When my first memoir came out in 2007, I tried to convince the publisher to go the paperback route. My female audience was cost-conscious and would appreciate a purse-friendly book. They released a hardcover and charged $35—an aggressive price even for that time.
I could not agree more. Only my paperbacks sell, never the hardbacks. And if you start out with a hardback (I've always fought this, often didn't win) then the publisher is telling you that, alas, you don't have the hardback sales to allow for a paperback release.
I've been watching the new trend toward "decorating" the end papers of hardcover books, making them even more expensive. I see it as a desperate move to make a book "special" through artificial trappings rather than concentrating on the story/words themselves. It's another step toward making books into "objects".
As always, Brooke, thank you for carefully elucidating the hardcover issue. I love your point that paperbacks are the populist route. I'm going to remember that next time I have this argument with a publisher! I'm curious what you think for the book I'm working on, which is in the gift/inspiration/nature space. It's a book of mindful reconnection to nature in a format of 52 weekly practices. The format is 6X6 with abundant nature photos (mine). Would you go hardcover or paperback with something like that?
A note that you can do a heavier stock with french flaps. You don't have to be limited to hardcover or paperbacks. There are in betweens, so surface this with your publisher!
That's a good point, Brooke, and thanks. I think that would work really well for this book. I am tucking that idea in my mind for when we sign with a publisher!
I am not a fan of hardbacks. Paperbacks are perfect, more portable, and so much easier to hold while reading. I don't appreciate that I'm forced to wait a year (more or less) until I can read what was hot the year before. I'm always behind. I was at a book festival this weekend, and because it features newly published books mostly in hardcover format, I made an acception and purchased one hardcover, Elissa Altman's latest, Permission, because it is of use to me at this point in my writing. I would have preferred paperback, but I wasn't willing to wait a year to read it. I only download e-books if it's something I must read right away, but it's not the same, ever.
I try and read/listen to 75-100 books per year and I’ll take a chance on a debut on Audible and only if I really enjoy that book would I buy the hard cover so this makes sense. That’s also to do with space and trying to be more decluttered and minimal (but also have a house filled with books but not so many I can’t contain them on shelves). 🙈 Thanks for this wonderful piece. 🫶🏻
Compelling points made here! One issue is that some libraries have policies that they will only purchase hardcovers. I have found that they will usually accept a donation of a paperback and will put on their shelves if explicitly asked to do so.
This is changing and has been for some time. It used to be truly and only the case that libraries took hardcovers, but most of our paperbacks are widely distributed into library systems across the country. And ebooks too!!
This is a great read! I only buy maybe one book a month nowadays, being somewhat broke, so I don’t differentiate too much between hardcover and paperback, but if I regularly bought books, I’d absolutely choose to wait for the paperback over the hardcover. It really does feel like the hardcover first approach hurts debut authors and makes it harder for publishers to take a chance on newer authors with a smaller following.
Another reason to pass on the hardcover - the paper jacket simply gets in the way as it slides off while you're reading. If you remove the jacket, the hardcover is nothing to look at. As noted in the article, a paperback is simply easier to hold.
When I published my debut novel in the fall with a small press, I told them upfront that I would be very happy with, and would much prefer, a paperback original. On a personal level, I have always just liked paperbacks more. I was also conscious of the fact that a paperback would be priced much lower. I'm very happy with my paperback novel!
This was wildly helpful, Brooke. I’ve been on the fence about hardcover for my next release—part ego, part old-school publishing dreams. But the economics and psychology of what you laid out here make total sense. Especially the insight about hardcover cannibalizing paperback sales. Thank you for writing something that cuts through the fog of what “feels” prestigious and anchors us in what actually moves books.
When my first memoir came out in 2007, I tried to convince the publisher to go the paperback route. My female audience was cost-conscious and would appreciate a purse-friendly book. They released a hardcover and charged $35—an aggressive price even for that time.
I could not agree more. Only my paperbacks sell, never the hardbacks. And if you start out with a hardback (I've always fought this, often didn't win) then the publisher is telling you that, alas, you don't have the hardback sales to allow for a paperback release.
I've been watching the new trend toward "decorating" the end papers of hardcover books, making them even more expensive. I see it as a desperate move to make a book "special" through artificial trappings rather than concentrating on the story/words themselves. It's another step toward making books into "objects".
As always, Brooke, thank you for carefully elucidating the hardcover issue. I love your point that paperbacks are the populist route. I'm going to remember that next time I have this argument with a publisher! I'm curious what you think for the book I'm working on, which is in the gift/inspiration/nature space. It's a book of mindful reconnection to nature in a format of 52 weekly practices. The format is 6X6 with abundant nature photos (mine). Would you go hardcover or paperback with something like that?
A note that you can do a heavier stock with french flaps. You don't have to be limited to hardcover or paperbacks. There are in betweens, so surface this with your publisher!
That's a good point, Brooke, and thanks. I think that would work really well for this book. I am tucking that idea in my mind for when we sign with a publisher!
I am not a fan of hardbacks. Paperbacks are perfect, more portable, and so much easier to hold while reading. I don't appreciate that I'm forced to wait a year (more or less) until I can read what was hot the year before. I'm always behind. I was at a book festival this weekend, and because it features newly published books mostly in hardcover format, I made an acception and purchased one hardcover, Elissa Altman's latest, Permission, because it is of use to me at this point in my writing. I would have preferred paperback, but I wasn't willing to wait a year to read it. I only download e-books if it's something I must read right away, but it's not the same, ever.
I try and read/listen to 75-100 books per year and I’ll take a chance on a debut on Audible and only if I really enjoy that book would I buy the hard cover so this makes sense. That’s also to do with space and trying to be more decluttered and minimal (but also have a house filled with books but not so many I can’t contain them on shelves). 🙈 Thanks for this wonderful piece. 🫶🏻
I agree 100%. My publisher brought out my memoir in paperback and ebook then we added audio; the only way to go, except for legit coffee table books.
Compelling points made here! One issue is that some libraries have policies that they will only purchase hardcovers. I have found that they will usually accept a donation of a paperback and will put on their shelves if explicitly asked to do so.
This is changing and has been for some time. It used to be truly and only the case that libraries took hardcovers, but most of our paperbacks are widely distributed into library systems across the country. And ebooks too!!
This is a great read! I only buy maybe one book a month nowadays, being somewhat broke, so I don’t differentiate too much between hardcover and paperback, but if I regularly bought books, I’d absolutely choose to wait for the paperback over the hardcover. It really does feel like the hardcover first approach hurts debut authors and makes it harder for publishers to take a chance on newer authors with a smaller following.
Thank you as always for a really educational post. Much appreciated, Brooke.
Another reason to pass on the hardcover - the paper jacket simply gets in the way as it slides off while you're reading. If you remove the jacket, the hardcover is nothing to look at. As noted in the article, a paperback is simply easier to hold.
I agree with you 100%.
Thanks as always for your insights! I've always assumed my memoir will be paperback.
When I published my debut novel in the fall with a small press, I told them upfront that I would be very happy with, and would much prefer, a paperback original. On a personal level, I have always just liked paperbacks more. I was also conscious of the fact that a paperback would be priced much lower. I'm very happy with my paperback novel!
This was wildly helpful, Brooke. I’ve been on the fence about hardcover for my next release—part ego, part old-school publishing dreams. But the economics and psychology of what you laid out here make total sense. Especially the insight about hardcover cannibalizing paperback sales. Thank you for writing something that cuts through the fog of what “feels” prestigious and anchors us in what actually moves books.
Glad it's helpful! And good luck with your next release. :)
Useful analysis, thank you!