Familiar
Shopify storefront setup

Set up Familiar in Shopify

Add preorder messaging to your product pages, then place secure ebook downloads on Shopify’s Thank you and Order status pages.

Preorders

Set up Shopify preorders

Familiar charges the customer in full at checkout, marks the selected format as a preorder, and holds print shipping or ebook access until its release date.

Charge now

Shopify collects the full order total when the customer checks out.

Open on your schedule

Leave the sales embargo blank to open immediately, or choose the first day customers can order.

Release by format

Each ebook or print format uses its own expected availability date in Familiar.

Add the storefront block

Use the published theme and repeat the placement for every product template assigned to Familiar books.

Open Shopify Admin
  1. 1

    Check Shopify approval in Familiar

    In Familiar, open Distribution, then Setup, then your Shopify store. Under Preorders, confirm that Shopify approval is complete.

  2. 2

    Reconnect for preorder permissions

    If Familiar lists missing permissions, choose Reconnect for preorders, approve the request in Shopify, and return to Familiar.

  3. 3

    Open the published Shopify theme

    In Shopify Admin, open Online Store, then Themes. Edit the published theme that customers currently use.

  4. 4

    Add Familiar preorders to a product template

    Open a product template used by Familiar books. In the product information section, add a block, then choose Familiar preorders from Apps. Shopify shows a labeled sample in the theme editor when the selected product variant is not a synced preorder.

  5. 5

    Position and save the preorder block

    Place the block near the variant picker or buy buttons, customize its customer-facing copy if needed, and save the theme. Do not remove or replace your theme’s Add to cart button.

  6. 6

    Repeat for every product template

    Add and save the Familiar preorders block on every product template assigned to books that Familiar publishes.

  7. 7

    Enable preorders in Familiar

    Return to Distribution Setup, confirm that the Familiar preorder block is live, enable native Shopify preorders, and save the settings.

Prepare each preorder book

Open the book in Familiar, then go to Metadata → Supply. Configure each ebook or print format separately:

  • Set Expected availability date to the day shipping or download access should begin.
  • Optionally set Preorder / sales embargo date to the first day customers may order. Leave it blank to open preorders immediately.
  • Return to Distribution → Books, opt the book into Shopify, and sync each ready format.

On a preorder product, the block changes the purchase button to Preorder and shows the release date plus the payment and delivery disclosure. You can customize that copy in Shopify’s theme editor.

Ebook delivery

Set up ebook delivery

Add Familiar to both Shopify order surfaces so buyers can download a synced EPUB immediately after checkout and whenever they revisit their order.

One app, two placements

Shopify treats these as separate pages. Adding Familiar to one does not add it to the other.

Placement 1 of 2

Thank you

Shown once, immediately after the buyer completes checkout.

Added 1 · Thank you · Remove block
Placement 2 of 2

Order status

Available when the buyer returns to review the order later.

Added 2 · Thank you + Order status

Add both placements

Use the active configuration—the one your customers currently see.

Open Shopify Admin
  1. 1

    Open the active checkout configuration

    In Shopify Admin, open Settings, then Checkout. Edit the active checkout configuration that customers currently use.

  2. 2

    Add Familiar to Thank you

    Open the Apps sidebar, find Familiar ebook delivery, and add it to the Thank you page.

  3. 3

    Confirm the Thank you placement

    Confirm that Familiar appears under Added with the Thank you label. Seeing Added 1 and Remove block means the first placement is active.

  4. 4

    Add Familiar to Order status

    Switch to the Order status page and add Familiar ebook delivery again. Thank you and Order status are separate placements.

  5. 5

    Save the checkout configuration

    Save the checkout configuration. If you edited a draft configuration, publish it before enabling delivery in Familiar.

What buyers will see

These states appear beneath each matching ebook line item on a real order.

Preparing

Preparing your EPUB…

The order is paid and Familiar is still creating secure access.
Ready

Download EPUB

The buyer can open the secure Familiar download page.
Revoked

Access revoked

The delivery exists, but access was disabled after purchase.

Print books and other unmatched products show no Familiar content.

Finish in Familiar

  1. 1Return to Distribution → Setup → Shopify store → Ebook delivery.
  2. 2Check “Both extension placements are live.”
  3. 3Optionally set the buyer reply-to email, then enable automatic EPUB delivery.
  4. 4Save delivery settings.
Open Distributor Setup

Test a real ebook order

Place a paid order containing an ebook that is opted in and synced from Familiar. The editor preview is not an end-to-end test because it does not represent a real Familiar delivery.

  • On Thank you, confirm the book title and delivery state appear beneath the ebook line item.
  • Open the same order’s Order status page and confirm the delivery appears there too.
  • Open Download EPUB and confirm the secure buyer download page loads.

If a real ebook order is blank

Check the listing

Confirm the book is opted into Shopify, synced, and has an EPUB attached to its ebook edition.

Check the order

Delivery starts only for a paid order containing the matching synced ebook variant.

Check Familiar settings

Both placements must be confirmed and automatic EPUB delivery must be enabled and saved.

Check the live configuration

If you edited a draft checkout configuration, publish it before placing the test order.