I'm glad when no Hobonichi cover feels like a must-have

[archivedpages]

The annual Hobonichi lineup can make it feel as if choosing a cover is part of choosing whether to use the planner at all. I think it's perfectly fine when none of the designs grabs me. A cover I only feel lukewarm about isn't a good reason to buy into a format I might not use, and skipping a year keeps the decision simple.

[coverandspine]

Keeping the format separate from the cover lineup seems right. I care more about how the spine, corners, and closure are built for regular use than whether the design is new that year. If nothing stands out, the planner can still be used as-is.