Rap icon Stormzy has thrown his support behind a national book campaign aimed at enticing reluctant readers, proving that literature isn't just for "book people"—it's for everyone.

📖 Quick Reads Turns 20

UK charity The Reading Agency is marking 20 years of its Quick Reads campaign in 2026, which also happens to be the National Year of Reading.

The initiative partners with bestselling authors to create short, accessible books which sell for just £1, with the aim of encouraging:

• 📘 New readers — people who've never enjoyed reading
• 🔄 Lapsed readers — those who used to read but fell out of the habit
• 🧠 Neurodivergent readers — people with ADHD, dyslexia, or autism who struggle with traditional long-form books
• ⏱️ Short attention spans — anyone overwhelmed by 400-page novels

🎤 Stormzy's #Merky Books Involvement

This year's Quick Reads titles—spanning thrillers, romance, and contemporary fiction—hit shelves in April 2026. For the first time, they'll be available in audiobook format, while half a million copies will be gifted to prisons across the UK.

The lineup includes Hunger Pains, written by Derek Owusu and published by Stormzy's own publishing imprint, #Merky Books.

"I encourage anyone who doesn't usually read to pick up a Quick Read – because reading really is a superpower. Music and books are both about finding your voice. We are all made of stories – they define who we are." — Stormzy

💪 Why This Matters

In a world dominated by screens, algorithms, and 30-second TikTok videos, reading is a radical act. It requires sustained attention, imagination, and patience—skills that are increasingly under threat.

But more than that, reading is a gateway to:

• 🗣️ Finding your voice — as Stormzy put it, stories help us understand who we are
• 🧘 Mental health — reading reduces stress, improves empathy, and helps us process emotions
• 🎓 Education and opportunity — literacy is the foundation of economic mobility
• 💭 Critical thinking — books teach us to analyze, question, and imagine alternatives
• 🌍 Understanding others — fiction builds empathy by letting us live inside someone else's experience

🚀 Breaking Down Barriers

Traditional publishing has long been criticized for being exclusive, expensive, and intimidating. Quick Reads dismantles those barriers:

• 💷 £1 price point — cheaper than a coffee, accessible to everyone
• 📏 Short format — 100-150 pages, designed to be finished in a sitting or two
• 🎧 Audiobook versions — perfect for people with visual impairments, dyslexia, or those who prefer listening
• ✍️ Bestselling authors — not "dumbed down" or patronizing, but genuinely engaging stories from top writers
• 🏛️ Prison gifting — recognizing that access to books can be transformative for incarcerated people

The campaign also deliberately avoids the stuffy, gatekeeping tone that turns many people off from reading. It's not about "high literature" or what you "should" read—it's about finding joy in stories, however that looks for you.

🎶 Why Stormzy's Involvement Is So Powerful

Stormzy isn't just a celebrity endorsement—he's someone who's lived the barriers Quick Reads is trying to dismantle. Growing up in South London, he's spoken openly about how education and representation mattered to him.

His publishing imprint, #Merky Books, was founded in 2018 specifically to amplify voices that traditional publishing ignores—Black British writers, working-class voices, stories from the margins.

When Stormzy says "reading is a superpower," it lands differently than when a posh literary critic says it. He's proof that you don't need to fit a stereotype to be a reader, writer, or storyteller. If grime's biggest star is backing books, maybe books aren't just for "other people" after all.

🔓 Why Prisons?

Half a million Quick Reads copies are being gifted to prisons across the UK—a recognition that books can be genuinely transformative for incarcerated people.

Research shows that reading in prison:

• 📉 Reduces reoffending rates — literacy programs cut recidivism by up to 40%
• 🧘 Improves mental health — reading offers escape, routine, and hope
• 🎓 Builds skills — literacy is foundational to employment after release
• 🔗 Maintains humanity — books remind people they are more than their worst mistake

Quick Reads' short format is ideal for people with low literacy levels or who haven't engaged with books in years. And the fact that they're gifted, not sold, removes the financial barrier that exists even in prisons.

📚 The 2026 Quick Reads Lineup

This year's titles include:

• 📖 Hunger Pains by Derek Owusu (#Merky Books) — contemporary fiction
• 🔪 Thrillers from bestselling crime authors
• ❤️ Romance stories with heart
• 🌍 Contemporary fiction exploring modern life

All books are written by established authors, ensuring high-quality storytelling. They're not "beginner books" or simplified—they're just shorter, making them accessible without being condescending.

🌟 National Year of Reading

2026 has been designated the National Year of Reading, a year-long celebration of literacy with initiatives across the UK:

• 📚 Library events and author talks
• 🏫 School reading challenges
• 📖 Book clubs and community reading groups
• 🎧 Audiobook promotions
• ✍️ Writing workshops for aspiring authors

Quick Reads is the flagship campaign, but it's part of a broader cultural push to remind people that reading isn't a chore—it's a joy, a tool, and yes, a superpower.

💡 How to Get Involved

Quick Reads titles will be available at bookshops, supermarkets, and online from April 2026. At £1 per book (or free in participating libraries), there's no barrier to trying one.

If you know someone who says "I don't read" or "I can't focus on books," Quick Reads might be the perfect gateway. And with audiobook versions available, even people who struggle with traditional reading can join in.

As Stormzy says: "We are all made of stories—they define who we are." This year, more people than ever will get to discover their own story through the power of reading. 📖✨