PLDL Most Popular Books May 2025

Portage Lake District Library Most Popular Books May 2025

Updated May 29, 2025
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1

The Thursday Murder Club
Osman, Richard
Paper Book
Soon to be a Major Motion Picture The first installment in the beloved and New York Times bestselling series from Richard Osman, also author of We Solve Murders Four septuagenarians with a few tricks up their sleeves A female cop...

2

Great big beautiful life
Henry, Emily
Paper Book
When Margaret Ives, the famously reclusive heiress, invites eternal optimist Alice Scott to the balmy Little Crescent Island, Alice knows this is it- her big break. And even more rare- a chance to impress her family with a Serious Publication. The catch? Pulitzer-prize winning human...

3

How to find love in a book shop
Henry, Veronica
Paper Book
Nightingale Books, nestled on the high street in the idyllic Cotswold town of Peasebrook, is a dream come true for booklovers. But owner Emilia Nightingale is struggling to keep the shop open. The temptation to sell up is proving enormous - but what about the promise she made to her...

4

The Staircase in the Woods
Wendig, Chuck.
Paper Book
A group of friends investigate the mystery of a strange staircase in the woods in this mesmerizing horror novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Accidents Five high school friends, bonded by an oath to protect each other no matter what.

5

2 Sisters murder investigations
Patterson, James,
Paper Book
Patterson's greatest crime-solving team since the Women's Murder Club is the Bird Sisters.  Rhonda and Barbara "Baby" Bird are half-sisters--and full partners in their Los Angeles detective agency. They agree on nothing.   ...

6

25 alive
Patterson, James
Paper Book
Instant #1 New York Times Bestseller! "Those who haven't read any of the novels in the Women's Murder Club series are cheating themselves" (BookReporter). Sergeant Lindsay Boxer, medical examiner Claire Washburn, Assistant District Attorney Yuki...

7

A paradise built in hell : the extraordinary communities that arise in disasters
Solnit, Rebecca.
Paper Book
A startling investigation of what people do in disasters and why it matters Why is it that in the aftermath of a disaster? whether manmade or natural?people suddenly become altruistic, resourceful, and brave? What makes the newfound communities and purpose many find in the...

8

All the Colors of the Dark
Whitaker, Chris.
Paper Book
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * OVER ONE MILLION COPIES SOLD * From the author of We Begin at the End comes a soaring thriller and an epic love story that "hits like a sledgehammer . . . an absolutely must-read novel" (Gillian Flynn, author of Gone Girl). Read...

9

Careless people : a story of where I used to work
Wynn-Williams, Sarah
Paper Book
Shocking and darkly funny, Careless People gives you a front-row seat to the decisions that are shaping our world and the people who make them. Welcome to Facebook.Sarah Wynn-Williams, a young diplomat from New Zealand, pitched for her dream job. She saw Facebook's potential and knew it could change...

10

Easy animal carvings: simple, stylized, step-by-step wolves, whales, birds, bears, and more
Bruijn, Wouter De
Paper Book
Master the art of carving animals using just a handful of tools, sandpaper, and paint! With the Netherlands' author Wouter de Bruijn's easy-to-follow guide, tackle the basics of woodcarving, including starter cuts, safety tips, sharpening, and wood grain; more advanced carvers can jump right into...

11

First-time caller
Borison, B. K.
Paper Book
INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER A hopeless romantic meets a jaded radio host in this cozy, Sleepless in Seattle-inspired love story from beloved author B.K. Borison. Aiden Valentine has a secret: he's fallen out of love with love. And as the host of...

12

How to seal your own fate : a novel
Perrin, Kristen
Paper Book
An April 2025 Library Reads Pick "A brilliant follow-up that proves Kristen Perrin is here to stay...A thrilling story that ends with a big reveal you won't see coming, even though the clues were in front of you the entire time!"--G.T. Karber, international bestselling author of...

13

Husbands & lovers : a novel
Williams, Beatriz
Paper Book
Two women--separated by decades and continents, and united by an exotic family heirloom--reclaim secrets and lost loves in this sweeping novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Summer Wives. "My favorite kind of page-turner--unputdownable!"-...

14

Kills well with others
Raybourn, Deanna
Paper Book
After more than a year of laying low, Billie, Helen, Mary Alice, and Natalie are called back into action. They have enjoyed their time off, but the lack of excitement is starting to chafe: a professional killer can only take so many watercolor classes and yoga sessions without itching to strangle...

