A Book Review art director selects the book jackets that surprised him, delighted him and stayed with him this year.

Take a genteel painting, maybe featuring a swooning woman. Add iridescent neon type for a shock to the system. And thank (or blame) Ottessa Moshfegh for getting there early. Clockwise from top left: ...

Romance novels thrive on familiarity and the promise of a happily ever after (or a happy for now), and their covers likewise play to readers’ expectations. A mystical object surrounded by vining ...