It’s the season to kick back, relax and escape, but if the idea of a tropical vacation is out of reach, it may be worthwhile to get lost in a book.
“The longer days of summer offer us more time for friends, for family, and to immerse ourselves in wonderful stories that span the spectrum of our interests,” says Rania Husseini, senior vice-president of print at Indigo Canada.
“Every year, we see a surge in book sales beginning at the end of June, when school lets out, through the summer months as Canadians continue the tradition of spending their summer leisure time with a great book.”
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Reading habits
And while reading is a favourite pastime for many, some research shows some of us aren’t picking up books anymore. A recent report from a German-based study found book sales in the country were down 18 per cent between the years 2013 to 2017, AFP reports.
The researchers blamed streaming services like Netflix and binge-watching for the decline in readership. “There’s growing social pressure to constantly react and be tuned in so you don’t get left behind,” author Alexander Skipis said in a statement.
Last year in a survey for BookNet Canada, researchers found 92 per cent of Canadians preferred print books, while audio books rose up 28 per cent since 2017.
“In our most recent survey, we discovered that 46 per cent of readers discover new books via word of mouth — still the holy grail for book publishers.e,” BookNet Canada tells Global News.
And if you’re not someone who traditionally picks up a book for leisure, it may be a good time to start. Other reports have shown reading can reduce stress, improve memory and exercise the brain, Business Insider reports.
Reading list
Last month, Goodreads also released their annual “Hottest Books of Summer” list, highlighting some of summer’s most anticipated must-haves for several genres.
“We focused on what Goodreads members are anticipating and reactions from early reviewers. We measured anticipation by how many times a book has been added to Want to Read shelves, and then we only included books that have earned at least a four-star rating,” the site noted.
Global News also spoke with Amazon Canada and Indigo Canada to see which books were not only popular this month, but also new ones that are anticipated to be a part of every summer book club this season. Below are our top picks.
Recommendation: Goodreads
Plot: “Brilliant math whiz Stella decides to practice dating by hiring an escort in this heartwarming and refreshing debut novel that proves one thing: There’s not enough data in the world to predict what will make your heart tick.”
Recommendation: Indigo Canada
Plot: Available July 17, the official movie tie-in edition will be released a month before the film’s premiere. Crazy Rich Asians is the story of American-born Rachel Chu who decides to spend the summer with her boyfriend Nicholas Young and his family in Singapore. What she doesn’t realize is her boyfriend’s family is “crazy rich” — surrounded by private planes, fancy cars and a palace of a home.
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