Readers Rush to Buy Sally Rooney Books Amid UK Ban
Source reports published 21 Oct 2026, 10:00 am AEST
Following a ban on sales of Sally Rooney’s books due to her support for Palestine Action, readers have increased purchases. Bookshops are selling out, and a black market for the books has emerged across the UK and Ireland.
What happened
- Sales of Sally Rooney’s novels have surged nearly 300% in a week following the withdrawal of her books from UK sale by publisher Faber & Faber, citing UK anti-terror legislation.
- This action stems from Rooney’s public support for the banned group Palestine Action.
- Bookshops, including Bookmarked in Bristol, have reported selling out entirely, with Evelyn, the shop’s general manager, expressing concern about a ‘precedent’ being set.
- Across the Irish Sea, bookshops like Kennys Bookshop in Galway have seen sales tenfold increase, primarily driven by British buyers.
- Book smuggling is occurring through Northern Ireland, with Bridge Books in Co Down reporting ten-fold sales increases.
- Leading writers and actors, including Paul Mescal and Susan Sarandon, have condemned the law, calling it a ‘repressive absurdity’.
- The situation has prompted a shift in book distribution, with some retailers sourcing books from the Republic of Ireland to fulfill demand, highlighting the impact of the ban on access to the author’s work.