15

My name is Emilia del Valle : a novel
Allende, Isabel
Paper Book
NATIONAL BESTSELLER * In this "stunning" (People), "riveting" (Entertainment Weekly) historical novel, a young writer journeys to South America to uncover the truth about her father--and herself. "All of Allende's books, My Name Is Emilia del Valle...

16

Nonna Maria and the case of the lost treasure : a novel
Carcaterra, Lorenzo
Paper Book
Nonna Maria, "one of the most charming amateur sleuths ever created" (Tess Gerritsen), dodges assassins and hunts for hidden treasure in this transporting mystery from #1 New York Times bestselling author Lorenzo Carcaterra. As Nonna Maria's longtime pal and sometimes...

17

November 9
Hoover, Colleen
Paper Book
A gripping tale of love, secrets, and betrayal perfect "for fans of Gillian Flynn" (Library Journal, starred review) from the beloved #1 New York Times bestselling author of Verity and It Ends with Us. When Fallon meets Ben, an aspiring novelist, their...

18

Ordinary time : lessons learned while staying put
Jones, Annie B.
Paper Book
In her first book, the popular From the Front Porch podcast host and independent bookstore owner challenges the idea that loud lives are the ones that matter most, reminding us that we don't have to leave the lives we have in order to have the lives of which we've always dreamed. Can life...

19

Say you'll remember me
Jimenez, Abby
Paper Book
An instant #1 New York Times bestseller! "No one does funny, emotional, life-affirming love stories quite like Abby Jimenez. She just keeps outdoing herself." ―EMILY HENRY There's no such thing as a perfect guy, but Xavier Rush comes...

20

Sealed with a hiss
Brown, Rita Mae
Paper Book
When a decades-forgotten car bobs to the surface of a local creek, with a body still in the driver's seat, it's up to Mary Minor "Harry" Haristeen and her beloved cats and dogs to save the day, in this latest mystery from Rita Mae Brown and her feline co-author, Sneaky Pie Brown. ...

21

Secrets of adulthood : simple truths for our complex lives
Rubin, Gretchen
Paper Book
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * The author of The Happiness Project and Better Than Before distills her key insights into simple truths for living with greater satisfaction, clarity, and happiness. The right idea, invoked at the right time, can change our lives....

22

Strangers in time
Baldacci, David
Paper Book
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Calamity of Souls comes David Baldacci's newest novel, set in London in 1944, about a bereaved bookshop owner and two teenagers scarred by the Second World War, and the healing and hope they find in one...

23

The frozen river : a novel
Lawhon, Ariel
Paper Book
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * GMA BOOK CLUB PICK * AN NPR BOOK OF THE YEAR * From the New York Times bestselling author of I Was Anastasia and Code Name Hélène comes a gripping historical mystery inspired by the life and diary of Martha...

24

The let them theory : a life-changing tool that millions of people can't stop talking about
Robbins, Mel
Paper Book
Over 4 Million Copies Sold! #1 New York Times Bestseller #1 Sunday Times Bestseller #1 Amazon Bestseller #1 Audible Bestseller A Life-Changing Tool Millions of People Can't Stop Talking About What if the key to happiness,...

25

The pharisee's wife
Oke, Janette
Paper Book
From the beloved author ofLove Comes Softlycomes an inspiring work of historical fiction about a young Jewish woman, plucked from obscurity and thrust on a perilous journey, only to witness the world's most life-changing story.Like most young women in ancient Israel, Mary...

26

The quiet librarian
Eskens, Allen
Paper Book
After the murder of her best friend, a librarian's search for answers leads back to her own dark secrets in this "searing and timely" novel about a woman transformed by war, family, vengeance, and love, from the author of the beloved bestseller The Life We Bury (Kristin Harmel, author...

27

The usual desire to kill : a novel
Barnes, Camilla
Paper Book
" An often hilarious, surprisingly moving portrait of a long-married couple, seen through the eyes of their wickedly observant daughter--for fans of A Man Called Ove and The Royal Tenenbaums. Miranda's parents live in a dilapidated house in...

28

The Wolf Tree
McCluskey, Laura.
Paper Book
A gripping and atmospheric debut crime thriller set on an isolated Scottish island ... where outsiders are not welcome. 'There's always someone whispering about something.' On a small island off the coast of Scotland, an isolated community is grieving. Eighteen-year...

29

This Is Not a Game
Mullen, Kelly.
Paper Book
Introducing your new favourite whodunnit. Perfect for fans of Gilmore Girls and Knives Out. ''Fabulous, over-the-top fun'' The Guardian ''A delightful game of twists'' Chris Chibnall ''Slick and witty'' Daily Mail ...

