Total net book sales in May in the U.S. rose 10.9%, to $1.1 billion, compared to May 2023, representing sales of 1,277 publishers and distributed clients as reported to the Association of American Publishers. For the year to date, net book sales rose 5.5%, to $5.2 billion.

In May, trade revenues rose 16.5%, to $789.1 million, with all trade categories showing gains. Adult mass market, hardcovers, and paperbacks had especially strong gains.

In trade categories, hardcover sales rose 21%, to $289.1 million; paperbacks rose 16.7%, to $289.6 million; mass market rocketed upwards 118.2%, to $11.2 million; and special bindings were up 28.4% to $13.6 million. E-book sales rose 2.2%, to $84.4 million; digital audio sales were up 15.3%, at $80.2 million; and physical audio sales dropped 27%, to $800,000.

Sales by category in May 2024 compared to May 2023:

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Following a soft opening last month, Ren's Coffeehouse & Books in Blackwood, N.J., has a grand-opening celebration set for July 20, the Courier Post reported.

Owner Ren Meyer opened the bookstore and coffeehouse at 26 N Black Horse Pike on June 27. The space is divided into two rooms, and the bookstore side of the business carries a selection of new and used books with a strong emphasis on local authors. Meyer's recommendations are plentiful, and there is a bulletin board highlighting interesting objects found in used books, such as prayer cards and even a Florida lottery ticket.

The cafe side, meanwhile, sells a variety of coffee and espresso-based drinks, along with baked goods sourced from Sweet Talk Cafe. Nonbook offerings include items made by local artists, such as crochet plushies, bags, and hats. And at the back of the shop there is a board game library and seating area; customers are encouraged to sit and play one of the games. 

Reyer told the Courier Post that the store's first weeks have been a "whirlwind," and the store has done so well already that she's had to hire an additional staff member. The celebration on July 20 will include a ribbon-cutting ceremony along with other festivities.

In the face of significant financial challenges, Comma Bookstore & Social Hub in Flint, Mich., has launched a GoFundMe campaign, Mid Michigan Now reported.

Egypt Otis at Comma Bookstore

Store owner Egypt Otis is looking to raise $40,000. So far, the campaign has brought in a little over $2,500 from 75 donations. On the GoFundMe page, Otis wrote: "Despite the immense love and support from our community, the reality of maintaining a thriving independent bookstore is daunting. This is why we are reaching out for your support.

"The funds raised through our fundraiser will directly contribute to sustaining our vital programs and events that inspire and educate. They will help us continue to support our dedicated staff, who are the heart and soul of Comma. Every dollar donated will ensure that Comma remains a vibrant and vital part of Flint, a place where stories are shared, art is celebrated, and activism flourishes."

Otis opened Comma in September 2020 with a mission of promoting BIPOC literature, art, and activism.

In the wake of struggling online bookseller Booktopia filing for "voluntary reorganisation" earlier this month, Robbie Egan, CEO of BookPeople (the association of Australian booksellers), shared his thoughts on the impact of the company's decision. 

Robbie Egan

"One of the challenges of this job and for our industry is the narrative that bookshops are going out of business," Egan wrote in a letter to members. "After a hectic 24 hours of media questions about Booktopia entering voluntary administration, I feel the narrative has shifted. It's not a good story when a business of that size falters. Many people have lost their jobs and a huge channel for local publishing and writing is imperiled. Media are now far more attuned to the message we've been pushing for the past six years, that local independent bookshops are resilient businesses that serve the industry and their communities with a level of care and personalization that online giants simply cannot match. None of this changes the current challenges we are all facing, but at least the gloom and doom narrative is quarantined to one business.

"We have an opportunity to reach more readers now. Online comments about the story often reference local bookshops, and a huge pool of readers will be seeking a new bookseller. Shopping local is an antidote to the situation Booktopia is in, and we want to take those readers from defaulting to Amazon. Booktopia's assets now represent an incredible opportunity. The business could be converted into a social enterprise that operated for the benefit of independent booksellers in Australia, much like bookshop.org but with ownership and integration of the fulfilment service. This is magical thinking, and perhaps if I was younger and it was earlier in my career I'd investigate it with a risk appetite far greater than I now possess. It's good to dream though, and the idea of a centralized ecommerce platform working for all of us is intoxicating and would be transformative.

"All we can do now is keep working, to continue providing the personalised excellence that bookshops are built for. We are open to Australian readers, as successful businesses, trusted curators, and welcoming democratic spaces. We can take Booktopia's huddled masses and turn them on to the best experience of all--their local bookshop."

