Brandwave

Books Kinokuniya vs Readings:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Books Kinokuniya had more branded searches than Readings among bookstores in Australia. Books Kinokuniya had about 49,500 branded searches, while Readings had 2,900. Books Kinokuniya made up 16.5% of all bookstore searches we track, and Readings accounted for 0.97%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about bookstores, both Books Kinokuniya and Readings appeared in all three answers. Books Kinokuniya was mentioned before Readings in two out of three answers.

Among bookstores in Australia in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Books Kinokuniya, about 17 searches for every 1 for Readings

Books Kinokuniya 49.5K searchesReadings 2.9K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Both are mentioned in every answer we collected.

Books Kinokuniya in 3 of 3Readings in 3 of 3

Who does AI recommend more?

Books Kinokuniya, named ahead of Readings in 2 of 3 answers

Books Kinokuniya first in 2Readings first in 1

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Top bookstores in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions, both Books Kinokuniya and Readings showed up in all three answers. Books Kinokuniya was listed before Readings in two of them.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Books Kinokuniya1st
  2. Readings2nd
  3. Dymocks3rd
  4. QBD Books4th
  5. Avid Reader5th
  6. Archives Fine Books6th
  7. Booktopia–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

See every answer about bookstores

3 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in Australia on October 19, 2026.

Is Books Kinokuniya or Readings more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Books Kinokuniya and Readings by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all seven bookstores we track, month by month, from searches in Australia.

Books Kinokuniya and Readings among bookstores in Australia, by month

Share of searches by month for Books Kinokuniya, Readings. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthQBD BooksBooktopiaBooks KinokuniyaAvid ReaderArchives Fine BooksReadingsDymocks
Oct 202545.4%40.5%8.2%2.6%1.6%0.7%1.1%
Nov 202545.5%40.7%8.2%2.6%1.3%0.72%1.1%
Dec 202548.6%35.6%8.7%2.8%1.4%1.4%1.4%
Jan 202647%38.4%7.8%2.9%1.9%1%1%
Feb 202644%39.5%9.7%2.8%1.9%1%1%
Mar 202639.6%43.2%10.6%2.7%1.7%1.1%0.94%
Apr 202643.7%36%13.2%2.9%2.1%1.2%0.95%
May 202642%42%8.5%3.1%2.1%1.1%1.1%
Jun 202640.2%43.8%8.8%3.1%2.1%0.96%0.96%
Jul 202641.2%41.2%10.1%3.1%2.5%1.1%0.9%
Aug 202644.3%39.5%9.7%2.5%1.9%1%1%
Sep 202641.1%36.6%16.5%2.2%1.8%0.97%0.8%

How has the Books Kinokuniya and Readings comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Books Kinokuniya was ahead of Readings in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Books Kinokuniya’s share of searches among bookstores in Australia moved from 8.2% to 16.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 22.2K to 49.5K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Readings’ share of searches among bookstores in Australia moved from 0.7% to 0.97%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 1.9K to 2.9K.

How did search popularity change for Australia bookstores in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, Books Kinokuniya gained share of searches among bookstores in Australia, from 9.7% to 16.5%.

  2. In September 2026, Readings rose from 7th to 6th among bookstores in Australia.

How are branded searches counted?

3 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Books Kinokuniya’s and Readings’ names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

Books Kinokuniya

1 branded search term

  • kinokuniya

Readings

2 branded search terms

  • readings books
  • readings bookshop

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among bookstores

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