The only time when the old adage, “don’t judge a book by its cover,” doesn’t hold true is, ironically, when it comes to books.
Before we even look at the blurbs, the cover has already caught our eyes.
Lately, a book cover trend I’ve been noticing is having the characters on the cover. It’s one way to get us interested in the personalities that we’ll be following prior to reading, especially if they have on a striking outfit.
I’ve already done a post on outfits inspired by Young Adult book covers, so by popular demand, I’ve decided to do another one.
Here are 5 more outfits based on my favorite Young Adult book covers. Let’s dive in!
Table of Contents
Outfit 1: On the Come Up by Angie Thomas
This cover is minimalist, but it says so much. The main character in On the Come Up, Bri, is rapping her heat out on the microphone and it paints a picture of how music plays a huge role in this story.
About this book: sixteen-year-old Bri wants to be one of the greatest rappers of all time… or at least make it out of her neighborhood one day.
As the daughter of an underground rap legend who died before he hit big, Bri’s got big shoes to fill. But now that her mom has unexpectedly lost her job, food banks and shutoff notices are as much a part of Bri’s life as beats and rhymes.
With bills piling up and homelessness staring her family down, Bri no longer just wants to make it—she has to make it.
To start off, we have a simple black tank top. It’s good for the warmer weather and shows off your shoulders.
One thing that strikes me about Bri is her bucket hat. There are not enough people wearing them, as far as I’m concerned! This green bucket hat has a cool, understated feel to it.
The gold hoop earrings are a fierce delight and look just like Bri’s. Hoop earrings are definitely a big Y2K trend that managed to really stick around.
These printed leggings have a wild, mismatched quality to them. They are like trying to put beats together, and that’s where their charm comes from. The floral, tropical pattern is amazing.
For footwear, we have beige combat boots like the ones on the cover. They’re comfy and perfect for stepping down on all the haters!
Outfit 2: Of Curses and Kisses by Sandhya Menon
If the uniforms I wore to school were anything like the ones on the cover of Of Curses and Kisses, I would have liked them more. Honestly, all I’ve ever wanted to wear was *that* blazer.
About this book: for Princess Jaya Rao, nothing is more important than family. When the loathsome Emerson clan steps up their centuries-old feud to target Jaya’s little sister, nothing will keep Jaya from exacting her revenge.
Then Jaya finds out she’ll be attending the same elite boarding school as Grey Emerson, and it feels like the opportunity of a lifetime. She knows what she must do: Make Grey fall in love with her and break his heart.
But there’s more to Grey than meet’s the eye. Thanks to an ancient curse by a Rao matriarch, Grey knows he’s doomed to die once he turns eighteen.
Before arriving at the Academy, he’s lived an isolated existence until Jaya Rao bursts into his life, but he can’t shake the feeling that she’s hiding something. Something that might just have to do with the rose-shaped ruby pendant around her neck…
First off, we have the gorgeous plum blazer that Jaya wears on the cover. Blazers are great to have for internships, meetings, or even just in general. They can be classy and uniform-like, but you can always dress them down if you want to only have a touch of professionalism.
A white button-up shirt to wear inside your blazer is part of the uniform, and simply a must-have item.
Next, we have a pleated skirt. Mini and tennis skirts are all over the place right now. Who says they can’t look both cute and scholarly?
I think the best part of this uniform is the strappy shoes that Jaya wears, so I chose these pink, lace-up sandals which are perfect for this time of year.
Since jewelry (particularly rubies!) play a big role in the plot, I couldn’t help but add this red stone and crystal necklace. It’s so elegant and a good imitation of a ruby.
Outfit 3: The Siren by Kiera Cass
Here is another summery Kiera Cass cover! On the cover of The Siren, a girl with windswept waves wearing a golden dress is looking out onto a shimmering ocean. There’s no doubt about it; it ticks the boxes for all your summer fantasies!
About this book: years ago, Kahlen was rescued from drowning by the ocean. To repay her debt, she has served as a Siren ever since, using her voice to lure countless strangers to their deaths.
