Curious what Birmingham readers couldn’t put down this year? The Birmingham Public Library—alongside the Huntsville-Madison County Public Library and the New York Public Library—has released its list of the most-borrowed books of 2025.
From thrillers and mysteries to historical fiction and self-discovery, here’s how Birmingham’s reading habits stack up against the Rocket City and the City That Never Sleeps.
Birmingham’s top-borrowed books of 2025
Birmingham was firmly in its mystery era in 2025, with thrillers dominating the most-requested physical books list. Familiar heavy-hitters like James Patterson, Sandra Brown and David Baldacci—regulars in Birmingham’s Best Sellers Book Club—claimed many of the top spots.
And in a very Birmingham moment, the mayor even made the list…