TOWSON, MD—As 2024 comes to a close, Baltimore County Public Library has released its list of the most checked-out books of the year.
The system circulated more than 8 million physical items during Fiscal Year 2024. There are a few books that quickly rose to the top of the charts and created an extensive hold list due to their popularity. The year’s most circulated books include a female chemist of the 1960s trying to make it in a male’s profession, techniques for living longer, and a memoir with an unusual title.
“Baltimore County is a community of readers,” said CEO Sonia Alcántara Antoine. “We are proud to offer such a large collection of diverse materials that continue to inspire or entertain.”
For the second year in a row, Bonnie Garmus’ “Lessons in Chemistry” found itself in the list of most checked out fiction books, this year taking the top spot with more than 1,850 people checking it out. The novel, which debuted in 2022, also spent weeks on The New York Times bestsellers list and was Barnes & Noble’s Book of the Year for 2022. Collection Development Manager Jamie Watson credits Hollywood for keeping the book on top of the charts.
“The popularity of ‘Lessons in Chemistry‘ likely bolstered to the top of the charts again because of the Apple TV+ series. The second most checked out book, Kristin Hannah’s ‘The Women,’ was optioned for a film by Warner Bros., so it may be around for a bit longer too,” said Watson. “I love how often a show or movie makes people want to read the book first (or after!).”
On the topic of Hollywood, America’s obsession with Prince Harry and Britney Spears kept their memoirs in the top five most checked out nonfiction books for a second year in a row. However, “Outlive: The Science & Art of Longevity” by Peter Attia claimed the #1 spot, with more than 600 borrows.
Top 5 Adult Fiction Books Circulated in 2024:
- “Lessons in Chemistry” by Bonnie Garmus
- “The Women” by Kristin Hannah
- “Think Twice” by Harlan Coben
- “The Exchange” by John Grisham
- “Resurrection Walk” by Michael Connelly
Top 5 Adult Nonfiction Books Circulated in 2024:
- “Outlive: The Science & Art of Longevity” by Peter Attia
- “Spare” by Prince Harry
- “The Demon of Unrest: A Saga of Hubris, Heartbreak, and Heroism at the Dawn of the Civil War” by Erik Larson
- “The Woman in Me” by Britney Spears
- “Atomic Habits: Tiny Changes, Remarkable Results: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones” by James Clear
Top Circulated Books in Other Categories:
- Adult Fiction eBook – “The Women” by Kristin Hannah
- Adult Nonfiction eBook – “Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, Her Therapist, and Our
- Lives Revealed” by Lori Gottlieb
- Adult Fiction Audiobook – “The Teacher” by Freida McFadden
- Adult Nonfiction Audiobook – “I’m Glad My Mom Died” by Jennette McCurdy
Baltimore County Public Library encourages the community to head into any of its branches to grab a physical copy or sign up for an ecard to instantly start using its digital library. If customers are looking for something more obscure than the top five, visit the service desk to get staff recommendations or try the Be Surprised Bundles, where staff pick out books or other materials based on a customer’s interests and reading history.
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