Libris.ro: What Romanians read in 2024. The map of Romania in books read. How TikTok revived classic literature: "White Nights" by Dostoevsky, the unexpected bestseller of Generation Z
21% more books ordered in 2024 - F.M. Dostoevsky - the most appreciated author - Ioana Chicet-Macoveiciuc - the best-selling Romanian author - Ilfov, Bucharest, and Brașov - the highest number of orders per capita - Brașov - 35% more books…
- 21% more books ordered in 2024
- F.M. Dostoevsky - the most appreciated author
- Ioana Chicet-Macoveiciuc - the best-selling Romanian author
- Ilfov, Bucharest, and Brașov - the highest number of orders per capita
- Brașov - 35% more books sold
- 135 RON - the average order value nationwide; 240 RON - the average order value internationally
- The classic novel "The Catcher in the Rye" - the most-read book in the "Young Adult" category
Libris, the leading online bookstore in Romania, sold over 20% more books in 2024 compared to 2023, with an average national order value of 135 RON. The most active counties in book purchases remain Bucharest, Brașov, and Cluj, while Children's Books dominate the top categories, followed by Fiction and Humanities.
One of this year’s surprises is the resurgence of classic titles and authors, with F.M. Dostoevsky topping the best-selling authors list thanks to the TikTok virality of his book "White Nights."
Thus, one of the most interesting literary phenomena of 2024 was the massive popularization of Fyodor Dostoevsky's novella "White Nights" on TikTok, which captured the attention of Generation Z with its themes of love, loneliness, and human connection.
Moreover, thanks to this phenomenon, Dostoevsky's "White Nights" became the best-selling classic title from Penguin in the UK, surpassing long-established bestsellers like "Pride and Prejudice" (Jane Austen) and "1984" (George Orwell).
The BookTok community heavily promoted Dostoevsky's romantic and melancholic story, which appealed to Generation Z through its themes of loneliness and emotional vulnerability.
"New generations are discovering classic literature not only through school or family but also on social platforms. Dostoevsky's popularity on TikTok demonstrates the relevance of reading in the digital age. His themes, such as opposition to capitalism, the difficulty of forming authentic connections, and the fragility of relationships, resonate deeply with today's youth. The novella “White Nights”, appreciated as a love story, also appeals due to the popularity of the romance genre on social media. This viral interest in Dostoevsky's works has also been reflected in our sales growth," said Loredana Tudor, Marketing Manager at Libris
