diff --git a/client/components/cards/BookCover.vue b/client/components/cards/BookCover.vue
index c3420f436..6d296f632 100644
--- a/client/components/cards/BookCover.vue
+++ b/client/components/cards/BookCover.vue
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 <template>
   <div class="relative rounded-sm overflow-hidden" :style="{ height: width * 1.6 + 'px', width: width + 'px', maxWidth: width + 'px', minWidth: width + 'px' }">
-    <img ref="cover" :src="cover" @error="imageError" class="w-full h-full object-cover" />
+    <div class="w-full h-full bg-bg relative">
+      <div v-if="showCoverBg" class="absolute top-0 left-0 w-full h-full z-0" ref="coverBg" />
+      <img ref="cover" :src="cover" @error="imageError" @load="imageLoaded" class="w-full h-full absolute top-0 left-0" :class="showCoverBg ? 'object-contain' : 'object-cover'" />
+    </div>
 
     <div v-if="imageFailed" class="absolute top-0 left-0 right-0 bottom-0 w-full h-full bg-red-100" :style="{ padding: placeholderCoverPadding + 'rem' }">
       <div class="w-full h-full border-2 border-error flex flex-col items-center justify-center">
@@ -21,6 +24,8 @@
 </template>
 
 <script>
+import Path from 'path'
+
 export default {
   props: {
     audiobook: {
@@ -35,7 +40,8 @@ export default {
   },
   data() {
     return {
-      imageFailed: false
+      imageFailed: false,
+      showCoverBg: false
     }
   },
   watch: {
@@ -66,8 +72,23 @@ export default {
       }
       return this.author
     },
+    placeholderUrl() {
+      return '/book_placeholder.jpg'
+    },
+    fullCoverUrl() {
+      if (!this.cover || this.cover === this.placeholderUrl) return ''
+      if (this.cover.startsWith('http:') || this.cover.startsWith('https:')) return this.cover
+      try {
+        var url = new URL(this.cover, document.baseURI)
+        return url.href
+      } catch (err) {
+        console.error(err)
+        return ''
+      }
+      return `${process.env.serverUrl}/${Path.normalize(this.cover)}`
+    },
     cover() {
-      return this.book.cover || '/book_placeholder.jpg'
+      return this.book.cover || this.placeholderUrl
     },
     hasCover() {
       return !!this.book.cover
@@ -89,6 +110,31 @@ export default {
     }
   },
   methods: {
+    setCoverBg() {
+      if (this.$refs.coverBg) {
+        this.$refs.coverBg.style.backgroundImage = `url("${this.fullCoverUrl}")`
+        this.$refs.coverBg.style.backgroundSize = 'cover'
+        this.$refs.coverBg.style.backgroundPosition = 'center'
+        this.$refs.coverBg.style.opacity = 0.25
+        this.$refs.coverBg.style.filter = 'blur(1px)'
+      }
+    },
+    hideCoverBg() {},
+    imageLoaded() {
+      if (this.$refs.cover && this.cover !== this.placeholderUrl) {
+        var { naturalWidth, naturalHeight } = this.$refs.cover
+        var aspectRatio = naturalHeight / naturalWidth
+        var arDiff = Math.abs(aspectRatio - 1.6)
+
+        // If image aspect ratio is <= 1.45 or >= 1.75 then use cover bg, otherwise stretch to fit
+        if (arDiff > 0.15) {
+          this.showCoverBg = true
+          this.$nextTick(this.setCoverBg)
+        } else {
+          this.showCoverBg = false
+        }
+      }
+    },
     imageError(err) {
       console.error('ImgError', err)
       this.imageFailed = true
diff --git a/client/components/modals/edit-tabs/Cover.vue b/client/components/modals/edit-tabs/Cover.vue
index e6a09bbd1..081354123 100644
--- a/client/components/modals/edit-tabs/Cover.vue
+++ b/client/components/modals/edit-tabs/Cover.vue
@@ -29,7 +29,9 @@
           <div v-if="showLocalCovers" class="flex items-center justify-center">
             <template v-for="cover in localCovers">
               <div :key="cover.path" class="m-0.5 border-2 border-transparent hover:border-yellow-300 cursor-pointer" :class="cover.localPath === imageUrl ? 'border-yellow-300' : ''" @click="setCover(cover.localPath)">
-                <img :src="cover.localPath" class="h-24 object-cover" style="width: 60px" />
+                <div class="h-24 bg-primary" style="width: 60px">
+                  <img :src="cover.localPath" class="h-full w-full object-contain" />
+                </div>
               </div>
             </template>
           </div>
@@ -52,7 +54,10 @@
           <p v-if="!coversFound.length">No Covers Found</p>
           <template v-for="cover in coversFound">
             <div :key="cover" class="m-0.5 border-2 border-transparent hover:border-yellow-300 cursor-pointer" :class="cover === imageUrl ? 'border-yellow-300' : ''" @click="setCover(cover)">
-              <img :src="cover" class="h-24 object-cover" style="width: 60px" />
+              <div class="h-24 bg-primary" style="width: 60px">
+                <img :src="cover" class="h-full w-full object-contain" />
+              </div>
+              <!-- <img :src="cover" class="h-24 object-cover" style="width: 60px" /> -->
             </div>
           </template>
         </div>
diff --git a/client/package.json b/client/package.json
index a373eedd3..58c8ee79f 100644
--- a/client/package.json
+++ b/client/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "audiobookshelf-client",
-  "version": "0.9.79-beta",
+  "version": "0.9.80-beta",
   "description": "Audiobook manager and player",
   "main": "index.js",
   "scripts": {
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index cfc7624e7..841645107 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "audiobookshelf",
-  "version": "0.9.79-beta",
+  "version": "0.9.80-beta",
   "description": "Self-hosted audiobook server for managing and playing audiobooks.",
   "main": "index.js",
   "scripts": {