Total net book sales in October in the U.S. rose 6.7%, to $1.5 billion, compared to October 2024, representing sales of 1,324 publishers and distributed clients as reported to the Association of American Publishers. For the year to date, net book sales rose 0.4%, to $12.4 billion. The October gains follow solid September results, which were the first gain in book sales since March.

In October, trade book sales were up 3.5%, to $1.1 billion, while year to date, trade book sales are down 2.3%, to $8 billion. The biggest categories with healthy sales jumps in October included digital audio, adult (except for mass market), and some university press and religious categories. In October, adult book net revenue rose 6%, with fiction increasing 11.3% and nonfiction up 0.6%. Children's/YA net revenue dropped 4.7%, with fiction down 6.7% and nonfiction up 5%.

In terms of format, in October trade hardcover sales rose 4.5%, to $521.3 million, paperbacks rose 1.5%, to $350.6 million, mass market dropped 22.7%, to $7.9 million, and special bindings were down 4.9%, to $26.1 million. E-book revenues rose 1.9%, to $88.3 million, digital audio rose 7.3%, to $92.6 million, and physical audio fell 21.1%, to $700,000.

Sales by category for October 2025:

Canadian indie bookstore Munro's Books in Victoria, B.C., has announced that four long-term staff members have joined the ownership group, effective this month. 

From left: Megan Ames, Jessica Paul, Kirsten Larmon, Jessica Walker, Sarah Mead-Willis

In a social media post, the bookseller wrote: "Noting that three of the four employees who originally took over the bookstore in 2014 have retired, managing partner Jessica Walker felt that extending a similar opportunity to a new group of passionate booksellers was the best way to ensure the ongoing success of the bookstore for years to come." 

Joining Walker as co-owners are Jessica Paul and Kirsten Larmon, store managers; Sarah Mead-Willis, senior buyer; and Megan Ames, controller. Together, they have worked at Munro's Books for almost six decades and have already been part of the management team for several years.

"It's a great privilege, and no small responsibility, to be the caretakers of an institution that has served Victoria book lovers for more than 62 years," the post continued. "Along with our wonderful team of almost 30 booksellers, we wish you all a healthy and happy 2026."

Firefly Books & Comics, "dedicated to the joys of readings and uniting nerds everywhere," has opened at 29 College Ave. in Rexburg, Idaho. Owned by Jon Cooney and his two children, Ashli Cooney and Tristan Cooney, the bookstore carries books, comics and manga, BYU-Idaho Scroll reported.

"A lot of the excitement comes from talking to people who like the same weird stuff that we like," said Ashli Cooney. "We want to be a community place where people can come and enjoy time with other people who like the same things. We've designed the store purposefully to be flexible, so if people want more of something we can accommodate."

Jon Cooney agreed, noting that he hopes customers will feel comfortable coming in and making requests if they don't find what they're looking for.

Earlier this fall, EastIdahoNews.com reported that Ashli Cooney had moved to Rexburg from California in 2011 to attend Brigham Young University-Idaho. She had always been a voracious reader and was a frequent shopper at Porter's Craft and Frame. "I'd come in here and I'd say, 'Man, I want to turn this into a bookstore,' " she recalled. "That was my dream. I loved the location, I loved the history of the building.... It all felt very serendipitous when we started saying, 'Let's make this happen,' and then this became available."

Jon Cooney, who has collected comic books all his life and managed a bookstore in college, moved to Rexburg to fulfill his own bookstore dream and because it was the right place and time: "I couldn't believe there was a college town without (something like this). I'd seen on the Life in Rexburg Facebook group people asking, 'Where's the comic shop?' I was living in St. Louis and I moved here to open it."

In the second quarter ended November 30, revenues at Scholastic rose 1%, to $551.1 million, and operating income rose 11%, to $82.9 million.

The gains in revenue came, the company said, from "strength in the children's book publishing and distribution segment, including higher revenues in book fairs and trade publishing, partly offset by lower education solutions sales in a continued volatile federal and state funding environment."

The children's book publishing and distribution segment's revenues increased 4%, to $380.9 million. Book fair revenues rose 5%, to $242 million, driven by increased fair count and revenue per fair. Book club revenues fell 14%, to $28.5 million, "primarily reflecting lower sponsors." Consolidated trade revenues rose 7%, to $110.4 million, due in large part to the 14th title in Dav Pilkey's Dog Man series, Big Jim Believes, and ongoing solid sales in the Hunger Games and Harry Potter franchises.

