Running alongside the National Year of Reading, the event centres on a shared #ReadingHour from 7-8pm, inviting people to read anything they enjoy, in any format, in any place.

At the heart of World Book Night are Quick Reads. These are short, affordable books written by established authors and designed for adults who read less often, struggle to concentrate or feel unsure where to start.

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More than 35,000 free copies are being distributed nationwide, with the books also available for £1 in shops like Waterstones and to borrow from public libraries.

Quick Reads are carefully developed and tested to support adults who are rebuilding reading confidence. They use clear language, short chapters and focused storytelling, without stripping away emotional impact.

Author Rachel Hore (Image: Gemma Day)

One of the six titles selected for 2026 is The Girl in the Picture by bestselling novelist Rachel Hore, who lives in Norwich.

“I knew it was important to concentrate on coming up with an engrossing, straightforward tale without subplots or too many characters,” Rachel said.

“My hope is that a reader will be immediately drawn into........

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