Romance publisher Avon Books is experimenting with a new Facebook app called the Avon Social Reader. The app lets users read excerpts from upcoming Avon releases and share this content with their friends.

Up to 20 percent of each book will be available to read. The content includes share links and the app will connect to e-commerce links so that customers can buy the eBooks if they like them. Avon got the idea after doing a survey that found that  romance readers spend a lot of time talking about their favorite books in social networks.

“Many are using apps to share the news stories that they are reading online instantly with their friends,” explained Liate Stehlik, senior vice president and publisher of William Morrow and Avon Books, in a statement. “The recent word-of-mouth phenomenon surrounding Fifty Shades of Gray confirms that women are talking about the books they are reading in equal measure.  Thus, Avon worked to create a simple way for friends to connect on Facebook over the books they are most passionate about.”

Romance publisher Avon Books has relaunched its website and added a new crowd sourced social media platform to it. The site, which is a collaboration between Avon and social publishing company Tidal, brings together content from readers, reviewers, publishers and authors, so that it grows into a living and breathing romance community.

For example, the site pulls content from AvonAddicts, an exclusive group of romance enthusiasts, reviews from sites including smartbitches-trashybooks.com and this content will live next to author videos and publisher promos. Readers can interact with all of this content by commenting and sharing the books. Books that are being talked about are highlighted at the top of the homepage.

Liate Stehlik, SVP/publisher of William Morrow and Avon Books explained the idea in this statement, “Books become bestselling international blockbusters based primarily upon word of mouth; and online/digital sharing is an integral part of that phenomenon.”