The most borrowed books in the Libby app in 2025
Libraries had another record-breaking year in 2025. Readers checked out more than 820 million titles—nearly an 11% increase over last year’s record—proving once again that libraries are the go-to destination for on-demand entertainment and education. With Los Angeles Public Library leading the way for top-circulating library system, the rest of the world wasn’t far behind with Toronto Public Library and National Board Singapore coming in at #2 and #3, respectively.
As costs continued to rise in 2025, libraries remained the free spot for reading, listening, and streaming through the Libby and Kanopy apps. Audiobooks, digital magazines, and comics were the hottest formats—all hitting double-digit growth. And as the price of streaming subscriptions skyrocketed, so did Kanopy plays and total minutes streamed (over 1 billion), as many turned to their local library for access to high-quality content without the high costs.
RELATED READ: Kanopy’s most-watched films of 2025
Which books fueled those 820 million checkouts? Here’s a look at the top 10 ebooks and audiobooks by digital checkouts of 2025:
Top 10 ebooks of 2025
#1
The Women
by Kristin Hannah
An intimate portrait of coming of age in a dangerous time and an epic tale of a nation divided.
#2
The Let Them Theory
by Mel Robbins
One of the world’s most respected experts on motivation, confidence, and mindset teaches you how to stop wasting energy on what you can’t control and start focusing on what truly matters: YOU.
#3
The Wedding People
by Alison Espach
A propulsive and uncommonly wise novel about one unexpected wedding guest and the surprising people who help her start anew.
#4
Onyx Storm
by Rebecca Yarros
After nearly 18 months at Basgiath War College, Violet Sorrengail knows there’s no more time for lessons. No more time for uncertainty.
#5
Great Big Beautiful Life
by Emily Henry
Two writers compete for the chance to tell the larger-than-life story of a woman with more than a couple of plot twists up her sleeve in this dazzling novel.
#6
Sunrise on the Reaping
by Suzanne Collins
This prequel dives into the 50th Hunger Games and it’s gritty, brutal, and full of sharp political commentary.
#7
The God of the Woods
by Liz Moore
When a teenager vanishes from her Adirondack summer camp, two worlds collide.
#8
A Court of Thorns and Roses
by Sarah J. Maas
The sexy, action-packed first book in the Court of Thorns and Roses series blends romance, adventures, and faerie lore into an unforgettable read.
#9
Fourth Wing
by Rebecca Yarros
Enter the brutal and elite world of a war college for dragon riders in the first book of The Empyrean series.
#10
Just for the Summer
by Abby Jimenez
When two cursed daters team up for a breakup experiment on a dreamy Minnesota island, sparks fly. Suddenly, falling in love wasn’t part of the plan.
Top 10 audiobooks of 2025
#1
Onyx Storm
by Rebecca Yarros
After nearly 18 months at Basgiath War College, Violet Sorrengail knows there’s no more time for lessons. No more time for uncertainty.
#2
The Women
by Kristin Hannah
An intimate portrait of coming of age in a dangerous time and an epic tale of a nation divided.
#3
Pride and Prejudice
by Jane Austen
Elizabeth Bennett has charmed readers with her wit and sincerity since the book was first published in 1813. Its hero, the handsome and wealthy Mr. Darcy, infuriates Elizabeth—and women readers around the world—with his rude arrogance, but all fall in love with him anyway.
#4
The Crash
by Freida McFadden
A gut-wrenching story of motherhood, survival, and twisted expectations, Freida McFadden delivers a snowbound thriller that will chill you to the bone.
#5
Fourth Wing
by Rebecca Yarros
Enter the brutal and elite world of a war college for dragon riders in the first book of The Empyrean series.
#6
The Housemaid
by Freida McFadden
A woman takes a job as a maid in a luxurious home, but soon finds herself entangled in their dark secrets and dangerous games in this addictive, twist-filled psychological thriller.
#7
The Wedding People
by Alison Espach
A propulsive and uncommonly wise novel about one unexpected wedding guest and the surprising people who help her start anew.
#8
Great Big Beautiful Life
by Emily Henry
Two writers compete for the chance to tell the larger-than-life story of a woman with more than a couple of plot twists up her sleeve in this dazzling novel.
#9
The Tenant
by Freida McFadden
A jaw-dropping thriller about revenge, privilege, and secrets turned sour.
#10
The Four Winds
by Kristin Hannah
An unforgettable American epic of love, sacrifice, and resilience that follows one woman’s fight to keep her family alive during the Dust Bowl and Great Depression.
Top 10 authors by digital checkouts of 2025
1. Jeff Kinney
2. James Patterson
3. Freida McFadden
4. Sarah J. Maas
5. Lincoln Peirce
6. Rebecca Yarros
7. Dav Pilkey
8. Kristin Hannah
9. David Baldacci
10. Nora Roberts
*Title availability may vary.
Keep the momentum going and support your public library in 2026! Download the Libby app and borrow books free from your library.
Published Jan 13, 2026
Annie Suhy
Annie Suhy is the editor of Libby Life. When she’s not working, practicing yoga, or petting cats, she’s doing paint-by-numbers and buying more plants. An avid poetry fan, her favorite collection is The Splinter Factory by Jeffrey McDaniel. She is an Aries.