© UnsplashAmazon has shared the top ten bestselling books for lockdown three and a cookbook is number one
One of the benefits of lockdown has been falling back in love with reading.
Lots of us have been making the most of the extra time we've had on our hands by getting lost in new novels, revisiting old favourites, sharing recommended reads with friends on video calls and finally working our way through that pile of books that's been gathering dust on our bedside tables forever.
Or, for those of us that prefer non-fiction books, treating ourselves to coffee table tomes, memoirs and cookbooks to keep our spirits up. And make cooking for ourselves every night a little bit more exciting!
Now, Amazon has revealed exactly what the nation has been reading over the past few months by totting up sales of physical books and ebook downloads between 4th January and 28th February 2021.
Interestingly, lockdown three has seen a change in our behaviour when it comes to buying books.
Whereas in the first lockdown, it was all about fiction (Sally Rooney's Normal People flew off the shelves after the success of the BBC adaptation), a cookbook is now the biggest seller.
© AmazonPinch of Nom Quick & Easy: 100 Delicious, Slimming Recipes
£10.00
Shop Now
Pinch of Nom Quick & Easy is the brainchild of Kay Featherstone and Kate Allinson, whose blog documenting their personal weight loss journey quickly became an internet favourite a few years ago. Since then, they've written a number of cookbooks - featuring healthy, easy-to-follow recipes - that have all become bestsellers. In fact, two of those also featured in the top 20.
Amazon say the popularity of Pinch of Nom's cookbooks 'shows the nation was looking for a healthy start to 2021 with the home cooking boom continuing'. We can attest to that after months of trying to dream up new dishes!
© amazon.co.ukPinch of Nom Collection 3 Books Set By Kay Featherstone & Kate Allinson (Pinch of Nom Quick & Easy, Pinch of Nom Everyday Light, Pinch of Nom)
£34.99
Shop Now
Elsewhere, it was all about the books behind the hugely popular Netflix period drama, Bridgerton. Amazon say all six of Julia Quinn's novels featured in the top 50 most sold, and two made it in to the top 10. They include the book the first series was based on: The Duke and I.
© amazon.co.ukBridgerton: The Duke and I (Bridgertons Book 1): The Sunday Times bestselling inspiration for the Netflix Original Series Bridgerton (Bridgerton Family)
£6.00
Shop Now
Readers have also been exploring themes that have touched us during lockdown, including finding comfort in the pages of Charlie Mackesy's beautifully illustrated tale of compassion, The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse.
© amazon.co.ukThe Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse
£9.00
Shop Now
In fact, life and mental health have remained key themes across all three lockdowns, with Matt Haig's novel exploring suicide being added to baskets across the UK, too.
© amazon.co.ukThe Midnight Library
£5.00
Shop Now
And British bibliophiles couldn't get enough of thrillers, either. Richard Osman's funny whodunnit debut, The Thursday Murder Club, continues to lead this category along with The Other Passenger by Louise Candlish and The Glass House by Eve Chase. All page-turning, escapism - exactly what we need right now.
© amazon.co.ukThe Thursday Murder Club: The Record-Breaking Sunday Times Number One Bestseller
£7.49
Shop Now
Simon Johnson, Director, Amazon EU Books said: 'Taking a moment for yourself has never been so important than during the past 12 months, and it is clear that reading has provided a source of relaxation for many.
'From must-read novels inspiring cult TV shows through to cookbooks and titles which speak openly about mental health, it is apparent that books have continued to transport minds elsewhere and provided some much needed comfort and relief.'
Here's the full list of lockdown three's literary bestsellers, according to Amazon:
- Pinch of Nom Quick & Easy by Kay Featherstone and Kate Allinson
- The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy
- The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
- Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
- The Duke and I by Julia Quinn (Bridgerton Series)
- The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
- The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn (Bridgerton Series)
- Tap to Tidy: Organising, Crafting & Creating Happiness in a Messy World by Stacey Solomon
- The Other Passenger by Louise Candlish
- The Glass House by Eve Chase
Subscribe to Red now to get the magazine delivered to your door.
Like this article? Sign up to our newsletter to get more articles like this delivered straight to your inbox.
SIGN UP