---

The Booksellers Association of the U.K. & Ireland has released initial plans for Bookshop Day, which will take place on Saturday, October 12. This year's theme is "Bookshops Making a Difference" and celebrations will include a special spotlight on Glasgow, an exclusive video featuring high-profile authors, a limited-edition bag designed by Angela Harding and more.

About 1,000 bookshops are set to take part in Bookshop Day. "Up and down the country, bookshops will be celebrating with their customers and authors, with events taking place in-store as well as special offers, promotions and exclusives. A special video featuring high-profile authors talking about why they love bookshops and encouraging consumers to choose bookshops will be shared across social media," the BA noted, adding that, as this year's city spotlight, Glasgow "will be taken over by murals celebrating bookshops, created by local artists."

Emma Bradshaw, BA's head of campaigns, said: "This Bookshop Day we're highlighting the difference that bookshops make to our local areas all year round. They are hugely valuable as retail spaces and, additionally, many bookshops are running programs to improve literacy, wellbeing, and the cultural landscape of our communities. We want to remind consumers of the value of their local bookshops, and to choose to do their Christmas shopping with them. We're thrilled to have so many exciting aspects of our plans already confirmed, and look forward to sharing more in the coming months." --Robert Gray

Open Book with David Steinberger, a podcast hosted by the Open Road Integrated Media CEO and board chair of the National Book Foundation, has launched, offering "a behind-the-scenes look at the world of books and publishing." The first two episodes feature Morgan Entrekin, president and publisher of Grove Atlantic, and Lisa Lucas, former executive director of the National Book Foundation and former publisher of Pantheon and Schocken Books. Future podcasts will feature City Lights bookstore chief buyer Paul Yamazaki, Macmillan CEO Jonathan Yaged, Penguin Publishing Group president Allison Dobson, Authors Equity CEO Madeline McIntosh, 37ink Publisher and former Bon Appetit editor-in-chief Dawn Davis, literary agent and Writers House president Simon Lipskar, and writer Ted Conover.

The podcast grew out of lunchtime conversations that Steinberger conducted with book industry people during the past two years at Open Road's offices in New York City. "The conversations were really interesting, a little like The Tonight Show but not quite as funny," Steinberger said. "We've really enjoyed these conversations, and thought it would be a good idea to share them with book lovers everywhere."

Steinberger added, "I'm fascinated by the untold stories behind the bestsellers and the books we love, and also by the many different ways that individuals were first drawn to books and ultimately found themselves making a life in this industry. I'm trying to look at the book industry from every angle and get behind the scenes to see what's not so obvious or visible from outside."

Open Road with David Steinberger has some 30 conversations already recorded, which will likely be released every three weeks, Steinberger said. The podcast is available on Spotify, Apple, and Amazon. For more information and to hear the first two podcasts, click here.

Shelf Awareness for Readers, our weekly consumer-facing publication featuring adult and children's book reviews, author interviews, backlist recommendations, and fun news items, is being published today. Starred review highlights include The Rent Collectors by journalist Jesse Katz, which "deftly probes systemic ills" surrounding the true story of a gang shooting in L.A.; and Jared Pechaček's debut novel, The West Passage, "an absorbing tale of political intrigue" set in a world reminiscent of medieval Europe; plus, The Coin by Yasmin Zaher presents a "hypnotic character study" of an unconventional Palestinian teacher in New York. And for younger readers, Wicked Marigold by Caroline Carlson has "strong-willed princesses, nasty wizards, a fastidious imp, and a sentient yellow blob." In The Writer's Life, We Could Be Heroes author Philip Ellis recalls his favorite books, including a "swoonworthy lesbian romance and a rollicking Dickensian crime story wrapped up into one, with a twist you'll never see coming." Also, rediscover the country's best-known sex counselor and prolific author Ruth Westheimer, better known as Dr. Ruth.

Today's issue of Shelf Awareness for Readers is going to more than 690,000 customers of 251 independent bookstores. Stores interested in learning more can contact our partnership program team via e-mail. To see today's issue, click here.

On Wednesday evening, Joyce Maynard, whose new book is How the Light Gets In (Morrow) was in conversation with Pulitzer Prize-winner Richard Russo at the Music Hall in Portsmouth, N.H. The two talked about their love of books and their shared love of Maynard's home state of New Hampshire. Russo said, "If ever we needed a novel capable of healing our troubled, world-weary souls, that time is now, and that book is How the Light Gets In." (photo: Emily McNair)

"Asha has another hour left in her shift if you need puppy cuddles!" WordHaven BookHouse, Sheboygan, Wis., posted on Instagram.

