Self-published authors shaped 2023 ebook sales

The ebook market of 2023 witnessed an unparalleled influence from celebrity authors and viral BookTok hashtags, shaping the year’s sales dynamics significantly. Bookstat, a tracker of ebook movements across online retail platforms, has released its Top 25 titles of 2023, revealing a diverse array of factors contributing to the success of digital publications.

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At the forefront of last year’s ebook sales was Bonnie Garmus’ “Lessons in Chemistry,” clinching the top spot with a staggering 148,774 copies sold, according to Bookstat’s analysis reported by The Bookseller. The novel’s success was significantly bolstered by an Apple Studios adaptation featuring Brie Larson, propelling the book’s presence on the charts and contributing to its accolade-filled year. Notably, “Lessons in Chemistry” has been a mainstay in the Bookstat Top 20 for over 20 times, alongside achieving impressive physical format sales exceeding 565,000 copies, as per Nielsen BookScan’s Total Consumer Market data.

The influence of book-to-screen adaptations and celebrity book clubs was further highlighted by the chart’s inclusion of “Daisy Jones and the Six” by Taylor Jenkins Reid, which landed in 24th place following a boost from its limited series adaptation and Reese’s Book Club endorsement. Meanwhile, “The Paper Palace” and “The 6:20 Man” narrowly missed the top 20, despite significant sales following their respective celebrity book club picks.

At a time where print sales often overshadow their digital counterparts, more than half of the charted titles boasted stronger print sales, with some books outselling their ebook versions by upwards of 600,000 copies—a royal achievement attributed to Prince Harry’s memoir “Spare.” Despite the memoir’s ebook sales trailing behind at 83,000 copies, it underscores the significant impact of digital sales for non-fiction works.

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Amid the success stories dominated by traditional publishing and celebrity endorsements, several self-published authors made their mark in the digital space. L J Ross, with her DCI Ryan Mysteries series, led the charge for indie authors by significantly outperforming in ebook sales, particularly with “Lady’s Well.” Ross, alongside crime writers J M Dalgliesh and Rachel McLean, has demonstrated the viability of independent publishing, with Dark Skies Publishing achieving noteworthy sales figures since its inception.

Nicola Sanders and Rachel Abbott emerged as prominent figures in the self-publishing realm, with their thrillers “Don’t Let Her Stay” and “No More Lies” achieving remarkable success predominantly through ebook sales. This trend underscores the shifting dynamics in the publishing industry, where digital platforms offer a competitive edge to independently published authors.