RIP to the mass market paperback book

Publishers Weekly last month reported that ReaderLink, the largest full-service distributor of hardcover, trade and paperback books to booksellers in North America, will stop distributing mass market paperbacks at the end of 2025.

“Having worked at a bookstore since 2016 and reading different things that we get from publishers, I wasn't surprised. I knew that it was coming,” said Anne Paulson, manager/bookseller at Cherry Street Books in Alexandria, Minnesota. “It's been on the table for a while now. Yeah, I feel sad, because they're more affordable. It may take brand new books out of people's hands who could maybe not otherwise afford a brand new book. You could pick up a paperback in line at the grocery store.

ETA: archived article link

ETA #2: one librarian's take in the comments on recent changes in the wholesale mmpb book market:

Comment
byu/MiddletownBooks from discussion
inbooks