As 2025 draws to a close, we look back at the books and items that captured the hearts and minds of Libraries ACT readers, which have been abuzz with the rustle of pages and the hum of e-readers.
Thousands of people visit Libraries ACT’s 9 library branches every week. Our members borrow more than 1.4 million items a year, from a collection of huge collection of physical and digital items.
Without further ado, here are the most borrowed books in various categories which you might want to add to your TBR (To Be Read) list for 2026.
You can explore the full catalogue or use the ‘Spydus Mobile’ app to reserve any titles you might have missed.
Becoming a library member is free and easy – come into your local library or sign up online. Members can borrow up to 100 physical items at a time, and remember, we do not charge late fees!
Here are the top loans for 2025.
Overall collection | ||
Title | Author | |
1 | Orbital | Samantha Harvey |
2 | The Valley | Chris Hammer |
3 | In Too Deep | Lee Child |
4 | The Unquiet Grave | Dervla McTierman |
5 | RecipeTin Eats Tonight | Nagi Maehashi |
6 | Lyrebird | Jane Caro |
7 | The Wedding People | Alison Espach |
8 | We Solve Murders | Richard Osman |
9 | Dog Man 1: Big Jim Begins | Dav Pilkey |
10 | The Season | Helen Garner |
Adult fiction | ||
Title | Author | |
1 | Orbital | Samantha Harvey |
2 | The Valley | Chris Hammer |
3 | The Unquiet Grave | Dervla McTierman |
4 | In To Deep | Lee Child |
5 | Lyrebird | Jane Caro |
6 | The Wedding People | Alison Espach |
7 | We Solve Murders | Richard Osman |
8 | Gunnawah | Ronni Salt |
9 | Great Big Beautiful Life | Emily Henry |
10 | Intermezzo | Sally Rooney |
Adult non-fiction | ||
Title | Author | |
1 | RecipeTin Eats Tonight | Nagi Maehashi |
2 | The Season | Helen Garner |
3 | Memorial Days | Geraldine Brooks |
4 | The Let Them Theory: A life changing tool that millions of people can't stop talking about | Mel Robbins |
5 | The Salt Path | Raynor Winn |
6 | Careless People: A story of where I used to work | Sarah Wynn-Williams |
7 | RecipeTin Eats Dinner | Nagi Maehashi |
8 | A Different Kind of Power: A memoir | Jacinda Ardern |
9 | Always Home, Always Homesick | Hannah Kent |
10 | Unsettled: A journey through time and place | Kate Grenville |
Junior fiction and graphic novels | ||
Title | Author | |
1 | Dog Man Series | Dav Pilkey |
2 | Ninja Kid Series | Anh Do |
3 | Wings of Fire Series | Tui Sutherland |
4 | Wolf Girl Series | Anh Do |
5 | Treehouse Series | Andy Griffiths |
Young adult and graphic novels | ||
Title | Author | |
1 | Sunrise on the Reaping | Suzanne Collins |
2 | A Court of Thorns and Roses | Sarah Mass |
3 | A Court of Mist and Fury | Sarah Mass |
4 | Powerless | Lauren Roberts |
5 | Justice League vs Godzilla vs Kong | Brian Buccellato |
6 | The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes | Suzanne Collins |
7 | Heartless Hunter | Kristen Ciccarelli |
8 | Throne of Glass | Sarah J Mass |
9 | You'll Be the Death of Me | Karen McManus |
10 | Rainbows After Storms | Luka Kobachi |
DVDs | ||
Title | Category | |
1 | Wicked | Feature film |
2 | Gladiator II | Feature film |
3 | Oppenheimer | Feature film |
4 | Transformers One | Children |
5 | Bridget Jones: Mad about the boy | Feature film |
6 | Better Man | Feature film |
7 | Dune: Part Two | Feature film |
8 | Lee | Children’s DVD |
9 | Conclave | Feature film |
10 | Dune | Feature film |
