Albanians appear to be getting closer to books, as bookstores in the capital report that sales have increased during 2025, with young people leading the trend.

With the arrival of summer, demand for books seems to be coming not only from local buyers but also from the many tourists visiting Tirana.

“Last year was quite busy, but this year, seeing that the number of tourists is increasing, naturally the focus on reading and bookstores is also higher,” says bookseller Sinan Lila.

Contrary to popular belief, readers do not belong to just one age group. Bookstores are being visited by people of all ages, from young people to the elderly.

“We have all age groups—older people read a lot, but young people are also showing interest,” says bookseller Sinan Lila.

Students in primary and secondary schools have a list of literary books they are required to read during the summer holidays as part of their school assignments. But beyond that, many seek out additional books.

“Among young people, the focus is on books in English, especially in the fantasy and mystery genres. While among older readers, there is more interest in contemporary literature,” says Lila.

Bookstore representatives say that to stimulate reading among young people, they organize various activities that bring them closer to books.