Peter Warwick, president and CEO, said in part, "Over the past four years, Scholastic has been remade with a singular purpose: realizing the power of our unmatched brand, IP, channels and balance sheet for long-term growth, impact and value creation.... 

"Under a new management team and a refreshed board, we have reorganized and rebuilt Scholastic to operate more efficiently, create new ways to reach kids and families--with books at home and in schools as well as on screens--and maximize the value of our iconic children's content and trusted brand, which we have built over a century. As a result of this hard work, today Scholastic is uniquely positioned to meet families, educators and our society's essential need to help kids read, learn and have fun." 

The company said it expects full-year revenue to be "in line with or modestly above the prior year, reflecting solid growth within its children's book publishing and distribution segment, offset by lower year-to-date sales in education solutions."

Gary Jaffe, former CEO of Booksource, died on December 12 at the age of 60.

Founded by his father, the late Sandy Jaffe, in 1974, Booksource was a major regional trade wholesaler for booksellers and then focused on classroom library books and curriculum materials. Last year, the company was sold to Mackin Educational Resouces.

Jaffe's obituary noted that "during his tenure, Booksource received numerous honors, including recognition among the 100 Largest Private Businesses in St. Louis, Family Business of the Year, Best Place to Work, #1 Coolest Offices, and the Great Game of Business All-Star Award. Gary himself was named a finalist for EY Entrepreneur of the Year. He treasured the opportunity to share company ownership with his brother Neil Jaffe and sister Donna Jaffe.

"Beyond accolades, Gary's true legacy was his commitment to his employees. He fostered a family-first culture, championed leadership development through the Emergent Leadership Program, and supported education through the Marcia Jaffe Scholarship and tuition reimbursement. He was deeply proud to have safeguarded all employee jobs and wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic and delighted in sending employees abroad on 'Sandy Vacations.' "

The family suggested that in Gary Jaffe's honor, donations be made to Junior Achievement of Greater St. Louis, Ready Readers, or a charity of the donor's choice.

Betty K. Bynum, author of the The Little Girl Who Loved Christmas (DreamTitle Publishing/IPG), during her recent book presentation and promotion at the entranceway of the Barnes & Noble at The Grove, Los Angeles, Calif. The Little Girl Who Loved Christmas is a Christmas chapter book that includes recipes and DIY holiday decorations and is the first in a holiday story series starring Mia, the little girl who loved Christmas. Among other titles by Bynum from DreamTitle Publishing are I'm a Pretty Little Black Girl!, I'm a Brilliant Little Black Boy! (with Joshua B. Drummond), and I'm a Lovely Little Latina!

"Books for everyone." That was the holiday season sidewalk chalkboard message in front of Storyline Bookshop, Upper Arlington, Ohio, which noted on Instagram: "A beautiful day for shopping local."

"After a rush hour subway journey from Queens that, we're told, spread loads of holiday cheer to each and every commuter that witnessed it, our wonderful Christmas tree has finally arrived thanks to @higgonaitor!" the Mysterious Bookshop in New York City posted on Facebook. 

"We have approximately one (1) Ripley worth of space left in our in-store pickup shelves! Come grab your order and pet a dog--our extended hours are in effect for the holidays for extra pickup time!" Parnassus Books, Nashville, Tenn., posted on Instagram.

RBmedia is now the exclusive, worldwide audiobook publishing partner for W.W. Norton, expanding on the companies' long-standing relationship.

Norton audiobooks will be published under a variety of RBmedia brands, including Recorded Books, Tantor, Dreamscape, HighBridge, and Ascent Audio. Titles will be available for download on a range of audio platforms and wherever audiobooks are sold.

Titles to be published under the new partnership include Son of Nobody by Yann Martel, The Rise and Fall of the Artificial State by Jill Lepore (Liveright), Evelyn in Transit by David Guterson, and Own Your Fertility by Jaime Knopman, M.D., with Rebecca Raphael (Countryman Press).

Recent releases include Wings by Paul McCartney (Liveright), Dark Renaissance by Stephen Greenblatt, Taking Manhattan by Russell Shorto, and The Gales of November by John U. Bacon (Liveright).

Elisabeth Kerr, Norton's director, content and business strategy, said, "Audio has become essential to the way that readers discover and engage with books, and we are thrilled to expand our reach via this unique partnership. RBmedia and Norton have had an exceptional working relationship for years, and this new agreement deepens that collaboration--expanding awareness of our authors and ensuring that their work is produced, distributed, and made accessible with the quality, care, and editorial integrity both of our teams embrace."

