New year, new reading list.
Whether your resolution is to read more or you’re looking for the next adventure, the Iowa City Public Library has more than 200,000 titles and materials to fill that void. Guests can access the collection by browsing online, visiting the Bookmobile, or checking out the downtown library.
Here’s what residents checked out the most in 2025:
What were the top 5 most checked-out physical Iowa City Public Library books in 2025?
What were the top 5 most checked-out on the Iowa City Public Library Bookmobile in 2025?
What books were featured on the Iowa City Public Library’s Best of the Best?
Every year, the Iowa City Public Library releases a curated selection of top staff picks called the “Best of the Best.” Library staff review notable titles published over the year, and vote on books they feel are outstanding. The selection is narrowed to a set of “can’t-miss” titles across multiple categories, offering trusted recommendations from those who know books best.
Biography/Memoir: “Positive Obsession: The Life and Times of Octavia E. Butler” by Susana M. Morris
Children’s 3rd-6th Grade: “Scattergood” by H. M. Bouwman
Children’s Babies – 2nd Grade: “Aggie and the Ghost” by Matthew Forsythe
Adult Fiction: “Dream State” by Eric Puchner
Nonfiction: “Girl on Girl: How Pop Culture Turned a Generation of Women Against Themselves” by Sophie Gilbert
Graphic Novel: “A Song for You and I” by Kay O’Neill
Mystery: “The Naming of the Birds” by Paraic O’Donnell
Romance: “The Love Lyric” by Kristina Forest
Science Fiction/Fantasy: “The River Has Roots” by Amal El-Mohtar
Young Adult Fiction and “overall Best of the Best title”: “Sunrise on the Reaping” by Suzanne Collins
How to get a library card in Iowa City
If you don’t have a library card, signing up is easy. You can find out how to get one on ICPL’s website. Residents in Iowa City, Hills, University Heights, Lone Tree, or rural Johnson County are eligible for a resident card.
Coralville, North Liberty, and most other Iowa residents can secure an open access library card.
Jessica Rish is an entertainment, dining and education reporter for the Iowa City Press-Citizen. She can be reached at JRish@press-citizen.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @rishjessica_
This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: What’s Iowa City reading? Find out the most checked out books of 2025
Reporting by Jessica Rish, Iowa City Press-Citizen / Iowa City Press-Citizen
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