London has seen record book sales since the beginning of the pandemic
(Picture: Getty Images)Lockdown hasn’t been good for many things, but it has been good for reading.
In fact, with so much extra time on our hands, London has seen record book sales since the beginning of the pandemic.
And if you’ve enjoyed having a good peer around everyone’s bookshelves during Zoom meetings, you might also be intrigued by the literary trends that have shaped the capital’s 2021 reading habits.
Amazon has exclusively revealed London’s top ten bestseller list, as well as the three key trends defining our bookish taste as of late.
Commenting on the data, Simon Johnson, Director of Amazon EU Books, said: “Taking a moment for yourself has never been so important than during the past 12 months, and it is clear that reading has provided a source of relaxation for many Londoners.
“From must-read novels inspiring cult TV shows through to debut bestsellers and titles which speak candidly about the problems we face in society today, it is apparent that books have continued to provide comfort and a source of education for those across the capital.”
But how many have you read? Find out here:
Top ten bestselling books (both print and eBooks):
1. The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
2. The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy
3. The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
4. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
5. How to Avoid a Climate Disaster: The Solutions We Have and the Breakthroughs We Need by Bill Gates
6. Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid
7. The Duke and I by Julia Quinn (Bridgerton Series)
8. Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart
9. Jews Don’t Count by David Baddiel
10. The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn (Bridgerton Series)
Three notable trends:
Bridgerton: Given the wild popularity of the Netflix series, it’s probably no surprise that two books from Julia Quinn’s original Bridgerton series also made it onto the bestseller list.
Debut titles: Londoners apparently have a penchant for debut novels, but particularly those that cast a thoughtful eye over issues of social mobility and class. Kiley Reid’s Such A Fun Age and 2020 Booker Prize winner Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart are two notable examples.
Life and mental health: These topics remained a key theme in London’s reading habits, with Charlie Mackesy and Matt Haig’s ruminations on life and mental health also featuring in the top ten list.