"A little 'What Am I Wednesday' for you all!!" Novel Bay Booksellers, Sturgeon Bay, Wis., posted on Facebook to showcase the shop's sidewalk chalkboard sign, which read: "I can make you see the unseen, feel the untouchable, and believe the unbelievable. What am I? A book."

Steven Tran has been promoted to director of sales at Soho Press. Previously he had been senior sales manager.

The Goodbye Process: Stories by Mary Jones (Zibby Books).

Today:
Science Friday: Jasmin Graham, author of Sharks Don't Sink: Adventures of a Rogue Shark Scientist (Pantheon, $28, 9780593685259).

A trailer has been released for Dance First, based on the life of renowned Irish author, playwright, theatre director, poet, literary translator, and Nobel laureate Samuel Beckett, IndieWire reported. Directed by James Marsh (The Theory of Everything), the film stars Gabriel Byrne (as Beckett) and Aidan Gillen. Written by Neil Forsyth, Dance First premieres in theaters August 9 and will be available digitally August 16. 

The film's logline: "Literary genius Samuel Beckett lived a life of many parts: Parisian bon vivant, World War II Resistance fighter, Nobel Prize-winning playwright, philandering husband, recluse. But despite all the adulation that came his way, he was a man acutely aware of his own failings. Titled after Beckett's famous ethos 'Dance first, think later,' the film is a sweeping account of the life of this 20th-century icon."

Marsh described the film as an "unusual biography," emphasizing the unprecedented approach to capture Beckett's life through "the lens of his mistakes.... When I first read the script, it starts with the Nobel prize, a great literary honor which is kind of boring, exactly what you would expect and want to avoid as a director, but then very quickly it becomes something incredibly subversive and audacious. I was delighted by the fact that it wasn't conventional, and I was surprised and provoked by the detours it took very early on."

He also praised Byrne's performance: "Gabriel felt quite a big connection to it and quite a big responsibility. It was also quite daunting as he is often playing two versions of Beckett who talk to each other and have to have two very different personalities. That's difficult and a bit scary, acting across a green screen to yourself. But fear is a useful thing, and I had the same sort of fear as well, and if you can make that work for you, it can make you work harder."

Books from 11 regions and 10 languages were among the 16 winners of English PEN's translation awards, which are selected "on the basis of outstanding literary quality, the strength of the publishing project, and their contribution to U.K. bibliodiversity." The winners include--for the first time--titles from Cameroon and Singapore, as well as titles translated from Greenlandic and Kannada. Two titles translated from Vietnamese appear in the same list for the first time, as does a book featuring translation from Mixe. Check out the complete list of PEN Translates winners here. 

Will Forrester, head of literature programs at English PEN, said: "These 16 awards are selected from our largest round of submissions to date. The breadth, boldness, originality, risk-taking, spirit and quality exhibited across the submissions and award-winners is staggering--and speaks to the thriving state of translated literature publishing. We’re pleased to be a part of bringing these works to English-language readers, and to be able to support these exceptional writers, translators and publishers."

So Mayer, co-chair of English PEN translation advisory group, called the awards, commented: "This round of PEN Translates marks--and is marked by--powerful regional and transnational interconnections.... They showcase the continued invention and ambition of independent publishers and translators, and how the most vivacious and essential current writing is both formally inventive and expansively committed to solidarity."

photo: Iris Minji Kim

Monika Kim graduated from the University of California, Davis, with a B.A. in Communication. She works for an environmental agency in Southern California, focused on environmental justice and assisting underserved communities through outreach and youth education programs. She is the author of The Eyes Are the Best Part (Erewhon Books, June 25, 2024), a feminist psychological horror about the making of a female serial killer from a Korean-American perspective.

Handsell readers your book in 25 words or less:

After eating a fish eye during a traditional Korean dinner, a female Korean American college student becomes obsessed with eating white men's eyes.

On your nightstand now:

The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas and Ring Shout by P. Djèlí Clark. I'm excited to read both of them. I was also lucky enough to receive an ARC of Anton Hur's debut novel, Toward Eternity. Anton is so incredibly talented, and I have loved many of his book translations (e.g., Bora Chung's Cursed Bunny, Park Seolyeon's A Magical Girl Retires).

Favorite book when you were a child:

When I was in elementary school, my parents gave me a collection of Roald Dahl stories, which I read cover to cover at least a dozen times. I distinctly remember that the book included a recipe to make your own "Enormous Crocodile" at home. I begged my mother to make it for me, but she never did. Recently, I was feeling nostalgic and looked up the recipe online, and realized that my mom must have refused to make it because it was objectively horrifying. (If you're curious, the "Enormous Crocodile" involves covering a baguette entirely with cooked spinach. Shudder.) 

