The Books at the Top of Christmas Wish Lists in Australia

Research into Australia’s reading habits shows we are a nation of booklovers with two in three people hoping to receive a book for Christmas. Australian book retailer Dymocks expects to sell well over two million books in the lead up to Christmas, accounting for 30% of total annual sales.

Steve Cox, Dymocks Managing Director, says this will be a bonanza year for Booklovers. “Across our network of stores last week sales were up 11% compared to the same time last year as customers get a head start on their Christmas shopping. With over 500 titles in the Christmas catalogue there’s plenty in store to choose from.”

Steve says there’s a seasonal surge in non-fiction titles. ”Usually accounting for 39% of the total market, non-fiction jumps to 50% at Christmas, with the main drivers in food and drink and biography.”

Books for Foodies

“You can’t have Christmas without Jamie and this year Jamie Oliver’s Christmas Cookbook is the perfect gift for the foodie in your life. Other celebrity chefs with new books on the market include Donna Hay, Stephanie Alexander, Manu Feildel, Yotam Ottelenghi and Neil Perry to name just a few. The stunning new Australian Fish and Seafood Cookbook is the only seafood cookbook you will ever need.”

Books for Children

Books also make the perfect gift for children. Research published this year showed the overwhelming majority of kids aged 6-17 want books that make them laugh. Younger readers will love Aaron Blabey’s hilarious new picture book Pig the Elf while older readers will relish the madcap antics of the kids in The Midnight Gang by David Walliams and Double Down by Jeff Kinney, the 11th book in phenomenally successful Diary of a Wimpy Kid series.

“Of course it can’t be Christmas without the magic of Harry Potter and there are some great gifts for Potter fans this year. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts I and II script book is the biggest selling book of the last decade. Over 90,000 copies have sold through Dymocks since July. The Illustrated edition of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is sure to be another Christmas bestseller.”

“Hot off the press is Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, the original screenplay by JK Rowling which has hit the shelves to tie in with release of the film. Whether an existing fan or new to the wizarding world, this is a perfect addition to any reader’s bookshelf.”

There’s plenty to spark the imagination of young eggheads this Christmas including Number Crunchers by maths genius Adam Spencer’s, science geek Dr Karl’s Big Book of Amazing Animals and the perennial favourite Guinness World Records 2017.

Women’s Fiction

“A key trend this year is strong women’s fiction with female authors dominating the top 10 for most of the year. Research shows that 70% of Australian women love to receive books as Christmas presents and if you’re stuck for ideas, bestsellers Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult, Truly Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty and The Good People by Hannah Kent are an easy choice. Popular this Christmas are strong debut releases by Australian authors including Goodwood by Holly Throsby and The Dry by Jane Harper.”

Popular Fiction

Four Legendary Kingdoms by Matthew Reilly, the long-awaited fourth book in the best-selling Jack West Jr series, is packed full of intense action to keep fans happy. Other blockbuster releases include Night School by Lee Child and The Whistler by John Grisham.

Memoirs & Biographies

Steve Cox says that memoirs are always a popular choice. “Sales of biographies increase by 50% in the lead up to Christmas. Deng Adut’s Songs of a War Boy is a harrowing account of life as a former child soldier. For a behind the scenes look at a rock n roll life, there’s Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen and Working Class Boy by Jimmy Barnes. It’s also a big year for sports fans with new biographies from Michael Clarke, Mitchell Johnson, Dennis Lillee and Cadel Evans.”