What did Timberland library readers check out in 2023? Here are the most popular books

To many, the time of going to a library and checking a book out seems like something from the old days since we have access to millions of books in the palm of our hands. Nonetheless, libraries persist. In fact, library patrons check out millions of physical and digital titles every year.

According to Timberland Regional Library, more than 3 million physical books and digital titles were checked out in 2023. TRL has 29 libraries in the five Washington state counties of Thurston, Mason, Grays, Pacific and Lewis.

The 2023 TRL Wrapped includes statistics about the number of physical and digital items borrowed, as well as top movies and the most popular books for every genre.

TRL said in a press release that 1.9 million digital books were borrowed in 2023, making it one of 152 total public library systems worldwide that surpassed 1 million digital checkouts last year.

“For the second straight year, Timberland Regional Library readers have checked out over 1.5 million digital items,” stated Kim Storbeck, collection services manager at TRL in a news release. “We are delighted to serve readers of all interests and ages with this free, always growing, and diverse collection.”

Here are TRL’s top books in various genres, audiobooks, e-books, and movies in 2023.

Top 5 fiction books

1. A World of Curiosities by Louise Penny - 341 checkouts

2. Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver - 301 checkouts

3. Tomorrow & Tomorrow & Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin - 295 checkouts

4. Boys from Biloxi by John Grisham - 291 checkouts

5. Mad Honey: A Novel by Jodi Picoult - 290 checkouts

Top 5 Science fiction & fantasy books

1. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros - 263 checkouts

2. Midnight Library by Matt Haig - 120 checkouts

3. Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree -

4. Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel

5. House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

Top 5 romance books

1. Happy Place by Emily Henry - 466 checkouts

2. Must Love Flowers by Debbie Macamber - 312 checkouts

3. Heart Bones by Colleen Hoover - 249 checkouts

4. Dreamland by Nicholas Sparks - 229 checkouts

5. Its Starts with Us by Colleen Hoover - 208 checkouts

Top 5 nonfiction books

1. Spare by Prince Harry - 668 checkouts

2. The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck by David Grann - 516 checkouts

3. A Fever in the Heartland by Timothy Egan - 223 checkouts

4. An Immense World by Ed Yong - 218 checkouts

5. I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy - 214 checkouts

Top 5 mystery books

1. Storm Watch by C.J. Box - 623 checkouts

2. A World of Curiosities by Louise Penny - 594 checkouts

3. The Way of the Bear by Anne Hillerman - 501 checkouts

4. Dark Angel by John Sandford - 475 checkouts

5. Desert Star by Michael Connelly - 457 checkouts

Top 5 young adult books

1. A Court of Thorns & Roses by Sarah J. Maas - 237 checkouts

2. Heartstopper by Alice Oseman - 164 checkouts

3. The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes - 132 checkouts

4. Nimona by ND Stevenson - 124 checkouts

5. Heartstopper Vol. 2 by Alice Oseman - 120 checkouts

The top 5 ebooks

1. Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

2. Spare by Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex

3. It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover

4. Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

5. Verity by Colleen Hoover

The top 5 audiobooks

1. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

2. Spare by Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex

3. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

4. The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese

5. I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy

Top 5 movies

1. “A Man Called Otto” - 1,012 checkouts

2. “Whale” - 836 checkouts

3. “Ticket to Paradise” - 756 checkouts

4. “The Fabelmans” - 739 checkouts

5. “Marlowe” - 714 checkouts