As the year comes to a close, New York City’s public libraries have revealed the books New Yorkers checked out the most in 2025.

For the second year in a row, the city’s three library systems — the New York Public Library, Brooklyn Public Library and Queens Public Library — combined their data to release a citywide list of the most borrowed titles across all five boroughs.

Leading the list citywide was Percival Everett’s “James,” followed by Liz Moore’s “The God of the Woods” and Rebecca Yarros’ fantasy romance “Onyx Storm.”

What You Need To Know

The New York Public Library, Brooklyn Public Library and Queens Public Library combined their data to release a citywide list of the most borrowed books of 2025

Percival Everett’s “James” was the most checked-out title citywide

Reader preferences varied across boroughs and library systems

The top 10 list also included popular romance, literary fiction and nonfiction titles, reflecting what library officials described as a wide range of reader interests.

“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,” said Brian Bannon, chief librarian of The New York Public Library. “Readers gravitated to a wide range of books, from literary fiction like ‘James’ and ‘All Fours,’ to genre favorites spanning romance, romantasy, thrillers and mystery.”

While Everett’s novel topped the list citywide, favorites differed by borough and library system.

According to the New York Public Library, Freida McFadden titles dominated in the Bronx, while Manhattan readers favored Alison Espach’s “The Wedding People.” On Staten Island, McFadden’s “The Crash” led the list.

Brooklyn Public Library readers checked out Rebecca Yarros’ “Fourth Wing” more than any other title, followed closely by Kristin Hannah’s “The Women” and Espach’s “The Wedding People.”

According to the Queens Public Library, Yarros’ “Onyx Storm,” “Fourth Wing” and “Iron Flame” claimed the top three spots.

The libraries also maintain separate lists for the most checked-out children’s, teen and Spanish-language books.

Citywide most checked-out books of 2024

“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

Top checkouts by borough
Manhattan

“The Wedding People” by Alison Espach
“The God of the Woods” by Liz Moore
“Intermezzo” by Sally Rooney
“James” by Percival Everett
“Great Big Beautiful Life” by Emily Henry
“The Women” by Kristin Hannah
“All Fours” by Miranda July
“The Housemaid” by Freida McFadden
“Onyx Storm” by Rebecca Yarros
“Fourth Wing” by Rebecca Yarros

Brooklyn

“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

Queens

“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

The Bronx

“The Crash” by Freida McFadden
“The Housemaid” by Freida McFadden
“The Let Them Theory: A Life-Changing Tool That Millions of People Can’t Stop Talking About” by Mel Robbins
“The Wedding People: A Novel” by Alison Espach
“James” by Percival Everett
“Great Big Beautiful Life” by Emily Henry
“The House of Cross” by James Patterson
“Paranoia” by James Patterson
“Parable of the Sower” by Octavia E. Butler
“The Waiting” by Michael Connelly

Staten Island

“The Crash” by Freida McFadden
“The Women” by Kristin Hannah
“The Housemaid” by Freida McFadden
“The Wedding People” by Alison Espach
“The Tenant” by Freida McFadden
“Never Say Never” by Danielle Steel
“Remarkably Bright Creatures” by Shelby Van Pelt
“The Waiting” by Michael Connelly
“Great Big Beautiful Life” by Emily Henry
“The Let Them Theory: A Life-Changing Tool That Millions of People Can’t Stop Talking About” by Mel Robbins