Bloomsbury has declared a record bestselling title Harry Potter of the year in sales, claiming that the surge in reading during the epidemic was “permanent” when lockdowns were lifted. When homebound clients switched new hobbies, including reading, to pass the time, the corporation gained greatly from Covid restrictions.

it was clear that people who picked up a reading habit during the pandemic were continuing to buy books, helping to push annual sales up 24% to record highs of £230m for the year to the end of February. Said, Nigel Newton, Bloomsbury’s chief executive.

There was a question in everyone’s mind that reading would increase the pandemic? “We now know the answer: reading has become a rediscovered habit that is thriving,” Newton, remarked as the company disclosed its yearly figures. “The surge in reading, which seemed to be one of the only rays of light in the pandemic’s darkest days, may now be revealed as permanent, with the simple act of reading light and bringing joy to millions of people.”

Publisher, Bloomsbury reported that readers were taking up novels by Sarah J Maas. She is #1 New York Times and internationally bestselling author of the Crescent City, A Court of Thorns and Roses, and the Throne of Glass series. Her books have sold more than twelve million copies and are published in thirty-seven languages.

Meanwhile, sales of Harry Potter books increased by 5% in the run-up to the 25th anniversary of the first title in the series, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, which was released in 1997. A surge in online learning raised sales of Bloomsbury’s academic titles, contributing to an overall 28% increase in pre-tax profits to £22.2m.

WH Smith the books-to-paperclips chain also claimed an increase in sales. As a record after the lockdowns had helped boost sales at its locations in the train stations and airports.

It contributed to a jump in group revenue for the 15 weeks to June, which it said was higher than in 2019 for the first time since the epidemic began. WH Smith speculate that its travel section would grow throughout the summer trading period as more readers took advantage of looser restrictions on local and international travel.