- - Public Libraries Names This New York Times Bestseller One of the Most Popular Books of 2025: 'Incredible Read'

Meredith GordonJanuary 1, 2026 at 9:16 PM

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Did you read a book this year that you just can’t stop raving about? For me, 2025 was a reader’s paradise. With books like The Wedding People by Alison Espach, Flesh by David Szalay, and Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall topping my favorite reads of 2025, I’m heading into 2026 eager to catch up on the best books of the past year while anticipating the terrific titles still to come.

Now, public libraries across the country are releasing their best-of lists. One title, a New York Times bestseller, stands out as the most checked-out book of 2025. The Women by Kristin Hannah, published on February 6, 2024, emerged as the most popular book of the year among public library users nationwide.

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Why The Women Resonated With Readers

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A historical fiction novel, The Women explores the experiences of a young nursing student named Frances “Frankie” McGrath, who joins the Army Nurse Corps in 1965 and serves in the Vietnam War. The novel highlights the often-overlooked contributions of women in wartime and follows Frankie as she returns home to a divided America.

Published in 2024, The Women debuted at number one on the New York Times fiction bestseller list. The audiobook version, narrated by Julia Whelan, won a 2025 Audie Award for Best Fiction Narrator. The novel now adds another accolade to its growing list of achievements, earning the title of most checked-out book in U.S. public libraries in 2025.

Kristin Hannah is the author of several bestselling novels, including The Nightingale, The Four Winds, Firefly Lane, Winter Garden, and The Great Alone. The Women is currently in development with Warner Bros. Studios, which acquired the film rights in 2024.

People Magazine, which named The Women one of its Books of the Week, wrote, “Hannah again shines her light on overlooked women in history.”

The Washington Post added, “Hannah tells the story of real but unsung heroes.”

Delia Owens, author of Where the Crawdads Sing, called Kristin Hannah “one of the greatest storytellers of our time.”

The Women, along with other popular titles, can be downloaded for free through public libraries using the Libby app.

Related: New York Times Readers Name the 'Ultimate' Mr. Darcy

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This story was originally published by Parade on Jan 2, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”