Jackets Revealed for 2021 Quick Reads
8 September 2020: On International Literacy Day, The Reading Agency has unveiled the jackets for the next instalment of Quick Reads, written by Oyinkan Braithwaite, Louise Candlish, Katie Fforde, Peter James, Caitlin Moran and Khurrum Rahman. These six amazing bitesize novels by leading authors will be released on 27 May 2021, marking the 15th anniversary of the life-changing programme tackling the UK’s adult literacy crisis by inspiring less confident readers. Originally scheduled to launch in February 2021, the publication date has moved to Spring, due to the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and as The Reading Agency looks to share Quick Reads with the widest possible audience.
Since launching in 2006, over 5 million Quick Reads books have been distributed. One in six adults in the UK find reading difficult and one in three do not regularly read for pleasure – Quick Reads works to change these statistics by producing high-quality books supported by outreach work in libraries, further education, prisons and trade unions, to help thousands of new readers every year find the pleasure and benefits that come from reading. With publisher support and The Reading Agency’s outreach work, over 83,987 Quick Reads have been distributed in 2020 so far.
From dark domestic noir and compelling crime to family drama and feminist manifesto, the transformative titles publishing on 27 May 2021 are great reads showcasing the very best in contemporary writing and are available for just £1 at bookshops and free to borrow from libraries, colleges, prisons, trade unions, hospitals and adult learning organisations across the UK.
- The Baby is Mine by Oyinkan Braithwaite (Atlantic)
- The Skylight by Louise Candlish (Simon & Schuster)
- Saving the Day by Katie Fforde (Arrow)
- Wish You Were Dead by Peter James (Macmillan)
- How to Be a Woman, abridged by Caitlin Moran (Ebury)
- The Motive by Khurrum Rahman (HQ)
Fanny Blake, Quick Reads Commissioning Editor, said:
“We are extremely proud to share the fabulous jackets for Quick Reads 2021. We could not be more grateful to the authors and publishers for their support of this invaluable programme. As we look forward to this next exceptional instalment of Quick Reads titles, it is easy to forget that without the generous gift of three years financial support from Jojo Moyes, Quick Reads would not have been relaunched, next year’s titles would not exist, and thousands of readers would not have picked up a copy of these life-changing books. It’s crucial that we find a way of ensuring that Quick Reads are here to stay. They provide entertaining, compelling, first-class storytelling that changes lives through reading.”
Debbie Hicks, Creative Director, The Reading Agency, said:
“We’re thrilled to be unveiling the jackets for 2021’s upcoming Quick Reads. The authors taking part in the 15th anniversary of the programme are some of our brightest writing stars. We’re delighted to receive their help in tackling the adult literacy crisis in the UK. We hope the wide range of stories showcased in this collection will once again help people across the country discover the joy and proven power of reading. There really is something for everyone”
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Find out more about the 2021 Quick Reads here, including quotes from the brilliant authors
Use our Find A Read tool to search for past Quick Reads titles at different reading levels
