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Analysts have predicted that this Christmas could herald a "real step change" for e-books as new devices and digital partnerships boost the market significantly.
On Monday (20th August) Barnes & Noble confirmed that its Nook device will arrive in the UK in mid-October. The US retailer revealed its new website, nook.co.uk, and promised to announce prices and retail partners in the coming weeks.
The autumn will also see Waterstones beginning to sell the Kindle, while Kobo is expected to put a new device into the market and for the first time independent booksellers will be able to partner with Kobo and Anobii to sell digital books. Google launched its 8gb Nexus 7 tablet last month. A UK launch for the Kindle Fire is another hope, though unconfirmed.
Douglas McCabe of Enders Analysis said: "Clearly if we thought this [past] year was a big digital Christmas, we have not understood the capacity in the market yet. This year could really step-change the market share for e-books come January and February 2013 after all these new devices are released."
Publishers and analysts have warned that the success of the Nook in the UK depends on the strength and number of its retail partnerships, with Tesco, John Lewis, Carphone Warehouse and Foyles have all been posited as possible retail partners for the Nook.