The Columbus Metropolitan Library announced its list of the top 10 most checked-out books of 2025 on social media, drawing significant engagement from central Ohio readers.
The library posted a video on Instagram counting down the top titles, which received more than 5,000 likes and dozens of comments. The caption read, “The race was tight, but there were two clear winners. Did your prediction make the Top 10?”
The announcement sparked widespread discussion, with users comparing reading lists, celebrating favorites and adding new titles to their to-read stacks.
“Way better than Spotify Wrapped,” one user wrote.
Another commenter added, “Great fun. I loved the winner, and have read six of the ten. Thanks for doing this — libraries are my happy place, and I visit often.”
Best-selling adult fiction by women authors dominated the top spots, but the list included a range of genres, such as romance, fantasy, thrillers and contemporary novels.
The Columbus Metropolitan Library reported a total of 8.8 million checkouts and 5 million visitors in 2025.
Library officials noted that the rankings reflect trends seen across Ohio. While there is no single statewide source for total library checkouts by specific titles, the State Library of Ohio compiled data from the Ohio Digital Library and the Serving Every Ohioan Consortium, a group of public libraries that share resources and services.
The State Library of Ohio also released rankings for the most popular ebooks and audiobooks in the state.
The top 10 Ohio Digital Library ebook checkouts for 2025 included many of the same authors and titles, but “The Let Them Theory,” a nonfiction work, stood out among the top titles.
For audiobooks, Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice” was the only classic to appear on any of the lists. Interest in the novel increased in 2025, which marked the 250th anniversary of Austen’s birthday on Dec. 16. The milestone, along with the 20th anniversary of the 2005 film adaptation starring Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen, also sparked renewed attention online.
