Hennepin County Library’s most borrowed books of 2025

  • December 15, 2025

Before we turn the page to a new year, we’re celebrating the books our patrons loved the most at Hennepin County Library in 2025. “The Women” by Kristin Hannah and "James" by Percival Everett topped the print lists for adults while graphic novels once again dominated the juvenile print list.

Through the end of November 2025, Hennepin County Library had more than 4.5 million visits to physical locations and nearly 11.8 million physical and digital items checked out across the system.

Noteworthy trends from 2025

  • You loved listening to audiobooks. eAudiobooks grew in popularity this year, with this media almost entirely taking over the top 10 adult electronic book list.
  • Classic authors and books are finding renewed popularity. This year, we saw a resurgence of interest in classic authors, including Jane Austen.
    • Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice” is just outside the top ten at number 11. Factors possibly contributing to this spike: Jane Austen’s 250th birthday is December 16, and anticipation for the forthcoming Netflix series, “Pride and Prejudice.”

"Another story from this year's lists is about availability—what we have a lot of circulates a lot," said Katy Schulz, senior librarian – collection and technical services. "The juvenile print list is dominated year-after-year by children’s graphic novels, which we buy in large quantities to promote accessibility across the system. And many of the eAudiobooks on the list are part of a subscription package that allows unlimited users to check out a title at once."

Hennepin County residents continue to show their support for the library system. "Checkouts for 2025 have already surpassed last year’s circulation numbers," said Scott Duimstra, library director. "Hennepin County Library’s mission is to inspire, facilitate, and celebrate lifelong learning. We’re thrilled that so many residents are finding their way to the library to attend programs and events, gather with members of the community, and checkout books on their reading lists."

Curious about which books were most popular this year? Look no further than Hennepin County Library’s top 10 most borrowed books of 2025 lists. Is your favorite included?

Adult – print

  1. The Women by Kristin Hannah
  2. James: A Novel by Percival Everett
  3. The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride
  4. Spirit crossing: A Novel by William Kent Krueger
  5. The God of the Woods by Liz Moore
  6. Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez
  7. The River We Remember: A Novel by William Kent Krueger
  8. The Wedding People by Alison Espach
  9. Funny Story by Emily Henry
  10. The Mighty Red: A Novel by Louise Erdrich

Juvenile – print

  1. Dog Man: Big Jim Begins by Dav Pilkey
  2. Dog Man: The Scarlet Shedder by Dav Pilkey
  3. The Baby-sitters Club: 16, Kristy and the Walking Disaster by Ann M. Martin
  4. Cat Kid Comic Club: Influencers by Dav Pilkey
  5. The Baby-sitters Club: 15, Claudia and the Bad Joke by Ann M. Martin
  6. Cat Kid Comic Club: Collaborations by Dav Pilkey
  7. The Baby-sitters Club: 14, Stacey’s Mistake by Ann M. Martin
  8. Dog Man: Grime and Punishment by Dav Pilkey
  9. Dog Man: Mothering Heights by Dav Pilkey
  10. The Baby-sitters Club: 6, Kristy’s big day by Ann M. Martin

Adult – eBook

  1. Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter (eAudiobook)
  2. The Women by Kristin Hannah (eBook)
  3. Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer (eAudiobook)
  4. Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer (eAudiobook)
  5. The Things We Leave Unfinished by Rebecca Yarros (eAudiobook)
  6. Home is Where the Bodies Are by Jeneva Rose (eAudiobook)
  7. The Women by Kristin Hannah (eAudiobook)
  8. Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry (eAudiobook)
  9. The Life We Bury by Allen Eskens (eAudiobook)
  10. 1984 by George Orwell (eAudiobook)

Juvenile – eBook

  1. Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins (eBook)
  2. Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins (eAudiobook)
  3. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins (eAudiobook)
  4. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (eBook)
  5. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle (eAudiobook)
  6. The Deep End by Jeff Kinney (eBook)
  7. Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley (eAudiobook)
  8. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling (eAudiobook)
  9. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins (eBook)
  10. Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross (eAudiobook)

Find your next read at hclib.org.