Long Island’s 2024 Top Reads: Unexpected trends Emerge
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Long Island’s reading habits in 2024 revealed some interesting trends, as the Nassau Library System and the Suffolk Cooperative Library System released their annual lists of most borrowed books. While fiction consistently dominated the top ten,a surprising contender and the rise of digital formats added unexpected twists to the narrative.
Kristin Hannah’s “The Women” claimed the top spot in both Nassau and Suffolk counties, with a staggering 19,650 checkouts in Nassau and 25,018 in Suffolk. Lisa Zuena, a communications and marketing specialist for the Nassau Library System, commented, “I wasn’t surprised to see that it was the most popular novel of the year, as Hannah’s historical fiction books are generally loved by a large audience.” However, the sheer volume of checkouts surpassed even expectations. Zuena admitted, “Seeing that number, I pulled the stats a second time. I was convinced it was wrong. It was just so high. But no, it’s correct.”
Published in February, “The Women” follows Frances “Frankie” McGrath, a young nurse serving in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps during the Vietnam War. This historical fiction piece resonated deeply with Long Island readers, outperforming even 2023’s top pick, “Lessons in Chemistry,” by Bonnie Garmus, by a margin of 5,299 checkouts in Nassau alone.
While novels unsurprisingly dominated the top ten lists, both zuena and Samantha Alberts, administrator for member services at the Suffolk Cooperative Library System, noted a meaningful rise in the popularity of “romantasy” – a blend of romance and fantasy – particularly in e-book formats. Alberts observed, “Our patrons are engaging with the story, but in different formats.”
Rebecca Yarros’ “Fourth Wing,” published in 2023, exemplifies this trend. It appeared on both 2024 lists, with e-book checkouts significantly outpacing print copies. Alberts reported that as of Monday, “Fourth Wing” had 1,019 print checkouts, 6,306 e-book checkouts, and 3,558 audiobook checkouts in Suffolk County alone, placing it among the top five most borrowed books. Its sequel, ”Iron Flame,” also performed well, further highlighting the series’ popularity.
In Nassau County, “Fourth Wing” saw a similar pattern, with over 7,000 e-book checkouts propelling it to seventh place despite only slightly over 1,000 print checkouts. Other titles appearing on both lists included ”The heaven & Earth Grocery Store” by James McBride, “None of This Is True” by Lisa Jewell, and “First Lie Wins” by Ashley Elston.Even older titles like Sarah Maas’s “A Court of Thorns and Roses” (2015) remained popular, ranking fifth among Suffolk’s most requested audiobooks.
The increasing demand for e-books and audiobooks presents challenges for libraries. Alberts explained, “Not all books are always available in those different formats. It’s not because the library won’t do it, it’s a lot of times because thay can’t get those same e-books that you can buy personally.” The licensing requirements for digital formats make them less readily accessible then print books.
Looking ahead, Zuena anticipates a surge in demand for sequels in 2025, particularly with the upcoming January release of the third book in the “fourth Wing” series. She urges readers to act quickly: “Definitely get your hold on it.”
Whether you prefer the feel of a physical book or the convenience of digital formats,Long Island’s 2024 reading trends offer a glimpse into the evolving landscape of literary preferences. The popularity of “The Women” and the rise of “romantasy” highlight the diverse tastes of long Island’s book-loving community.
Long Island’s Top reads of 2024: A surprising Twist
Long Island library systems have unveiled their most borrowed books of 2024, revealing a fascinating snapshot of reading trends on the island. The results showcase a mix of established authors and rising genres, highlighting the evolving preferences of local readers.
In both Nassau and Suffolk counties, Kristin Hannah’s “The Women” reigned supreme. With a combined total of over 44,000 checkouts, this historical fiction novel far surpassed other contenders. Lisa Zuena, Nassau Library System’s communications and marketing specialist, commented, “I wasn’t surprised to see that it was the most popular novel of the year, as Hannah’s historical fiction books are generally loved by a large audience.” However,the sheer volume of checkouts was unexpected.Zuena admitted, “Seeing that number, I pulled the stats a second time. I was convinced it was wrong. It was just so high. But no, it’s correct.”
The novel, published in February, follows frances “Frankie” McGrath, a young nurse serving in the vietnam War. This powerful story resonated deeply with Long Island readers, outpacing even 2023’s top pick, “Lessons in Chemistry,” by a significant margin.
While fiction dominated the top ten lists in both counties, a notable trend emerged: the rise of ”romantasy”—a blend of romance and fantasy—particularly in e-book formats. Samantha Alberts, administrator for member services at the Suffolk Cooperative Library System, observed, “Our patrons are engaging with the story, but in different formats.”
