Where Have All the Paperbacks Gone?

The Future of Mass Market Books and Why They’re Not Dead Yet

I was standing in my local Walmart the other day, staring at what used to be an entire aisle of books. Once upon a time, that space was crammed with mass market paperbacks—thrillers, romances, mysteries, all the kind of books designed to be picked up on a whim, tossed into a cart with a gallon of milk and a box of cereal. But now? The shelf space is shrinking. The selection is… lacking. And I have to ask—should I be concerned?

Well, if you love affordable, easy-to-find fiction, then yes. Probably.

For decades, mass market paperbacks were the backbone of commercial fiction. They were cheap. Portable. Designed to be devoured in an hour or two and then passed on to a friend. They were also everywhere—not just in bookstores, but in grocery stores, airports, pharmacies, even gas stations. But lately, something’s shifted.

Readerlink, one of the largest book distributors in the U.S., has announced that it will stop distributing mass market paperbacks to its accounts—including major retailers like Walmart, Kroger, and Hudson News—by the end of 2025. Since Readerlink supplies a huge portion of mass market books to big-box stores, this decision means those books will be even harder to find in major retailers.

So what does that mean for readers?

It means if you’re someone who loved grabbing a few paperbacks at a time, you might have to look elsewhere. It means that books in stores will be pricier, since trade paperbacks (the larger, more expensive kind) are becoming the new standard. And it means that the genres that have thrived in mass market—romance, fantasy, mystery—may become harder to find on store shelves.

It also has big implications for authors. For a long time, getting a book into Walmart or Target was a huge deal because those books sold themselves. Readers didn’t have to go hunting for them. They were right there, waiting to be discovered. Without that shelf space, books have to work harder to find their audience.

Of course, the argument could be made that readers have already moved to digital. And sure, plenty have. Ebooks are convenient, and they’re not going anywhere. But let’s be honest—there’s something about holding a book in your hands, about the feel of the pages, the way a well-loved paperback gets that soft, slightly curved spine after you’ve read it a few times.

But Here’s the Thing—Mass Market Isn’t Dying, It’s Evolving

Publishing is a living, breathing organism—constantly evolving, adapting, and finding new ways to survive. When one door closes, another one eventually opens. And while Readerlink’s decision is a big shift, I don’t believe mass market paperbacks will simply disappear.

Publishers aren’t just going to throw up their hands and forfeit the fight. Mass market books were a money-maker, and they know it. If big-box stores won’t stock them, publishers will find new ways to reach readers—whether it’s through independent bookstores, online retailers, direct sales, or even a new format that works better for today’s market.

Maybe we’ll see a "budget trade" format emerge, something between mass market and trade paperback. Maybe there will be new partnerships with smaller distributors or retailers who still want to sell affordable fiction. Maybe Walmart and Target will realize that not everyone wants to binge another TV show—some people just want a good book they can hold in their hands.

It’s 2025, and after everything the past five years have thrown our way, I’ve officially run out of things to be shocked by.

It could happen.

Indie and Self-Publishing Are Thriving, Not Shrinking

But here’s the other piece of the puzzle—while traditional publishing wrestles with its format problems, indie and self-publishing are growing at an incredible rate.

Once upon a time, if a book wasn’t in a bookstore or a big-box retailer, it might as well not exist. That’s not the case anymore. Thanks to print-on-demand services and digital storefronts, indie authors are not only publishing books, but they’re also reaching audiences directly—on their own terms.

Online platforms like Amazon, Bookshop.org, and even direct sales from author websites have made it easier than ever for readers to find books they love. And while, yes, the sheer volume of ebooks out there can be overwhelming (and, let’s be honest, some are downright cringe-worthy thanks to AI-generated content), that doesn’t mean great books aren’t still being written and published. In fact, some of the biggest names in romance and fantasy right now started out as self-published authors before hitting bestseller lists.

The Rise of Paid Serials and Author-Owned Bookstores

Indie authors aren’t just relying on Amazon or big retailers to sell their books anymore. More and more, authors—including myself—are turning to platforms like Substack and Medium to attract readers to paid serial romances. These platforms let readers subscribe directly to authors, receiving new chapters or stories every week or month, just like the old serialized novels from the past.

And beyond that, indie authors are creating their own publishing stores, selling books directly to readers without having to split profits with a middleman. Why is this important? Because it gives authors control. It allows them to build relationships with readers, offer exclusive content, and provide books in multiple formats—whether that’s digital, print-on-demand, or even special edition hardcovers.

With mass market paperbacks becoming harder to find in stores, having a direct-to-reader model is more important than ever. If readers want affordable, high-quality fiction, indie authors are making sure they have options outside of the traditional publishing model.

So What Can Readers Do?

If you love mass market books, there are still ways to support them.
📚 Buy them while they’re still on the shelves.
📚 Support independent bookstores that stock them.
📚 Explore indie authors—many of whom are keeping genre fiction alive.
📚 Look for print-on-demand options, which are growing in quality and affordability.
📚 Subscribe to authors directly through platforms like Substack or Medium.
📚 Buy books straight from an author’s store to support them directly.

Publishing is always changing. Formats come and go. But as long as readers keep searching for great stories, books will always find a way to be there when they need them.

Mass market isn’t dead. It’s just finding a new way to thrive.

Sources:

Publishers Weekly. "Readerlink to Stop Distributing Mass Market Paperbacks by End of 2025."

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Note: I’m no publishing expert, not by a long shot. This is just my take on the situation based on industry trends and recent news about mass market paperbacks. But the one thing I know is that publishing is always evolving, and while big changes are happening, that doesn’t mean all hope is lost for affordable fiction. Readers and authors alike are adapting, and new opportunities are emerging. My goal with this post is to highlight ways we can continue to support the stories and formats we love.