Lets Talk Bookish

Let’s Talk Bookish: Are Special Editions Even Special Anymore?

Dini @ dinipandareads22 Comments

✨ Welcome back to another week of LTB! ✨

Let’s Talk Bookish is a weekly meme created by Rukky @Eternity Books and co-hosted by Aria @Book Nook Bits and myself! In this discussion meme, participants get to talk about certain topics, share opinions, and spread the love by visiting each other’s posts! Learn more about LTB, past topics and future topics HERE.

This week’s topic is:

Are “Special Editions” still special?

Prompts: With the amount of ‘special’, ‘limited’, or ‘collectors’ editions that have saturated the market (including special limited ARCs), do you still consider special editions to be special? Do you buy special editions? If so, what makes you want to buy one  (i.e. sprayed edges, foiling, character art, etc.)? Give us the tea— what books do you think have too many special editions, and what books do you wish had more (or even one!) special editions?

With the amount of ‘special’, ‘limited’, or ‘collectors’ editions that have saturated the market (including special limited ARCs), do you still consider special editions to be special?

When I first thought about this topic, my immediate answer was ‘no, they aren’t special anymore’ but I was definitely thinking of certain books at the time. I do think there are still special editions that are actually special because of the limited run and the small likelihood that these companies will re-print more copies in the future.

However, I think a big part of the reason why it sometimes feels like special editions aren’t special anymore is because I always seem to see the same books getting “special”, “limited” or “collector” editions and it makes me wonder why these same books keep getting more editions, when that money and focus can be brought to other books that equally if not more so deserve the attention. I know there will always be buyers for those books that get unlimited “special” editions, but it does lessen the special-ness of said books.

Regardless of whether they’re classified as special, limited or even deluxe, there are definitely a lot more of them on shelves today compared to even a few years ago. In a way that does make it feel like it’s not as special to have these books on your shelf anymore since everyone has them, but the big plus to this trend is that more people can get their hands on these pretty books. It does make me wonder how it affects book pricing—if it does at all. I’m not very knowledgable about this issue so I’m unsure, but as physical books seem to only get more expensive, I guess I’m happy that I can get more for what I pay for (if that makes sense)?

Do you buy special editions? If so, what makes you want to buy one (i.e. sprayed edges, foiling, character art, etc.)?

I am a regular buyer of special editions. 🤭 I get them from my Illumicrate monthly subscription box, but I also keep an eye out for special editions from Broken Binding, Goldsboro, and the like. I love special editions for all of the reasons mentioned, but while sprayed edges and foiling are a big plus to have, the biggest draw for me is the character art or alternative covers that these special editions tend to come with. I’m a massive sucker for good character art or just generally all bookish art that help bring a book’s characters and world to life! I especially love when the art focuses on certain significant moments in the story, so I can turn to the front or back of the book to stare at the art and appreciate it for how it helps me visualize something I love! There are so many companies that do this right but I find that I always adore the covers and art from Fairyloot—they always slay (although I still can’t seem to convince myself to afford that subscription cos that intl. shipping is wild)!

Give us the tea—what books do you think have too many special editions , and what books do you wish had more (or even one!) special edition?

There are definitely some books (and authors) that come to mind when I think of those with too many special editions and the first ones that come to mind are the ACOTAR series, The Cruel Prince series, and maybe even the Caraval series. No shade to those books or those who love them, but at this point, I can’t recall any series that has received as many special editions (for whatever reason) as these books! I also can’t believe I’m saying this but at this point I feel like it’s verging on way too much, so I’m including The Poppy War series in this too. I love that series to bits but in the past year alone I think I’ve seen two or three more special editions coming out or in the works? It’s just… a lot! 😅 Why can’t we give that attention to other books that also deserve it?

I’m going to be biased here and say that The Green Bone Saga needs more special editions. I’m still not over my recent heartbreak of missing the Broken Binding sale of that series—I’m so gutted and mad at myself for it, lol! I’d love to see more special editions for books by Ann Liang, Rebecca Roanhorse, Rebecca Ross, Silvia Moreno-Garcia, T. Kingfisher, Stephen Graham Jones… My list could go on. 😂 Honestly, I think it’d also be cool to see more special editions for contemporary or literary fiction books (like Sally Rooney)!

Don’t forget to check out the other bloggers who joined the discussion this week! 👇🏽

Tasya @ The Literary Huntress
Rachael @ The Green Tea Librarian
Elle @ Unwrapping Words
Leslie @ Books Are the New Black
Yolanda @ Past Midnight
Emma @ Pages of Emma
Raji @ Worlds Unlike Our Own
Krysta @ Pages Unbound
Abyssal Librarian
Julie @ Bookflowerpath
Jillian @ Jillian the Bookish Butterfly

If I’ve missed your post this week, don’t hesitate to let me know in the comments, and I’ll add you to this week’s list of community posts ASAP!

Do you think ‘special editions’ are still special? What books do you think have too many of these ‘special’ books and what books do you think deserve one (or more)?!

22 thoughts on “Let’s Talk Bookish: Are Special Editions Even Special Anymore?”

