reacting to the best book covers of the year

[@ItsRoseForYou]

Cover: *just a bunch of colours stacked on top of each other* Jack: I find monkeys scary despite our evolutionary similarities because of a childhood memory of visiting Gibraltar and them stealing people's sunglasses! So now I hate monkeys. ... I like the cover though.

[@msellenandrea]

A quick art lesson: Art at those prices are rarely for people to display, it's for people to invest in, shove in a storage in Switzerland to avoid taxes, and sell when the painting has increased in value. The art market at that level is extremely cynical.

[@firefly9187]

Also: my ex used to work at a small museum and the number of people that would donate art all around the same time in order to get tax breaks was crazy. It’s just rich people using art to hoard their wealth

[@mkahini]

I love how Jack got sidetracked into giving us so many of his personal anecdotes

[@CelReadsStuff]

3:02 “565… THOUSAND” took me outttttt

[@lukehannigan70898]

me too!! XD

[@josefernandezmartinez8749]

Drunk people: I'm going to write to my ex. Drunk Jack: I'm going to buy an On Kawara painting.

[@SillyCelly411]

"What business does a monkey have with sunglasses?" speak your truth Jack

[@PokhrajRoy.]

“Let’s just look at some pretty things.” - Me launching the Pinterest App

[@mishripettinger6242]

you're so real for this

[@PokhrajRoy.]

@@mishripettinger6242 Haha thank you

[@littlemissneverseen]

Jack traumatised by the Gibraltar monkeys lmao

[@LinnieCat]

To be honest I didn’t realize I was scared of monkeys before going to Gibraltar 🫣

[@tasnimrahman4775]

“jumping on my parents” lool

[@874.5km]

book covers having the power to bring up memories is such a beautiful thing

[@YungRamo]

"not only do you judge books by their covers, but you're also a liar" thats a bar tbh

[@saumyaagrawal7833]

Watching Jack describe anything is just so magical. It feels like the warmth of sunlight on a cold winter day. It just makes my day

[@VaguelyOriginal]

OMG JACK- Finally someone else understands my weird phobia of monkeys! 😂 I always feel so dumb when I say “they’re too human” because duh, of course they are, but they give me that uncanny-valley kind of ick? Like what do you know? Why are you so sneaky? HANDS? Also anyone who says they don’t judge books by their covers is absolutely a big fat liar, we all do it and you know it 😂

[@ElinWinblad]

Remind me of when they banned them as pets, I forget which country I think it was Sweden after they realize that if the monkey gives you a certain look or something the next thing he’ll do is go for your ankle slice it open and then go in for the killwhich happened to a few people😢

[@antoinettemusni7560]

The pause before “THOUSAND” was iconic 😂

[@abiroad]

19:03 The cover of open throat also has a tiny little human silhouette (sort of standing in side profile, facing right) just above the cat's nose. I don't know if it's there intentionally but it's such a lovely easter egg considering the book's themes.

[@haydnmalyon7690]

I've realized prior to this video that book covers I tend to not be attracted to are the ones Jack loves. It's interesting to hear more thoughts on what it is he loves about them.

[@sheremindedme]

with no synopsis whatsoever putting half of these books on my tbr bc they're pretty 🤪

[@small_and_dangerous2068]

6:44 Never thought I’d be talking about monkeys on a Jack Edwards video 😂 But you would’ve been horrified of my childhood. My grandmother had 5 monkeys in her trailer home. And when I was young they would constantly take my toys. They weren’t unfriendly though! They would sit next to me on the sofa and pet my hair (my sister and I were the only ones that they’d see often with long hair. My mom, grandma, and aunt were all short haired queens. Aunt and mom still are. But yes, they were fascinated by our long hair and would play with it and put it on their heads 😂 I have a lot of interesting memories with them. That being said, don’t ever own monkeys as pets! They are pack like animals and WILL fight for dominance, it’s in their nature. So there have been occasions where they’ve wanted to challenge my grandma or grandpa for alpha and would bite them or scratch them. They aren’t made to be domesticated pets!! When my grandparents passed they were given to a local monkey sanctuary!

