Edmontonians borrow 11.8 million items from the Edmonton Public Library every year—that’s a lot of books (and movies and music and games)!
But what are Edmontonians actually reading?
From buzzy new titles to perennially popular picks, we've taken a look at some of the fiction and non-fiction books with the most library holds going into August 2018 and made suggestions for what to read while you wait for your turn.
All books are free to borrow with your library card. Don’t have one? Sign up for free online., opens a new window
Top Fiction Holds
1. Top Hold: All We Ever Wanted, opens a new window by Emily Giffin
The lives of two very different families collide over a scandal. There’s wealthy Nina, whose son Finch has just been accepted to Princeton, and there’s single dad Thomas, whose daughter Lyla was just granted a scholarship to a prestigious private high school. Everything changes when someone shares a photograph snapped during a drunken moment at a party.
All We Ever Wanted is available as a book, opens a new window, eBook, opens a new window, audiobook CD, opens a new window, downloadable audiobook, opens a new window and large print edition, opens a new window.
What to Read Instead: Testimony, opens a new window by Anita Shreve
A sex scandal at a New England boarding school rocks a small community in this timely tale told from multiple perspectives. The story is uncovered as the men, women and teenagers involved recall the incident and its aftermath.
Testimony is available as a book, opens a new window, eBook, opens a new window, audiobook CD, opens a new window and large print edition, opens a new window.
2. Top Hold: Crazy Rich Asians, opens a new window by Kevin Kwan
When Rachel Chu accompanies her long-time boyfriend Nick to his home in China for a summer wedding, she’s shocked to discover he’s the heir to a substantial fortune and considered one of the country’s most eligible bachelors. Suddenly thrown into a world of opulence, Rachel must content with gossip, scheming and backbiting among the uber-rich elite. A movie based on the book hits theatres on August 15.
Crazy Rich Asians is available as a book, opens a new window, eBook, opens a new window, audiobook CD, opens a new window and downloadable audiobook, opens a new window.
What to Read Instead: The Wangs Vs. the World, opens a new window by Jade Chang
Chinese businessman Charles Wang and his family have it all, thanks to the cosmetics empire he built, and they’re living the American dream. Until suddenly it’s all gone in a flash. Mad at America, Charles sets out on a cross-country road trip—full of both harrowing and hilarious moments—to reunite his fractured family.
The Wangs Vs. the World is available as a book, opens a new window and eBook, opens a new window.
3. Top Hold: The President is Missing, opens a new window by Bill Clinton and James Patterson
Whispers of cyberterror and espionage and a traitor in the Cabinet plague the Oval Office and even the president is a suspect. That is, until he disappears entirely. But how does the most-guarded, monitory and closely watched person in the country simply vanish? And more importantly: why would he want to?
The President is Missing is available as a book, opens a new window, eBook, opens a new window, audiobook CD, opens a new window, downloadable audiobook, opens a new window and large print edition, opens a new window.
What to Read Instead: Price of Duty, opens a new window by Dale Brown
Russian cyber warfare threatens the U.S. and its Western allies in this military thriller. When a cyber strike causes Poland’s financial system to implode, U.S. Air Force Officer Brad McLanahan is called to action.
Price of Duty is available as a book, opens a new window, eBook, opens a new window and large print edition, opens a new window.
Top Non-Fiction Holds
1. Top Hold: The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck, opens a new window by Mark Manson
This self-help guide argues that being happy is not about relentless positivity, but rather about recognizing that sometimes life isn’t awesome and that it’s not always your fault (or fair). Mark Manson makes a case that it’s about learning to get to know—and accept—your own limitations and embrace your fears, faults and uncertainties.
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck is available as a book, opens a new window, eBook, opens a new window and downloadable audiobook, opens a new window.
What to Read Instead: The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F*ck, opens a new window by Sarah Knight
An entertaining parody of the bestselling The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, Sarah Knight’s book details how you can get rid of unwanted obligations, shame and guilt in order to refocus your time, energy and money on the people and things that make you happy.
The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F*ck is available as a book, opens a new window, eBook, opens a new window and downloadable audiobook, opens a new window.
2. Top Hold: Girl, Wash Your Face, opens a new window by Rachel Hollis
Founder of lifestyle website TheChicSite.com and CEO of a media company, Rachel Hollis gives advice for living a better life along with a behind-the-scenes look at the messiness of her own life. Using her signature mix of honesty and humour, Hollis reveals some of the lies that made her feel unworthy and shares strategies for overcoming them.
Girl, Wash Your Face is available as a book, opens a new window, eBook, opens a new window, instant access eBook on Freading, opens a new window, instant access eBook on hoopla, opens a new window and downloadable audiobook, opens a new window.
What to Read Instead: The Gutsy Girl Handbook, opens a new window by Kate White
Bestselling author, professional speaker and former editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan, Kate White presents the nine core principles that have guided her career. She provides strategies for women at all stages of their professional lives and includes tips for dealing with mansplaining, asking for the money and opportunities you deserve and refusing to apologize for who you are or what you want.
The Gutsy Girl Handbook is available as a book, opens a new window and eBook, opens a new window.
3. Top Hold: Sapiens, opens a new window by Yuval Noah Harari
Boldly combining science and history, Sapiens looks at why Homo Sapiens won the battle for dominance among human species, what we’ve done since as we’ve built civilizations and what our world might look in the millennia to come.
Sapiens is available as a book, eBook, audiobook CD and downloadable audiobook.
What to Read Instead: A Brief History of Everyone Who Ever Lived, opens a new window by Adam Rutherford
Science writer Adam Rutherford digs into how our DNA can tell a compelling story about the history of our species, tackling topics such as Neanderthals, evolution, royalty, race and even redheads along the way.
A Brief History of Everyone Who Ever Lived is available as a book, opens a new window, eBook, opens a new window and instant access eBook on Freading, opens a new window.
Looking for something different? We’ve got plenty of bestsellers, opens a new window (and other titles) to choose from. Looking for something specific? Try out NoveList. You can search topics and themes, find writers similar to an author you like or get read-alikes for specific titles.
