More than half of adults wish they got the chance to read more – and one in four admit the only time they open a book is on holiday.
A survey of 5,000 adults found the average person goes abroad once a year, reading an average of 2.3 books each time.
Favourite genres when enjoying some downtime away include mysteries (30 per cent) and thrillers (29 per cent), with men more avid holiday readers compared to women.
And those in Belfast and Brighton the keenest to work their way through a paperback, with those in Leicester reading the least.
But more than a fifth (22 per cent) admit to changing it up and reading different types of books on holiday – with people in Birmingham, Cardiff and Newcastle most likely to expand their horizons.
However, Mancunians were found to be most likely to stick to what they know when it comes to genre choice, enjoying mysteries and thrillers most at home and away.
And whilst 29 per cent would feel ashamed of being seen reading a romance book on public transport during their commute, 17 per cent admit to being more confident about book choices when on holiday, reading subject matter they’d be too embarrassed to when at home.
With romance novels being the nation’s ‘most guilty holiday reading pleasure’, it emerged readers in Wolverhampton, Liverpool and Bristol save them until they’re on the beach and far from the eyes of people who know them.
A spokesperson for TUI BLUE, which has launched a book swap scheme for guests in a number of its hotels and commissioned the research, said:
“Finding the time to relax is so important, and loosing yourself in a book is the perfect way to escape and unwind.
“In day-to-day life it can be easy to get wrapped up in what you’re doing from minute to minute, and hard to make time to get stuck into a book.
“And when do you have more quality time to unwind than on holiday? Whether on the flight to get there, on a sun lounger round the pool or whilst savouring a cool drink in the shade, holidays do provide the time and space to create those ‘me moments’ it’s difficult to find at home.”
The study found 51 per cent are too busy with family to read very much – or at all – in their day to day lives.
For 31 per cent, there are other past times that take priority, while just over a quarter (26 per cent) are too busy on their work goals.
But when they do crack the spine of a page-turner, 59 per cent will read in bed, and 15 per cent will knock a few pages off on their commute.
Though when away, by the pool (56 per cent), their room (45 per cent), on the balcony (42 per cent) were the most likely places they’d be found reading.
Those on the lookout for recommendations on what to pick up next found Newcastle readers were most likely to use social media (40 per cent) compared to other areas, while a fifth in London have done so after listening to a podcast.
Nearly seven in 10 (68 per cent) of respondents are still faithful to good old-fashioned paper books, with only 17 per cent preferring e-readers.
Three quarters (76 per cent) would be happy to donate a book they’d read and loved, so someone else could enjoy it, according to the OnePoll data.
And 51 per cent are happy to hit up friends and family for book-borrowing before they go away on holiday, for some fresh reads.
While 81 per cent of Glaswegian’s would happily donate a book they enjoyed to someone else.
TUI BLUE’s spokesperson added:
“Book-borrowing is definitely a growing trend and it’s something we’ve seen within our own hotels, with guests leaving reads for other holidaymakers to enjoy.
“This summer, we thought we’d take it a step further and make it super easy for people with a new book swap scheme in a number of our top destinations.
“You can pick up a pre-loved book and also share a few words of recommendation – or warning – with a personal note saying why you loved or hated your read.”
