What did the Estes Valley read in 2024?

Last year’s numbers are in! In 2024, Library patrons spent thousands of hours reading, listening, watching, and enjoying collection materials. Now, it’s time to use our annual “most borrowed” list to discover your next checkout. 

In Adult New Fiction, the number one book went to By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult, the story of two women – one of whom is the real author of Shakespeare’s plays – who are centuries apart, yet both forced to hide behind another name. Authors Michael Crichton and James Patterson claimed the next spot with Eruption, their joint thriller about a history-making volcanic event that could destroy the Big Island of Hawaii.

Last year, a book about the Grand Canyon claimed the top spot in Adult New Nonfiction – and the same subject matter prevailed in 2024! This year’s number one title was A Walk in the Park: The True Story of A Spectacular Misadventure in the Grand Canyon by Kevin Fedarko. Second place went to A Field Guide to the Apocalypse by Athena Aktipis, a “mostly serious” book about understanding, surviving, and thriving in our time of complex chaos and crises.

Ebooks are a popular choice for our community – they’re convenient and accessible via a variety of devices. Thrillers reigned in the digital space: The Secret by Lee Child, a Jack Reacher Novel, snagged first place, and The Exchange by John Grisham was in second. 

Younger readers enjoy the library collection, too. Picture books High Voltage! by Frank Berrios and I Love You Like by bestselling duo Lisa Swerling and Ralph Lazar topped the children’s list.

In Teen Fiction, Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas was most checked out, which is the first book in the popular fantasy series by the same name. Another fantasy title was runner-up: Eragon by Christopher Paolini. Watch a free virtual author talk from Paolini: he discussed his dragon-riding worlds back in March as part of the Library’s partnership with the Library Speakers Consortium. 

Library of Things items, from practical to just plain fun, continued to be popular checkouts for patrons. The radon detector topped the list, followed by crochet kits, the sewing machine, and the telescope. Our community is busy with household upkeep, crafting, and stargazing!

What titles will top the lists in 2025? When you check out an item—physical or digital—it’s like a vote for the types of materials and topics you want in the Library collection. You can also give us your suggestions directly, by requesting in person or through the “We’ll Get It For You” link atop the search catalog on our website. 

Hundreds of acquisitions in 2024 were the result of suggestions from readers like you. Start “voting” now and keep reading, listening, and viewing all year long. Visit the catalog today to find your next favorite title.