Summer Is Peak Audiobook Season – Here’s What Brits Are Listening to This Summer

The sun is out, the deckchairs are calling, and for many Brits, there’s no better companion during a summer break than a gripping audiobook. Summer is when BookBeat sees the biggest surge in new listeners – but what exactly are people in the UK tuning into in summer 2025?

Crime and Fantasy remain the leading genres, with Thrillers and Romantasy titles standing out as clear favourites. In June, these two categories alone accounted for a striking 60% of total listening time. Alongside the top two genres, other favourites for summer-listening include Novels, Romance, Young Adult, and Non-Fiction titles such as Biographies and True Crime.

“We engage with audiobooks differently to physical books – they’re ideal for walks, long drives, or getting things done around the house. During summer, those listening moments naturally increase, and we always see a significant uptick in people trying out the service. At BookBeat, we’re passionate about stories in all forms – and there’s something really special about making a holiday or road trip even better with the right audiobook,” says Anna Riklund Sandin, Head of Book Performance & Curation at BookBeat.

Here’s what UK listeners have been loving most so far this summer:

Top Thrillers
• The Tenant – Freida McFadden
• The Serial Killer Support Group – D. B. Stephens
• The Daughter – T. M. Logan
• Butter – Asako Yuzuki
• The Crash – Freida McFadden

Top Romantasy Picks
• Iron Flame – Rebecca Yarros
• A Court of Mist and Fury – Sarah J. Maas
• The Rebel Witch – Kristen Ciccarelli
• Powerless – Lauren Roberts
• When the Moon Hatched – Sarah A. Parker

Top Novels
• Table for One – Emma Gannon
• Slags – Emma Jane Unsworth
• Cover Story – Mhairi McFarlane
• The Women – Kristin Hannah
• The Nightingale – Kristin Hannah

Most Popular Young Adult Titles
• Fearless – Lauren Roberts
• The Reappearance of Rachel Price – Holly Jackson
• The Hunger Games – Suzanne Collins
• Shatter Me – Tahereh Mafi
• The Rose Bargain – Sasha Peyton Smith

Top Non-Fiction & Biographies
• The New Age of Sexism – Laura Bates
• Sociopath – Patric Gagne
• I'm Glad My Mom Died – Jennette McCurdy
• I Love You, Byeee – Adam Buxton
• Shallow Graves – Ray Fysh