- Feel Good
- 6th Feb 2026
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- 0 minute
What people in the North East are actually reading right now
Winter does something interesting to our reading habits.
As the nights continue to draw in and plans are still slowing down, books stop being background noise and become proper companions again. This isn’t about bestseller lists or what’s trending on TikTok – it’s about what people here are genuinely picking up, passing around, and talking about quietly over coffee.
From independent bookshops and reading rooms to community book clubs and library tables, here’s a cosy snapshot of what the North East is actually reading right now – and why.
Bookshops as cultural hubs (not just retail)
Independent bookshops across the region are thriving – not because they shout the loudest, but because they feel rooted in their communities.
Barter Books in Alnwick remains a winter favourite. When the weather turns, people don’t just pop in, they settle. Open fires, mismatched chairs and long shelves encourage browsing without urgency, and it’s common to see people reading chapters on the spot before deciding what to take home.
Further south, Forum Books in Corbridge is quietly influential. Known for thoughtful recommendations and well-curated tables, it’s a place where readers often come in with one book in mind and leave with three – usually fiction that leans reflective rather than flashy.
In Stockton, Drake The Bookshop has built a loyal following for championing independent presses, poetry and contemporary fiction. It’s particularly popular with readers looking for something slightly off the mainstream path.
The genres people are reaching for…
A sense of place
This winter season’s reading choices lean towards comfort, curiosity and connection, with a few clear patterns emerging.
Literary fiction with strong sense of place is big. Novels rooted in landscape, community and interior lives are resonating – especially stories that unfold slowly and reward attention. People want books that feel immersive rather than plot driven.
If you think this genre might be for you, then check out Andrew Miller’s ‘The Land in Winter’. This 2024 novel was shortlisted for major awards and won the 2025 Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction and makes the environment itself feel as significant as the people within it.
Nature writing
Nature writing and gentle non-fiction are also having a moment. Titles that explore walking, rural life, memory and the natural world feel especially suited to the season – and to a region where countryside is never far away.
A current example is ‘Raising Hare’ by Chloe Dalton. It won the 2025 Wainwright Prize for Nature Writing, and readers have been drawn to its quiet, deeply observant storytelling about the author’s experience rescuing and caring for a baby hare in the countryside.
Crime fiction
At the same time, crime fiction remains a constant. Mysteries, police procedurals and psychological thrillers are popular choices for readers who want something absorbing and escapist without being overly demanding.
The latest in Richard Osman’s Thursday Murder Club series ‘The Impossible Fortune’ continues to be a favourite, especially with the book groups and mystery lovers who enjoy smart, character-driven plots that blend humour and heart. It topped the UK bestseller lists in 2025 and is still being passed around libraries and bookshop reading chairs.
Romance
And then there’s romance – but with depth. Not the glossy kind, but emotionally intelligent love stories that explore relationships honestly. These books are often shared quietly between friends rather than loudly promoted.
A perfect example of a romance that’s emotionally intelligent and quietly resonating with readers right now is ‘You Are Here’ by David Nicholls – a 2024 novel that blends modern love, loneliness, and human connection in a deeply reflective way. Instead of high-stakes drama, the story follows two middle-aged recently divorced characters who unexpectedly reconnect and embark on a long-distance walking trail across Northern England together.
Book clubs are going local (and staying small)
Across the North East, book clubs are flourishing – particularly those that prioritise conversation over obligation.
Libraries in Durham, Sunderland and Gateshead host regular reading groups that attract a mix of ages and backgrounds. These clubs often lean towards accessible literary fiction and contemporary non-fiction, with plenty of space for discussion rather than analysis.
Independent bookshops also host their own groups, often tied to themes rather than fixed genres – climate, women’s writing, regional voices, translated fiction. The appeal is intimacy: small groups, familiar faces and thoughtful conversation.
What’s notable is how many clubs are choosing books by Northern or UK-based authors, drawn to voices that feel closer to home.
Tyneside Book Club is a great group who meet on the first Monday of each month, and for them, it’s as much about socialising as it is about reading – that’s why they meet at The Central pub in Gateshead!
Paperbacks, margins and re-reading
Another quiet trend: people are re-reading.
Old favourites are coming back into circulation – novels read in younger years, poetry collections pulled off shelves, books inherited from family members. There’s comfort in familiarity, especially when everything else feels fast and changeable.
Physical books remain dominant. Paperbacks with bent spines, scribbled notes and dog-eared corners are preferred over pristine hardbacks. These are books meant to be lived with.
Audiobooks and e-readers have their place – especially for commuting – but winter reading, it turns out, is still deeply tactile.
Why reading feels different right now
What people in the North East are reading reflects a wider mood: a desire for slowness, meaning and depth without drama.
Books offer something rare – uninterrupted time, perspective and quiet company. In a region that values straight talking and substance, it makes sense that reading choices lean thoughtful rather than showy.
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