Dhaka, Sept. 21 -- Independent bookshops are enjoying a revival in the UK and Ireland, with their numbers reaching the highest level since 2012 as younger readers and social media help drive demand, according to the BBC.

The report said that 1,086 independent bookshops were operating in 2025, up from a record low of 867 in 2016.

For new booksellers, however, running a shop remains demanding.

The BBC spoke to Sally Flint, 57, who runs The Book Stop in Brigg, North Lincolnshire. She said long working hours and the demands of running a shop had presented challenges.

Flint also said she had noticed young people buying books to keep on their shelves "like a trophy book" after initially reading them on an e-reader.

BookTok, the book-focuse...