[@gidabartfai4095]

The first book is from a hungarian author. I personally didn't like that book, but you should definitely check out hungarian literature. Especially Daniel Varro, he is pretty fucking amazing.

[@neemagatumbu7850]

This Sza shirt is the most stable relationship I've ever had

[@ellendrewe1573]

As someone named Ellen, the beginning really freaked me out 😂😂 0:18

[@ellenabbott1214]

Me too! 🤣

[@likechip]

Samesies!

[@JahricLago]

I can't wait for your own book cover!!! We need an update about your writing, dahling. ❤

[@once-lers-one-and-only]

1:00 "the genius is that the further away you are from it, then it looks more like a tit" - words of wisdom from jack edwards 2024

[@phyycxis1159]

i think the cover of "cold nights of childhood" is displaying taking a bath in a basin as a child

[@PokhrajRoy.]

Jack talking about the orange and going on that tangent was lovely 🍊 Jack is our Head Kamala Lebu (Orange in Bengali).

[@claytongriffith8323]

I'm vibing with covers that look like contemporary art muesum posters

[@femsfables]

jack judging book covers is officially my new favourite thing

[@keiichifuruya]

Jack screaming and being chaotic 😂

[@jessicaxsherry]

yes finally book covers get the recognition they deserve

[@elliotkuo3917]

I love these types of videos where you’re just reacting to something or making a tier list

[@Justin_Palmer]

Jack "I love a gradient." Jack's phone case 👀

[@Grace-wu7pr]

the cold nights of childhood cover reminds me of walmart and i can't unsee it 😭

[@Reet862]

Also "the premonition" has the most beautiful cover ever. That cover is so beautiful that I look at it everyday and clean it . And the book is so magical as well.😊

[@MaelysCha]

YES! Definitely one of the most beautiful covers ever! And I love Banana Yoshimoto’s work ❤️

[@aaaamnaaaa]

The thumbnail is screaming my favourite colour is orange and I love it

[@Lisakaylindsay256]

I love how you share all your different memories and thoughts that are triggered by the book covers. Also I too would be frightened by monkeys if they were just grabbing everything you have. Thanks for sharing all these and all your insights. So fun 😊

[@PokhrajRoy.]

I remember Rifle Paper Co. creating book covers and it was just so beautiful.

[@ghostieollie]

Very happy to hear another person with strong feelings about The Orange :D

[@tiffanyvantine3322]

23:01 not sure if it’s been mentioned but the “white zero” also looks like a mobius strip. This is a loop of ribbon or paper that has a continuous side. In other words, no outside and inside, the one becomes the other. It seems like the cover then conveys ideas about the eternal nature of nothingness, which is very interestingz

[@veronicasmemories]

Counterweight has such a 90s video game vibe to it. I love it (:

[@jacobb1193]

The adult (the cover with the girl crying paint tears) is actually really good! I read it earlier this year and really enjoyed it. It's also by a Canadian author which I always love. I really recommend for to people who haven't read it!

[@lilacorn]

I bought 2 books from the charity shop yesterday bc the covers were so pretty!! 1 of the books I couldn’t even figure what it was about- £2 for 2 books is fine with me tho!

[@MissEline1999]

Ahh I loved watching this. 30% of my reading hobby is being in awe of all the beautiful covers haha

[@PokhrajRoy.]

(Throwback to the video where Jack outsourced his cover design for a fake book)

[@lysa2751]

One of the most beautiful book i own is Sirens and Muses by Antonia Angress, absolutely gorgeous book cover and incredible debut novel!! i highly recommend checking it out

[@dorothyparashi1736]

this is so chaotic i LOVE it

[@emmaberger3748]

The difference between Jack and me is that he remembers the words for the things he forgets like seconds later… instead of days or never

[@ellenabbott1214]

My name is Ellen, so that intro was just great. 🤣

[@likechip]

Saaaaaaame. I got called out 😭

[@RichardWhite-ni4dz]

The monkey doesn't want your sunglasses, they want something in return for handing back your sunglasses.