30

We all live here
Moyes, Jojo
Paper Book
Lila Kennedy has a lot on her plate. A recently broken marriage, two wayward daughters, a house that is falling apart, and an elderly stepfather who seems to have quietly moved in. Not to mention a once promising writing career that is now in freefall. So when her real dad - a man she has barely...

31

What's her name? : a history of the world in 80 lost women
Nelson, Katie (College teacher)
Paper Book
Journey through thousands of years of human history (now with the women put back in). From the earliest human civilizations through to the present day, the stories of countless influential women - leaders, artists, warriors, scientists and more - have been ignored...

32

Who is government? : the untold story of public service
Lewis, Michael
Paper Book
The government is a vast, complex system that citizens pay for, rebel against, rely upon, dismiss, and celebrate. It's also our shared resource for addressing the biggest problems of society. And it's made up of people, mostly unrecognized and uncelebrated, doing work that can be deeply...

33

1001 walks you must take before you die : country hikes, heritage trails, coastal strolls, mountain paths, city walks
Stone, Barry
Paper Book
This generously illustrated volume features 1,001 carefully selected scenic walks throughout the world in both natural and urban settings--from Africa's Rift Valley to the Appalachian Trail. This latest volume in the hugely popular 1,001 series is the ideal guide to the world's most exhilarating...

34

A killing cold
Marshall, Kate Alice
Paper Book
A woman invited to her wealthy fiance's family retreat realizes they are hiding a terrible secret--and that she's been there before, by the bestselling author of What Lies in the Woods. A whirlwind romance. When Theodora Scott met Connor--wealthy,...

35

A map to paradise
Meissner, Susan
Paper Book
With her name on the Hollywood blacklist and her life on hold, out-of-work starlet Melanie Cole has little choice in company. There is her next-door neighbor, successful screenwriter Elwood, but his agoraphobia allows only for short conversations through the windows. He's the closest thing she has...

36

A proposal to die for
Harper, Molly
Paper Book
Jessamine Bricker loves a plan. Contingency plans and pros-and-cons lists are her love language, and because of that, her proposal planning business is thriving. But with rent costs rising at her office building, Jess jumps at the chance to plan a proposal between her snobby high school classmate,...

37

Abundance
Klein, Ezra
Paper Book
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER "A terrific book...Powerful and persuasive." --Fareed Zakaria "Spectacular...Offers a comprehensive indictment of the current problems and a clear path forward...Klein and Thompson usher in a mood shift. They inspire hope and enlarge...

38

After the North Pole : a story of survival, mythmaking, and melting ice
Kagge, Erling
Paper Book
The Norwegian explorer, philosopher and acclaimed writer tells of his historic 58-day journey to the North Pole on skis in this provocative memoir that is a profound meditation on nature and the history of explorers' obsession.  The North Pole looms large in our collective psyche--the...

39

All or nothing : how Trump recaptured America
Wolff, Michael
Paper Book
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * The author of Fire and Fury delivers a breathtaking insider account of the 2024 Trump campaign--undoubtedly the wildest, most unpredictable campaign in U.S. history, including multiple criminal trials, two assassination attempts, and a sudden switch of...

40

Beach read
Henry, Emily
Paper Book
FROM THE #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF FUNNY STORY! A romance writer who no longer believes in love and a literary writer stuck in a rut engage in a summer-long challenge that may just upend everything they believe about happily ever afters. As...

41

Believe : why everyone should be religious
Douthat, Ross Gregory
Paper Book
An Instant New York Times Bestseller "Truly a Mere Christianity for the 21st century"--World magazine Do you ever wish you had more faith Here is a blueprint for thinking your way from doubt to belief. As a columnist for the New York Times who writes often about...

42

Blood test : a comedy
Baxter, Charles
Paper Book
From the winner of the PEN/Malamud Award and "one of our most gifted writers" (Chicago Tribune) comes a comic novel about a divorced Midwestern dad who takes a cutting-edge medical test and learns that he has a predisposition to murder. In this fresh take on love and...

43

Broken country : a novel
Hall, Clare Leslie
Paper Book
" A love triangle unearths dangerous, deadly secrets from the past in this thrilling tale perfect for fans of The Paper Palace and Where the Crawdads Sing. "The farmer is dead. He is dead, and all anyone wants to know is who killed him."<...