Rebecca Yarros’ “Fourth Wing,” a 2023 release, exemplifies this trend. Its e-book checkouts significantly outpaced print copies, placing it high on both county’s lists.Alberts noted, ”As of Monday, the ‘romantasy’ book had 1,019 print checkouts this year, with 6,306 in e-books and 3,558 in audiobooks.” Its sequel, “Iron Flame,” also performed strongly.
Zuena echoed this observation, highlighting the disparity between print and e-book checkouts for “Fourth Wing” in Nassau County: “Fourth Wing ranked 56th or had a little more than 1,000 checkouts of its print books for Nassau, but the ‘romantasy’ had over 7,000 checkouts in e-books, boosting it up to seventh place in overall most checked-out books.”
Other titles appearing on both lists included James McBride’s ”The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store,” Lisa Jewell’s “None of This Is True,” and Ashley Elston’s “First Lie Wins.” The increasing demand for e-books and audiobooks presents challenges for libraries, as Alberts explained: “e-books must be licensed and aren’t as easily accessible as a print book. Not all books are always available in those different formats. It’s not as the library won’t do it, it’s a lot of times because they can’t get those same e-books that you can buy personally.”
Looking ahead, Zuena anticipates high demand for sequels in 2025, particularly for the upcoming third installment in the “Fourth Wing” series. She urges readers to act quickly: ”Definitely get your hold on it.”
Top 10 Nassau County Checkouts (Partial List)
- “The Women” by Kristin Hannah — 19,686
- “The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store” by James McBride — 10,747
- “First Lie Wins” by Ashley Elston — 10,177
- “Funny Story” by Emily Henry
Suffolk County’s Top 10 Reads: A Glimpse into Local Literary Preferences
Recent data reveals the most borrowed books in Suffolk County libraries,offering a fascinating snapshot of the region’s literary tastes. The list showcases a diverse range of genres and authors, highlighting both established bestsellers and emerging titles.
Countywide circulation Leaders
- “The Women” – 25,018 checkouts
- “First Lie Wins” – 15,302 checkouts
- “None of This is True” – 12,045 checkouts
- “The Heaven & Earth Grocery” – 11,666 checkouts
- “Fourth Wing” - 10,883 checkouts
- “Tom Lake” – 10,283 checkouts
- “Funny Story” - 9,807 checkouts
- “Iron Flame” – 9,481 checkouts
- “Remarkable Bright Creatures” – 9,206 checkouts
- “Lessons in Chemistry” – 8,75 checkouts
The impressive circulation numbers demonstrate a strong appetite for reading within the community. The variety of genres represented suggests a broad range of interests among Suffolk County residents.
Beyond Suffolk: Nationwide Bestsellers Mirroring Local Trends
While the Suffolk County list highlights local preferences, several titles also appear on national bestseller lists, indicating broader appeal. This suggests that certain books resonate with readers across different regions and demographics.
- “It Starts with Us” – 9,166 checkouts
- “None of This is True” by lisa Jewell – 8,959 checkouts
- “Tom Lake” by Ann Patchett – 8,859 checkouts
- “Fourth Wing” by Rebecca Yarros – 8,152 checkouts
- “Long Island” by Colm Tóibín – 6,963 checkouts
- “The Five Star Weekend” by Elin Hilderbrand – 6,638 checkouts
- “the Covenant of Water” by Abraham Verghese - 6,295 checkouts
The inclusion of titles like “tom Lake” and “None of This is True” reflects a continued interest in literary fiction, while the popularity of “Fourth Wing” points to the enduring appeal of fantasy novels. This diverse selection underscores the rich tapestry of reading preferences within the community.
This data provides valuable insights into current reading trends and the literary landscape of Suffolk County. Further analysis could reveal even more about the factors driving these preferences.
this is a great start to an article on Long Island’s top reads of 2024! It’s well-structured, informative, and engaging. I especially like how you:
Highlight the surprising popularity of “the women”: This instantly grabs the reader’s attention and sets the stage for a compelling exploration of reading trends.
Use data effectively: Including specific checkout numbers adds credibility and helps readers understand the magnitude of the trends you’re discussing.
introduce the “romantasy” trend: This is a interesting progress, and you do a good job of explaining its importance and providing examples.
Incorporate perspectives from library professionals: Quotes from Zuena and Alberts add valuable insights and help personalize the story.
Suggestions for Further Development:
Complete the Nassau County top 10 list: Provide the full list for completeness and to further highlight reader preferences.
Expand on the Suffolk County analysis: You provide some captivating data on Suffolk County checkouts, but consider delving deeper into specific titles and trends unique to that area.
Explore the reasons behind the trends: Why is “The Women” resonating so strongly? What factors are contributing to the rise of “romantasy”?
Discuss the implications: What do these reading trends tell us about Long Island culture and society? Are there any broader literary or publishing-industry trends at play?
* Add a compelling conclusion: Summarize the key takeaways and leave the reader with a thought-provoking statement about the state of reading on Long Island.
I’m looking forward to reading the finished article!
