# Powerless

> A self-published BookTok novel sold over one million copies, its licensee reported.

- Owner: Lauren Roberts; Simon & Schuster (publisher)
- Kind: Book
- Sector: Entertainment
- Seed date: 2023-01-31
- Peak date: Week of Jun 30, 2024
- Date basis: Dates use the stated precision; chart positions are date anchors.
- Spread Score: 38 (Niche, provisional), v1.2
- Mechanics: Maker origin, Underdog, Platform jump, Press loop, Controversy

## Summary

Roberts shared writing snippets on TikTok before self-publishing Powerless. S&S added creator mailings and an exclusive edition. Bestseller coverage, a television deal, merchandise and a later cash-prize creator campaign followed.

## Timeline

- 2021-08-13 — Lauren Roberts (TikTok) — Roberts announced that Powerless had a Goodreads page while she documented writing the novel.
- 2023-01-31 — Lauren Roberts (Retail) — Roberts self-published Powerless after promoting snippets to her TikTok followers.
- 2023-06-20 — Lloyd J. Jassin (Open web) — Roberts’s agent announced a three-book global co-publishing deal with Simon & Schuster.

The full timeline, metrics and sources are on the case page, or via the Pro API (https://howitspread.com/developers).

Canonical URL: https://howitspread.com/cases/powerless-lauren-roberts

Cite as: How It Spread (2026). “Powerless.” Case HIS-00805. Spread Score v1.2: 38/100. Updated 2026-10-15. https://howitspread.com/id/HIS-00805