From self-help to fantasy favourites: Vancouver’s most-borrowed library books of 2025

Vancouver’s most-borrowed library books of 2025 offer a clear snapshot of what readers across the city are reaching for — and it’s a mix of comfort, escapism and well-loved series.

According to the Vancouver Public Library, familiar titles dominated borrowing across adult, teen and children’s categories this year. The library system recorded nearly 6.5 million visits in 2024 and remains Canada’s most-visited urban library system per capita.

While annual favourites returned once again, the adult category leaned more heavily toward fiction than in previous years, including a noticeable presence of romance.

Self-help still on top

For the third year in a row, 101 Essays That Will Change the Way You Think by Brianna Wiest claimed the top spot among adult readers.

Canadian mystery writer Louise Penny placed third with The Grey Wolf, the latest installment in her long-running Inspector Armand Gamache series set in Quebec.

The rest of the adult list featured a blend of contemporary fiction and romance, including novels by Sally Rooney, Kristin Hannah and Emily Henry.

Top 10 most-borrowed adult books:

1. 101 Essays That Will Change the Way You Think — Brianna Wiest

2. Braiding Sweetgrass — Robin Wall Kimmerer

3. The Grey Wolf — Louise Penny

4. The Women — Kristin Hannah

5. All Fours — Miranda July

6. Intermezzo — Sally Rooney

7. The Wedding People — Alison Espach

8. Funny Story — Emily Henry

9. Fourth Wing — Rebecca Yarros

10. The God of the Woods — Liz Moore

Fantasy dominates teen reading

Fantasy once again ruled the teen and young adult category.

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas topped the list for the fourth consecutive year. Maas placed four titles in the top 10, while Suzanne Collins secured two spots with books from The Hunger Games universe.

Eight of the ten most-borrowed teen books this year fell within the fantasy genre, reinforcing a long-standing trend among younger readers.

Top 10 most-borrowed young adult/teen books:

1. A Court of Thorns and Roses — Sarah J. Maas

2. Sunrise on the Reaping — Suzanne Collins

3. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes — Suzanne Collins

4. Throne of Glass — Sarah J. Maas

5. Powerless — Lauren Roberts

6. Divine Rivals — Rebecca Ross

7. Crown of Midnight — Sarah J. Maas

8. A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder — Holly Jackson

9. Reckless — Lauren Roberts

10. Heir of Fire — Sarah J. Maas / Nothing Like the Movies — Lynn Painter (tie)

Kids stick with graphic novel favourites

The children’s list was dominated entirely by graphic novels, led once again by Diary of a Wimpy Kid.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: No Brainer by Jeff Kinney took the top spot, with Kinney claiming five of the ten positions overall. The revived Baby-Sitters Club graphic novel series followed closely, alongside one entry from Dav Pilkey’s Dog Man franchise.

Top 10 most-borrowed children’s books:

1. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: No Brainer — Jeff Kinney

2. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Diper Överlöde — Jeff Kinney

3. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hot Mess — Jeff Kinney

4. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Big Shot — Jeff Kinney

5. Dog Man: The Scarlet Shedder — Dav Pilkey

6. Baby-Sitters Little Sister: Karen’s Haircut — Katy Farina

7. The Baby-Sitters Club: Claudia and the Bad Joke — Arley Nopra

8. Baby-Sitters Little Sister: Karen’s Sleepover — Katy Farina

9. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Deep End — Jeff Kinney

10. Baby-Sitters Little Sister: Karen’s Grandmothers — DK Yingst

From self-reflection and romance to dragons, dystopias and diary-style cartoons, Vancouver’s borrowing habits in 2025 suggest readers are still finding comfort in familiar stories — and eagerly returning to the books they love most.