French reading habits span multiple formats

A 2026 survey by the SNE, Sofia, and SGDL found that 47 million people in France aged 6 and older read or listened to at least one book in 2025. Fourteen million used digital formats, ten million used audio versions, and 11% of readers used all three formats within the year. These groups overlap significantly, meaning adding them separately would overcount the same individuals.

Physical and digital formats serve different needs

Paper books remain popular for gifts, collections, and reading without a device, while ebooks offer immediacy, portability, and display customization. Audio formats are used during transportation, daily tasks, and for accessibility, with features like adjustable text size, color settings, or voice synthesis. These formats provide functions beyond just cost savings.

Publishers use multi-format strategies for consistency

A common strategy involves updating all formats simultaneously when announcing a new release, ensuring cover art, descriptions, prices, and links are consistent across platforms. QR codes on physical books can direct users to digital or audio versions, and print editions may include short links to other formats. These links require regular updates to avoid dead ends.

Sales data reveals editorial insights

Sales data can highlight trends, such as a title that performs better in ebook form than in print, which might indicate a gender-specific audience, better pricing, or limited physical distribution. Dynamic listening data can reveal the impact of an interpretation, adapted duration, or usage while on the move. Comparing data across formats is essential for meaningful analysis.

Integrated dashboards track format performance

The best dashboards connect formats at the level of individual works, including net sales, available loans or listens, territories, prices, operations, and events. This approach helps identify circulation patterns rather than declaring a winner. Physical books can boost ebook visibility, and audio formats can introduce authors whose readers may later purchase print editions.

Understanding reader preferences is key

The challenge is not to push every text everywhere but to meet the reader where they already read—on a page, a screen, or in headphones—then understand what their choice reveals. In partnership with De Marque, ActuaLitté will soon launch a podcast exploring hidden signals in bestsellers and discrepancies between formats, drawing on distributor insights across several catalogs.

Webtoons gain popularity among young French readers

More than half of young people in France read webtoons at least occasionally, according to a 2026 study by the National Center for Cinema and Animated Image (CNC). However, the survey does not address how French-created content is faring, a gap highlighted by Kim Thouvenin of Protoon, the first professional association for the sector in France.

American platform Tapas closes permanently

Tapas, an American platform for webcomics and online novels, will close permanently on March 31, 2027, after being acquired by Kakao Entertainment in 2021. Users will lose access to their libraries, as unlocked content will no longer be available, and there is no option to transfer it to KakaoPage or Kakao Webtoon.

Amazon complies with French book price laws

Amazon has agreed to comply with French regulations by ending free shipping for books picked up from its automated lockers and applying a 5% discount on the publisher’s set price. This follows a legal battle with French authorities over book pricing policies.

Russia’s self-publishing boom

Self-publishing now accounts for 61% of Russia’s digital book market, up from 53% in 2024. The market exceeded 2.7 billion roubles in the first quarter of 2026, growing by 13% year-on-year. Ten of the top 20 best-selling authors on LitRes are self-publishers, highlighting the growing influence of independent creators.

Kobo returns to U.S. stores

Kobo, owned by Japanese company Rakuten, returns to American stores, with Best Buy selling a selection of e-readers and accessories. CEO Michael Tamblyn stated that the company’s U.S. sales have doubled in 2025 and again in 2026, signaling a resurgence in the American market.

Digital comics struggle to find a foothold

After Amazon discontinued the Comixology app in 2023, the American digital comics market has yet to find a single dominant platform. However, new initiatives like Neon Ichiban’s collectible digital files and Sweet Shop’s simplified approach are beginning to shift the landscape.

Emaqi launches premium manga subscription

Emaqi has launched a premium manga subscription service for $6.99 per month, starting with about 100 series from Kodansha USA, Shonengahosha, and Akita. Viz Media is expected to join the service soon, expanding its reach in the U.S. market.

