Gen Z is seeing a resurgence in reading physical books over digital books, with celebrities like Kaia Gerber and Kendall Jenner promoting literature and book clubs, and library visits. and book purchases have increased markedly. The Guardian reports: This week, 22-year-old model Kaia Gerber launched her own book club, Library Science. Ms. Gerber, who appeared on the cover of British Vogue this month with her supermodel mother Cindy Crawford, calls it “sharing books, featuring new authors, and hosting conversations with artists I admire.'' “A platform to continue building a community of people.” People who are as excited about literature as I am. “Books have always been the greatest love of my life,'' she added. “Reading is so sexy.”
Gerber is not alone. Last year in the UK he recorded 669 million physical books sold, the highest overall level ever. Research from Nielsen Book Data reveals that Gen Z prefers paper books, accounting for 80% of purchases from November 2021 to 2022. Libraries are also reporting an increase in Gen Z patrons who prefer quiet cafes to noisy coffee shops. In the UK, direct visits have increased by 71%. Fantasy and romance by authors like Colleen Huber consistently dominate the BookTok charts (a subsection of TikTok where avid readers post their recommendations), but Gen Z reads a variety of genres. […]
“Overall, we're seeing a movement toward escapism through the rise of mystery novels, romance, and fantasy, but I think it's a mistake to homogenize Gen Z and say they're more light readers. ,” says author and literary agent Abigail Bergstrom. “The oversaturation and noise of the Wild West digital landscape also demands higher standards, especially when it comes to a writer’s authority and expertise on a particular subject.”