44

Carbon: ; the book of life
Hawken, Paul
Paper Book
A fascinating exploration of life through the lens of carbon, the most versatile element on the planet, by New York Timesbestselling author Paul Hawken. Carbon animates the entirety of the living world. Though it comprises only a tiny fraction of Earth's composition, our planet...

45

Close your eyes and count to 10
Unger, Lisa
Paper Book
"[Unger's] great at keeping you interested and not seeing all the twists that are coming with a fabulous cat-mouse game." --Sarah Michelle Gellar, Emmy-award winning actress An extreme game of hide-and-seek turns deadly in this riveting new thriller from New York...

46

Conclave
Harris, Robert
Paper Book
The best-selling author of Enigma and Fatherland turns to today's Vatican in a ripped-from-the-headlines novel, and gives us his most ambitious, page-turning thriller yet--where the power of God is nearly equaled by the ambition of men. The pope is dead. Behind the...

47

Dark vector
Larsen, Ward
Paper Book
The first book in a blockbuster new series from USA Today bestselling author, Ward Larsen! In the wilds of Siberia, a top-secret Russian fighter goes missing on a test flight. The Russian Air Force begins a search, oblivious to their error: they are looking in the wrong...

48

Deep End
Hazelwood, Ali.
Paper Book
A competitive diver and an ace swimmer jump into forbidden waters in this steamy college romance from the Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis. Scarlett Vandermeer is swimming upstream. A junior at Stanford and a...

49

Everything is tuberculosis : the history and persistence of our deadliest infection
Green, John
Paper Book
Instant #1 New York Times bestseller! * #1 Washington Post bestseller! * #1 Indie Bestseller! * USA Today Bestseller! John Green, acclaimed author and passionate advocate for global healthcare reform, tells a deeply human story illuminating the fight against the...

50

Fake it like you mean it : a novel
Murphy, Megan
Paper Book
Fake dating, enemies to lovers, and a wonderfully unique forced proximity debut romance, perfect for fans of Elena Armas's The American Roommate Experiment and Drew Barrymore's classic rom-com Fifty First Dates. Elle's grandmother Lovie has always taken care of her...

51

Far From Home
Steel, Danielle.
Paper Book
Far From Home is a gripping and heartbreaking wartime tale about the love between a mother and daughter, from billion-copy bestselling author Danielle Steel.In July 1944, at the height of the German occupation, Arielle von Auspeck arrives at the glamorous Ritz hotel in Paris excited to be reunited...

52

Flesh : a novel
Szalay, David
Paper Book
From Booker Prize finalist David Szalay, a propulsive, hypnotic novel, about a man whose future is derailed by a series of events that he is unable to control. Teenaged István lives with his mother in a quiet apartment complex in Hungary. Shy and new in town, he is a stranger to...

53

Funny story
Henry, Emily
Paper Book
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER ∙ A shimmering, joyful novel about a pair of opposites with the wrong thing in common, from #1 New York Times bestselling author Emily Henry. A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK OF 2024 Named a Must-Read Book of 2024 by...

54

Girl anonymous
Dodd, Christina
Paper Book
The Godfather meets West Side Story in this twisty, darkly romantic thriller from New York Times bestselling author Christina Dodd. A dangerous blast sends a girl into hiding to escape a deadly family feud... As a child, Maarja Daire saw her mother ignite an explosion...

55

Half baked harvest quick & cozy
Gerard, Tieghan
Paper Book
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER . 120+ recipes for delicious, soul-warming comfort food . . . and getting it ready in a hurry-from the author of Half Baked Harvest Every Day. Colorful. Convenient. Comforting. Mega-bestselling author Tieghan Gerard is...

56

Happy place
Henry, Emily
Paper Book

57

Heart bones : a novel
Hoover, Colleen
Paper Book
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of It Ends with Us and It Starts with Us! Moving, passionate, and unforgettable, Colleen Hoover's novel follows two young adults from completely different backgrounds embarking on a tentative romance, unaware of what...

58

Hell's corner
Baldacci, David.
Paper Book
Before he can lead a covert mission on the orders of the President, a former CIA assassin must track down the source of a terrorist attack and navigate a shadowy world of betrayal and political secrets in this #1 New York Times bestselling thriller. John Carr, aka...

59

Holmes is missing
Patterson, James
Paper Book
Instant New York Times Bestseller! "Best-selling author James Patterson populates his murder-mystery novels with cold-blooded killers and smart detectives" (USA Today). In Holmes is Missing, PI Brendan Holmes has...

