As a book publisher, I often hear from authors who are considering publishing a second edition of their book. Perhaps something isn’t working or sales are sluggish, or they’ve realized it’s time to update the material because it’s become a bit outdated. Or maybe they want to try a new cover to see if that appeals to their readership more. And sometimes, it’s because their first publisher has gone out of business or isn’t offering the support that they once did.
There can be all sorts of reasons for considering a second edition…
But when is a second edition needed, and when can you get away with simply revising or relaunching your first edition?
This is a great question, and the answer depends on how much you’re changing and what your goals are. In this post, we’ll cover:
- When a book qualifies as a second edition (and when it doesn’t).
- Whether you need a new ISBN (and why it matters).
- The difference between relaunching and republishing.
- How changes like a new title or cover affect your book’s sales and reviews.
- The risks of republishing—and how to do it the right way.
Let’s break it down!
What Counts as a “Second Edition”?
A second edition is more than just a small tweak. It usually involves significant updates to the content or metadata. Here’s a quick way to tell if your book qualifies:
It’s a second edition if:
- You’re changing publishers.
- You’ve made substantial changes (added, removed or rewritten content).
- You’re updating outdated material (especially for nonfiction books).
- You’re changing some of the metadata, like title, author name, trim size or paper type.
It’s NOT a second edition if:
- You’re purely fixing typos or minor formatting issues.
- You’re only updating your book description, author bio or price.
- You’re just changing the cover.
🔹 Pro Tip: If your changes are minor, you can likely just update your existing book file rather than releasing a second edition. The litmus test is to consider your readers’ response. If they were to compare the earlier version with your updated one, would they feel like they were missing out on valuable information? If the answer is “no,” then you can probably get away with just updating your first edition. But if they would feel like there was a substantive difference and they were missing important information, a second edition is advisable.
Sometimes, the solution to a sluggish sales problem is simply to relaunch the book. But if you do decide to create a second edition, you’ll need a new ISBN for each of the formats the book will be published in (paperback, hardcover, ePub, audiobook, large print).
Republishing vs. Relaunching: What’s the Difference?
Before deciding to republish your book, it’s important to distinguish between republishing and relaunching, because they’re not the same thing.
- Relaunching a book means marketing it to a new audience or with a fresh strategy. A book can be relaunched multiple times throughout its life without changing the edition.
- Republishing as a second edition means updating the book’s content significantly enough that it requires a new ISBN. This means replacing the first edition with a new version.
According to KDP’s rules, if manuscript updates result in page count changes of 10% or more, it must be a new edition, which is a bit more generous than the pro tip offered above. But I’d recommend erring on the side of the reader.
It’s important to note, if your book isn’t selling, the problem isn’t always the content. Sometimes, it’s the positioning, cover or marketing. So before going through the effort of creating a second edition, consider whether a new marketing plan or cover refresh could achieve your goals.
If, however, your book does need major updates or if you are changing publishers, a second edition is required. Let’s explore what that entails.
Should You Change Your Book’s Title?
Changing the title can refresh your book’s marketing, but it comes with risks:
- A new title can help clarify your book’s purpose and attract the right readers.
- You’ll lose existing reviews and sales history, though, since Amazon sees it as a completely different book.
🔹 Best Practice: If you’re changing the title, be prepared to relaunch your book as if it’s brand new.
What Happens to Your Reviews and Rankings If You Republish?
When you publish a second edition with a new ISBN, you can request that Amazon link the two editions, which preserves your reviews. Amazon typically allows reviews to transfer if the core content remains the same and the updates don’t fundamentally change the book’s purpose.
It’s important to note, though, that if you are changing the title or other metadata, Amazon may not allow linking.
🔹 Best Practice: Before publishing your second edition, contact KDP’s support team to ensure your reviews will transfer.
What About the First Edition?
If you’re replacing your book with a second edition, you must retire the first edition to avoid marketplace confusion.
- If you self-published, remove it from all distribution channels, including KDP, IngramSpark and any other publishing platform.
- If you worked with a publisher, check your contract for rights reversion, update policies, or contract termination terms.
- If print copies exist, decide whether to sell out the remaining stock or discontinue sales.
Once the first edition is retired, you can publish and promote the second edition as its official replacement.
Should You Publish a Second Edition?
Here’s a quick way to decide:
- If your book needs major content updates, a second edition makes sense.
- If sales are slow but the content is strong, try relaunching it first.
- If you’re unsure, get expert advice before making big changes.
At Emerald Lake Books, we specialize in helping authors determine the best path forward when publishing their books. We’ve had the pleasure of helping a few different authors create second editions they were proud of, including Mark Smutny’s Thrive, Bill Buckbee’s Behind the Beard, and Marc Youngquist’s The 143rd in Iraq.
In the interview below, Mark Smutny and Tara Alemany talk about why he chose to publish a second edition with Emerald Lake Books and the outcome of that effort.
👉 Wondering if republishing with Emerald Lake Books is the right move for you? Let’s find out: Check Us Out.
