New Yorkers borrowed these library books the most in 2025
Credit: The New York Public Library
These are the books New Yorkers couldn’t get enough of in 2025. The city’s three public library systems—the New York Public Library, Brooklyn Public Library, and Queens Public Library—have released their annual lists of most borrowed books. Across all three systems, “James” by Percival Everett was the most checked out title, followed by “The God of the Woods” by Liz Moore and “Onyx Storm” by Rebecca Yarros.
This year is the second time the city’s three public library systems have collaborated on a citywide list of most-borrowed books, following the initiative’s debut in 2024.
“Our much-anticipated top checkout lists are a testament to the universal joy of reading, and are one of the most direct mirrors we can hold to the books that most capture the imagination of New Yorkers every year. It’s especially fun to see the mix of titles that rose to the top this year,” Brian Bannon, chief librarian and James Tisch Director of Branch Libraries and Education at NYPL, said.
“Readers gravitated to a wide range of books, from literary fiction like ‘James’ by Percival Everett and ‘All Fours’ by Miranda July, to genre favorites spanning romance, romantasy, thrillers, and mystery.”
Top 10 adult titles citywide (NYPL, BPL, and QPL):
- “James” by Percival Everett
- “The God of the Woods” by Liz Moore
- “Onyx Storm” by Rebecca Yarros
- “Fourth Wing” by Rebecca Yarros
- “All Fours” by Miranda July
- “The Let Them Theory: A Life-Changing Tool That Millions of People Can’t Stop Talking About” by Mel Robbins
- “Iron Flame” by Rebecca Yarros
- “The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store” by James McBride
- “Remarkably Bright Creatures” by Shelby Van Pelt
- “Demon Copperhead” by Barbara Kingsolver
New York Public Library (Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island):
- “James” by Percival Everett
- “The God of the Woods” by Liz Moore
- “All Fours” by Miranda July
- “The Let Them Theory: A Life-Changing Tool That Millions of People Can’t Stop Talking About” by Mel Robbins
- “The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store” by James McBride
- “The Dream Hotel” by Laila Lalami
- “Deep End” by Ali Hazelwood
- “The Covenant of Water” by Abraham Verghese
- “A Court of Thorns and Roses” by Sarah J. Maas
- “Funny Story” by Emily Henry
- “Fourth Wing” by Rebecca Yarros
- “The Women” by Kristin Hannah
- “The Wedding People” by Alison Espach
- “Happy Place” by Emily Henry
- “Intermezzo” by Sally Rooney
- “All Fours” by Miranda July
- “James” by Percival Everett
- “Onyx Storm” by Rebecca Yarros
- “The God of the Woods” by Liz Moore
- “The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store” by James McBride
- “Onyx Storm” by Rebecca Yarros
- “Fourth Wing” by Rebecca Yarros
- “Iron Flame” by Rebecca Yarros
- “Remarkably Bright Creatures” by Shelby Van Pelt
- “Babel, Or the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators’ Revolution” by R.F. Kuang
- “Demon Copperhead” by Barbara Kingsolver
- “The Poppy War” by R.F. Kuang
- “The Perfect Divorce” by Jeneva Rose
- “Yellowface” by R.F. Kuang
- “The Tenant” by Freida McFadden
“Against the backdrop of a record number of book bans across the country, it’s powerful to see New Yorkers continuing to read books from every point of view,” Edwin Maxwell, chief librarian at BPL, said. “Reading helps build empathy and invites dialogue–qualities that have never been more important than now.”
You can also view the NYPL’s top checkouts for young adults and children here and the QPL’s selections here.
Readers looking for a new book can check out NYPL’s 2025 best-of lists for kids, teens, and adults, released late last month.
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