Romance Reader Insights: Publisher Type
Results of my latest Instagram poll about the reading habits and preferences of romance readers.
Here is the recap of the latest Romance Reader Pulse Check, a regular poll I run on Instagram about the reading habits and preferences of romance readers.
UPDATE: Now that I’ve introduced some new benefits for paid subscribers, like my NYT and Amazon best seller analyses, I’ve decided to share these pulse check summaries with all subscribers.
The question I’m reporting on today is: Do you read more traditionally-published or self/indie-published romance books?
Results
The poll received 167 responses over 9 days (October 6-14, 2025). Here are the final results:
Do you read more traditionally-published or self/indie-published romance books?
More traditionally-published - 31%
More self/indie-published - 28%
About an equal amount of each - 38%
I don’t know - 3%
Comments
The post received 14 comments on Instagram and 14 comments on Threads.
Many readers in the comments said they’re shifting toward or already prefer indie/self-published books, often due to accessibility through platforms like Kindle Unlimited (KU), strong social media marketing, and the ability to connect with authors directly.
Some still enjoy traditionally-published books—especially via Libby or for specific genres like historical romance—but note that their reading habits have naturally leaned more indie over time.
Audiobook availability remains a barrier for some trying to access indie titles. Overall, there’s a growing appreciation for indie authors and their success, though awareness of how a book is published varies among readers.
Commentary
Overall, there was a fairly even split between reading traditionally-published and self/indie-published romance books. I honestly thought more people would answer “I don’t know,” as this is something I personally didn’t really pay much attention to in the past. I think this is a good indication that my audience is very engaged in the book community and has a good understanding of the publishing world.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t find any research on reader preferences when it comes to publisher type. I did come across this random 2022 post from a Facebook Group called “The Book Hangout Spot” that asked its members this same question. In general, readers were either fairly agnostic or favoured traditionally-published books because they felt the quality is higher.
In general, it seems that readers usually say they prefer traditionally-published books because they feel they’re more curated and higher quality, as there is an assumption that more time is spent editing and refining the book.
On the other hand, readers usually say they prefer indie/self-published books because they have better access to them through cheaper prices and subscriptions like Kindle Unlimited. Another element of this is access to different types of authors (BIPOC and LGBTQ+, for example), content, formats, etc., as indie authors aren’t subject to the same level of gatekeeping that happens in traditional publishing and have more freedom to be creative.
A lot of the content about the traditional vs indie topic is targeted at authors who have to choose between these two main publishing pathways. A great post on this topic is Should You Self-Publish or Traditionally Publish? by Jane Friedman. Jane’s resource, The Book Book Publishing Paths, is one of my go-to resources for understanding all the ways books can be published.
What are your thoughts? Let me know in the comments!
Current Poll
Click on the Instagram post below to vote in this week’s poll: What length do you prefer for romance books?
Demographics
Instagram doesn’t provide demographic information on the people who voted in the poll, but you can see the current age, gender, and country breakdown of my followers in my previous recap.
Suggestions
Do you have a suggestion for a poll question about the reading habits and preferences of romance readers? Submit it here!
Happy reading! 💜
I’m in the process of finishing my first book. In my 30 year career as a first responder, I’ve seen the best and worst of life — in uniforms, under smoke, and in moments when people cling to each other just to make it through. After three decades as a firefighter and military police officer, I learned something simple but profound:
Love isn’t a fairy tale. It’s a choice.
And it’s the only thing that makes life worth the fight.
That belief is what led me to write The Sound of Forever.
It’s not just a romance — it’s a story about hope, redemption, and two people who find that even when the world burns down around you, love can still rise from the ashes. If you’ve ever loved someone through distance, loss, or time — this story is for you.