    • Oh my gosh, you have the TBB GBS? I’m incredibly jealous but what a beautiful collection that is to have on your shelf (for anyone really haha)! 😂

      Low-key, this topic was kind of inspired by an announcement about yet another ACOTAR “special” edition. Like, why are we doing this again? I’m sorry I’m not very sorry, but enough is enough, haha. 🫣

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  2. I guess part of the reason the same titles keep coming up is because publishers believe there is still an untapped market. There must be enough people out there who haven’t read those books yet to make it worthwhile
    It is interesting that it’s really only fantasy books that get the special edition treatment. What is it about fantasy readers that makes them so susceptible to a pretty cover and decorated edges???

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    • I do agree, it’s definitely the one series that I keep seeing more people reading as they discover “romantasy”. There’s no shortage of readers who love that series and I get it. But I do wish that the love would spread to other books as well because romance fantasy is so much more than those books, lol.

      I guess having SEs of fantasy books tracks because of how it can bring the fantastical worlds, magical systems, creatures of all sorts, etc., even more to life, especially if it’s heavily illustrated? As a buyer of such pretty copies, I’m definitely glad they do it too, haha.

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  3. Ha ha, sometimes I see a cool edition of Caravan and remember I already own the book and have to keep scrolling. I reserve buying multiple editions of books for LotR though I would be persuaded to buy a really cool Anne of Green Gables if there was ever one I liked.

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    • Fair enough! There are definitely only certain books/series that I would buy multiple editions of and there aren’t plenty of them (my bank thanks me, lol). I think if I buy an expensive enough set or something that’s where I draw the line of not adding anymore special copies because I’ve already done the most, haha.

      Also, that’s interesting about the contemporary SE! It’s me—it’s me! I would buy it! 🤣 It defo depends on the book, but I have bought special editions of contemporaries/literaries and wouldn’t mind getting my hands on more, haha.

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  4. I very rarely do special editions, so I guess they’re still special to me. But as a whole, no, they’re not super special anymore. They’re still super expensive for something that’s a dime a dozen.

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    • That’s fair! Even though I do buy them often, I do still see them as special (most of the time, lol). I think when I think of SEs that no longer feel special, I mainly think of books in the “romantasy” genre that get plenty! 🤭 Surprisingly, I find that the price difference between a regular hardcover and a “special” or “deluxe” hardcover is not massive, at least where I live (which isn’t the US/UK/Europe/Aus), so in that case I would much rather buy the special, if I can afford it of course!

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  5. I loved reading your thoughts on this week’s topic! I’m right there with you—special editions used to feel special, but now it feels like every other week there’s another “limited,” “collector’s,” or “super-deluxe-surprise” version of the same handful of books. And honestly, after the tenth “exclusive” edition, it starts to feel a little less… exclusive.

    That said, I do think some special editions still hold their magic, especially the truly limited-run ones where you know they won’t be reprinted again. Those feel intentional, meaningful, and, well—actually special. I wish publishers would spread that love around more evenly instead of giving the same series constant glow-ups while dozens of equally amazing books get none.

    And yes, some series definitely have way too many special editions at this point. ACOTAR, The Cruel Prince, Caraval…. Meanwhile, so many brilliant books barely get one! I’d love to see more special editions. Also yes to more special editions for contemporary and literary fiction.!

    Please check out my post too! here:https://bookfllwerpath.art/2025/11/15/are-special-editions-still-special-lets-talk-bookish/

    Don’t forget to hit that follow button so you never miss out on my bookish topics, recs, and fun literary chats. Your support means so much, and I can’t wait to share more great content with you soon!

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    • Yep, the “super-deluxe-surprise” ones 🫣 I guess it’s great that more people can (technically) get their hands on a special edition, but it just doesn’t feel as special anymore when nearly all the books have it now.

      I agree there are some that still feel special, especially when it’s from a company that I know don’t do re-prints or very rarely do. Whenever I miss an SE from them, I always feel so gutted knowing I fully missed my chance, haha. The FOMO is not fun, but it is great knowing the SE actually feels special!

      Thanks for joining LTB this week 🙂

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  7. I’ll “oooohhh” and “aaaaaahhh” over the pretty special editions at the store, but leave them all there. Why? Because 99% are books I’ll never read any way. LOL! That’s not to say I won’t say yes to a special edition to a book I’ve read and enjoyed.

    Pam @ Read! Bake! Create!

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  8. The Cruel Prince series shenanigans on Pango have been awkward to watch. The Fairy Loot ones sold out to subscribers so no one else could buy them, and then a few of them showed up on Pango at different price points the day people received them in the mail. I haven’t read the series yet (I’m sort of afraid to because what if I love it and want the pretty art of those special editions?).

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    • Oh gosh, I really… I can’t stand people who do that! People who buy a book/series when they don’t care about it either way, and the only reason they do that is so they can jack the prices up triple or quadruple what they paid for it because they know there are gonna be readers who genuinely love the book/series who will pay for it! I wish that there was a way to control that, lol. I know it’s also not news… But it still gets to me cos it’s so unfair! 🤣 I remember when Owlcrate had the SEs as the third book was coming out and omg, it was like going to war 😭 People were so intense about it!

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  9. I do own a few special editions, but I very rarely do them because they are just a little too expensive for me. For me personally they still feel special because I rarely do them though. I do agree that some books have maybe had too many special editions compared to other books.

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  12. I read one post this week saying that the price difference between the “special” and normal editions are not that different, so that really surprised me. I remember early on the prices being wildly expensive! But idk if it’s really because the flood of special editions flood the market bring the price down, wild international shipping prices, or book prices just keep getting more and more expensive 😭

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