This “Harry Potter” Title Is the Most Borrowed Audiobook from UK Libraries in 2021 

At the end of the year, we all love looking back at what we accomplished: the goals we reached, the movies we watched, our Spotify Wrapped playlist, and the books we loved reading. As it turns out, we are not the only ones keeping track of what we read. OverDrive, which provides e-book, audiobook, digital newspaper, and magazine access to more than 3,000 libraries across the United Kingdom, took a peek at what people loved reading the most this year, and the results are officially in.

There is one book that made it to the top of the audiobook charts, one that we can imagine ourselves falling asleep to and might even find ourselves finishing the characters’ sentences because we know it all too well. You guessed it: It’s a Harry Potter bookHarry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, to be exact.

We find it pretty amazing that Chamber of Secrets made it to the top of the audiobook charts. The reason why this specific book in the series was so popular is unclear, but if we had to guess, it’s probably because no one ever gets tired of laughing at Gilderoy Lockhart’s shenanigans. It’s also the book in which Dobby is first introduced, which we’ll admit could play a big part in why people love it so much. And let’s not forget the flying Ford Anglia, which allowed Harry to escape from the Dursleys. The little bits of history we learn about Lord Voldemort’s time at Hogwarts and how he was the reason Hagrid got expelled also make this a very interesting book to read. Truth be told, there are countless reasons why Chamber of Secrets deserved to make it to the top of people’s audiobook list.

Speaking of audiobooks, Nick Forster, regional manager at OverDrive, said that many people first discovered that their libraries offer digital books during lockdown and that the demand has increased ever since, despite libraries reopening.

The staff running public libraries have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic to adapt their services to meet their community’s changing needs, and we’re proud to have played a part in helping them provide so much of what borrowers want.

When was the last time you read (or listened to) Chamber of Secrets? Which part of the book is your favorite? Let us know in the comments.

 

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Marica Laing

Growing up, I was a massive fan of Harry Potter and my love for the stories grew as I got older. It’s no surprise then that I love writing about all things Potter related. When I’m not writing about all the magic, you’ll find me reading (probably something Harry Potter related), listening to music, or writing some songs.