Bookworms will immerse themselves in 696 books over a lifetime – with crime and thrillers the most popular, a study has found. Each year, the average adult will get through 11 books, with almost one in five saying they read every day. Crime is the most popular genre (42 per cent) along with thrillers (38 per cent) and drama (35 per cent). 42 per cent are too busy to read as much as they would like with the average adult owning at least 10 books they are yet to get to the end of. Summer holidays are the optimum time to get your nose into a good book, with 65 per cent saying that reading on holiday as a good way to relax. In fact, the average adult will get through two books during a week-long break, getting lost inside an exciting tale for one hour and 20 minutes a day while on a break – twice as long as they do when they are at home. And 36 per cent happily re-read a story on holiday that they’ve already enjoyed before. It also emerged 51 per cent said reading helps them get lost in another world, and 44 per cent enjoy a good book as part of making time for themselves.

Are you a Bookworms
Aug 10, 2025 | 7:30 PM