These Australian reading lives in 2025 are radically different, thanks in large part to the impact of social media and continuing developments in digital technology and entertainment. Key figures in the literary world, including popular BookTokkers and industry professionals, have noted a shift towards diverse genres and formats that cater to a younger audience. Luke Bateman, an Aussie BookTokker with a million followers, recently posted about his reading. Sophie Groom, CEO of Writing NSW took on the choppy waters of how you define a bestseller in Australia. Katherine Day, a senior lecturer at Melbourne University’s publishing practice called out the genres that drive sales statistics.
Bateman, who has emerged as an important advocate against these trends on TikTok and other platforms, spoke about his own formative experiences with reading. As an avid fan of the genre, he comically shared that “I would hideaway in the lavatory to read fantasy tales.” This beautifully illuminates his lifelong love of reading and writing. His influence is an expression of a broader trend. Platforms such as BookTok have dramatically changed the way Australians are discovering and interacting with books.
As Publishing Perspectives reported earlier this month, Sophie Groom discussed the difficulty of defining bestsellers in today’s landscape. It depends—a lot. If you sold 100,000 copies of a book in Australia, you’d be ecstatic! Why that’s just the sign of a household-name bestseller,” she added. This illustrates the evolving nature of success in the literary market, where traditional metrics are adapting to new consumer behaviors.
The growth of audiobooks has been historic as well. Groom projected a 15 percent increase in audiobook zoomaphone consumption being likely. He credits this expansion to younger listeners who are moving from podcasts into audiobooks. Chances are they’re moving from podcasts to audiobooks. This trend is surprising and fantastic because young males have long been some of the worst readers and avid readers.
Katherine Day expressed gratitude over the positive and dramatic impact BookTok has had on the literary world. The most popular BookTokker in the US has 2.9 million followers. They do an excellent job of building interest and awareness around books, attracting potential readers for all kinds of reasons. This internet phenomenon has allowed for novel genres and microgenres to proliferate, especially among Gen Z and younger.
Additionally, women aged 25 to 40 are the biggest demographic of romance readers in Australia, per Groom. She noted that romance novels, as well as true and fictional crime, self-help and memoir, are all genres that reliably bring in sales. Groom’s experience dovetails with what appears to be a growing trend toward microgenres like ‘rural’ and ‘single parent’ romance tales.
Even in this age of enormous digital distractions, Australians still overwhelmingly choose print books. Groom acknowledged that 70 to 75 percent of their readers prefer reading in print. By contrast, just 20 to 25 percent prefer reading digitally. This nostalgia for print is indicative of a deeper craving for tactile reading experiences.
Online platforms have opened up new forms of engagement, connection, and imagination—and they’ve played a major role in decreasing the frequency of reading. Groom went on to say, there is an unmet demand amongst distracted, digital world Australians who just want to read more. “We’ve got the right intention there. It’s just about this attention economy where it’s so difficult for people to find time to read,” she said.
While the summer holiday season is certainly a major reading opportunity, it isn’t the only opportunity for Australians to make reading a priority. Groom depicted the experience stunningly. Editorial courtesy of Andrew Hornor, USFS He concluded, “There’s nothing like curling up with a great book, sitting under a nice shady tree and getting lost in a great story that takes you far away. This wonderful seasonal tradition has helped inspire a love of reading with millions of them.
Tierney Page, another popular BookTokker with more than 800,000 followers, expressed similar feelings to the changing face of literature. She pointed out the universal themes that build the most lasting stories. “A trope that never ages,” she told him, “just improves.” This demonstrates how timeless stories can continue to inspire and encourage today’s leaders.
Australian readers are now discovering a reimagined literary landscape. Online spaces like BookTok are incredibly vital in influencing the reading preferences and habits of our youth. This creative tension between print and digital formats provides readers with more exciting choices and keeps popular genres like romance experimenting and flourishing.
