2026 State of Reading Report
Everand
5 key trends of 2025
This year’s reading trends reveal a vibrant, evolving landscape - one where habits are strengthening, human connection guides discovery, and fantasy reigns supreme.- Reading grows habitual: People are finding increasing ways to weave reading into daily life. Average reading streaks hit 29 days (+300% year over year), with nearly a quarter million readers maintaining 30-day streaks.
- People are reading more, not less: Over half of survey respondents are reading more than last year, with 64% of 18–24-year-olds reading more.
- Digital dominates: As ebook and audiobook use take an increasing share of the reading pie, audiobooks have overtaken ebooks as the top digital format, and smartphones are the top device – driven by convenience and portability.
- Human connection drives discovery: While readers’ comfort with and usage of AI rose, they still trust people most. Personal connections now lead recommendations and sharing, showing reading and discovery remain deeply social acts in today’s screen-filled world.
- Fantasy ruled 2025: Onyx Storm, Iron Flame, and Fourth Wing topped Everand’s most-read list. Light Bringer by Pierce Brown was rated readers’ favorite.
A new reading landscape
Despite reading being an ancient pastime, it’s continuing to make a place in today’s world – one of the most adaptable habits we have. And it’s deeply infused into culture. From “hot men reading” memes to Rihanna’s Dracula Dior tote, books themselves have become status symbols. While some have called this trend performative, the data suggests otherwise: The aesthetic is turning into action.Booked and busy
Nearly three-quarters of people say reading has become more popular this year, led by younger readers. And they aren’t just saying it; they’re backing it up: There has been a 55% increase year-over-year in users who have already met their reading goal for 2025 on Fable.- How much: Half (49%) read between 6-15 books per year, and on Fable, readers finished an average of 20 books.
- How long: Cover to cover is typically taking about 11 days per book.
- How frequent: They’re building consistency like never before: the average reading streak hit 29 days, up 300+% year-over-year. Nearly a quarter million people maintained a 30+ day streak.
How People Read
Reading is officially hybrid: 57% of survey respondents now consume both audiobooks and ebooks, with smartphones leading as the top reading device. Audiobooks have even edged ahead of ebooks as the most common digital format, officially ending the debate on if listening counts as reading. Most of us read in the comfort of home, and that bedtime habit is growing, up 10% year-over-year. Reading fits flexibly into our days, peaking before bed and on weekday evenings, with Monday emerging as the most active reading day and Saturday the quietest. This reinforces reading’s growing habitual nature, particularly at night when people may be seeking a quieter shift away from the demands of the day.Genres: Escapism, emotion, and the stories we’re choosing
Our reading choices this year show a clear appetite for escape, emotion, and momentum. The most popular genres were Romance, Mystery, Thrillers, & Crime, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Young Adult and Contemporary Fiction.While top genres remain consistent, 80% read a new genre this year, signaling a growing openness to exploration and a broadening of the stories we’re choosing, including niche subgenres: Cozy fantasy, cowboy romance, sad girl fiction, dark academia, and afrofuturism, among others.
Women favored romance, mystery/crime, and thrillers, while men prioritized science fiction, fantasy, and history, respectively. And while the trope may be that men don’t read fiction, fantasy jumped among male readers this year, their second most popular genre (up from #5 YOY), as well as younger readers (top genre for 18-34).Heavy readers (20+ books a year) leaned into fantasy, thrillers, and mystery, while more casual readers followed a similar pattern in lighter doses.
On Everand, the most-read titles tell the story, with series and highly-anticipated releases continuing to dominate:- Onyx Storm, Iron Flame, and Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros swept the top three, respectively, with over 1M hours read on Everand in 2025.
- Lights Out by Navessa Allen
- Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins
- A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J. Maas
- The Crash by Freida McFadden
- Powerless and Fearless by Lauren Roberts
- Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
- The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
- Quicksilver by Callie Hart
Comfort zones
Comfort defined 2025. A whopping 83% feel relaxed when they read, and 54% cite stress relief as the reason for reading more this year. Men tend to read for knowledge, women for connection, but both agree on one thing: Reading helps us feel calm, capable, and connected. In an increasingly chaotic world, books remain a source of solace.