[@emmam.1864]

Fun maths fact! The twisted "zero" in Zero-Sum is actually a Moebius strip! It is a one-sided twisted surface :) I would like to think that it relates to the content of the novel, maybe a certain situation seems twisted and multifaceted when it is only one simple surface... I guess I'll have to read it to find out

[@Emma-le6jc]

How do I get such best friends? tutorial?

[@porterskennards]

FINALLY someone shares my aversion to monkeys!!!!!

[@biancadias9228]

I left the room for a second and when I came back, he was going on about his monkey trauma. I hope one day you can overcome this, Jack ❤

[@christianburnsed6827]

The cover for Thin Skin kinda matches the back of Jack's phone 5:56

[@jacobscozycorner]

Looks like I’m going to have a good morning now that you’ve posted 😊

[@laurenschenck5355]

A history of burning this cover is GORGEOUS ❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@csillasalda3764]

0:58 omg finally a hungarian book!!

[@btsbbygurlarmy7572]

personally i can listen to jack’s tangents all day

[@PokhrajRoy.]

6:36 If you’re afraid of monkeys, don’t go to North India then. They have some iconic monkeys.

[@crawfishpi]

WELP I hadn't read The Orange before and now I have to buy the whole book because I am literally crying and I don't think a poem has EVER made me actually cry before.

[@brooklynclark1944]

My favourite cover ever is from Summer Cannibals by Melanie Hobson, so gorgeous and heart wrenching!

[@junychup]

Finally somebody said it. Monkeys are scary and this fear is definitely not related to me getting bitten by a squirrel monkey when I was like 6.

[@bladepanthera]

I find it curious how many novels now have "a novel" on the cover. Most of them I'd say you would probably assume from the cover or title that it is a novel, so I don't really understand the point. Yes, a couple of exceptions that look like they could be nonfiction, but mostly not.

[@nissasbookcorner]

omg i always thought The Nursery cover was a balloon lmao. i loved Deep as the Sky, Red as the Sea this year!! and monkeys are definitely scary

[@asterismos5451]

I'm intrigued that these are mostly all literary fiction. I'm a book designer and mostly a fan of fantasy and probably would have chosen mostly fantasy covers if asked to chose covers for this list. I guess as both a reader and designer, it's just what I find appealing more than other genres, generally. I enjoy literary fiction too but I just find these covers don't really say very much about the books beyond an approximate vibe and nothing more. Personally I like a cover to include more aspects of the books' contents, enough to intrigue and not enough to spoil anything but something pretty you can come back to as you read and go "ohhhh" as you figure out why particular aspects were included.

[@asterismos5451]

Art is sort of easy to judge costs for when it's shitty art made by children or people who don't know how to make art or half-decent art made by people just getting started with a career, but as soon as you get into skilled professionals making stuff, it's really any price under the sun. So much is based on who the artist is and how famous they are and that's really hard to tell by just looking at a piece.

[@annalisayoung]

This should be a new therapeutic technique: what does this book cover make you think about? The After Sappho cover is giving me huge “The Swimming Pool” by Matisse vibes. I have to assume it’s intentional, but I don’t know what significance it might have. I haven’t read the book, so maybe someone who has can explain.

[@Hyathin]

I just want to stare at that "A History of Burning" cover all day.

[@AvinaGreen]

Went to the Longleat Zoo with my mom a couple years back just so we could go through the maze but the monkeys definifely did mess up one of the wipers

[@isabellagorrie1470]

Thank you for validating my fear of monkeys 🙏

[@t.neoma.22]

Hangman's cover is a colorful verion of Belkis Ayón's work. She is an incredible artist and the story behind her work and life is fascinating. Worth a google!