Troy Juliar, chief content officer for RBmedia, said, "We are proud to be partnering with a publisher as celebrated and prestigious as W.W. Norton & Company. One hundred years of publishing means something: an unmatched legacy of editorial rigor, literary excellence, and books that endure. We share that commitment to lasting work, and we’re excited to bring even more of Norton's extraordinary authors and storytelling to life in audio for listeners worldwide."

Today:
Fresh Air: Nick Harkaway, author of Karla's Choice: A John le Carré Novel (Viking, $30, 9780593833490).

Netflix has ordered a series adaptation of Liz Moore's bestselling novel The God of the Woods, Deadline reported. Moore will serve as a co-showrunner, writer, and executive producer alongside Liz Hannah (The Girl from Plainville). 

The God of the Woods "follows the mysterious disappearance of a teenage girl, Barbara Van Laar, from a summer camp in 1975, which echoes the unsolved disappearance of her older brother 14 years prior. The series will tell the story of the wealthy Van Laar family as they fight to hold their family together, unearthing devastating secrets in the process," Deadline wrote.

Produced by Sony Pictures Television, the project's exec producers also include Neal H. Moritz and Pavun Shetty for Original Film. Information on the cast and a release date will be shared in the future.

The shortlist has been selected for the £4,000 (about $5,350) 2026 Wingate Literary Prize, honoring "the best book, fiction or nonfiction, to convey the idea of Jewishness to the general reader." 

The shortlist:

The Einstein of Sex by Daniel Brook
Chopping Onions on My Heart by Samantha Ellis
City of Laughter by Temim Fruchter
Berlin Atomized by Julia Kornberg
Letters by Oliver Sacks, edited by Kate Edgar
The Gates of Gaza by Amir Tibon

Judges commented: "We were delighted with the variety and balance of our shortlist. Here are hidden histories, from the Iraqi Jewish community revealed in Chopping Onions on My Heart to the Weimar-era revolution depicted in The Einstein of Sex. Berlin Atomized transports us to the far future; The Gates of Gaza takes on the terrible divisions of the past and the conflicts of the present. City of Laughter remakes the family saga in a brand-new light; and Oliver Sacks' Letters offer insight into one remarkable man and the many worlds in which he lived. Fiction and non-fiction, there is huge range and richness here."

Jen Braaksma  (photo: Annemarie Grudën)

Betsy Pauly  (photo: Charles Pauly)

Jen Braaksma is the author of two young adult novels, Evangeline's Heaven and Amaranth. Braaksma, a former journalist and high school English teacher, is now a book coach who helps writers develop their stories. She lives in Ottawa, Canada, with her husband, two daughters, and four cats.

Betsy Pauly earned her degree in business before taking on the corporate world. She began painting professionally in 1986, then turned to writing in 2010. Over the years, Pauly rescued more than 100 cats, at least 10 dogs, and one blind pigeon. She died in 2016.

Befriending Betsy (She Writes Press, Dec 9, 2025) is a memoir by Braaksma, who took on a job involving a half-finished manuscript of animal stories Pauly had left behind, and never expected to form a friendship with the woman on the page.

Handsell readers your book in 25 words or less:

How is it possible to befriend someone who died long before you even knew they'd lived? Through stories about compassion, connection--and cats.

On your nightstand now:

Well, the answer is a towering 42 books. On top, though, sits Audition by Katie Kitamura, Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki, What We Can Know by Ian McEwan, Jade City by Fonda Lee, and Wild Life by Amanda Leduc. Why these ones? The promise of these stories intrigues me.

Favorite book when you were a child:

That's such an unfair question! There are so many. If I was forced to choose, you know, because the world was on fire and my answer was the only way to save it, then perhaps it would be Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery. I love the protagonist, Anne Shirley! She's feisty and imaginative and loves with her whole heart. Even better, she's also Canadian, like me.

Your top five authors:

Should these questions be as hard as they are?? Fine, if the world is burning (again), and my answer is the only way to save it, then I'll say (in no particular order) Jeanette Winterson, Anne Michaels, Michael Ondaatje, Helen Humphreys, Maggie Stiefvater. They all write beautiful prose, with complex characters and an intensity of emotion that stays with me long after the last page.

Book you've faked reading:

Is that a thing? I'd be too afraid of getting caught out! I dutifully read (ahem, skimmed) all my reading lists in university, and after that, I came to the conclusion that life is too short to read books that don't interest me, so even if I turn down a classic that is on everyone's best book list of the geological epoch we're in, I'll stand firm in my ignorance.