Classic reads are also making a comeback – the most-read free classics included:- Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
- Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
- The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
- Dracula by Bram Stoker
- Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Discovery crisis and human connection
Even in a digital world, discovery still comes down to people, perhaps more than ever. While 39% of readers discover books through social media (led by more than half of 18–24-year-olds), personal recommendations are on the rise.“People I know personally” now outrank ebook and audiobook platforms as the most common source of book discovery, with nearly half of readers finding their next title through a friend, family member, or colleague.This continues post-read. Sharing with a friend or family member has officially surpassed “saving to a shelf” as the most common next step, proving that reading is still as much about connection as it is about content. It’s also a deeply relational act, a way to connect through stories and to offer someone a small piece of your own tastes and interests.Sometimes, humans get it better than machines. Many readers say algorithms and search tools don’t quite get their tastes – what some describe as a “discovery crisis.” They want recommendations that feel personal, not prescriptive. Books are a true form of self-expression, full of emotions and nuance that automated systems can’t quite get.Ultimately, human connection remains the most powerful discovery tool of all.
Book clubs
That impulse to share extends into real-world activity, with 37% of readers participating in a book club this year (consistent with last year). The biggest motivations are timeless: Discovering new authors, connecting with others who share a love of books, and sharing opinions – again underscoring reading’s emotional connection.For those who haven’t joined, the barriers are mostly practical – limited time or wanting to choose their own books – but there’s clear interest in community. A quarter of non–book club readers say they’d consider joining if the club offered book recommendations.On Fable, participation continues to grow. Among readers who hit their 2025 goals, the average member belonged to more than three clubs, and over 820,000 people joined a new club this year. Moderators on Fable play a central role, offering a trusted voice and guiding members through both the conversation and the selections that follow.Meetings now span every format: About one-third of Everand’s survey respondents are in-person, a quarter are fully virtual, and 15% are hybrid, with in-person gatherings rising 8% year over year.
And when it comes to what book clubs are actually reading, the top picks align closely with overall favorites:- Onyx Storm, Iron Flame, and Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
- Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins
- Quicksilver by Callie Hart
- The Housemaid by Freida McFadden
- A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J. Maas
Subscription economy
Over half currently subscribe to an ebook or audiobook service, and three-quarters (74%) use it at least weekly.- What they love: Ease of access, variety and availability of titles, app performance, and quality of narration and personalization.
- What they don’t: Price – 63% say cost is the biggest frustration, up sharply from last year, commensurate with wider economic concerns. Other frustrations include limited catalog, poor discovery, and borrowing restrictions.
The next chapter
Readers are ready to let technology do the work while they focus on the fun. Nearly half have tried AI tools to explore, summarize, or recommend books, and many are asking for more personalized, mood-based discovery that actually understands their taste. In fact, 20% say an AI recommendation tool would make them more likely to subscribe (up 5% year-on-year). There’s curiosity about AI-driven enhancements, like smart summaries or interactive reading companions, as long as they complement, not replace, the human side of storytelling. Topping their wish lists? Seamless ebook–audiobook integration, allowing readers to move effortlessly between reading and listening. The next chapter of digital reading will be defined by personalization, connection, and continuity – technology that enhances the experience without taking it over.What we’re watching for 2026
Here’s what employees at Everand and Fable are predicting for next year based on everything they’ve seen.- Romantasy fatigue: The category’s long stretch of dominance has led to a crowded landscape, and we could see reader interests begin to shift in 2026.
- The industry is continuing to experiment with AI. Expect more publishers to use AI for features like immersive audio, expanding what's possible in digital storytelling, from audio summaries to surround sound.
- The next status symbol in reading: Even more luxurious special collectors' editions are set to be next year’s cultural currency.
- “Best books” will hold less weight. Rankings and awards are increasingly overloaded and varied. Readers will rely more on peers.
- More, but smaller community spaces. We’re seeing a continued shift to smaller private, quieter spaces for curated, more personal recommendations.
- Reading melding into other forms of entertainment: “Readaways” emerge as a travel trend and massive book resurrections follow any pop culture buzz.
- We’ve recently seen users design personal reading curriculums. Expect this to become a bigger ritual, especially during the slower seasons when self-improvement is top of mind.
- Books everywhere: Stories will keep blending into other parts of life, from cozy video games to hands-on crafts paired with audiobooks.
Methodology
The report is based on the following sources:- A survey of over 1,600 18-64 year olds in the US who self-report having paid for an audiobook/ebook subscription in the last two years
- Activity based on total hours read on Everand between January 1, 2025 and October 31, 2025
- Data from all Fable users between January 1, 2025 and November 5, 2025
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