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The Truth About Book Preorders (and Why They Matter)

ByDominique

We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post.

There’s a kind of magic in waiting until a book is released.

That space between now and not yet released. Between a cover reveal and the moment a book finally arrives on your doorstep, feeling the weight of it in your hands. That’s where preorders live—quiet and powerful, shaping the stories that reach our shelves before we ever realize it. Making space not just on your shelves but in your heart.

But what does it really mean to preorder a book? How does that one early click ripple out in the publishing world as if you skipped a rock on glassy water, affecting authors, bookstores and even the future books we get to read?

In this post, I’m sharing book preorders explained—the truth behind why they matter, how they work, and why preordering is one of the simplest yet most powerful ways to support the stories that move us.

The Quiet Power of “Preorder Now”

You see the button Preorder Now, bold, under a book you’ve been waiting for, daring you to click it. And you hesitate.

Your finger hovering, you trying to convince yourself that you don’t really need that book (but we both know you do and I will ALWAYS say treat yo’self!)

Will it make a difference? Does anyone notice whether or not I buy this book before release day?

That single click feels small, yet weighty. But in the world of publishing, it’s everything.

Preorders are quiet acts of faith in your potentially favorite reads. They’re how readers tell authors. “I believe in you before the world even meets your story.”

And we all have them, those authors that are auto-buy authors for us, the ones where name alone makes us click.

This guide will walk you through how preorders actually work, why they matter (especially for indie authors), and how you can use them to support the stories that you will eventually love…or passionately hate (because let’s be honest, both make the best kind of bookish memories).

Books to Preorder:

What Does It Mean to Preorder a Book?

When you preorder a book, you’re buying it before its official release date. Some stores like Barnes and Noble charge you immediately. Others like Waterstone (UK bookstore) wait until the book is ready to ship then charge you. Either way that sale is tracked immediately—but counted later.

  • Your purchase is stored by the retailer.
  • When the book releases, your preorder is added to first week sales numbers.
  • Those early numbers help books hit bestseller lists, influence marketing, and secure shelf space with your favorite retailer.

Preorders apply to both print and digital books. Sometimes publishers or indie authors offer exclusive bonuses for physical editions—signed copies, alternate covers, or bookish swag—making that early purchase that much sweeter. For example: when you preordered Alchemised by SenLinYu the preorder incentive was a 12 illustration download sent to you by Penguin Randomhouse.

Why Book Preorders Matter More Than You Think

Preorders Help Books Hit Bestseller Lists

Preorders count toward a book’s first week sales, which can make or break whether a title lands on lists like The New York Times or USA Today. When readers preorder, they help launch a book with the kind of momentum that can’t be faked.

preorders signal interest to publishers and bookstores

Publishers use book preorder data to decide how many copies to print and how much marketing the initially invest. Bookstores rely on that data to determine shelf space and displays. Every preorders whispers to a publisher: readers care about this story.

Preorders Encourage and Sustain Authors

For indie authors, preorders can be their bread and butter, oftentimes funding things like cover art, editing or advertising. Including those PR boxes that everyone loves. For traditionally published authors, strong preorder numbers can mean bigger advances and future contracts. Preordering says: I see you. I believe in you.

Preorders Often Come With Bonuses

Many preorder campaigns offer exclusive art prints, bonus chapters, signed bookplates, or digital extras. It’s a mutual reward—readers get something special, and authors get early support.

Books to Preorder:

When (and What) You Should Preorder

Let’s be honest: not every book preorder is worth your wallet. But here’s when it absolutely is:

  • When it’s an author you already trust.
  • When it’s a sequel or series you know you’ll read immediately.
  • When it’s a debut or indie author who could use that early signal boost.

Preordering isn’t about hype—it’s about participation. It’s choosing to be part of a story’s beginning.

Soft Reader’s Tip: Set a small “future reads” budget each month for preorders. Treat them like time capsules, little promises waiting to bloom.

Behind the Scenes. What Happens After You Preorder

Once you click preorder, a quiet but powerful chain reaction begins:

  • Retailers: log your order and share data with publishers.
  • Publishers: adjust print runs or marketing based on preorder volume.
  • Authors: (especially indies) track preorders to gauge excitement.

Somewhere, an author refreshes their book preorder dashboard, smiling through tears because a hundred strangers believed in them.

Books to Preorder:

  • I, Medusa by Ayana Gray (November 18, 2025)- a fresh take on one of the most monstered, and misaligned women of Greek myth, Medusa.
  • Order of Royals by Jude Deveraux (January 6, 2026)- trapped in the grip of her aunt, Princess Aradella must uncover the secrets and hidden agendas in her world.
  • A Curse of Ashes by Sariah Wilson (December 16, 2025)-the princess is becoming the savior of the nation, but does she have to sacrifice love and the life she’s built for it all?

The Emotional Side of Preordering

Book preorders you possibly can tell is an act of hope —a quiet promise that when release day comes, you’ll be there, ready to turn the first page. It’s a small gesture that carries real emotional weight. And when you share preorder excitement online, you help build momentum. You connect readers to stories that might otherwise go unnoticed. Preordering is faith in a story you haven’t read yet—that whisper that says, “I’ll be waiting.”

How to Find the Best Preorder Campaigns

Subscribe to authors’ and publisher newsletters for preorder bonus announcements.

Follow publisher imprints on social media—many host roundups of upcoming titles

Search hashtags like #PreorderBonus, #BookPreorder or #[genre]Releases[year] example: #RomanceReleases2025—I’ll be updating it monthly with new fantasy and romance preorder campaigns worth supporting.

Books to Preorder:

The Beauty of Believing Early

Book preorders aren’t just buying it early—it’s joining the quiet, beating heart of publishing. Each click is a spark that lights up an author’s launch day, a whisper of belief that echoes long before the reviews arrive.

Next time you see Preorder Now, remember—yes it is a button but under the surface it is so much more. It’s the words you give an author. Tell me in the comments: Do you preorder often, or wait until release week? I’d love to know what makes you click early.

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