Rakuten Kobo has released the 2025 Book Report which offers a snapshot of what Australians read and how they read it with data revealing we are turning increasingly to books to entertain and educate ourselves.
One trend the report showed was that readers were embracing expansive fantasy worlds, emotionally driven romance along with personal life stories.
Australians were reading as both a way to be entertained and for emotional support.
January was the most popular reading month with Australians wanting to start off the year with a bang with Sunday is our favourite day to read according to the report.
September 15, 2025, was the single biggest reading day of the year for Australians.
The biggest growth was within the science fiction and fantasy genres which increased 34 per cent year on year.
Australians immerse themselves in these dystopian and fantastic realms and commit to stay in these expansive worlds in long form narratives and series.
“In a world that often feels relentless, we’ve observed a consistent truth: reading remains a sanctuary,” said Michael Tamblyn, CEO, Rakuten Kobo.
“Books offer us a unique opportunity to choose our own world, if only for a few stolen moments each day.
“In 2025, we saw readers globally turning to stories and knowledge as a much needed escape – whether on a busy morning commute or during a quiet evening wind-down.
“It’s a testament to the enduring power of books to provide both comfort and new perspectives.
“While we have our predictions on where reading trends might take us in2026, we know the human need for connection and understanding through stories never changes.”
And while fantasy worlds drew many readers in, romance was the other genre that kept Australians turning pages in 2025.
Fantasy romance (romantasy) emerged as the second most read subgenre in the country.
Romance, already a popular genre, mixed with high stakes fantasy was welcomed openly by Australian readers who were looking for both adventure and intimacy.
This trend was led by author Rebecca Yarros who became the highest selling author of the year in Australia thanks to her romantasy titles Onyx Storm, Fourth Wing and Iron Flame – the three most read e-books of 2025 through Rakuten Kobo.
Fantasy and romantasy made up 10 of the top 25 most read e-books coming through from major franchises including Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros along with The Court of Thorns and Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas.
In fact, more than half of the top 25 titles were established series which just reinforced the growing popularity of this long form and immersive storytelling.
On the non-fiction and wellness front, the Mel Robbins “The Let Them Theory” was the most read in the genre.
Self-help and wellbeing titles rose 19 per cent year on year.
Real life events also influenced out reading.
The Robert Harris 2016 novel Conclave saw a massive uptick in readership thanks to its movie adaptation and the passing of the Pope.
Australians are also fans of biographies and autobiographies and that continued in 2025.
Australian readers supported local voices with homegrown authors and female writers also prominent across bestseller lists.
Top 20 eBooks
- Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros
- Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
- Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros
- The Wedding People by Alison Espach
- The Impossible Fortune by Richard Osman
- The Unquiet Grave by Dervla McTiernan
- The Women by Kristin Hannah
- The Hallmarked Man by Robert Galbraith
- Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid
- Quicksilver by Callie Hart
- Sunrise On The Reaping by Suzanne Collins
- Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry
- The Names by Florence Knapp
- A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
- Last One Out by Jane Harper
- A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas
- Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty
- A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah
- Maas
- The Secret of Secrets by Dan Brown
- Fearless by Lauren Roberts
Top 20 Audiobooks
- Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros
- The Impossible Fortune by Richard Osman
- Fourth Wing (1 of 2) by Rebecca Yarros
- Nobody’s Girl by Virginia Giuffre
- Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett
- Atomic Habits by James Clear
- Fourth Wing (2 of 2) by Rebecca Yarros
- The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
- Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros
- The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk
- Mythos by Stephen Fry
- Wind and Truth by Brandon Sanderson
- Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss
- Iron Flame (1 of 2) [Dramatised Adaptation] by Rebecca Yarros
- Iron Flame (2 of 2) [Dramatised Adaptation] by Rebecca Yarros
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling
- The Housemaid by Freida McFadden
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K Rowling
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling
Most Popular Genres
- Fiction
- Biography and Autobiography
- Romance
- Contemporary Romance
- Romantasy
- Mystery
- Action and Adventure
- Mystery and detective
- Fantasy
- History
