Best Books of 2025? Says Who?

by Lesley Misko

What changes did 2025 introduce and what traditions were pushed aside to make way for the new? In other words, what was hot and what was not? Often, supposed experts publish lists to answer this question.

One topic that generates lots of lists is the topic of the “best books of the year.” Usually these book lists define “best” based on the subjective opinion of one or more individuals. There is no objective data to defend the choices.

However, this year Bookriot.com took a different approach. They created their “best books list” based on the “checkout lists from big and small public libraries across the country.”

Interestingly, this method of determining “the best,” enables the list to include books published during previous years. Usually, these are old books that recently created new interest because of some real-life events related to them.

Some trends became obvious in gathering this information. First, according to Bookriot.com, many books that were frequently checked out of libraries had been “part of a major celebrity book club” or had earned some kind of official recognition, proving that publicity does pay.

Bookriot.com also shares that libraries saw lots of “genre -based fiction among their most popular titles.” This would be writing that fits into well-defined and established categories such as mystery, romance, or science fiction. Authors who have large and long-time followings appear on these lists: examples include David Baldacci and Louise Penny.

Other Bookriot.com observations include “the domination of white authors” in library check-outs. However, they add, “The good news is that when an author of color sees his book receive publicity and praise, that attention causes an increase in library borrowing. One example is author James McBride’s The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store [set in Pottstown, PA,] which landed on several most circulated lists this year, too.”

Finally, Bookriot.com asks that we keep in mind the impact of digital book borrowing. “Another element to consider in looking at these lists is the role that the digital platforms for library ebooks play. Some collections will simply have more copies of particular titles than others, allowing for more checkouts of those titles.”

Based on Bookriot’s research, here is their list of the most borrowed adult fiction books from libraries across the country. Both ebooks and print books are included.   

[Coming next... Do local book preferences match the national choices?]

Most Borrowed Popular Fiction in US Public Libraries in 2025

• The Women by Kristin Hannah, 32 library lists. This book was at the top of last year’s “most borrowed in US libraries” list as well.
• The God of the Woods by Liz Moore, 22 library lists.
• James by Percival Everett, 18 lists.
• Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry, 15 lists.
• Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros, 14 lists.
• The Wedding People by Alison Espach, 13 lists.
• The Grey Wolf by Louise Penny, 7 lists.
• Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt, 7 lists.
• Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid, 7 lists.
• All The Colors of the Dark by Chris Whittaker, 7 lists.
• The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon, 6 lists.
• The Boyfriend by Freida McFadden, 6 lists.
• Strangers in Time by David Baldacci, 6 lists.
• Intermezzo by Sally Rooney, 6 lists.
• Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros, 6 lists.
• All Fours by Miranda July, 6 lists.
• Most Borrowed Popular Nonfiction in US Libraries in 2025
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• The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins and Sawyer Robbins, 18 library lists.
• The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt, 13 lists.
• Careless People by Sarah Wynn Williams, 6 lists.
• Be Ready When The Luck Happens by Ina Garten, 5 lists.
• Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimerer, 4 lists.
• The Serviceberry by Robin Wall Kimmerer, 4 lists.
• The Demon of Unrest: A Saga of Hubris, Heartbreak, and Heroism at the Dawn of the Civil War by Erik Larson, 4 lists.
• Abundance by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson, 3 lists.
• The Body Keeps The Score by Bessel Van der Kolk, 3 lists.
• Educated by Tara Westover, 3 lists.
• Revenge of the Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell, 3 lists.
• Most Popular Authors in Libraries in 2025
• Freida McFadden, with nine different titles
• James Patterson, with five different titles
• Rebecca Yarros, with four different titles
• William Kent Kreuger, with three different titles
• Kristin Hannah, with three different titles
• Emily Henry, with three different titles
• David Baldacci, with three different titles

Libraries That Shared Their Statistics for This Research.

Allen County Public Library, Arlington Public Library, Avon Free Public Library, Boerne Library, Boston Public Library, Cincinnati Public Library, Cranbrook Public Library, Denver Public Library, Des Moines Public Library, Gail Borden Public Library, Harvard Public Library, Hennepin County Public Library, Kansas City Public Library, Kern County Library, King County Library, Las Vegas-Clark County Library, Lawrence Public Library, Lois Wagner Memorial Library, Marathon County Library, Marin County Free Library, Milton Public Library, Morris Area Public Library, New Berlin Public Library, New York City (all boroughs), Palm Beach County Library System, Rock Island Public Library, San Francisco Public Library, San Luis Obiso Public Library, Scappoose Public Library, Seattle Public Library, Silvis Public Library, Sno-Isle Libraries, Stillwater Public Library, Suffolk County Library, Taylor County Public Library, Timberland Regional Library, Tulsa City-County Library, Verona Library, Washington County Library, West Plains Public Library, White Oak Library, and Worcester Public Library.

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