New Shelves Books

06/11/2026

The children's book market is changing—and the industry is paying attention. 📚👀

In this Free Advice Friday clip, our CEO Keri-Rae Barnum discusses how children's book sales and reading habits have shifted as sports, clubs, and other activities have returned post-pandemic. Meanwhile, YA continues to show strong momentum.

The big question? Should publishers adapt children's books into more interactive digital experiences to meet kids where they are—or focus on encouraging traditional reading habits instead? It's a debate shaping the future of publishing, literacy, and reader engagement.

Got publishing or book marketing questions? Join our Free Advice Friday LIVE every Friday at 10 AM Eastern and get real-world answers from industry pros. For additional information, visit www.FreeAdviceFridays.com.

06/10/2026

🎧📚 Audiobooks aren't just growing—they're bringing new readers into the book ecosystem.

At Spotify's 2026 Investor Day, the company revealed that audiobook listening hours grew 60% year over year, while its Premium audiobook catalog expanded from 150,000 titles to more than 700,000 in just two years, across 22 markets.

One of the biggest takeaways for publishing? Nearly half of Spotify's audiobook listeners are under 35, helping the industry reach younger audiences—including one of publishing's hardest-to-reach demographics: young men. And nearly half of audiobook consumers having started listening within the last twelve months.

As listening habits evolve, audiobooks continue to create new pathways for discovery, engagement, and book sales across formats.

Read more via the Spotify Newsroom: https://newsroom.spotify.com/2026-05-21/investor-day-recap/

Today, Spotify hosted our third Investor Day in New York City, offering the financial community a deeper look at our business, product strategy, and long-term vision during a year that also marks our 20th anniversary. The event featured presentations from co-CEOs Alex Norström and Gustav Söderstr....

06/09/2026

📚✨ Think independent bookstores are disappearing? Think again.

New data from the American Booksellers Association shows independent bookstores are growing at their fastest pace this century, with membership reaching its highest level since the late 1990s.

As readers continue seeking community, discovery, and real-world connection, new bookstores are opening across the U.S.—from mobile bookshops to romance-focused stores and neighborhood literary hubs.

In a digital-first world, independent bookstores are proving that books—and the communities built around them—remain stronger than ever.

Read more via AP: https://apnews.com/article/independent-bookstores-expanding-booksellers-association-e1f745e4e431febca8f3e122e6b8f109

Allison Hill, CEO of the American Booksellers Association, often hears people express sympathy for her role, assuming bookstores are disappearing.

06/05/2026

📚💼 Behind every book deal is a literary agent—and new survey data shows many are feeling the pressure.

A new AALA survey highlights growing concerns around financial instability, burnout, AI, and publisher consolidation. Despite playing a critical role in author careers, many agents are juggling multiple jobs, long hours, and increasing responsibilities.

As publishing evolves, the conversation around sustainability, compensation, and support for industry professionals is becoming harder to ignore.

Read more at Publishers Weekly: https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/people/article/100480-aala-survey-highlights-toll-of-financial-instability-consolidation-on-literary-agents.html

Responses from 268 members of the Association of American Literary Agents show greater diversity than in previous years, but increasing burnout, which the organization partially attributes to shifts in the broader publishing ecosystem.

06/03/2026

📚 Is BookTok changing how we evaluate books?

BookTok has helped drive millions of book sales and revived backlist titles, but this essay asks a bigger question: Are readers discussing what books do, or simply how books make them feel?

Viral reading culture, relatability, emotional reactions, and algorithm-driven discovery are reshaping literary conversations—and that might mean interesting things for authors, publishers, critics, and readers alike.

Whether you love BookTok or question its influence, this is a fascinating look at one of publishing's most powerful forces: https://thepointmag.com/criticism/common-readers-booktok/

I’ve passed enough “As Seen on TikTok” tables at otherwise cozily untrendy bookstores that I can no longer picture a solvent mass publishing industry without this app.

06/03/2026

Thinking about selling direct? 📚💰

In this week’s Free Advice Friday clip, our CEO Keri-Rae Barnum breaks down the reality of selling direct as an indie author. While direct sales can mean higher profits, stronger reader relationships, and more control over your business, they also come with added logistics, fulfillment, and time commitments.

Before you jump in, make sure you understand both the opportunities and the trade-offs. A smart direct-sales strategy can be a game changer for your author brand.

Got publishing or book marketing questions? Join our Free Advice Friday LIVE every Friday at 10 AM Eastern and get real-world answers from industry pros. For additional information, visit www.FreeAdviceFridays.com

06/02/2026

📚⚡ Publishing's latest headlines show just how quickly the industry is evolving.

From Netflix launching a dedicated book-to-screen discovery hub to Kobo integrating with StoryGraph, publishers, platforms, and readers are becoming more connected than ever.

What everyone's talking about:
Netflix launches a new "Watch Your Favorite Books" hub
Kobo adds automatic StoryGraph reading sync
Hachette partners with Little Free Library to install 200 libraries in book deserts
Audible expands support for underrepresented authors
New publishing imprints, leadership moves, and industry partnerships continue reshaping the book world

One particularly interesting pairing: StoryGraph is a direct competitor (albeit smaller than) Goodreads, which is owned by Amazon. Kobo's integration signals continued investment in alternative reader ecosystems and discovery platforms.

The future of publishing isn't just about books—it's about communities, data, discovery, and meeting readers wherever they are.

Read more via Publishers Weekly: https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/newsbrief/index.html

Publishers Weekly is the international news website of book publishing and bookselling including business news, reviews, bestseller lists, commentaries and more.

06/01/2026

📚🎧 AI audiobooks just took another big step into the mainstream.

Last week, ElevenLabs announced that 200,000 audiobooks have been added to its ElevenReader app, including titles from major publishers alongside its growing self-published catalog. The launch also introduces ElevenReader Ultra, a premium subscription tier designed for audiobook listeners.

Why it matters:
200,000 audiobook titles now available
Books span 16 languages
Some titles allow listeners to choose AI-generated narrator voices
ElevenLabs is expanding beyond production tools into audiobook distribution and streaming

As AI-powered audio continues to evolve, the race between traditional audiobook platforms and emerging AI-driven services is getting even more interesting.

🔗 Read more via Publishers Weekly : http://publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/100500-elevenlabs-adds-200k-audiobooks-to-stream-offers-premium-tier.html

The new titles span 16 languages and include bestsellers from HarperCollins, alongside ElevenLabs’ catalog of self-published books on its ElevenReader app. The move puts the company in direct competition with established audiobook platforms.

05/29/2026

📚👀 A new publishing role has sparked one of the industry's biggest debates: the rise of sensitivity readers—professionals hired to review manuscripts for potentially harmful or inaccurate portrayals of identities and lived experiences.

This article explores how social media, publishing culture, and evolving conversations around representation have helped reshape editorial processes over the last decade.

Whether you see them as an important editorial resource, a response to online accountability, or a sign of broader changes in publishing, one thing is clear: the conversation around who gets to tell stories, and how, isn't going away anytime soon.

Read the full article here: https://www.thenation.com/article/culture/adam-szetela-sensitivity-reader/

Adam Szetela’s That Book Is Dangerous! examines the emergence of a new job in publishing—secondary readers who comb through books for possible offenses.