Your top five authors:

In no particular order: Min Jin Lee, Ann Patchett, Toni Morrison, Kazuo Ishiguro, and Lan Samantha Chang. 

Book you've faked reading:

Does my Saturday Korean school textbook count? To this day, my mother still wonders why my Korean isn't better....

Book you're an evangelist for:

I'm obsessed with Lan Samantha Chang's Hunger. It's a gorgeous novella and an absolute must-read for children of immigrants, as well as for anyone who wants to better understand the immigrant experience and what those who come to this country must leave behind. 

Book you've bought for the cover:

Tomb Sweeping by Alexandra Chang. The cats! The colors! The orchids! It's such a unique and fun design. And did I mention the cats?

Book you hid from your parents:

When I was in middle school, a distant relative gifted me Louise Rennison's Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging. I hid it from my parents because I thought "thongs" was a bad word. 

Book that changed your life:

So many books have changed me and have remained with me long after I turned the last page. But if I had to choose only one, I'd pick Min Jin Lee's masterpiece, Pachinko. It was the first time in my life that I read a "mainstream" book about Korean characters written by a woman who looked like me. 

Favorite line from a book:

Cathy Park Hong's Minor Feelings is filled with so much wisdom and insight that I feel like I highlighted nearly the entire book while reading it. But one of the quotes that really resonated with me, and is mirrored in my work, is: "One characteristic of racism is that children are treated like adults and adults are treated like children. Watching a parent being debased like a child is the deepest shame. I cannot count the number of times I have seen my parents condescended to or mocked by white adults. This was so customary that when my mother had any encounter with a white adult, I was always hypervigilant, ready to mediate or pull her away. To grow up Asian in America is to witness the humiliation of authority figures like your parents and to learn not to depend on them: they cannot protect you."

Five books you'll never part with:

This is hard! Some of my favorites that I keep coming back to, in no particular order: Jade City by Fonda Lee, If I Had Your Face by Frances Cha, Beloved by Toni Morrison, The Dutch House by Ann Patchett, Long Live the Tribe of Fatherless Girls by T Kira Madden, and We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson. 

Book you most want to read again for the first time:

Red Rising by Pierce Brown. An incredibly addictive book with enough twists and turns to give you whiplash. It shocked me out of a reading slump, and I've been chasing that high ever since.

Every page of Lyndsay Rush's debut poetry collection, A Bit Much, sparkles with the same clever energy and sly sense of humor she brings to her popular Instagram account, @maryoliversdrunkcousin. "This is a book about fun and feelings," she writes in the introduction "and, occasionally, potato chips." A Bit Much delivers on that promise--and then some--with poems that invite joy and reflection on every page, delivered with a wink, a nod, and a bit of wordplay sure to delight as much as it will inspire. "Whether we like it or not, some things take time: intricate pastries, building credit, Zoom meetings, balayage/ .../ and remember that, of all the things you should never postpone/ make sure joy is at the top of the list."

Rush notes in the introduction that she had not considered herself a poet until she came to realize that for her, "a poem is simply a joke with an epilogue." This approach makes her work accessible (and funny), with the title of each poem providing the key necessary to unlock deeper meaning. In "Mermaid in America," she muses on the cultural narratives around her knees (the "most troublesome area" of her own body). "Like Trying to Hold a Snowflake" is a reminder to pay attention, "so I can grab the moment/ as it falls/ and make sure/ its magic soaks into/ my skin."

Rush plays with form, too, as much as words. Some poems, like "Wet n Wild Geese (After Mary Oliver)," are loosely inspired by words of other famous poets and imbued with Rush's sense of the world: "You do not have to be good/ at makeup./ You do not have to walk on your knees/ for a hundred miles through a Sephora, repenting." She also experiments with erasure poetry, poems without traditional line breaks, lists as poetry, and more.

A Bit Much is loosely organized by theme (love, revelations, confidence, comfort); across this structure, Rush ruminates on body image, self-care, leaving a dogmatic religion. She encourages a reframe ("It's not a vending machine,/ it's an arcade game/ you always win") and invites presence ("Sounds holy, if you ask me,/ to be sold on life as-is/ to just exist"). Individually, each poem here is packed with wit and wisdom; collectively, A Bit Much is a tribute to finding the fun and the funny in the hard parts of life--and to the ways poetry can facilitate that discovery. --Kerry McHugh, freelance writer

Shelf Talker: This clever collection is as tender as it is wise, inviting readers to find the fun and the funny in the hard parts of life--and discover the many ways poetry can help facilitate that finding.

