Soft Fiction Sales Result in Dip in Mid-May Unit Sales

Unit sales of print books fell by less than 1% in the week ended May 13, 2018, compared to the similar week in 2017, at outlets that report to NPD BookScan. Gains in nonfiction largely offset declines in fiction in the week. Units increased 4% in the adult nonfiction category over the week ended May 14, 2017, as the segment had the industry’s two biggest-selling books: Magnolia Table by Joanna Gaines sold more than 171,000 copies, while The Soul of America by Jon Meacham sold nearly 39,000 copies in its first week, landing it in the second spot on both the category and overall bestseller lists. Print unit sales in juvenile nonfiction rose 7% over 2017; a number of new books helped give the segment a boost. National Geographic Kids Almanac sold more than 3,500 copies in its first week, while Kenzie’s Rules for Life by Mackenzie Ziegler sold more than 3,000 copies in its first week, landing the books in sixth and seventh place, respectively, on the category bestseller list. Print units fell 9% compared in adult fiction. The top-selling title was once again The 17th Suspect by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro, which sold more than 29,000 copies. Last year at this time, Into the Water by Paula Hawkins sold more than 45,000 copies. Sales of the 100 bestselling adult fiction titles in the week ended May 13, 2018, were 24% lower than sales of those in the comparable week in 2017. Print unit sales of juvenile fiction titles fell 2%. Oh, the Places You’ll Go! by Dr. Seuss, a graduation-gift favorite, was #1 on the category list.
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