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Bookstores Thrive as Young Readers Embrace Social Media Trends

8/17/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Waterstones experienced a 5% sales increase, attributed to younger adults returning to reading through social media trends like BookTok.
The UK fiction market grew by 12.2% last year, while children's and nonfiction sales declined.
Waterstones plans to open 10 new stores each year, including in department stores.
Barnes & Noble is expanding in the US with 60 new stores annually.

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Story summary

Waterstones experienced a 5% sales increase, attributed to younger adults returning to reading through social media trends like BookTok.
The UK fiction market grew by 12.2% last year, while children's and nonfiction sales declined.
Waterstones plans to open 10 new stores each year, including in department stores.
Barnes & Noble is expanding in the US with 60 new stores annually.