Erotic fiction is most likely book genre to be left at Travelodge
Erotic fiction, including the third instalment of the original Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy, has topped Travelodge's Books Left Behind index for 2013, prompting the budget hotel brand to suggest that Britons' appetite for the genre shows no sign of waning.
The index, which details the top 20 books most often left behind in Travelodge hotels, has Fifty Shades Freed by EL James, Bared To You by Sylvia Day, and The MarriageBargain by Jennifer Probst in the top three spots respectively. All are erotic fiction in the style of James' bestselling trilogy Fifty Shades of Grey.
While Fifty Shades of Grey and Fifty Shades Darker (James) featured on last year's list too, this year sees Reflected In You, Entwined With You (Day), The Marriage Trap and The Marriage Mistake (Probst)among the 20-strong index.
Shakila Ahmed, Travelodge spokeswoman said: "Our index has certainly revealed that the Fifty Shades phenomenon has created an appetite for Britons wanting to read more erotic romantic literature."
"Over the past three years our annual books left behind study has shown a decline in celebrity biographies but a rise in fiction books especially for thriller and romantic trilogies."
Overall, the index closely mirrors the bestselling titles of the past few years. As well as erotic fiction, it lists some of the most popular fiction titles of recent months, including Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn and The Casual Vacancy by JK Rowling, alongisde autobiographies from Cheryl Cole and David Walliams, while The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald in 20th position is, no doubt, a nod to the success of the recent Baz Luhrmann film.
Travelodge reports that despite the rise in tablets and e-readers, 22,648 books have been left behind in Travelodge's 36,758 UK bedrooms over the past 12 months, with erotic fiction most likely to be left behind in the north of England.
The hotel chain said the top three reasons for people leaving a book behind are that they have finished it and don't want to take it home; they got bored with it; or left it by genuine accident. It added that all books left behind in a Travelodge hotel room and not claimed within three months are donated to charity.
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