The number one best way to support a new book

plus First Love tour dates!

First Love comes out one month from today!

Some amazing things have already happened, including positive reviews, and endorsements from some of my all-time favorite writers:

But this final stretch leading up to the book’s official arrival in the world on May 7 is crucial. Many of you know all about the importance of preorders, but for those who don’t (and as a reminder for those who do!), preorders can truly make or break a book’s success. Here’s how:

• Preorders count toward a book’s first week of sales, which means they’re a new book’s best shot at becoming a bestseller (barring acts of Oprah). Such a tiny fraction of the books that are published every year make it onto bestseller lists, it’s always a long shot and it’s far from the only determination of whether a book is “successful.” But I’ll admit: I am holding onto a tender little hope that First Love might make it onto a bestseller list. Why not! It could happen! But only with enough preorders.

• Preorders demonstrate demand, which booksellers respond to by stocking more copies. If a bookstore gets a lot of preorders for a forthcoming title, they might put it somewhere super visible once it arrives, like on a front table, or a featured shelf, which can lead to more sales. We’re aiming for a snowball effect here—and it all starts with preorders!

• Preorders feed the almighty algorithm. If you prefer to buy books through Amazon, preordering can help the book climb their internal rankings, which means they’ll push the book into more people’s “you might also like” recommendations—again, leading to more sales.

• If preordering is cost prohibitive right now (hardcovers are pricy, I get it!), please consider requesting First Love through your local library. The library will (hopefully) fill your request by preordering the book, so this totally counts!

• Plus! If you preorder from the Strand, you can get a signed copy even if you can’t make it to an in-person event. I’m so psyched to have this set up with one of my favorite local bookstores, and I have my signing pen ready to write you a love note from afar.

Wherever you choose to preorder from, I will be endlessly grateful for the support.

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And speaking of in-person events, I’m going on tour!

Here’s where I’ll be:

Mon 5/6, NYC: LAUNCH EVENT at Books Are Magic, in conversation with Leslie Jamison

Mon 5/13, NYC: Franklin Park Reading Series

Weds 5/15, Los Angeles: Skylight Books, in conversation with Ruth Madievsky

Thurs 5/16, San Francisco: The Booksmith, in conversation with Esmé Weijun Wang

Mon 5/20, Seattle: Elliott Bay Books, in conversation with Jane Wong

Tues 5/21, Portland: Powell’s City of Books, in conversation with Erica Berry

Thurs, 6/6, NYC: Book Club Bar with Chloé Caldwell

Tues 6/11, Philadelphia, Head House Books, in conversation with Athena Dixon

I’d love to see you there. (You can also stay up-to-date by checking out the events section of my website, here.)