I prefer to read the trade-sized books (the larger paperback books - about the size of a hardcover book). I try to only order those, but it's hard to tell which are which! I know some books are marked as "Mass Market" and I don't order those. The rest just say "Paperback" but about 50% of the time I end up with a mass-market even though that's not what I thought I was ordering.

Please don't get me wrong - I'm not going to throw a hissy-fit if I receive a mass-market (smaller) paperback, I'm just trying to figure out how to end up with the type of book I prefer.

Any ideas?

No, you can't always tell.  I always assume that it's a small paperback until I get it and it's a "trade".  Sometimes the ISBN will just say "paperback" and "mass market paperback",  Others don't use different ISBN's

I've SORT of figured out a way to do it...if you have a lot of time on your hands!

Go to Amazon and find the book. It will either say "Mass Market Paperback" or just "Paperback". (Just like here!) But if you scroll down the page it will give you the dimensions of the book. It will also like to other versions that are available.

As I mentioned...you need a lot of free time!  :-)

Unless the publisher issued different ISBNs for each version, there really isn't a way to differentiate.  And often, publishers reuse the same ISBN for all versions.  Even sending a PM to ask the sender wouldn't be reliable because many people aren't sure which version they themselves have.

I do what Carole suggested. I like the trade size only because they look cooler. ;)

I also look up that specific ISBN of the book title on Amazon in order to confirm whether a book is mass paperback or trade paperback,.

Sometimes when even Amazon doesn't have the dimensions, you can get a clue from the list price - if it is over $7.99, it is probably a trade paperback.  (unless very recently published).

I tend to search Amazon for the ISBN and see what edition pops up - and if there's an edition on Amazon that I'd rather have, I find the ISBN for it and search for that ISBN on PBS.

I don't mind reading mass-market paperbacks, but I'll snap up a trade paperback if both editions are available; they're easier to hold, and the print tends to be larger and less cramped.

I'm with Cadrus, I prefer the trade sized too. In fact, I've stopped intentionally ordering MMPs. Trades are just cuter, easier to read, hold, see, etc. On another site I'm on, it actually tells you whether it's trade or MMP, but I noticed that with the exception of the Harlequin-type books, it's touch and go- most stuff says PB but it could be MM or trade.

I was tagging trades for a time but they disappeared. I wasn't to happy. I only tagged books that I knew for sure were trade size and didn't share an isbn with a mm version. After I saw they were removed, I went back and tagged 5-6 books that were still on my reminder list. I did it mostly for my own benefit and again they were removed, not once but twice more! I was adamant that these dang tags were going to remain, so I tagged them again....so far so good. I did contact TPTB and told them I was not to happy, these were proper helpful tags. I stated that I though they should rethink how easily tags can be removed by other members thinking certain tags are improper.  I was told they agreed with me that it was a very helpful tag.  Their solution however was fixing the book data info. Great idea BUT to me it's a great tag because I can click on the tag and see ALL sorts of other trade size books. That's the whole point of tagging, making searching for certain books easier. I'm sure there would be mistakes at times but any tag will have mistakes. A book tagged as a trade size can be double checked at amazon. That's where I usually get my info.

I spent a good part of Wednesday afternoon on Amazon checking the ISBNs of bok on my WL and tagging the ones I knew were trade-size. Just went and checked them and, sure enough, the tags are gone.

This has got to be a more helpful tag than one I just saw: "book I've read".

Now I'm going back through my WL yet again and placing a Note on the trade-sized ones.

Edited to add: Some of my "Trade" tags are still there but there on books at the end of my WL (end of the alphabet). I have a feeling that those will gone in time.  :-(

Dang it! I just checked and you are right they are once again gone!! This just really ticks me off!

ETA: Sorry that I jumped the gun. Some of mine are still there.

I was just coming to the forums to ask this same question! thanks Carole!  I also prefer the trade paperbacks, mostly because they seem to have slightly bigger type. That helps when I'm tired and reading in bed.  ;-)

I ordered a trilogy, and got two of them today. I thought I  was ordering all of them in tradepb, but the two that came today are one of each. :(  The MMPB is also water damaged, so I'll have to order another one.  I'm going to try the Check Amazon method to see if I can get a replacement in trade size.

Just keep in mind that Amazon's information is not always 100% correct and just because they might not show a book with a reused ISBN it might still exist with both the Trade Paperback and the Mass Market Paperback having the same one.

I understand that Christy. That's why I research the book before I place the tag. I feel very confident my trade size tags are correct. It's very frustrating to do all the work to then have it removed.

I was wondering why can't paperback swap list the NYT trade bestseller list like they do the paperback list and the hardcoverlist.  The list is always in the book section of the NYT and it would make an easy way for us to wish/order the trade books.

Wow, that's so annoying that those tags keep disappearing! I can't believe someone would get rid of "trade size" and not "tbr" or "my bookshelf" tags. I ONLY tag as inappropriate those tags that give a book description. That's really unfortunate.