Paperbacks and water at T1 beat a dead phone and Ryanair
Press & Books in Terminal 1 sits in that gap between €9.99 scratch-fare tickets and almost no in‑flight service. Think classic airport newsstand: magazines, paperbacks and bottled drinks before short‑haul low‑cost flights. Prices run higher than in Brussels city bookshops, but you pay for being 20 minutes from boarding with nothing downloaded.
T1 at Charleroi only has a couple of newspaper/bookstores, and Press & Books is part of that small ecosystem. One reviewer mentions grabbing a paperback and a bottle of water at the book shop before security because there was basically nothing to do airside. Treat it as your last real browse before the gate shuffle starts.
Airport guides list a book outlet in T1 landside near the “step 4” area, doubling as a snack and essentials point, so expect more than just print: soft drinks, candy and small travel bits at typical airport mark‑ups. Figure on a magazine at €5–€8 and paperbacks around €12–€18. Not a bargain, but still cheaper and calmer than killing time at the bar.
Regulars on Reddit say they usually preload e‑books and only buy a physical magazine here if their phone or Kindle is low on battery or they forgot to sync. That tracks: there are enough titles to keep a 2–3 hour Ryanair or Wizz Air hop tolerable, but not enough depth to justify browsing for fun. Grab something quick and move on.
Tip: buy your reading and a 0.5L water at Press & Books in T1 landside before security; airside options shrink fast and queues near the gates spike 30–40 minutes before departure.