Sometimes I get a little nostalgic for the good old-fashioned Xmas in Julys of yore, with traditional Christmas Creep retailers "attempting to lure bargain-hunters in with inventory-clearing sales not just on gifts, but on artificial trees, wreaths, lights and decorations." 

But the true meaning of Xmas in July was forever Grinched by Amazon eight years ago, with the debut of Prime Day (now two days, July 16-17 this year). Fortunately, indie booksellers have once again risen to the challenge and restored our faith in Xmas in July with myriad counter strategies, as well as a sense of humor. 

credit: Larry Law

Positive vibes have also come from Indiebound ("Indie bookstores are magical, but they need your support to keep the magic alive. Choose to shop local and keep the enchantment in your community."); artwork by Larry Law, executive director of the Great Lakes Independent Booksellers Association ("I designed this to share a concise message about the challenges faced by independent bookstores & how unbalanced the market is."); Bookshop.org ("A note from indie bookstores this Prime Day"); and Libro.fm ("This Prime Day, be an Audiobook Champion and help your indie bookshop take the gold with our reading challenge.").

On social media this week, indie bookseller anti-Prime Days post highlights include:

Swamp Fox Bookstore, Marion, Iowa: "July 16 and July 17 are wonderful days to show your support for local businesses. Visit all your favorites or drop by one you've never been to before."

Phoenix Books, Essex & Burlington, Vt.: "Why buy from the empire when you can support the resistance. While an online giant has a little sale today, we remind you that Phoenix Books is always here for your bookish needs. You all know that we love a good Star Wars pun, and today, of all days, we hope our readers will celebrate our local communities, Independent Bookstores, and booksellers--all working hard to uplift Vermont, one book at a time. Won't you join us?"

At Wyrd Bookstore

Wyrd Bookstore, Edgewater, Md.: "With all these prime deals, it's difficult to stay away (I don't blame you). All we ask, as your favorite community book store, is to not forget us! Since we've started, we've lived by the 'keep the lights on' mentality, which means your dollars spent at Wyrd get directly reinvested into building it into a place for everyone and keeping the dream of a community space alive. So we thank you for your support along this ride, and hope you continue to Spread the Wyrd so we can continue to be the space you have grown to love!"

Cafe con Libros, Brooklyn, N.Y.: "Today is the beginning of Prime Day on Amazon. No judgement here if you're scratching items off your wishlist. However, I beg you, shop indie bookstores for your bookish needs. Amazon doesn't need your book dollars; indies do. It's that simple."

Under the Umbrella Bookstore, Salt Lake City, Utah: "Under the Umbrella Presents: An Anti-Prime Days Celebration. Did you know that Amazon intentionally loses money on their book sales in order to undermine bookstores like ours because they know they can make money on other things? If you are able to avoid "Prime Days" this year, please do. We're also offering 15% off online orders today and tomorrow (July 16-17) with the code fckamazon."

Alibi Bookshop, Vallejo, Calif.: "Hello, friends. Yes, we know that the giant online retailer is having big specials tomorrow and Wednesday, but this is a perfect time to remind you to shop local! Sure, there are some things you can't find locally, but shopping indie is actually the best deal of all.... Thank you to everyone who said no to Ama*** and shopped with us the past few days! It means so much!"

From the ABA's "Indies take the Gold" summer marketing campaign.

Epilogue Books, Rockford, Mich.: "There's a certain online retailer that is advertising "great deals" for the next couple days. You may know who I'm talking about, it's the company that's owned by the guy with a $500,000,000 yacht that's followed by a $75,000,000 support vehicle (neither of which were purchased locally). I realize there are some things they do which we just cannot, however, there are some things our team does they can't even come close to providing. So, let's take a look at just a few of the reasons you should buy books from epilogue books rather than the person mentioned above...."

Plaid Elephant Books, Danville, Ky.: "Just a quick reminder that when you shop indie, you keep your money and your impact right here in your local community. And as a thank-you for supporting local businesses, we'll be giving away four lovely ceramic coffee mugs with this year's indie bookstore slogan--'The Future Is Indie.' Perfect for sipping your breakfast beverage while reading the new books you bought locally."

The Mysterious Bookshop, New York City: "Amazon Prime Day can't do this.... We've got signed first editions of the biggest new mystery releases--autographed for no extra charge! Stop by and browse new arrivals or visit us online."

Fairytales Bookstore, Nashville, Tenn.: "Prime Day? We say have a SUBLIME DAY and shop Fairytales Bookstore. We're offering 10% off online with the code sublimeday, or when you mention this post in store. Who needs Amazon, anyways?"