More than four-fifths (85%) of adults in London are reading books (85%) and over half (52%) listening to audiobooks as Britons ‘weather the storm’ of the cost-of-living crisis. Nearly two-fifths of readers (38%) agree that they can relate to literature about people in adverse times more now during a cost-of-living crisis compared to previous years.

While more of us are turning to self-help books and books about social and economic issues to help make sense of the world today (both 41%), the relevance of fiction (37%), non-fiction (37%), poetry (28%) and classic literature (27%) in difficult times has also increased compared to previous years.

The Reader, a charity providing mental wellbeing support to communities through weekly Shared Reading groups, releases the research as more people risk being pushed into poor mental health and wellbeing due to the financial stress of the cost-of-living crisis.

The research, carried out by independent agency Opinium, found that three in five (62%) say reading fictional books with characters they relate to has a positive impact on their mental health. While over a quarter of people (28%) would consider attending read-aloud groups in their community to improve their mental health and wellbeing (rising to 46% of 18-34 year olds) and over one-third (32%) are aware that reading aloud with other people has many benefits to their wellbeing.

Katie Clark, The Reader’s Director of Literature, says: “The financial stress of the ongoing cost-of-living crisis is putting more people at risk of poor mental health while, in many places, the support services they need are struggling to cope with demand.

“This calls for a reframing of the conversation around cost-of-living that highlights the urgent need for more spaces where people can find social support, alongside priorities like warm spaces and foodbanks.

“Through something as simple as Shared Reading – reading together in small, weekly groups – people can help each other to cope with big things like cost-of-living pressures that can feel out of our control and build resilience at a community-level.”