Travelodge reveals books left behind in Wales

Budget hotel chain, Travelodge has revealed its 2022 Books Left Behind Index.

This report highlights the most popular books, some of the company’s 20 million customers have left behind following their stay, in the last 12 months, at one of Travelodges 26 hotels across Wales.

Interestingly Travelodge hotels teams in Wales have reported a significant increase in customers leaving behind paperback books since the end of the Covid-lockdown. The most popular types of books left behind include novels that are or have been adapted into a movie or TV series.         

Within the top 20 most popular books left behind in Travelodge hotels in Wales in 2022, are the following movie inspired books: ‘Where the Crawdads Sing’, ‘The Tiger Who Came to Tea’,’ Death on The Nile’, ‘The Boy’, The Mole, ‘The Fox and The Horse’ and ‘Paddington Bear’- who made a big comeback at the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in June 2022. 

The following books which have been adapted into a popular TV series also featured in the 2022 Wales Travelodge Books Left Behind Index:   

• Fantasy book, ‘A Game of Thrones, Fire and Blood’ which has been adapted into HBO’s latest TV sensation, House of Dragon.  
• Margaret Attwod best selling novel, ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ which has been adapted into the multi-Emmy winning US drama series (series five was released in 2022)
• ‘Bridgerton: The Viscount Who Loved Me’ is the second book that Netflix released as part of its hugely popular Bridgerton series.   
• The time-defying 2003 love story, ‘The Time Traveler’s Wife’, which aired last year and became an instant hit 
• Dolly Alderton’s memoir and binge worthy BBC sensation ‘Everything I Know About Love’  
• The highly anticipated book turned TV series ‘Daisy Jones & The Six’ gained worldwide attention after it was announced that the gripping novel would be turned into a four part series starring Riley Keough

Interestingly books detailing the life of Queen Elizabeth II also made the 2022 Wales Travelodge Books Left Behind Index – highling the nation’s desire to learn about our longest-reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth ll. Also Netflix’s issued series five of its biggest streamed TV show, The Crown in 2022.

The fastest selling author, British novelist, Richard Osman, is the only author to have two books listed in the Travelodge top 20 Books Left Behind Index.  This includes: The Man Who Died Twice and The Thursday Murder Club. 

In response to the large number of books being left in Travelodge hotels in Wales during the last 12 months, the hotel chain conducted an independent book study with 2,000 British adults to find out the nation’s reading habits.   

Key findings from the study revealed that 72% of Welsh adults enjoy reading a book and 52% of these readers enjoy reading a paperback book. 

Nearly three out of ten (29%) of   Welsh adults reported that they will read two books each month whilst over a fifth (21%) Welsh adults book worms  reported that they will read on average four books each month and 22% of Welsh adults reported that they just manage to read one book each month.     

The study also revealed that Welsh adult’s favourite types of books to read are: crime, fiction, thriller, mystery and romance. 

Interestingly a third of Welsh adults reported that they discovered or reignited a love for reading during the lockdowns as they could escape from reality into a fantasy world and it also helped to keep their mind active.  Six out of ten 60% of   Welsh adults reported that reading a book during the pandemic helped them to relax.         

The study also revealed that over half (51%) of  Welsh adults like to escape into a book as part of their bedtime ritual.  

Interestingly just 20% of Welsh adults stated that they like to read a book on their tablet, Kindle or phone. 

Forty-six per cent of  Welsh adults reported that they like the actual feel of holding a book, flicking the pages and knowing the progress they are making whilst 31% of  Welsh adults reported they love the smell of a paperback book.  

Nearly half (47%) of  Welsh adults stated that an essential purchase when going away or on holiday is a new book.  

The study also revealed that over half 52% of Welsh adults would leave a book in a hotel that they have read for someone else to enjoy.    

Taking first position on the 2022 Wales Travelodge Books Left Behind Index is ‘The Man Who Died Twice’, the sequel to ‘The Thursday Murder Club’ by Richard Osman. This second instalment of the series continues to follow a group of retirees as they come across murder and mayhem with the thrill of the chase to solve the murder mystery which is uniquely funny, thrilling and enthralling. 

‘It Ends with Us’ takes second position, a romance novel that is being made into a movie by Colleen Hoover, focuses on a love triangle and portrays how people always live with the ghosts of their pasts. Hoover described this book as “the hardest book that she had ever written”.

Third place is awarded to ‘A Game of Thrones: Fire and Blood’. The fantasy book, by George RR Martin tells the history of the House Targaryen, the dynasty and complicated family that have been the focal point of the famous series. Sales of the fantasy book saw a huge surge since the release of House of Dragon last year, the prequel to Game of Thrones. 

Coming in at number four is Delia Owens ‘Where The Crawdads Sing’, which has been a top selling book in the UK for over two years and continued to make headlines last year after the eagerly awaited movie adaptation was released in the summer. The popular yet unusual novel is an atmospheric tale about an isolated and lonely girl’s extraordinary life living in the wilderness of North Carolina. 

Taking fifth place is the mental health handbook, ‘Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before’. The author, who is an internet sensation and a clinical Psychologist, has drawn on her years of experience and shares all her skills to help people get through the ups and downs of modern life in this book. 

Richard Osman’s ‘The Thursday Murder Club’ takes sixth position, critically acclaimed book turned TV series, ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ by Margaret Atwood, comes in at number seven and ‘Bridgerton: The Viscount Who Loved Me’, which inspired the second season of the hit Netflix show, takes eighth place.   

Audrey Niffenegger’s, ‘The Time Traveler’s Wife’ takes ninth place and the tenth place is awarded to ‘Harry Potter and The Philosopher’s Stone’ which celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2022 – and continues to be a worldwide sensation with  children and adults. 

The table below details the top 20 books left behind in a Travelodge in Wales during 2022 

Shakila Ahmad, Travelodge Spokesperson said: “Our 2022 Wales Books Left Behind Index has revealed that Britons have discovered or reignited a love for reading during the Covid lockdowns as we have seen a surge in paperback books being left behind in our 26 hotels in Wales, during the last 12 months. Interestingly the most popular types of books left behind have been fantasy, romantic and thriller themed stories that have been adapted into a movie or TV series and offer the perfect escapism.”  

“Interestingly, so far this year, we have already seen one popular book that will make our 2023 Books Left Behind Index and that is ‘Spare’ by Prince Harry.”                 

All books that are left behind in a Travelodge hotel room, which are not claimed within three months, are donated to a local charity shop.