Entertainment
Amazons massive book sale competes with indie sellers on Independent Bookstore Day

Readers, patronizing their local shops for annual Independent Bookstore Day, are once again participating, perhaps unknowingly, in a competition between indie book stores and commerce giant Amazon.
The holiday, created 12 years ago to promote local businesses in the same vein as Record Store Day, has become a nationwide boon to independent sellers, including more than 1,600 participating stores and online retailers. Taking place every year on the last Saturday of April, it’s now supported by the American Booksellers Association (ABA) and saw record online interest in 2024 amid mass increases in book sales.
But as stores and shoppers geared up and stuffed their carts full of books in anticipation of this year’s event, Amazon simultaneously announced its multi-day annual book sale, taking place between April 23–28 and including massive discounts on physical and increasingly popular e-books.
Users, including many BookTok creators, were upset, calling the move an obvious attempt to steal sales using their age-old tactic of predatory pricing. Many urged fellow readers to protest Amazon’s book event and purchase from a local store instead. In a statement to Fast Company, Amazon refuted the claims that the timing of their sale was intentionally chosen to undermine Independent Bookstore Day, saying, “The dates for our sale were set this year to accommodate additional participating countries.”
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Still, independent bookstore supporters don’t believe it was coincidence. Amazon, originating as an online book seller, still maintains literary dominance, and it isn’t just about ease: Online options exist for independent book store as well, including mass marketplaces like Bookshop.org, IndieBound.org, and ThriftBooks, and the use of e-book reading apps connected to public library systems (like Libby and OverDrive) swelled over months of lockdown.
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Despite expanding into all realms of commerce, health, and even artificial intelligence over the last three decades, the company has continued to invest in its book offerings, even testing physical Amazon book storefronts. It now owns more than 80 percent of industry sales. In 2024, the ABA attempted to intervene in an ongoing Federal Trade Commission antitrust investigation, alleging that Amazon’s dominance constitutes a monopoly power over book sales. The motion was denied.
Independent book stores continue to fight back, however, and have scored some important wins. In the last four years, the number of independent book stores has nearly doubled, leaning into the public’s desire for community engagement and curation. Online communities are throwing their support behind local shops in turn, including Black and LGBTQ-owned businesses, unionized stores, and booksellers focused on diverse, or even banned, catalogs. Simultaneously, a renewed interest in public libraries paired with increasing anti-capitalist sentiment has offered a respite in a financially uncertain time for many.
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Thanks to BookTok and its celebrity ambassadors, reading is cool again. And independent book stores, bolstered by these digital communities, continue to push back against the industry giant.
Entertainment
Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love

Mother figures are the backbone of the world. Yours may be your biological mother, or maybe she’s your mother-in-law, your best friend’s mom, or simply someone whose motherly instinct has helped you through hard times.
Moms teach you the adulting necessities, give advice even if the problem is your fault, and above all, they put up with your shit and (almost) never complain.
The game plan here isn’t just to snag the last bouquet at CVS just so you’re not the kid who forgot Mother’s Day (but definitely also get flowers). And you don’t even need to spend a lot of money. (Peep our list of Mother’s Day gifts that cost less than $50. Want even more cheap gift ideas?
Skip the generic mugs and show your appreciation with a gift picked just for her: Whether it’s something to make a part of her life easier, something she’s mentioned wanting in passing, or simply something to make her feel like a damn queen, you can’t put a price on everything she’s done for you, but heartfelt gifts certainly help.
After all, they say “No matter how hard you try, you always end up like your mother.” But is that even a bad thing?
Entertainment
Ban subscriptions and get Microsoft Office 2024 for life for just £121

TL;DR: Grab Microsoft Office 2024 Home and Business for PC or Mac for just £120.54 through June 1.
You wouldn’t keep paying for Netflix if you could own your favorite shows, right? So why are you still subscribing to Office apps you use every day? Microsoft 365’s price keeps going up, but there’s finally a way to break free — and it’ll cost you way less in the long run.
Microsoft Office 2024 is the answer you’ve been looking for. Instead of monthly payments, simply pay £120.54 once and be set for life (reg. £188.37). It’s that simple. And, yes, this lifetime download works for PC or Mac.
What’s included?
This license comes with:
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Word
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Excel
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PowerPoint
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Outlook
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OneNote
The newest version of Microsoft Office is a little different from Microsoft 365. But just because you’re switching to a lifetime license doesn’t mean you’ll miss out on some of the most recent updates. Word and Excel both still have AI integrations for text suggestions and smart data analysis, and PowerPoint still has improved tools for recorded presentations.
Once you’ve redeemed your purchase, you can install your apps on one computer. After that, they’re yours to use however you want. No more subscription fees or sudden price hikes to worry about.
Why rent when you can own?
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Get a Microsoft Office lifetime license on sale for £120.54 with no coupon needed.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Entertainment
Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 9, 2025

Oh hey there! If you’re here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we’re serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today’s answer.
If you just want to be told today’s word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today’s Wordle solution revealed. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
Where did Wordle come from?
Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.
Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.
What’s the best Wordle starting word?
The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.
What happened to the Wordle archive?
The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website’s creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.
Is Wordle getting harder?
It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn’t any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle‘s Hard Mode if you’re after more of a challenge, though.
Here’s a subtle hint for today’s Wordle answer:
Gibberish.
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Does today’s Wordle answer have a double letter?
There are no recurring letters.
Today’s Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with…
Today’s Wordle starts with the letter T.
The Wordle answer today is…
Get your last guesses in now, because it’s your final chance to solve today’s Wordle before we reveal the solution.
Drumroll please!
The solution to today’s Wordle is…
TRIPE.
Don’t feel down if you didn’t manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we’ll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today’s Strands.
Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.
If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Wordle.