Rakuten Kobo rejects 45% of self-published titles

In 2025, Rakuten Kobo rejected 45% of the self-published titles submitted through Kobo Writing Life. Over 80% of these rejections were due to books clearly generated by artificial intelligence and of very low quality, highlighting the platform’s strict standards.

Storytel tests AI voices with human licensing

Storytel is testing AI voices using a human voice license, with Danish actress Maria Garde licensing her voice to Storytel and Mofibo for an AI narrator change service. The agreement is for one year, with 50 books already recorded and AI voices used on 10 to 15% of popular titles.

Thotario tests ebook resale model

Thotario, supported by COMVERSE, has launched a public test for the resale of ebooks, using books in the public domain and fictional portfolios. A central question remains: does the ownership of digital cultural goods finally find a viable model through legal resale?

Internet Archive establishes Swiss foundation

The Internet Archive has created a Swiss foundation to preserve archives, with projects focusing on threatened collections and the preservation of AI models. The University of Saint-Gall and an upcoming UNESCO conference in Paris are announced for November 2026.

Babelio launches youth-focused section

Babelio has launched Babelio Jeunesse, a youth-focused section dedicated to children’s and young adult books. The section uses age-based references and a new discovery engine by age, genre, theme, or book type, supported by the National Book Center.

Brazil expands access to public texts

Brazil’s education ministry has made 8,000 titles available to the public through MEC Livros. In Bahia, the biennale is reinforcing its school program, expanding access to educational materials.

EDRLab and PILEn collaborate on training

EDRLab and PILEn have united their expertise in the European project Thinkpub, which focuses on training professionals in the book industry for the digital age. Their collaboration includes joint actions during the Brussels Book Fair and at the Museum of Comics.

De Marque and Supadu simplify digital sales

De Marque and Supadu have partnered to simplify the direct sale of digital books, creating a common solution that combines their technologies to centralize functions across the digital book supply chain.

Mistral warns EU about AI competition

Mistral has alerted the EU about the importance of electricity and data access in AI competition. As AI becomes a strategic lever, competition is no longer just about algorithms but about access to energy, infrastructure, and data sources.

Anna’s Archive defies U.S. ban

Anna’s Archive has published 2.8 million titles despite the American ban, with download links appearing in the torrents.json file of the site. TorrentFreak lists 47 torrents, including a metadata torrent with about 2.8 million audio files for nearly 6 terabytes.

Spotify dominates audiobook market

Spotify has surpassed half the Swedish audiobook market, with 36% growth in audiobook listeners and 37% growth in listening hours in a year. Publishers like Bloomsbury and HarperCollins attribute double-digit growth in audio sales to the platform.

Libraries reach 820 million digital loans

Libraries using Libby and Sora crossed 820.5 million digital loans worldwide in 2025, with a 10.9% increase driven by the ease of borrowing ebooks, audiobooks, magazines, and comics directly from a phone.

Fiole redesigns ad-free reading experience

Fiole has abandoned advertising and redesigned its reading experience six months after its launch, aiming to integrate digital and print ecosystems without opposing them.

Solaris e-reader extends bookstore model

The Solaris e-reader is designed as a natural extension of the independent bookstore, with the core business being the bookstore itself.

Harlequin faces translator backlash

Harlequin, a popular romance publisher, faces a revolt from translators accused of switching to machine translation. HarperCollins France defends the decision, citing efficiency and consistency.

ALIDO connects readers to independent bookstores

ALIDO is a new app connecting readers to independent bookstores in Occitanie, allowing users to search, reserve, and order books with a single click on their smartphones.

Thotario promotes legal ebook resale

Thotario aims to transform digital cultural goods circulation through a citizen crowdfunding initiative for legal ebook and video game resale, ensuring creators are paid at each transaction.

Shein enters used book market

The Chinese company Shein will offer used books on its U.S. platform in partnership with Alibris, potentially disrupting book pricing in the U.S. market.

