The New York Public Library revealed its list of the city’s most checked-out books of 2025, with Percival Everett’s James the most popular title among readers across all five boroughs. While the New York Public Library—the nation’s largest public library system—only has branches in the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island, this year’s list also compiled data from the Brooklyn Public Library and Queens Public Library.
Everett’s retelling of Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from the point of view of the enslaved Jim was published last year by Doubleday. The book was a national bestseller, and it won the Kirkus Prize, Pulitzer Prize, and National Book Award.
The No. 2 spot went to Liz Moore for The God of the Woods, while Rebecca Yarros took the No. 3, No. 4, and No. 7 spots with Onyx Storm, Fourth Wing, and Iron Flame, respectively.
Miranda July’s All Fours was at No. 5, followed by Mel Robbins’ The Let Them Theory: A Life-Changing Tool That Millions of People Can’t Stop Talking About at No. 6. James McBride’s The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store took the No. 8 spot, with Shelby Van Pelt’s Remarkably Bright Creatures and Barbara Kingsolver’s Demon Copperhead rounding out the top 10.
The No. 1 most checked-out book in both the Bronx and Staten Island was Freida McFadden’s The Crash, while Brooklyn readers sent Yarros’ Fourth Wing to the top of its list. Queens readers opted for Yarros’ Onyx Storm, while the most popular book in Manhattan libraries was Alison Espach’s The Wedding People.
Michael Schaub is a contributing writer.
