Step 2: Place book with spine facing down onto a flat surface Here’s an example with my paperback edition of Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard. Before reading is the most foolproof time. Technically I could do it when I haul them but I’m afraid I’ll forget or accidentally skip a book. I usually do this just before I start reading a book. That’s why I’m sharing a step by step guide on how to prevent cracked spines, complete with photos. Some people have asked me to share how I keep my paperback books in such a pristine condition. At the same time, I don’t like squinting into the shadows of a book that is hardly open. Still, I am very determined at preventing cracked spines. The one drawback they have measured against hardcovers is that their spines crack very easily. Paperbacks take up less space in my bags and bookshelves, are much lighter and are much handier when reading. Given a choice between a hardcover and paperback book with the same cover design, I will almost always pick the paperback.
