In my Packaging and Publication Design class, we were asked to redesign a book cover of our choice. I chose Jenny Han’s It’s Not Summer Without You from the Summer I Turned Pretty series, a story about family, friendship, and first love, and how grief and change shape relationships. I added hand-illustrated elements to capture the emotional core of the book, reflecting the close bond between the main character, Isabel Conklin, and her friends as they navigate the loss of Susannah, who was like a second mother to Isabel.

The hydrangeas were added as they were Susannah’s favorite flower, and the watercolor paint splatter on the back references the portraits Susannah painted of the kids as they were growing up. Hidden within the splatter is a map of the cousins, representing the place where they vacationed every year together. I also included a small hand-drawn element to add another personal touch, reflecting Susannah’s closeness with art and her connection to the family.