60

How to solve your own murder : a novel
Perrin, Kristen
Paper Book
A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER A Jimmy Fallon's Book Club Finalist for 2024 | A Goodreads Choice Awards Finalist | A GMA Buzz Pick | A USA Today Bestseller One of Amazon's Top 10 Best Books of April, One of Jimmy Fallon's favorite books for Spring 2024, The...

61

How to win friends and influence people : updated for the next generation of leaders
Carnegie, Dale
Paper Book
Updated for the first time in more than forty years, Dale Carnegie's timeless bestseller How to Win Friends and Influence People--a classic that has improved and transformed the personal and professional lives of millions. This new edition of the most influential self-help...

62

Indian horse : a novel
Wagamese, Richard
Paper Book
Named a "Best Novel of the Decade" by Literary Hub Saul Indian Horse is a child when his family retreats into the woods. Among the lakes and the cedars, they attempt to reconnect with half-forgotten traditions and hide from the authorities who have been kidnapping Ojibway youth. But when...

63

Isola : a novel
Goodman, Allegra
Paper Book
REESE'S BOOK CLUB PICK * NATIONAL BESTSELLER * "A shocking story, made all the more stunning by the fact that it has its roots in true history."--Jodi Picoult, author of By Any Other Name "A new generation of survival story . . . an extraordinary book that reads like a...

64

James : a novel
Everett, Percival
Paper Book
PULITZER PRIZE WINNER * #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * NATIONAL BOOK AWARD WINNER * A brilliant, action-packed reimagining of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, both harrowing and darkly humorous, told from the enslaved Jim's point of view NATIONAL BOOK...

65

Karla's choice : a John le Carré novel
Harkaway, Nick
Paper Book
The instant international bestseller set in the world of John le Carré's most iconic spy, George Smiley, written by acclaimed novelist Nick Harkaway It is spring in 1963 and George Smiley has left the Circus. With the wreckage of the West's spy war against the Soviets strewn...

66

Land of dreams
Snelling, Lauraine
Paper Book
From Norway to America, they must strive for resilience amid unpromising new beginnings. On the ship to America, Norwegian immigrant Amalia Gunderson makes a solemn promise to a dying mother, vowing to watch over her five-year-old daughter, Ruth. Together, Amalia and Ruth trek to...

67

Last twilight in Paris / Pam Jenoff [large print]
Paper Book
" A Parisian department store, a mysterious necklace and a woman's quest to unlock a decade-old mystery are at the center of this riveting novel of love and survival, from New York Times bestselling author Pam Jenoff London, 1953. Louise is...

68

Leonardo da Vinci
Isaacson, Walter
Paper Book
Now a docuseries from Ken Burns on PBS! The #1 New York Times bestseller from Walter Isaacson brings Leonardo da Vinci to life in this exciting new biography that is "a study in creativity: how to define it, how to achieve it...Most important, it is a powerful story of an...

69

Let's talk about aging parents : a real-life guide to solving problems with 27 essential conversations
Tamblyn Watts, Laura
Paper Book
Age-proofing an older relative's living space, figuring out powers of attorney, spotting and dealing with signs of dementia, asking them to give up the car keys or consider assisted living . . . the first step toward tackling these concerns and more is an honest, informed discussion. Here...

70

Lethal prey
Sandford, John
Paper Book
Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers join forces to track down a ruthless killer who will do whatever it takes to keep the past buried, in this latest thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author John Sandford. Doris Grandfelt, an employee at an accounting firm, was...

71

Maine characters : a novel
Orenstein, Hannah
Paper Book
Every summer, Vivian Levy and Lucy Webster spend a month each with their father, Hank, at his family cabin on a lake in Maine - Lucy in July, Vivian in August. Vivian is a successful sommelier working in NYC's fine dining scene, and Lucy teaches high school English in the nearby town. But these two...

72

Maisie Dobbs : a novel
Winspear, Jacqueline
Paper Book
She started as a maid in an aristocratic London household; studied her way into prestigious Girton College at Cambridge; then became a front-line nurse in World War I. There she found - and lost - an important part of herself. Now she has set up on her own as a private investigator, one who has...

73

Missing in flight
Cole, Audrey J.
Paper Book
From USA Today bestselling author Audrey J. Cole comes a harrowing thriller about a woman faced with the unthinkable, when her infant goes missing aboard a plane to New York. Rushing back to her seat, Makayla Rossi is relieved that all's still quiet. But when she checks on...

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