Unveiling the books of each genre that readers couldn’t put down in 2023
As digital book lending continues to flourish, public libraries remain an essential resource for free reading materials through the Libby app. Since 2021, North American Public Libraries have seen a 55 percent increase in ebook and audiobook checkouts! Audiobooks experienced a significant growth in circulation alone, increasing by more than 22 percent, continuing its meteoritic rise in popularity over the past decade.
New Libby features make it even easier for users to discover and borrow digital content from their local library. Using the new Deep Search feature and Notify Me smart tags, patrons can alert their library if interested in a title. The patron is then notified if the library adds the title to the digital collection. Leading the way with millions of Notify Me tags were House of Flame and Shadow by Sarah J. Maas and Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros. (The audiobook of Iron Flame is currently on sale as part of our End of Year sale!)
Below are the top ebooks and audiobooks borrowed in public libraries on Libby in 2023, organized by genre. We also have the top Juvenile and Young Adult fiction series in ebook and audiobook. In addition to the top title in each format, you’ll also find a link to a Marketplace list where you can view or purchase the top 10 ebooks and audiobooks for each genre. Looking for top circulating OverDrive Magazines in 2023? See this post here.
With that, let’s find out what books of each genre readers couldn’t stop reading in 2023!
Fiction
Top Ebook: Verity by Colleen Hoover. Buy here.
Top Audiobook: Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros. Buy here.
Check out Rebecca’s conversation with OverDrive’s Professional Book Nerds here.
Shop most popular fiction ebooks and audiobooks here.
Historical Fiction
Top Ebook: Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr. Buy here.
Check out Anthony’s conversation with the Professional Book Nerds here.
Top Audiobook: The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah. Buy here.
Shop most popular historical fiction ebooks and audiobooks here.
Mystery & Thriller
Top Ebook: Verity by Colleen Hoover. Buy here.
Check out Colleen’s Q&A with the Professional Book Nerds here.
Top Audiobook: The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley. Buy here.
Shop most popular mystery & thriller ebooks and audiobooks here.
Romance
Top Ebook: Top Ebook: Verity by Colleen Hoover. Buy here.
Top Audiobook: Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros. Buy here.
See most popular romance ebooks and audiobooks here.
Science Fiction & Fantasy
Top Ebook: Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros. Buy here.
Top Audiobook: Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros. Buy here.
See most popular SFF ebooks and audiobooks here.
Biography, Autobiography & Memoir
Top Ebook: Spare by Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex. Buy here.
Top Audiobook: Spare by Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex. Buy here.
See most popular biography & memoir ebooks and audiobooks here.
Cooking & Food
Top Ebook: Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner. Buy here.
Top Audiobook: Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner. Buy here.
Shop most popular cooking & food ebooks and audiobooks here.
History
Top Ebook: Spare by Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex. Buy here.
Top Audiobook: Spare by Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex. Buy here.
Shop most popular history ebooks and audiobooks here.
Nonfiction
Top Ebook: Spare by Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex. Buy here.
Top Audiobook: Spare by Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex. Buy here.
Shop most popular nonfiction ebooks and audiobooks here.
Young Adult Fiction Series
Top Ebook Series: A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas. Buy here.
Top Audiobook Series: A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas. Buy here.
Shop most popular YA fiction series ebooks and audiobooks here.
Juvenile Fiction Series
Top Ebook Series: Big Nate by Lincoln Peirce. Buy here.
Top Audiobook Series: The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Warner. Buy here.
