Book Sales Surge in 2025, Driven by Quizzes, Bibles, and Fiction

Despite a broader decline in non-fiction, quiz books and Bibles experienced a significant surge in popularity in 2025, reaching their highest sales levels since 1998. This trend occurred alongside a continued strong performance in adult fiction, particularly in genres like science fiction, fantasy, horror, and graphic novels.

Resurgence of Quiz Books and Religious Texts

Spending on quiz books rose by 24 percent, while Bible purchases increased by 19 percent, according to NielsenIQ BookData, the firm managing ISBN and SAN agencies for the UK and Ireland The Independent. These figures represent the highest recorded for both categories since tracking began in 1998.

Decline in Overall Non-Fiction

The increase in quiz and Bible sales contrasts with a general decline in non-fiction titles. Overall spending in the non-fiction segment fell to its lowest point since 2014, reaching £791 million – a five percent decrease year-on-year. Volume sales also dropped by six percent over the past year, totaling 59 million units.

Fiction Remains a Strong Performer

Adult fiction saw a five percent increase in spending, offsetting some of the decline in non-fiction. The overall print book sales across the UK experienced a marginal 0.5 percent dip, settling at £1.81 billion.

Rising Book Costs and Audiobook Growth

The average cost of a book reached record levels in 2025, increasing by 2 percent to £9.52 due to “rising costs of book production and inflation” Memesita. Audiobook sales also increased by 6 percent during the period, and comic strips and graphic novels saw an increase in popularity.

Bestsellers of 2025

Richard Osman topped NielsenIQ’s 2025 bestseller list with The Impossible Fortune, the latest book in the Thursday Murder Club series, released in September last year, selling 478,000 copies. Other top-selling titles included Charlie Mackesy’s Always Remember and Freida McFadden’s The Housemaid The Independent.

Top Authors of the Year

Julia Donaldson, author of The Gruffalo, ended 2025 as the UK’s bestselling author, with sales totaling 3.3 million copies, ahead of Freida McFadden (2.6 million) and Dav Pilkey (1.5 million).

Looking Ahead

Philip Stone, head of publisher account management at NielsenIQ BookData, noted the resilience of the book market, with readers continuing to invest in stories despite a softer year overall. The statistics were revealed ahead of The London Book Fair, which runs from March 10 to 12 at Olympia London.