Women authored most-borrowed books from NYC libraries in 2023

This year’s top checkouts at New York City’s public libraries tell vastly different stories — about a former actress who says she’s not sad about her mother’s death; a fictional chemist from the 1960s who teaches science to housewives through a cooking show; and a gutsy heroine who must learn to become a dragon warrior against all odds.

But the top adult titles at the city’s three library systems share a key similarity: They were all written by women.

“I’m Glad My Mom Died” by Jennette McCurdy was the Brooklyn Public Library’s top checkout, while “Fourth Wing” by Rebecca Yarros was the favorite of Queens Public Library patrons and “Lessons in Chemistry” by Bonnie Garmus was the most popular book at the New York Public Library, which serves Manhattan, the Bronx and Staten Island.

The only male author to break into the uppermost ranks citywide was Prince Harry, who made waves — and sometimes overshared — in his 400-page memoir “Spare.”

Some of the books were featured on WNYC’s “Get Lit!” virtual book club, a partnership with NYPL started during the pandemic. “Yellowface” by R. F. Kuang (#6) and “The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store” by James McBride (#7) were top 10 checkouts at NYPL, according to the library system. (WNYC and Gothamist are both part of New York Public Radio.)

In a statement Tuesday, Queens Public Library Chief Librarian Nick Buron said the 2023 lists “reflect a changing of the guard.”

“In the past our readers leaned towards popular romance and suspense novelists, like Danielle Steel, John Grisham or Stephen King,” he said. “This year they were drawn to writers of color, like Gabrielle Zevin and Abraham Verghese, and authors whose popularity soared after they went viral on social media, like Rebecca Yarros, Colleen Hoover and Brianna Wiest. These choices signal a desire to explore new themes as well as changes in the way our customers discover and engage with books.”

Here is the complete rundown…