Jeanne Seignol awarded residency

Jeanne Seignol has been awarded the Albert Londres residency, allowing her to stay in the birthplace of Albert Londres in Vichy.

Disney and Webtoon launch new platform

Disney and Webtoon Entertainment have announced a partnership to launch a new digital comics platform featuring over 35,000 titles from Marvel, Star Wars, Disney, Pixar, and 20th Century Studios.

Internet Archive settles music lawsuit

The Internet Archive has settled its lawsuit with major music labels without public disclosure, ending the legal dispute quietly.

Kobo Clara Colour available in white

The Kobo Clara Colour is now available in white, offering the same features as the black version while emphasizing reading comfort, environmental respect, and a minimalist design.

Google Translate adds language learning

Google Translate has integrated AI-powered language learning features, competing with specialized apps like Duolingo.

Internet Archive becomes federal library

The Internet Archive has been designated as a Federal Depository Library by Senator Alex Padilla, enhancing its role in preserving public knowledge.

Webtoon transforms into free mini-videos

Webtoon Entertainment is transforming its webcomics into free mini-videos, making them discoverable with a simple click or finger gesture.

Open Library escapes blocking in Belgium

Open Library, linked to the Internet Archive, has avoided being blocked in Belgium, continuing its mission to preserve online archives since its founding in 1996.

Luc Julia faces official inquiry

Luc Julia, long associated with the development of Siri and currently the scientific director of Renault, is facing an official hearing and a controversial video, with his Wikipedia page becoming a digital battleground.

French webtoon platforms merge

Delitoon, Bontoon, and Le Bontoon have merged under the banner of Lezhin France, marking a significant milestone in the history of French webtoon.

Gallimard addresses AI in publishing

Gallimard has taken measures following AI-related cases in the literary season, with the Madrigall group submitting manuscripts to a detection software to determine whether they were written by AI or not.

U.S. readers want AI disclosure

In the U.S., 85% of book buyers want to know if artificial intelligence participated in writing a book, with a survey revealing contrasting views on what authors can delegate to machines.

Meta ordered to identify book downloaders

Meta has been ordered to identify individuals who approved the download of millions of books and scientific articles from pirate libraries.

Ebook sales require strategic activation

Putting an ebook on sale is not just a marketing plan, but a digital strategy that requires knowing which title to activate, for which audience, and with what goal, to ensure rapid and measurable results.

Ined suffers cyberattack

The Ined has suffered a cyberattack that has paralyzed all its information systems, with the incident detected on October 17, 2026.

Audiobooks reshape publishing

Audiobooks continue to grow, driven by established listening habits, but this evolution forces publishers to rethink distribution, data circulation, and relationships with digital platforms.

Kobo Plus adds audiobooks

Kobo Plus has added audiobooks to its French subscription, allowing users to combine ebooks and audiobooks for 14.99 € per month.

French use AI for writing

Nearly six out of ten French people have used AI to write a text for them, with the practice affecting both professional and personal communication.

Ebook pricing is complex

Setting the right price for an ebook is complex, involving production, distribution, rights, marketing, and editorial value. A uniform difference with the paperback often ignores genre, age, territory, and commercial goals.

Title sales require investigation

A title may have the correct file and a convincing cover, yet sales may not take off. This requires investigating potential issues such as a too broad category, a thin summary, an old price, poorly declared rights, or an ISBN shared between formats.

Nippan sells books to AI firm

The Japanese distributor Nippan admits to selling books to Anthropic, with its subsidiary claiming to have been unaware that the purchases were for AI training.

Translators consider career changes

Facing AI, 37% of literary translators surveyed would consider changing careers, with nearly 30% declaring economic consequences from AI’s impact on the profession.

Publishers demand transparency

120 publishers have demanded work-by-work transparency, with the "Frankfurt Appeal" addressing the European Commission, the European Parliament, and the German government.

Audible tests AI interaction

Audible is testing functions that allow users to interact with characters from audiobooks using generative AI, extending the listening experience.

