Best Borrowed Books of 2021
LiveWire’s Community Librarian Team has revealed Warrington’s most borrowed books of 2021.
From thrillers to healthy eating, Minecraft to Marvel, 2021 saw readers enjoy a range of fiction and non-fiction works, in book, e-book and audiobook form.
And from in person borrowing, Order and Collect and the Home Library services, LiveWire staff went the extra mile to ensure Covid-19 restrictions and concerns didn’t stop readers being able to access books.
Topping the fiction list for adults is the latest blockbuster from John Grisham, Sooley, followed by feel-good romance The Library of Lost and Found by Phaedra Patrick and then the latest Jack Reacher thriller, Blue Moon by Lee Child.
The most popular adult non-fiction book borrowed was Cold War true story The Spy and the Traitor by Ben MacIntyre, followed by TV spin off Adventures of the Yorkshire Shepherdess by Amanda Owen and then slimming bible Pinch of Nom by Kay Featherstone.
Junior fiction is topped by the latest instalment in Julia Donaldson’s What The Ladybird Heard series, this time at the seaside, followed by a Peppa Pig story and musician-turned-author Tom Fletcher’s There’s An Elf in Your Book.
Junior Non-Fiction is dominated by the gaming and technology genres. Topping the list is The Minecraft Guide to Survival by Stephanie Milton, followed by How to Tell the Time by Sean McArdle and then the 100% Unofficial Fortnite Essential Guide by Daniel Lipscombe.
The e-book top ten was topped by the huge bestseller The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman, followed by the latest Vera whodunnit The Darkest Evening by Ann Cleeves and then Grown Ups by the very popular Irish author Marian Keyes.
In top spot on the e-audio books chart was the latest Rebus thriller A Song for Dark Times by Ian Rankin, then the new DCI Karen Pirie story Still Life by Val McDermid followed by the suspenseful tale The Castaways by Lucy Clarke
Rachel Ralston, LiveWire’s Strategic Library Manager, said: “The year’s top borrowed books, e-books and e-audio provide a fascinating glimpse into the reading habits of our customers over what has been another challenging year. The fiction lists are dominated by many familiar big names proving they are as popular as ever. The non-fiction lists perhaps give a snapshot of the ongoing pandemic, with people seeking out baking and healthy-eating books to help them through lockdown. The children’s non-fiction list also perhaps reflects the increased time using tech spent by young people during lockdown, with video game guides featuring prominently. From our digital collections to our Order and Collect and Home Library services, LiveWire’s Library team was dedicated to helping keep people reading during 2021 and we look forward to continuing our work in the year ahead.”
Top 10 Adult Fiction
Sooley by John Grisham
The Library of Lost and Found by Phaedra Patrick
Blue Moon by Lee Child
Many Rivers To Cross by Peter Robinson
The Long Call by Ann Cleeves
The Family by Louise Jensen
The Lantern Men by Elly Griffiths
Blindside by James Patterson
Golden in Death by J.D. Robb
The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
Top 10 Adult Non-Fiction
The Spy and the Traitor by Ben MacIntyre
Adventures of the Yorkshire Shepherdess by Amanda Owen
Pinch of Nom by Kay Featherstone
Mary Berry’s Quick Cooking by Mary Berry
The Salt Path by Raynor Winn
A Year in the Life of the Yorkshire Shepherdess by Amanda Owen
The Rough Guide to Wales
Veggie Lean in 15 by Joe Wicks
Between the Stops by Sandi Toksvig
The Body by Bill Bryson
Top 10 Children’s Fiction
What the Ladybird Heard at the Seaside by Julia Donaldson
Peppa Loves Doctors and Nurses
There’s an Elf in Your Book by Tom Fletcher
I Love You, Daddy Pig!
Slime by David Walliams
Supertato Carnival Catastro-pea! by Sue Hendra
Dog Man by Dav Pilkey
Spot Goes to the Fire Station by Eric Hill
The Third Wheel by Jeff Kinney
Oi Puppies! By Kes Gray
Top 10 Children’s Non-Fiction
Minecraft Guide to Survival by Stephanie Milton
How to Tell the Time by Sean McArdle
100% Unofficial Fortnite Essential Guide by Daniel Lipscombe
Guide to Minecraft Dungeons
Dinosaurs by John Wood
Toy Story 4 by Ruth Amos
Minecraft Master Builder Toolkit by Jonathan Green
Marvel Ultimate Fact Book Melanie Scott
The Amazing Book of Dinosaurs by Clare Hibbert
Children’s Encyclopedia of Ocean Life by Claudia Martin
Top 10 Ebooks
The Thursday Murder Club – Richard Osman
The Darkest Evening – Ann Cleeves
Grown Ups – Marian Keyes
Then She Was Gone – Lisa Jewell
Invisible Girl – Lisa Jewell
Daylight – David Baldacci
Blue Moon – Lee Child
Left You Dead – Peter James
The Sentinel – Lee Child
Hidden in Plain Sight – Jeffrey Archer
Top 10 Audiobooks
A Song for Dark Times – Ian Rankin
Still Life – Val McDermid
The Castaways – Lucy Clarke
Lockdown – Peter May
Ocean Prey – John Sandford
The Road to Little Dribbling – Bill Bryson
A Daughter’s Return – Josephine Cox
Dead Man’s Time – Peter James
A Good Liar – Amanda Brooke
1979 – Val McDermid
The lists reflect borrowing figures from January to November 2021. For more information on LiveWire’s libraries, including events and how to get involved, visit www.livewirewarrington.co.uk/libraries
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