SAILS Library Network - Best of 2025

 

 

With 2025 almost at a close, we thought it would be fun to take a look at the most in-demand titles across SAILS Library Network’s member libraries!  So, what was everyone reading this year?  What DVDs were the most popular?  And what one title dominated in multiple categories?  Read on to find out!

 

TOP FICTION

 

This year’s top fiction checkout was The Women by Kristin Hannah with more than 1,460 checkouts!  The Women is a historical fiction novel about a young nurse serving in the United States Army Nurse Corps during the Vietnam War.  Since its publication in February 2024, it has been #1 on numerous bestseller lists, was a Book of the Month Club selection, a Fiction Finalist for the Dayton Literary Peace Prize, and won the Goodreads Choice Awards for Best Historical Fiction.  The Women’s audiobook narrator Julia Whelan also won the 2025 Audie Award for Best Fiction Narrator.  Numerous book clubs across SAILS Library Network have featured The Women this year, as well!

 

Honorable Mentions

 

TOP NON-FICTION

 

With over 700 checkouts, 2025’s Top Nonfiction book is The Let Them Theory: A Life-Changing Tool That Millions of People Can’t Stop Talking About by Mel Robbins.  Published at the end of 2024, popular podcaster and author Mel Robbins explores how to take back the time and energy you waste on the wrong things and put it towards real change that will improve your happiness.  This book was a Barnes & Noble Book of the Year finalist and the runner-up in this year’s Goodreads Choice Awards for Nonfiction.

 

Honorable Mentions

 

TOP EBOOK & EAUDIOBOOK

 

It might not come as a surprise that the top eBook checkout across SAILS Library Network was also The Women by Kristin Hannah with 2,102 checkouts!  And The Women also dominated as the top eAudiobook with 1,995 checkouts!

 

 

Honorable Mentions - eBook

Honorable Mentions - eAudiobook

 

TOP CHILDREN'S BOOK

Dav Pilkey dominated the Children’s category this year with his popular Dog Man series.  Dog Man is a spinoff of Pilkey’s other popular series Captain Underpants.  The series revolves around a half-man, half-dog hybrid character who works as a police officer and the adventures that result.  In January 2025, a feature film was released through Universal Pictures and DreamWorks Animation.  A sequel is currently in development.

 

Kiddos around SAILS Library Network seemed to enjoy volume 7 - For Whom the Ball Rolls (published in 2019) - the most, with volume 13 - Big Jim Begins (published 2024) - and volume 4 - Dog Man and Cat Kid (published 2017) - coming in a close second and third!

 

Volume 14 - Dog Man: Big Jim Believes - was recently published on November 11, 2025.  A new installment will be released sometime in 2026.

 

TOP YOUNG ADULT BOOK

 

Manga dominated the top checkouts among young adult readers this year, with the series Blue Lock by Muneyuki Kaneshiro having 806 checkouts across all SAILS’ libraries.  Blue Lock follows the story of Yoichi Isagi, a high school soccer (football) player who is determined to become the world’s greatest striker.  He enters the Blue Lock program, a training regimen designed to bring Japan stardom in the next FIFA World Cup and beyond.  The manga started in August 2018 and is currently ongoing at 36 volumes!  It has also been adapted into an anime with a live-action film also in the works.

 

Honorable Mentions

 

 

TOP TV AND FILM

 

What’s everyone watching these days?  Amongst adult patrons, the top movie checked out in 2025 was Wicked: Part 1 with 567 checkouts.  Released in theaters in 2024, Wicked follows the early relationship between Elphaba Thropp, the eventual Wicked Witch of the West, and her school roommate Galinda, who becomes known as Glinda the Good.  The movie is an adaptation of the 2003 stage musical by Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman.  Directed by Jon M. Chu and starring Cynthia Erivo (Elphaba) and Ariana Grande (Galinda), Wicked has won multiple awards and accolades, including Academy Awards for Best Costume Design and Best Production Design.

 

And in TV Land, Yellowstone received the most checkouts across SAILS Library Network with 567 checkouts as well!  First premiering in June 2018 and spanning five seasons and 53 episodes, Yellowstone follows the Duttons, a family that owns the largest cattle ranch in Montana - Yellowstone Dutton Ranch.  Full of family drama and intrigue, Yellowstone’s last episode aired on December 15, 2024.  It has also inspired several spinoff shows.

 

 

Meanwhile, younger SAILS patrons enjoyed the Paw Patrol series above all other titles, checking it out over 350 times!  First premiering on Nick Jr. in August 2013, Paw Patrol follows Ryder and his team of search and rescue dogs called the Paw Patrol.  Each dog has a special service area and skillset, and together they protect their community from harm, working together to save the day.  Paw Patrol spans a multi-million dollar franchise that includes books, toys, films, and more.  Its twelfth season began airing in July, and a new feature film is set to release in 2026.

 

Honorable Mentions - Adult TV and Film

Honorable Mentions - Kids TV and Film

 

TOP PERIODICALS

With one of the biggest readerships in America, it’s no surprise that People was the most checked out magazine amongst our SAILS’ member libraries this year with 1,886 total checkouts.  Filled with celebrity news and human-interest stories, People first hit newsstands in 1974 and celebrated its 50th anniversary just last year!

 

But while SAILS Library Network patrons can still check out physical magazines at their local library, it was the digital magazine collection - available through the Libby app - that received the most interest, with The New Yorker coming in at 12,948 checkouts!  Featuring essays, fiction, satire, commentary, cartoons, and more, The New Yorker is actually twice as old as People!  Its first issue hit newsstands on February 21, 2025, meaning it celebrated its 100th anniversary just this year!

Honorable Mentions - Physical Periodicals

Honorable Mentions - Digital Periodicals

 

So how many of these 2025 top checkouts have you read?  And which ones will you be picking up in the future?  Let us know in the comments!  And use the links above or below to request any of the items featured in this article!