sum it up in words, but this cover certainly can! It's adorable and fun and only makes the premise of the story, a woman working on reclaiming her life and falling in love in the process, all the more exciting.

Get a Life, Chloe Brown will be released November 5, 2019.

9. The Worst Best Man by Mia Sosa

Amazon

If it isn't already, the cover of Mia Sosa's The Worst Best Man should be a national treasure. Just looking at it, the gears in my brain are already turning, yearning to find out why the bride is pushing the best man off the cake and jsut what he did to deserve it. I guarantee we're in for a wild ride!

The Worst Best Man will be released February 4, 2020.

10. Not the Girl You Marry by Andie J. Christopher

Amazon

If you look at the cover of Not the Girl You Marry and get a sort of butting-heads, there's-something-you're-not-telling-me kind of vibe, you'd be right on. Jack and Hannah enter into their relationship to prove themselves to someone else, but by the end the only thing they'll have to prove is their love. Oh, and did we mention there's a dog? Because there's a dog!

Not the Girl You Marry will be released November 12, 2019.

11. Royal Holiday by Jasmine Guillory

Amazon

The covers of all Jasmine Guillory's books have been wonderful, but there's something especially whimsical about Royal Holiday. While it's a holiday book and definitely gives off some Christmas vibes, it isn't overly so, making this an excellent book to enjoy any time of the year!

Royal Holiday will be released October 1, 2019.

12. You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle

Amazon

The premise of You Deserve Each Other is a fun one: a miserable engaged couple try to out-annoy each other in order to get them to call off the wedding and fall back in love in the process. Some might mistakenly write off the cover as a cute illustration, but you can just feel the character's conflicting feelings for each other.

You Deserve Each Other will be released April 7, 2020.

13. Our Wayward Fate by Gloria Chao

Amazon

Remember what we said about Young Adult surpassing all other in the cover department? Well, if you didn't believe us before, take a close look at Our Wayward Fate. Unlike a lot of books on the list, it doesn't feature a couple, but that doesn't mean you can't see the way Ali looks towards an optimistic future despite the hardships she's lived through.

Our Wayward Fate will be released October 15, 2019.

14. A Love Hate Thing by Whitney D. Grandison

Amazon

The first thing that struck me about the cover of A Thing Called Love was its use of color. The turquoise background really offsets the characters and allows them to shine. Which brings us to Tyson and Nandy, two people from opposite sides of the tracks forced together because of difficult circumstances, resentment rolling off of them. For now at least.

A Love Hate Thing will be released February 11, 2020.

15. Lucky Caller by Emma Mills

Amazon

Lucky Caller's book cover has everything you could want in a cover: a couple sitting together on a blanket surrounded by lovely flowers as they look out onto the incredible cityscape before them. I don't even need to know what this book is about to be intrigued!

Lucky Caller will be released January 14, 2020.

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What are your favorite illustrated romance novels that have already been released?

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