Fantasy, Sci-Fi Top Audiobook Listening in Canada

A new study from BookNet Canada finds that 41% of audiobook listeners in Canada have listened to science fiction and fantasy books, followed by mysteries (38%), thrillers (32%), romance (29%), and memoirs (28%). The recent survey of adult book buyers and audiobook listeners from across the country also shows that almost half have consumed the same book in multiple formats, and one in three listened to a sample before purchasing an audiobook.

The report also found that 93% of listeners in 2018 find it usually or sometimes easy to find titles they want to listen to in audio format. The majority, 55%, consume one to five audiobooks in a year, which is up from 46% in 2016, and may signal an increase in more readers trying out audiobooks for the first time.

When it comes to how listeners acquire their audiobooks, the three most popular ways are: online from a retailer (49%), downloading/streaming for free from the internet/apps (36%), and through public library apps such as Libby/OverDrive and Hoopla (32%). One out of four respondents use subscription or rental services such as Audible, Audiobooks.com, and Kobo.