Readers in New York are privy to 200+ community-based library and literacy locations across the five boroughs. Through its three independent systems (New York Public Library, Brooklyn Public Library and Queens Public Library), New Yorkers are granted access to books, periodicals, electronic resources, mobile technology and non-print materials at no cost.
So let’s see what New Yorkers were reading this year, including physical books, e-books and audio books. And let’s just say, female authors dominated the rankings…
Most borrowed books 2023: New York Public Library
- “Lessons in Chemistry” by Bonnie Garmus
- “Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow” by Gabrielle Zevin
- “Spare” by Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex
- “Book Lovers” by Emily Henry
- “Verity” by Colleen Hoover
- “Yellowface” by R. F. Kuang
- “The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store” by James McBride
- “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” by Taylor Jenkins Reid
- “It Ends with Us” by Colleen Hoover
- “Daisy Jones & the Six” by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Most borrowed books 2023: Brooklyn Public Library
- “I’m Glad My Mom Died” by Jennette McCurdy
- “Spare” by Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex
- “Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow” by Gabrielle Zevin
- “Lessons in Chemistry” by Bonnie Garmus
- “Book Lovers” by Emily Henry
- “Happy Place” by Emily Henry
- “The Paris Apartment” by Lucy Foley
- “Pineapple Street” by Jenny Jackson
- “It Ends with Us” by Colleen Hoover
- “Fourth Wing” by Rebecca Yarros
Most borrowed books 2023: Queens Public Library
- “Fourth Wing” by Rebecca Yarros
- “Spare” by Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex
- “Tomorrow, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow” by Gabrielle Zevin
- “I’m Glad My Mom Died” by Jennette McCurdy
- “It Starts with Us” by Colleen Hoover
- “It Ends with Us” by Colleen Hoover
- “The Covenant of Water” by Abraham Verghese
- “Lessons in Chemistry” by Bonnie Garmus
- “Verity” by Colleen Hoover
- “101 Essays that Will Change the Way You Think” by Brianna Wiest
You can take a look at last year’s top books here.