Quiz Books and Bibles Sell Strongest Since the 1990s in 2025

Resilient Book Market in 2025

The book market in the UK demonstrated resilience in 2025, with certain categories experiencing significant growth. According to data from NielsenIQ BookData, sales of quiz books and bibles reached their highest levels since the 1990s. The company, which manages the ISBN and SAN Agencies for the UK and Ireland, reported that spending on quiz books increased by 24%, while spending on bibles rose by 19%. These figures represent the highest levels recorded since the data collection began in 1998.

Despite these gains, non-fiction titles faced challenges. Spending on non-fiction titles dropped to £791 million in 2025, a 5% decrease compared to the previous year. Volume sales also declined by 6%, reaching 59 million units. This marked the lowest level for non-fiction since 2014.

In contrast, adult fiction saw an increase in spending by 5%, even though total print book sales in the UK fell slightly by 0.5%, reaching £1.81 billion. Philip Stone, head of publisher account management at NielsenIQ BookData, highlighted the continued investment in stories by readers, despite a softer overall market.

Fiction Remains Strong

Fiction remained a standout performer in 2025, driven by strong growth in several genres. Sci-fi and fantasy, horror, and graphic novels all contributed to this success. Additionally, children’s and young adult books showed encouraging gains in key areas. However, non-fiction faced greater pressure, although the popularity of trivia, quiz books, and religious titles indicated sustained demand for escapism and insight.

The average cost of a book reached record levels in 2025, increasing by 2% to £9.52. This rise was attributed to “rising costs of book production and inflation.” Audiobook sales also saw an increase of 6%, and comic strips and graphic novels gained more popularity during the year.

Bestselling Titles and Authors

Richard Osman topped NielsenIQ’s 2025 bestseller list with The Impossible Fortune, the latest installment in the Thursday Murder Club series. Released in September 2024, the book sold 478,000 copies. It outperformed other top sellers such as Charlie Mackesy’s Always Remember and Freida McFadden’s The Housemaid.

Julia Donaldson, the author of The Gruffalo, ended 2025 as the UK’s bestselling author, with total sales reaching 3.3 million copies. She was followed by Freida McFadden, who sold 2.6 million copies, and Dav Pilkey, who sold 1.5 million copies.

Mr. Stone emphasized the role of bestselling authors like Richard Osman, Freida McFadden, Julia Donaldson, and Dav Pilkey in keeping the market dynamic and innovative. He noted that their contributions helped maintain momentum in the industry, especially as the UK prepares to celebrate the National Year Of Reading.

Looking Ahead

The statistics were released ahead of The London Book Fair, which took place from March 10 to 12 at Olympia London. The event provided a platform for publishers, authors, and booksellers to showcase new titles and discuss trends in the publishing industry.