Publishers face digital challenges

ERP, professional expertise, and digital transformation are key issues for publishers, as the publishing sector evolves under new regulations, digital transformation, and the need for operational efficiency.

Digital books need ongoing maintenance

Typos, accessibility, and piracy are challenges for digital books, with the digital file acting more like an editorial asset than a fixed product, requiring continuous maintenance.

Hachette Livre expands audiobooks

Hachette Livre has hired from Audible to accelerate its audiobook efforts, with Myriam Gilles joining to develop audiobook production.

De Marque and ElevenLabs expand audiobooks

De Marque and ElevenLabs have partnered to expand access to audiobooks, allowing publishers using Cantook Édition to select titles from their catalog for audio availability on the ElevenReader app.

Digitizing a catalog is complex

Digitizing an entire catalog requires clear rights, adapted files, solid metadata, and a minimum of animation. The first decision should not be “how many?” but “which ones?” to prioritize effectively.

China tightens book sales regulation

China is strengthening its regulation of online book sales, with a draft revision of the Regulation on the Management of the Publication Market specifying obligations for intermediaries, tighter control of sellers, and targeting piracy and pricing practices.

Oxford shares Bodleian archives with AI

Oxford University has allowed OpenAI to use the Bodleian Library’s archives for training, with internal documents showing the data also contributed to OpenAI’s training set.

OpenAI questioned about LibGen use

Internal judicial documents show that OpenAI employees questioned the legality of sourcing large numbers of books from LibGen, noting that the practice was “fucking suspicious.”

Bookys faces legal action

The Bookys website is under scrutiny from book and press publishers, with the National Syndicate of Publishing (SNE) and the General Information Press Alliance seeking to block the platform.

AI books on Amazon may not dominate

AI-generated books on Amazon may increase competition but are unlikely to become a dominant force, with a study showing more titles competing for slowly growing revenues.

Amazon ends two-year pricing conflict

Amazon has resolved a two-year conflict by giving up free shipping and the 5% discount for books retrieved from its automated lockers, raising questions about the enforcement of book price laws in France.

Calibre 9.15 introduces AI game

Calibre 9.15 includes a game where the user is the hero entirely controlled by AI, with the open-source software introducing an interactive writing game called “Create your own adventure.”

Organizing PDFs is a challenge

Organizing PDF documents is a common challenge, with a “Documents” folder often overflowing with unnamed PDFs, scans, bills, and contracts mixed with personal or professional files.

Audiobook professionals use AI

Audiobook professionals surveyed already use AI to prepare text, check pronunciation, control recording, translate, or generate a voice. While AI provides real savings, the human voice continues to hold strong editorial value.

Kindle users bypass Amazon with KindShare

Sending an EPUB from Android to a Kindle without going through Amazon is now possible using KindShare, requiring a jailbroken Kindle, KOReader, SSH access, and program compilation.

Kobo users are mostly over 55

More than 60% of Kobo customers are over 55 years old, suggesting the publishing industry may be overlooking younger audiences in its efforts to promote reading.

PocketBook Q e-reader launched

The PocketBook Q is an e-reader under Linux, smartphone format, priced at 199 €, and presented at the IFA in Berlin.

Thotario tests reader expectations

Thotario is testing its model by launching a survey among readers to compare its approach with existing practices and expectations.

Delhi book piracy shifts to print on demand

In Delhi, book piracy is shifting to print on demand, with an operation targeting two addresses in South Ganesh Nagar and Pandav Nagar.

Publitik tracks AI in book market

Publitik, developed in Brazil, uses AI to monitor the book market, combining data from professional press, sales rankings, social networks, and other sectoral sources.

Freida McFadden leads book sales

Freida McFadden surpasses Sarah Knafo at the top of book sales, with Rebecca Yarros leading in sales of good feelings and “Shakespeare was a black woman” sparking discussions in Washington.