Singaporeans are now reading more - Rakuten Kobo reports a 270% increase in reading minutes!

Rakuten Kobo Inc, the world’s only dedicated digital bookseller, revealed a surge in reading during the pandemic. According to Rukuten Kobo’s data, there has been a 270% increase in reading minutes. Singaporeans have clocked 270% more reading minutes this year as compared to 2019 – which is equivalent to 28 years of reading (8 years more than 2019)!

2020 – The Year of the Unprecedented

This year has been filled with change and uncertainties and Singaporeans are learning to cope through their growing appetite for literature. The most popular genres include Non-Fiction, Romance and Fiction. Reading has proven to be a form of escapism to many Singaporeans during the lockdown as seen from the 17% spike in reading minutes in May as compared to the next highest month, April.

Romance, romance and more romance

From contemporary romance, escapist romance to the steamier erotica, the romance genre offers entertainment and comfort to many during “Circuit Breaker” and is one of the most popular genres in 2019 and 2020. According to Rakuten Kobo’s data, 90% of the most popular authors of 2020 were classified under the romance category, keeping its name – best seller of all time.

Singapore’s top best selling eBooks of 2020

Becoming by Michelle Obama
Atomic Habits by James Clear
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson
Chasing Cassandra by Lisa Kleypas
Sex and Vanity by Kevin Kwan

Elevate your reading experience

Kobo has a range of eReaders for you to choose from – Kobo Nia, Kobo Clara HD, Kobo Libra H2O and Kobo Forma. The latest entrant, Kobo Nia packs all the features normally found on the premium models but at a budget-friendly price point. They utilise E Ink and anti-glare screens that read just like print on paper. Completed with ComfortLight technology, makes it suitable for night-time reading and readers looking to switch to digital reading.

For an upgraded experience, models like the Kobo Libra H2O and Kobo Forma are waterproof, allowing you to read anywhere worry-free.

The Kobo eBookstore also has an unparalleled catalogue of more than 6 million titles, offering books to suit any preferences, available through Kobo eReaders and the free Kobo App. Kobo readers also have access to exclusive eBook and audiobook content from Kobo Originals, which allows you to borrow books through OverDrive – a digital service used by local public libraries.