Paperback books being phased out - end of 2025.
Mass Market Paperbacks Phased Out
The mass market paperback format is facing significant challenges and is being phased out, with several factors contributing to its decline. Sales of mass market paperbacks have steadily declined in recent years, accounting for only about 3% of units sold at retailers that report to Circana BookScan in 2024.
A major blow to the format is the decision by Readerlink, the country's largest distributor of mass market paperbacks, to stop distributing them at the end of 2025.
This decision reflects the format's low price point and thin margins, which have made it less attractive to retailers and publishers.