Hot Take of the Week: The Math Ain’t Mathing
We’re in our Swoons, Screams & Side-Eyes era, and nothing deserves a side-eye harder than inflated eBook prices. So let’s break down these burning questions one by one with all the sass, salt, and spice this topic deserves.
❓Why am I paying hardcover prices for a book I can’t even hold in my hands?
Because the digital price matrix is broken, bestie. Publishers and some indies argue that editing, formatting, and cover design cost the same whether it’s print or digital, and okay, yes, authors and teams should be fairly compensated.
BUT where’s the printing cost? The paper? The warehouse? The shipping?
You’re telling me I’m paying $14.99 for something that doesn’t even come with a dust jacket or a cute ribbon bookmark? Please.
The answer: You shouldn’t be. eBooks should reflect their format, not compete with a Barnes & Noble hardcover for the same shelf space they’ll never touch.
❓ Why is a novella the same price as a full-length novel?
Because somewhere along the way, someone decided that word count was irrelevant and vibes were everything. Which is fine for fashion, not finance.
A 90-page novella priced at $9.99? That’s literally more than ten cents per page. Meanwhile, a 400-page novel with an epic enemies-to-lovers arc, three spicy scenes, and a found family subplot? Sometimes also $9.99. Make it make sense.
The answer: It shouldn’t be. Pricing should loosely reflect length and substance. Novellas are fabulous when done right, but they are not novels. And our wallets know the difference.
❓ Why does it feel like I’m paying more and getting less?
Because you are, love. Typos in the first five pages. Plot holes you could drive a book boyfriend’s motorcycle through. Insta-love with zero tension. And don’t even get me started on novellas marketed as full-length, only for 40% of the book to be bonus content and sneak peeks.
The answer: Inflation, lack of transparency, and a sprinkle of publisher greed. We used to pay less and get more quality, more content, more satisfaction.
Now? Sometimes we pay more and leave feeling emotionally and financially unsatisfied, no cuddle epilogue. No closure. Just regret.
So yeah… the math ain’t mathing.
Let’s vent, swoon, and scream together because the only thing that should leave us breathless is a plot twist, not our credit card statement.
Serving up swoons and side-eyes with every overpriced one-click
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Carmen Alicea – One girl. Infinite tropes. Zero regrets.