Kahlen can’t resist spending her days on land and she is resigned to finishing her sentence in solitude until she meets Akinli. Handsome, caring, and kind, Akinli is everything Kahlen ever dreamed of.
Though she can’t talk to him, they soon forge a connection neither of them can deny… but falling for a human is against the ocean’s rules and Kahlen could loose Akinli. Will she be brave enough to follow her heart?
To match the style of Kahlen’s dress, I chose a yellow, ruffled maxi dress. It captures the bright and hopeful tone of the cover.
As Kahlen is near the ocean, I thought footwear should be beach-ready. So, here we have a pair of dark blue, sparkly wedge sandals, a stylish alternative to flip-flops.
For jewelry, I chose a necklace with a moon pendant because of the connection of the ocean to the moon.
Last, I added this textured purse, because in the book Kahlen is avid baker so a waffle-texture made sense and it’s light blue hue is the same as the ocean.
Outfit 4: Chain of Gold by Cassandra Clare
The cover of Chain of Gold stopped me in my tracks.
The autumn leaves intersecting Cordelia’s hair are a gorgeous accessory. In this cover, she is standing outside Kensington in the Edwardian period. Girls in dresses holding swords will never out of style.
About this book: Cordelia Carstairs is a Shadowhunter, a warrior trained since childhood to battle demons. When her father is accused of a terrible crime, she and her brother travel to London in hopes of preventing the family’s ruin.
Soon, Cordelia encounters childhood friends James and Lucie Herondale and is drawn into their world of glittering ballrooms, secret assignations, and supernatural salons while hiding her love for James.
But a shocking series of demon attacks devastate London and the city is immediately quarantined. Trapped in the city, Cordelia and her friends discover that their own connection to a dark legacy has gifted them with incredible powers—and forced a brutal choice that will reveal the true cruel price of being a hero.
One funny thing about this book is that it came out during quarantine last year and a quarantine takes place in it!
For a modern update on Cordelia’s dress, I chose a mini dress in a silky satin fabric. It’s got that flowy and romantic feel to it with just the right amount of spice.
To mimic the puffed sleeves on Cordelia’s dress, I chose a beige scarf to wrap around like a shawl.
As a call to Cordelia’s flaming red hair, here’s a pair of red flats. I figured that if you want to sling a legendary sword around, it’s best not to be sporting heels.
Cordelia’s nickname is Daisy, so I picked some daisy hair clips, which are so pretty and look like little suns.
I chose these white earrings because they remind me of the brooch that Cordelia wears on her dress. It’s like getting two mini brooches for one!
Outfit 5: The Raven and the Dove by Kaitlyn Davis
The Raven and the Dove is one book that I judged by its cover and found it exemplary. The contrast of the white and black wings on the characters is just amazing! Between the loving looks of the two characters and the Cinderella-like dress, I simply had to crack this book open.
About this book: on the dawn of her courtship trials, Princess Lyana Aethionus knows she should be focused on winning her perfect mate, yet her thoughts wander to the open sky waiting at the edge of her floating kingdom.
Upon fleeing the palace, the last thing she expects to find is a raven prince locked in a death match with a dragon. Reviled son of a dead king, Rafe would do anything for his beloved half-brother, Prince Lysander Taetanus, including posing as him in the upcoming courtship trials.
When a dragon interrupts their secret exchange, he orders his studious sibling to run. After suffering a fatal blow, Rafe is saved by a beautiful dove who possesses forbidden magic, just like him.
The pleats in this dark blue dress are reminiscent of wings and the color matches the beautiful sky behind Lyana and Rafe.
I picked a pair of white pumps to match Lyana’s wings. They’re sleek and sophisticated and I bet when they’re on, you’ll feel like you’re walking on air.
The scrunchies in navy, silver, and charcoal, so they all have an airy feel to them and match the cover’s color scheme. Besides, you can never have too many scrunchies.
Finally, I found these cute angel wing earrings to top it off!
Which of these Young Adult book cover outfits is your fave?
Are you going to catch up on any reading this summer? What are your favorite books? Let us know below in the comments.