New Titles Emerge as Most Checked Out Titles So Far in 2026

Halfway through 2026, Baltimore County residents once again prove they are a community of readers. With more than 3.6 million physical books checked out during the first six months of the year, new titles have claimed the top spots in both fiction and nonfiction since the end of 2025. Thrillers, family secrets and heartfelt novels on companionship are taking some of the top spots.

Top Five Adult Fiction Books

1. “The Widow” by John Grisham—1,328 borrows 
2. “Gone Before Goodbye” by Reese Witherspoon—1,101 borrow 
3. “The Academy: A Novel” by Elin Hilderbrand—1,076 borrows 
4. “My Friends: A Novel” by Frederik Backman—1,057 borrows 
5. “The Correspondent: A Novel” by Virginia Evans—1,053 borrows 

Top Five Adult Nonfiction Books

1. "Atomic Habits: Tiny Changes, Remarkable Results: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones" by James Clear—498 borrows 
2. "A Marriage at Sea: A True Story of Love, Obsession, and Shipwreck" by Sophie Elmhirst—399 borrows 
3. "The Let Them Theory: A Life-Changing Tool That Millions of People Can't Stop Talking About" by Mel Robbins—361borrows 
4. "Good Things: Recipes and Rituals to Share With People You Love" by Samin Nosrat—316 borrows 
5. "Family of Spies: A World War II Story of Nazi Espionage, Betrayal, and the Secret History Behind Pearl Harbor" by Christine Kuehn—306 borrows 

Each of the titles came out in 2025 or before ("Atomic Habits" came out in 2018), so we’ll have to see what the end of 2026 brings. 

Start Reading

Don’t miss your chance to discover these top titles. Head into any of our branches to grab a physical copy or search for a copy in our digital library. If you want to compare titles, here is a look at our top borrows in 2025 and 2024.