Book you're an evangelist for:

My own? Actually that isn't even true because I'm all about accepting everyone has their own taste, which means that I always rein in my book fervor. I wax poetic about the books I love, absolutely, but I don't preach about them. It's self-preservation, actually. I'd be too emotionally wounded if someone ended up not liking the book I'd insisted they read.

Book you've bought for the cover:

I'm failing this exam! The short answer is, there isn't one; the long answer is, if a book looks pretty or striking or eye catching, then it's enough for me to read the back. But if I'm not into the story, even the cover won't cut it.

Book you hid from your parents:

Ah! A question I can answer! Though the answer is a common one, but nevertheless true: Forever by Judy Blume. A book on teenage sexuality when I was a pre-teen seemed horrendously risqué, but I think I learned more from that one book alone than any sex-ed class. I still lament our society where books with such important themes are fraught with unnecessary controversy.

Book that changed your life:

A Summer to Die by Lois Lowry, a middle grade novel about a protagonist whose older sister is dying of cancer. It's emotional, intense, heartbreaking, and extraordinarily endearing. There was no personal connection; no one I knew had cancer, but still the story of this beautiful, broken family stayed with me, enough that I even named one of my daughters after the main character. All those years ago, I borrowed it from my middle school library and never returned it. I never will.

Favorite line from a book:

"There are more things in Heaven and Earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy." Hamlet says this to his friend Horatio in Shakespeare's Hamlet; I love it because it's a striking reminder about all the wonders and mysteries beyond our limited knowledge. That it's said by a character whose life--and death--are embroiled in tragedy makes the pathos--and Hamlet's message--more acute.

Five books you'll never part with:

Another impossible question. The books double-stacked on every bookshelf in every room of my house prove that I can't seem to part with any book, let alone narrowing it down to a top five I'd never part with. But, with the world on fire (for the third time, it seems) and needing my answer to save it, here goes:

A Summer to Die by Lois Lowry
The Passion by Jeanette Winterson
Held by Anne Michaels
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Why? They're all gorgeously crafted books.

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

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. I taught it for years and years and years as a high school English teacher and I adored the reaction from students who were reluctant to start (okay, that's a nice way to describe their grumbling hatred) but loved the novel by the end. I almost envied them that dawning excitement when they started to appreciate the beauty of Fitzgerald's language, the skillful characterization, and the tragedy that is Gatsby.

Most people can remember fondly at least one teacher whose classroom became a place where the lessons imparted transcended the mundane subject matter and whose tutelage may even have been life-altering. In his wistful The Optimists, Brian Platzer (Bed-Stuy Is Burning) evokes those memories with the story of an enduring bond between a dedicated teacher and the exceptional student he profoundly influenced and who left an equally indelible mark on his life.

John Roderick Keating, thwarted novelist, aficionado of bad jokes, and passionate New York Yankees fan, who considers himself "the luckiest unlucky man on the face of the earth," spends his entire career teaching eighth-grade English at St. George's Episcopal School, a second-rank private school in lower Manhattan. His signal achievement, what he thinks of as "my legacy," is something he calls the Ember Exam, a yearlong, 200-question test that progresses through levels of increasing difficulty. At its pinnacle is the status of Archon, one that's never been reached--until, that is, Clara Hightower, student from a troubled home whom he thinks of as "playful, thoughtful, and a little bit dangerous," enters his classroom.

After suffering a massive stroke in his 70s, Rod resorts to eye blinks directed at a computer screen to begin writing what he calls a novel, appropriating the structure of W. Somerset Maugham's The Razor's Edge. He recalls his relationship with Clara, along with her classmate Jacob Smeal, who's smitten with the bright but challenging girl. Though Rod loses touch with her after she graduates to an elite private high school, he follows from a distance the path that propels her to an initial burst of success in Silicon Valley and sudden celebrity, but that veers off into involvement with dangerous activism that will bring him back into her orbit and irrevocably alter his own life.

In describing Rod's gentle obsession with an exceptional student like Clara, Platzer, a middle-school English teacher in New York City, deftly evokes the connection teachers feel with their pupils long after they've moved on with their lives and the corresponding "familial feeling toward teachers without any of the stickiness of family." He's chosen to tell this story in bite-sized, non-chronological chunks that range over more than three decades, a style that's suggestive of the effects of Rod's condition, but that doesn't interfere with the unfolding of this reflective account. The Optimists is warm, funny, and frequently touching. If the impulse to contact a favorite teacher arises after reading it, don't be surprised. --Harvey Freedenberg, freelance reviewer

Shelf Talker: In this wistful novel, a longtime teacher recalls his challenging relationship with his most exceptional student.