Online bookstore Booktopia has launched a subscription ebook service in Australia, giving its customers access to more than 500,000 titles for $13.99 a month.

The subscription, which comes by way of the business’ partnership with Rakuten Kobo, is called Kobo Plus and allows readers to access the titles through the Booktopia App and Kobo Readers, which are sold by Booktopia.

Booktopia chief executive Tony Nash said it was a cost effective way for the business’ customers to explore a large range of titles.

“It will take someone, even a passionate reader, a long time to get through more than half a million books,” Nash said.

“eReaders are a very popular option for travellers, and…we would expect a healthy take-up of the subscription option as people emerge from lockdowns and can once again explore their travel options.”

Nash added that, as the retail industry heads into the festive season, Booktopia will continue to focus on the sale of physical books and that this new option isn’t expected to have a material impact on its core business.

“The next six weeks are the busiest time of the year for retail book sales, and with our new storage facility, combined with the improved efficiency we are achieving after our investments in automation, we are set to break all records,” Nash said.