Reasons Why A Writer Might Be Obsessed With Pre-Ordering Certain Authors

Lately, I have become obsessed with pre-ordering my favourite author’s upcoming releases. I get excited about receiving the book on publication day (or close to it, depending on my delivery choice). There are some authors I love so much that they become an automatic buy for me, which means I pre-order the book the minute I know it is available to do so. It arrives several months later on my doorstep and ends up being a bit of a surprise (because I know it is coming, I just don’t know exactly when it will arrive). This is what makes me happy.

As a writer who is also a huge reader, I love to crack open a novel, mute everything else happening around me and immerse myself in the story. I just dive in and expect to be entertained to the max. However, there are usually some key elements that play a big part in what keeps me turning pages: strong female protagonists that are competitive and ambitious, a slice of mystery or suspense, compelling moments of love and romance, unique investigations into parental or family dynamics, and a robust controversial topic wrapping all of these things together.

This past Sunday, a minor hockey tournament took over the ice pads in Owen Sound. This meant that my scheduled league hockey game was cancelled. I threw some laundry in the washer, swept the floor, and washed the dishes, earning my right to sit down and relax for at least half an hour. I wanted to read a few chapters of a new book by Taylor Jenkins Reid called, “Carrie Soto is Back.” I had pre-ordered this book, but I had set it aside because I was heading to a writing retreat and didn’t have time to read it then. Now, I had time to make a small dent.

Long story short, I didn’t move from my spot all day, until I finished the 384-page novel (even though I had other things I should’ve been doing). Taylor Jenkins Reid has a way of gluing my ass to the chair, and nothing will make me stop reading. Not only did I love the story about a retired legendary female athlete attempting to return to the game of tennis at the age of 37, but my heart was beating so fast at times it was as if I was playing a few games of tennis right there alongside the main character. So intense, that I bit my nails down to the quick.

Since Reid didn’t know much about tennis when she started writing the book, I cannot believe she nailed it so well. Honestly, I don’t even like the game of tennis, but I absolutely loved this book. The special relationship between father and daughter was so emotional that I had tears running down my face, not once, but twice. That is rare for me. I laughed aloud several times during conversations between the main character and her rivals. I could feel my competitive vibes tingling, and I was rooting for Carrie until the end. 

“Carrie Soto is Back” was a fantastic compulsive read about female competition, rivalry, and ambition. I highly recommend it if you are a competitive person who loves sports (not necessarily tennis) and love to root for the underdog.

If you are a writer, here are seven reasons why I enjoy reading and studying Reid’s historical fiction and why she is a definite pre-order author for me. 

1.) Even though Reid didn’t plan ahead, she has recurring characters across her last four books that work as a set:

• Example: Carrie Soto made an appearance in “Malibu Rising.” Readers may recall her throwing a temper tantrum on Nina Riva’s lawn. Nina Riva is also mentioned in the “Carrie Soto is Back” novel.

• Example: Mick Riva is first mentioned in “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” as Evelyn’s third husband. He pops up in “Daisy Jones and the Six” in 1977 at a party Daisy is hosting at Chateau Marmont—the one where Daisy steps on broken glass. He is one of the main characters in “Malibu Rising” and is also mentioned in “Carrie Soto is Back.”

2.) The last four books published in order, all take place in different decades that move chronologically through time, and all happen in various locations:

• “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” – 1960s – Hollywood
• “Daisy Jones & The Six” – 1970s – Sunset Strip
• “Malibu Rising” – 1980s – Malibu
• “Carrie Soto is Back” – 1990s – Australia, France, England, and the USA

3.) Each of the last four books has a different structure in how Reid tells us the story. The most intriguing for me was “Daisy Jones.” This is the first time I have encountered a novel in that style.

• “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” – One woman’s life story from birth
• “Daisy Jones & The Six” – Musical band told in interview style (multiple POVs)
• “Malibu Rising” – Switching back and forth in time
• “Carrie Soto is Back” – Told in a linear line – One woman with one goal 

4.) There is always a love thread weaving through the main story, whether it is best friends, romantic interests, or parental love. Reid believes that love is the genesis of everything that happens on some level and will always be a part of her stories.

5.) Reid is not afraid to explore different racial and ethnic backgrounds for her characters. She likes to discuss how those identities might struggle differently with the same situations. Reid is a white woman, but she engages with many of her women friends who are not white. One of the most important things she does with her writing is to uplift and support women of colour.

6.) Reid does not speak Spanish, but she can read it. She included it in her last book without giving the English translation with the phrases. She believes that the reader will figure it out if you use context clues. If they can’t and need to know, they could use Google Translate to understand it better.

7.) If you pre-order a book before publication date, Amazon will guarantee you the lowest price of your book after you ordered it, to when it is shipped out to you. I am always getting refunds for the difference. I love it.

That’s only seven reasons, and I probably could add a hundred more, but I won’t. I’m obsessed with Taylor Jenkins Reid’s writing and I can’t wait to see what she writes next. Reid’s work is available everywhere—splashed across social media, bestseller lists, TikTok, and all your writing buddies TBR piles. In the last ten years, she’s written eight novels, where at least two of her books are being developed into feature films, and two more are being adapted for television. If you haven’t read her books, I recommend reading them in publication order, but it is not necessary. This woman is only thirty-eight years old and is already a big effing deal.

Lastly, if you want to help out an author… You know, the one you have been reading forever or the one debuting next week? Pre-orders prove to the publisher that you want to read that book. That tells them the book has a place in the market. I realize you can’t pre-order every book you want to read, so that’s why we have public libraries. You can recommend pre-ordering a book; if they buy it, you get to be first on the reading list. Use the library, or they soon will disappear too.

Happy reading. Happy writing.