Thrillers, self-help books and Harry Potter were among the favourites for readers in Northern Ireland this year, according to Libraries NI. For those who prefered to listen to their fiction, Freida McFadden had eight of her titles featuring in the top 10 adult fiction audiobooks borrowed. Jillian McFrederick from Libraries NI said books with "short chapters" and "catchy, racy" themes seemed to be most popular.
But when it came to younger readers, there was little change with Harry Potter continuing to be popular - almost 30 years after the release of the first book. This week marks Book Week - a joint initiative between BBC NI and Libraries NI and celebrates books, reading and libraries and everything that they make possible. The data provided by Libraries NI covers a 12-month period from 1 October 2025 to 30 September 2026.
Audiobooks led the way this year with more downloads than physical book loans. The Housemaid by McFadden was the most listened to, with only Romantasy favourite Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros and The Pumpkin Spiced Café by Laurie Gilmore breaking McFadden's hold on the chart. When it came to non-fiction, those listening seem focused on personal development.
A best-selling title by Mark Manson, The Subtle Art of not Giving a ... (Google the rest if you wish), topped the non-fiction section, while Atomic Habits and 101 Essays That Will Change the Way You Think followed closely behind. Meanwhile, for younger listeners, the Harry Potter series remained the standout success with all seven books from the series making it into the top 10. Other favourites included classic titles such as Matilda by Roald Dahl, and Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney.
The Housemaid also topped the charts when it came to physical loans, with the title being borrowed more than 3,000 times. McFrederick said the release of the movie adaptation, starring Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfield in 2025, had brought a whole new audience to McFadden's work. Niall Williams' historical fiction book based in 1960s Ireland, Time of the Child, came close to beating McFadden with only 15 loans behind.
When it came to non-fiction, global best-seller, The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins came first, slightly ahead of Nobody's Girl by Virginia Roberts Giuffre. The wider top five reflected variety from self improvement to baking, including Mary Berry's very best recipes. Variety continued for junior readers.
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