Outfits as Book Covers!

kelsey welch
Apr 12, 2020
5 min read

There's this super cool trend going around on twitter where people match their outfits to the colors of a book cover! Obviously, I couldn't help myself, so I hopped on the bandwagon and opened up my closet. Here, I'm going to show you all my outfits and give you all some book recommendations!

1. Serpent & Dove | by Shelby Mahurin

This was, hands down, one of the best books that I have read in a while. The story follows a young witch named Louise le Blanc—or Lou, as she's called in the book. Apparently everything about Lou is unconventional: she dresses like a man, swears like a sailor, and eats enough sticky buns to feed an army. After one of her usual but boisterous escapades, she is forced to marry a chausseur named Reid Diggory. Only problem is, Reid is a literal witch hunter and now Lou is right under his nose. This book seriously serves some major tropes— arranged marriage, enemies-to-lovers, (mild) sunshine/grumpy trope, and star-crossed lovers! The magic and world building is top tier and the fantasy elements are woven in so well with the characters that it was a very seamless read. The side characters are equally as interesting as the main characters (Ansel is such a soft boy and he deserves the whole world), and the romance is to die for.

2. Carry On | by Rainbow Rowell

This one's a bit of an oldie, but it's definitely still a 'goodie'. On the surface, this is essentially Harry Potter/Draco Malfoy fanfiction, but it's so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm a die-hard hp fan but this is just so much more intricate. This follows two boys, named Simon Snow and Baz Pitch, and they work to uncover a magical plot involving the 'Insidious Humdrum'. This story has rivals-to-lovers, chosen one, forced roommates, and slow burn. The most interesting part of this story is the way the magic is set up. The magic only works if Normals (humans) use the phrases frequently. Mage's can't use spells unless the words they speak hold power—that means there are different spells depending on where you are in the world, which is so freaking cool. There's also already a second book in the series, and the story just gets better the more you read!

3. Circe | by Madeline Miller

Madeline Miller did it again with her newest addition to the world of the ancient Greeks. Personally, I am only half-way through this novel, but Madeline's prose is just as compelling here than it was in The Song of Achilles. (Also, this cover is just beautiful.) The main reason that I am drawn to this novel—the main reason (of many) that I kept on reading—is Circe's character. She has done horrible, objectively evil, things but she remains unflinchingly human. Madeline Miller developed Circe's character beautifully and she drew the line between human and god without drawing the line between what is human-like and god-like. This book also made me think of my college course on subjectivity and agency. Never before had I read about Circe in a book—besides Percy Jackson and the gang's brief interlude at "C. C.'s Spa and Resort". But here, she has her own story, her own voice, and she becomes more than this two-dimensional caricature that represents all the wickedness of women. If you pick up any book this year, pick up this one.

4. Red, White, & Royal Blue | by Casey McQuiston

Oh Lord, where do I begin with this one? If it means anything, it got me to sport my Canadian tuxedo! This book follows the son of the (first female) president of the United States, Alex Claremont-Diaz, and a Prince of Britain, Henry many-middle-names Windsor. (This name joke in the novel was so funny, by the way.) After some tabloid photos get out of Henry and Alex 'fighting', they have to go on the PR defensive. This book has rivals-to-lovers, long distance pining, and secret-relationship. The family dynamic in this novel is also God Tier and I loved that aspect of the book just as much of the romance. There is the perfect balance of comedy, drama, and romance in this story and I truly believe that it's one of the best queer books that I have read in a while. The most fun thing about this book, is that it's taking place right now in the good ole year of 2020— and let's be real, the timeline of Red, White, & Royal Blue is so much better than the Covid-19 timeline that we're in at the moment.

5. Sinful Like Us | by Krista & Becca Ritchie

As i'm just starting this blog out, I haven't had adequate time to rant and rave about my favorite new adult romance series. The Like Us Series is a spin-off of the Addicted Series, and it follows the children of that series main characters. Sinful Like Us follows Jane Eleanor Cobalt on her quest to find love with her towering and protective bodyguard, Thatcher Moretti. This is the second book from Jane's pov and the second book concerning the cobaretti romance, so I can't say much about the plot without spoiling Tangled Like Us or the first three books of the series. What I can say, is that this this book has a twin-swap, a plethora of wedding planning, forced proximity, an elite level of romantic pining, and the best family dynamic that I've ever read. This is a bodyguard/billionaire series and there's so much of the forbidden-love trope that it's like drugs to a reader. Do yourself a favor, and start this series as soon as you can!

6. A Conjuring of Light | by V. E. Schwab

Here, instead of actually talking about A Conjuring of Light, I'm gonna talk about the first book in the series, A Darker Shade of Magic. Most of the book community already knows what the Shades of Magic series is about—as it's unbelievably popular— but for those of you who don't know, I'm here to help! A Darker Shade of Magic follows two main characters named Kell Maresh and Lila Bard. In this story, there are three Londons, and there are people who have the ability to walk through these worlds and interact with the people there. Kell Maresh is an Antari from Red London who was adopted into the royal family and raised as one of their own. Lila Bard is thief from Grey London, and she is a take-no-shit type of person who stabs first and asks questions later. Their paths cross and a world-hopping adventure ensues. The side characters are also amazing and well-rounded! The main components of this story are the magic, and the familial relationships, and the adventure. There is, however, a great slow-burn romance that begins here and spans all three books in this series, but the romance never overtakes the plot of the story—it's just a part of the story, not the whole story.

I hope these six recommendations either give you a new book to check out or inspire you to reread one of your favorites. I'm going to include the rest of my 'outfits as book covers' here and link the book's descriptions below! Thanks so much for reading!