The points of issue
First edition issued in full cloth with a dust jacket (a hardback, not a paperback original); copyright page stated as first edition. Smith's debut novel.
Is this the true first?
UK Virago (1997) is the true first; the US Houghton Mifflin edition followed in 1998.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book club edition noted; identify the first by the 1997 Virago cloth hardback with unclipped dust jacket.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Like a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition issued in full cloth with a dust jacket (a hardback, not a paperback original); copyright page stated as first edition. Smith's debut novel.
How do I tell the first printing from a later one?
Check the copyright page for the publisher's first-printing convention and confirm the points above. UK Virago (1997) is the true first; the US Houghton Mifflin edition followed in 1998.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book club edition noted; identify the first by the 1997 Virago cloth hardback with unclipped dust jacket.
I have a first edition of Like — what should I do?
If you're clearing books, New Mexico Literacy Project offers free pickup in Albuquerque, any condition, and makes sure collectible copies aren't lost. To sell, see the author's collecting guide. Either way, nothing valuable ends up in a landfill.