Fifty Shades of Grey: Barnes & Noble's saving grace?

The floundering book retailer exceeds financial expectations — thanks in part to a pleasant sales bump from the erotic page-turner

Fifty Shades of Grey
(Image credit: AP Photo/Jeffrey M. Boan)

"Barnes & Noble loves mommy porn," says Peter Kafka at All Things D. The struggling brick-and-mortar bookseller reported a smaller loss than anticipated for its most recent fiscal quarter, thanks to a surprise jolt from the sexed-up Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy. Millions of fans have been devouring the guilty-pleasure erotic novels, which center around the indulgent sexcapades of heroine Anastasia Steele and her older wealthy lover Christian Grey. The first novel has become the fastest-selling paperback of all time, beating out even Harry Potter. Here's what you should know about Barnes & Noble's economic stimulus package:

How did Barnes & Noble do last quarter?

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