Source Books
Sourcebooks is an independent United States trade publisher founded in 1987 by Dominique Raccah in Naperville, Illinois. Since it's launch from Raccah's spare bedroom, Sourcebooks has grown into a major mid-sized trade publisher with multiple imprints. Including, romance-focused Bloom Books, and Sourcebooks Casablanca, Sourcebooks Kids, Poisoned Pen Press, and Sourcebooks Audio. In 2019, Penguin Random House purchased a significant minority stake; by 2023-2024 Sourcebooks relationship with PHR expanded as the partnership deepened while Sourcebooks continued to operate with its own editorial identity. Sourcebooks entered 2024 as a market leader in U.S. romance publishing.
Mission & History
Sourcebooks Publishing was officially established in 1987, beginning its launch in Dominique Raccah's spare bedroom in her home. Dominique Raccah, the founder, left her leadership position at "Leo Burnett", cashed in her 401(k), and launched Sourcebooks. She began with no employees, funding, and no connections to anyone in the industry. She just believed in books and their power to educate and empower. Through it all, Dominique's original dream remained clear: to create a world of readers, one book at a time.[1]
Ownership & Structure
(Naperville, Illinois and New York, May 22, 2019)—Sourcebooks, one of the country’s fastest-growing independent publishers, has sold a significant minority-ownership stake to Penguin Random House. Sourcebooks is now ranked the 7th largest U.S. book publisher, a rare achievement for an independent press in a landscape dominated by the Big Five. In 2023, Sourcebooks became #1 U.S. publisher of romance. Early success expanding into gift bestsellers like Finding Time and 1001 Beauty Solutions led to six-figure print runs and opened doors to general trade and non-bookstore markets. [1][2]
Financial Information
Sourcebooks is privately held, so it does not publish GAAP filings like a public company. This means detailed balance-sheet metrics are not publicly available. However we can use indicators for the companies financial health.
- Penguin Random Houses initial investment in 2019 and subsequent deeper commercial partnership/support signal confidence from a major injury player.[3]
- Sourcebooks' 2023-2024 growth in romance (reported 228% growth in combined romance imprints in 2023) and acquisitions (i.e. Callisto Media assets) indicate revenue growth and strategic reinvestment[1][2]
- The company's expansion into audio, gift/catalog channels, and acquisition of imprints suggests diversification of revenue streams is a positive sign for stability[1]
Precise profit/loss figures are not public, but available signals-strategic investments, acquisitions, and category growth, and trade reporting-point to solid financial performance and growth-oriented strategy.
News
#1 Romance Publisher (entering 2024)
- Sourcebooks reported major growth across Bloom Books and Sourcebooks Casablanca-228% growth in 2023-and described the company as entering 2024 as the top romance publisher in the U.S. (based on industry statistics)[4]
Acquisitions & Expansion
- Acquisition of Callisto Media assets (December 2023) to expand nonfiction/data-driven publishing; continued investment in imprints such as Poisoned Pen Press[5]
Industry Profile
- Sourcebooks and Dominique Raccah receive frequent trade coverage for innovation and growth; the company appears comfortable participating in trade advocacy and industry conversations[6]
Publishing Program
Catalog
Most known for publishing romance novels. Organized by authors, booksellers, librarians & educators, and books. However, they have a wide variety of publications. Some of their imprints include, Sourcebooks, Sourcebooks Casablanca, Sourcebooks Kids, Sourcebooks Audio. [7]
Notable Titles and Authors
In 2023, Sourcebooks became #1 U.S. publisher of romance.
Young Adult:
- If He Had Been With Me & If Only I Had Told Her by Laura Nowlin
- A Thousand Boy Kisses by Tillie Cole
- Boys of Tommen series by Chloe Walsh
Adult Fiction:
- The Boyfriend by Freida McFadden
- The Crash by Freida McFadden
- Ward D by Freida McFadden
Romance:
- The Charlie Method by Elle Kennedy
- Wild Side by Elsie Silver
- King of Sin series by Ana Huang
- Twisted series by Ana Huang
- Story of my Life by Lucy Score
- Dreamland Billionaires series by Lauren Asher
- The Conditions of Will by Jessa Hastings
Formats
What formats (digital and print) does the publisher produce? What can you learn about the design and printing process? How much do their books cost?
Cheapest of bestsellers: How to Catch Santa Claus-$12.99
Most expensive of bestsellers: The Fine Print (Collector’s Edition-$30.99
Brand Identity
I noticed a lot of pinks and blues among the book covers. Overall their publications are very popular among “BookTok” and “Bookstagram”. I notice that Sourcebooks’ publications are very popular among my age category, probably because of the rise in romance novels.
Editorial Staff & Tastes
Sourcebooks lists acquisitions editors across imprints on its editorial page (i.e. Anna Michels, Shana Drehs, Wendy McClure). Editorial bios describe tastes and acquisition interests-romance, commercial fiction, mystery, children's, and data-driven nonfiction. The Sourcebooks editorial directory is a good resource for detailed editor-by-editor tastes. It's very helpful if you want to analyze their acquisitions patterns or target particular imprints. [8]
Sourcebooks Audience
With it's production of bestselling young-adult romance novels, Sourcebooks has a wider variety within that category. Overall, Sourcebooks has a very recognizable collection to me, as there are many I have read. To most, I am considered a young-adult, so this very well makes sense.
Predictions
Strengths
Rapid, data-driven growth, especially in romance. Diversified formats, strategic investor support, and acquisition capacity to expand offerings. Strong marketing skills and social media attention are key assets.
Risks
As a formerly independent company now partnered with a major trade publisher, Sourcebooks faces the usual integration/strategy alignment risks; also industry-wide retail disruptions, rising costs, and politicized book-banning controversies could affect particular lists or school/library exposure.
Outlook
Sourcebooks is positioned to stay a leader in consumer romance and to grow its nonfiction, audio, and specialty gift channels. Continued author acquisition (big romance voices) and cross-media opportunities (adaptations, audio-first deals) are likely growth paths.
List of Reference
Love in Bloom: What the Explosive Surge in the Popularity of Romance Novels Means for Readers, Authors, and the Publishing Industry.
“Penguin Random House Invests in Growth of Leading Independent Publisher Sourcebooks.” Penguinrandomhouse.com, 2019, global.penguinrandomhouse.com/announcements/penguin-random-house-invests-in-growth-of-leading-independent-publisher-sourcebooks/?utm_source Accessed 11 Oct. 2025.
SE, Bertelsmann. “Sourcebooks Buys Nonfiction Publisher Callisto Media - Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA.” Bertelsmann.com, Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA, Carl-Bertelsmann-Straße 270, D-33311 Gütersloh, www.bertelsmann.com, 2023, www.bertelsmann.com/news-and-media/news/sourcebooks-buys-nonfiction-publisher-callisto-media.jsp?utm_source. Accessed 11 Oct. 2025.
Sourcebooks.com, 2025, www.sourcebooks.com/bestsellers.html. Accessed 11 Oct. 2025.
Sourcebooks.com, 2025, sourcebooks.com/editorial.html?utm_source Accessed 11 Oct. 2025.
Sourcebooks.com, 2023, www.sourcebooks.com/media-2023-and-earlier.html?utm_source. Accessed 11 Oct. 2025.
Sourcebooks.com, 2025, www.sourcebooks.com/the-sourcebooks-story.html. Accessed 11 Oct. 2025.
“Sourcebooks Publishing: Independent Powerhouse Driving Bestselling Fiction, Romance, YA, and Children’s Books.” For the Writers , 29 Dec. 2024, www.forthewriters.com/post/sourcebooks. Accessed 11 Oct. 2025.
