The Most Read Books of 2024

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Toronto Public Library, North America’s largest and busiest public library system, has unveiled its list of the most read and borrowed books of the year, offering a treasure trove of inspiration for literary enthusiasts.

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This year, themes of resilience, community, and compelling female protagonists dominated the reading choices of Torontonians.

Rebecca Yarros’ The Empyrean series, including Fourth Wing and Iron Flame, emerged as a standout favourite, captivating readers with its dynamic storytelling and strong heroine. Kristin Hannah’s The Women, a poignant narrative of Vietnam War nurse Frankie McGrath, was another top pick, reflecting a broader interest in stories about resilience and courage.

Books celebrating relationships and community also resonated with Toronto readers. Abraham Verghese’s The Covenant of Water and James McBride’s The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store offered rich narratives exploring love, tradition, and belonging. Ann Napolitano’s Hello Beautiful similarly captured attention with its themes of family and transformation.

“It’s heartening to see how Torontonians are drawn to stories that reflect the resilience, humour and love that define our shared humanity,” said Matt Abbott, Senior Manager of Collection Development at TPL.

Canadian authors shone brightly on the list of most borrowed Canadian books. Toronto-based authors Carley Fortune and Nita Prose remained crowd favourites. Fortune’s contemporary romances were particularly popular, including This Summer Will Be Different and Meet Me at the Lake and Prose’s mystery series featuring The Maid and The Mystery Guest. Both authors are expected to continue their success with new releases in 2025.

Readers also gravitated toward inspirational works like James Clear’s Atomic Habits and Bonnie Garmus’s Lessons in Chemistry.