THE most popular item  in 2023 at Libraries ACT is the adult fiction novel “Lessons in Chemistry” by Bonnie Garmus.

The novel, now also a television series, was the most popular hard copy adult fiction book and e-book for the year. It had around 700 reservations throughout the year to read the book.

“Bulldozed: Scott Morrison’s fall and Anthony Albanese’s Rise” by Canberra author Niki Savva was a non-fiction favourite and recently shortlisted in the ACT’s Book of the Year Awards, but Prince Harry’s “Spare” topped the list.

Most popular books in physical format and adult fiction

1. Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
2. The Bookbinder of Jericho by Pip Williams
3. Exiles by Jane Harper
4. Dead tide by Fiona McIntosh
5. Small things like these by Claire Keegan

Top five adult non-fiction

1. Spare by Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex
2. I’m glad my mom died by Jennette McCurdy
3. Did I ever tell you this?: a memoir by Sam Neill
4. Bulldozed: Scott Morrison’s fall and Anthony Albanese’s rise by Niki Savva
5. RecipeTin Eats dinner by Nagi Maehashi

Top five junior fiction

1. Legends unite by Anh Do
2. Diva drama by Meredith Costain
3. Enter the jungle by Anh Do
4. From Nerd to Ninja! by Anh Do
5. Spinning weird! By Anh Do

Top five junior non-fiction

1. Minecraft survival handbook by Mojang
2. Minecraft annual 2023 by Mojang
3. Amelia Earhart by Isabel Sanchez Vegara
4. How to build LEGO dinosaurs by Hannah Dolan
5. Jane Goodall by Isabel Sanchez Vegara

Top five ebooks

1. Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
2. Exiles by Jane Harper
3. Bookbinder of Jericho by Pip Williams
4. Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
5. Dirt Town by Hayley Scrivenor

Top five audio books

1. Bookbinder of Jericho by Pip Williams
2. Book of Roads and Kingdoms by Richard Fidler
3. Murder Rule by Dervla McTiernan
4. Bullet That Missed by Richard Osman
5. Exiles by Jane Harper