Ever wondered what makes a great book cover?

Jacket design is crucial in attracting readers, so choosing a look has to be a team effort. But what, Ailin Quinlan asks, makes a great cover?

BOOK covers are the cause of most rows in publishing. Readers judge books by their covers.

“There’s more trauma and more rows, in publishing, about book covers than about anything else — it’s the hardest thing to do,” says Patricia Deevy, editorial director of Penguin Ireland, whose London-based art department designs all of their book jackets.