The Greater Victoria Public Library (GVPL) is inviting people to forget the most streamed shows on Netflix, and take some inspiration from their lineup of most borrowed books in 2023.
GVPL has released its annual list of the top circulating titles. From royal memoirs to mystery novels and titles that tackle complex topics, the list reflects the community's interest in a wide range of genres.
“The most borrowed titles of 2023 list is an interesting mix of novels and memoirs. Like 2022, television and movie adaptations are influencing our community’s reading preferences, with titles like Lessons in Chemistry, A Court of Thorns and Roses, and The Summer I Turned Pretty captivating our library users. The demand for digital formats – eBooks and eAudiobooks – is continuing to grow,” said Maureen Sawa, CEO, GVPL.
“Compiling this list is always a lot of fun for us. We know our community looks forward to reviewing the list each year. Checking off those titles they’ve read, debating omissions, and getting inspiration for their must-read lists,” added Sawa.
Rachel Rogers, GVPL’s Collections and Technical Services Coordinator, said it was the year of the celebrity memoir, with Spare by Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex, topping the list as the most checked-out nonfiction book in all formats.
Matthew Perry, Britney Spears, and Michelle Obama, also have titles in the most borrowed nonfiction category.
“The release of Spare was highly anticipated. It was the most popular title across all genres in 2023, which is unusual for a nonfiction book. I think people were excited to get a glimpse into the life of a royal figure navigating challenges and responsibilities. Memoirs are always incredibly popular with our community, and a title like this one, where the audiobook features the author reading their own words, is extra compelling,” said Rogers.
Rogers added that BookTok continues to influence reading trends as well.
“One of the year's surprises was Fourth Wing, propelled due to its popularity on BookTok. This title has even popularized a new genre term – romantasy; a mash-up of the words romance and fantasy,” added Rogers.
Mindful of Murder was also on the list, a title from local author Susan Juby. The book was the inaugural selection for the One Book, One Community program, and proved to be a hit with patrons.
The 2023 Most Popular List includes titles in all formats – including print, ebooks, large print, and audiobooks – borrowed from GVPL’s 12 library branches and from online.
Adult Fiction
Lessons in Chemistry, by Bonnie Garmus
The Covenant of Water, by Abraham Verghese
Demon Copperhead, by Barbara Kingsolver
Fourth Wing, by Rebecca Yarros
A World of Curiosities, by Louise Penny
Mindful of Murder, by Susan Juby
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, by Gabrielle Zevin
Tom Lake, by Ann Patchett
Happy Place, by Emily Henry
Desert Star, by Michael Connelly
Nonfiction
Spare, by Prince Harry
The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness and Healing in a Toxic Culture, by Gabor Maté
Atomic Habits: Tiny Changes, Remarkable Results, by James Clear
Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, by Matthew Perry
I’m Glad My Mom Died, by Jennette McCurdy
Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity, by Peter Attia
Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands, by Kate Beaton
The Woman in Me, by Britney Spears
The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times, by Michelle Obama
The Body Keeps the Score: Brain Mind and Body in the Healing of Trauma, by Bessel van der Kolk
Teen
A Court of Thorns and Roses, by Sarah J. Maas
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, by Suzanne Collins
The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak
Throne of Glass, by Sarah J. Maas
The Summer I Turned Pretty, by Jenny Han
The Inheritance Games, by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, by Holly Jackson
Five Survive, by Holly Jackson
The Stolen Heir, by Holly Black
Divine Rivals, by Rebecca Ross
Kids
Release the Hounds!, and others in the Big Nate series, by Lincoln Peirce
Diper överlöde, and others in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, by Jeff Kinney
The Thank you Book, and others in the Elephant and Piggie series, by Mo Willems
Mary Anne’s Bad Luck Mystery, and others in the Baby-Sitters Club graphic adaptations series, by Cynthia Yuan Cheng and others
Garfield Nutty as a Fruitcake, and others in the Garfield series, by Jim Davis
Last Ride at Luna Park, and others in the Geronimo Stilton series, by Geronimo Stilton
Moon Rising, and others in the Wings of Fire graphic adaptations series, by Tui Sutherland/Barry Deutsch
The Bad Guys in the others?!, and others in the Bad Guys series, by Aaron Blabey
Crayons Rock!, and others in the Pete the Cat series, by Kim Dean
Supercat, and others in the Bad Kitty series, by Nick Bruel
