Book Week NI: What had people turning pages and turning up the volume this year?

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.

So, which audio books have been the most popular?

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.

There is still a strong demand for physicals

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. A Belfast Fairytale led the fiction category with nearly 3,000 loans and the Guinness World Records 2026 took the lead in non-fiction.

Ebooks showed library users were split between very different reading habits over the last year.

In fiction, readers gravitated towards page turners from authors like Virginia Evans with The Correspondent claiming top spot.

Richard Osman showed a true favourite with three of the top 10 being written by him.

Andy Weir's Project Hail Mary also proved popular following a movie adaption earlier this year.

For non-fiction, self-help was a clear winner. Again, Mel Robbin's The Let Them Theory came first, with more than 2,000 loans.

McFrederick said the book "struck a chord with people because they're all so stressed and so anxious".

Other popular self-help books were also in the top five including The Psychology of Money and The Courage to be Disliked .

Among younger readers, the magic around the Harry Potter series continued with more than 1,500 loans in fiction.

Junior non-fiction interests ranged from The Wimpy Kid Movie Diary, Historical Royal Palaces: Ghost in the Walls and 101 Amazing Harry Potter Facts among the most borrowed eBooks.

Best-selling The Housemaid author Freida McFadden reveals true identity

Mel Robbins: Why we can’t control each other’s actions