[@PokhrajRoy.]

Moral of the Story: Jack finds gradients sexy.

[@dovemakes]

I am also very scared of monkeys due to monkey pickpocket trauma!!! They're SO scary I don't understand how people find them cute and not at all unsettling lol

[@marquezaranza]

The monkeys story reminded me of home lol. They sometimes show up in my university and other parts of the city and they also steal food and stuff, the little troublemakers 😂. Jack would have a heart attack

[@krawallpappkarton]

As soon as I saw that nose cover I thought about Matt and Josh's nose lamp! :D

[@kaytee6863]

Where were the mean fallouts? This was so positive, Jack - are you okay? 😂❤

[@Ello927]

7:00 monkey trauma gang cuz I was walking with a pack of biscuits, I felt a tug on my biscuits behind me. I thought it was my sister. Told my sister to be patient. Turned around to find a monkey and fell down in fear. Made fun of by everyone in the group for the rest of the trip😭 I was 8💀

[@felsiao]

10:39 I think the cutout parts are significant in music. Someone help me please! Does it stand for a scale?

[@trevorbassett6084]

I bought “the sun also rises” by Ernest Hemingway signature classics edition purely based on the cover

[@delaney8949]

I just bought Big Swiss I can’t put it down I love it

[@chocobo12121]

Pretty pretty cool jack!!

[@emmaberger3748]

Some of these books r giving self published & designed by the author but I’m glad they’re getting attention now

[@tallactordude]

Though I’m American, I have a British paperback copy of “My Search for Warren Harding” from the 80s, so the one you showed must be a re-issue. The cover of the copy I have is much, much simpler, gray, with a few white stars on it. I probably read it at least 35 years ago, so my memory of it is not very sharp.

[@kaylacourchesne6170]

I read tomb sweeping and honestly it was because of the cover

[@kimaya7643]

I LOVE JOSH AND MATT

[@steffikreis2030]

Thanks for the deep dive on the monkey trauma. 😂 I do agree on the ones in gibraltar tho.

[@laurenschenck5355]

You are so brilliant Jack! ❤😊❤❤

[@mrl9418]

I jusge books by their shape ❤ width to eight ratio, and how big they are (prefer on the smaller side, so paperbacks are more pleasing than first editions to me). As for materials, I don't much like the rubbery covers. What else. Oh I love the Fitzcarraldo editions, both the two colors and the shape.

[@bonitaw7658]

i think we may need a reading books because of the cover 2: electric boogaloo

[@evajean7568]

don’t be shy jack, drop the link to the orange keychain

[@avni8277]

Last month I had some guavas in a bag and a monkey pounced at them so I got in a full fight with him where I was swinging my trolley bag (yes the luggage kind) threatening the monkey with it in the middle of a street and honestly the monkey didn't know what to do it just went away so I won I guess

[@kyootkitteh]

Wow I LOVE that cover for My Work

[@wonderwoman5528]

Longleat with the monkeys on your car: good times 😊 x

[@laurenschenck5355]

These are amazing and creative book covers ❤❤❤😊😊

[@morganjustine3637]

Loved this!!

[@AvinaGreen]

I'm wondering if Wednesday's child's title is taken from the nursery rhyme 'Monday's Child'. Because it's line is, 'Wednesday's child is full of woe' Or I also know, in at least Thai buddhist culture, your birthday lines up with a particular Buddha's pose

[@squadhilal]

Can you please review them also? 🥺 or tell us what theyre about? 🥺

[@wendyeskelin8765]

It's interesting the books they chose as the best covers. Personally, I wouldn't have been drawn to pick up any of them up.

[@jamesgillock]

20:35 someone stole the mic with the eye...

[@AnaMoShoshin]

monkeys are terrifying.

[@ebonydarknessdementiaraven4610]

I literally went to Longleat last weekend that's so weird lmao

[@jamesgillock]

I wish 1984 had an eye on the cover!! 👁️