PLDL Most Popular Titles Feb 2026

Portage Lake District Library Most Popular Titles February 2026

Updated February 26, 2026
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1

True Gretch : what I've learned about life, leadership, and everything in between
Whitmer, Gretchen
Paper Book
From trailblazing Michigan governor, Democratic leader, and national advocate for women's rights, Gretchen Whitmer, comes an unconventional and deeply personal account of her life and career--"Not your nana's ponderous political memoir" (New York magazine)--offering insights into her...

2

DEAR DEBBIE (CD)
McFadden, Freida

3

Animal farm : the graphic novel
Odyr
Paper Book
A beautiful graphic adaptation of George Orwell's timeless and timely allegorical novel. "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others." In 1945, George Orwell, called "the conscience of his generation," created an enduring, devastating story of new tyranny...

4

My husband's wife : a novel
Feeney, Alice
The New York Times bestselling Queen of Twists is back with a psychological masterpiece that will leave you questioning everything you know about love, identity, and revenge. By the author of His & Hers, now a #1 Netflix show! "Nonstop thrills! The best Feeney book...

5

Room 706
Levenson, Ellie
A married woman is trapped with her lover in a hotel under siege: If she knew it would end this way, would it ever have begun? Kate's children and her husband are her whole world. Since marrying young, she's dedicated her life to making her little family grow. But in the last few...

6

The book club for troublesome women : a novel
Bostwick, Marie
Paper Book
USA TODAY BESTSELLER · SOUTHERN INDIE BESTSELLER · A BRENDA NOVAK BOOK GROUP PICK · GLOSS BOOK CLUB PICK · THE GIRLFRIEND BOOK CLUB PICK · A MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK OF 2025 (SheReads) · Margaret never really meant to start a book club . . . or a feminist revolution, for that matter in...

7

The friend of the family
Koontz, Dean R.
In this historical novel by #1 New York Times bestselling author Dean Koontz, a girl liberated from a carnival sideshow discovers her mysterious purpose in a moving story about family, sacrifice, and transcendent love. The human "oddities" in the Museum of the Strange are...

8

The plotters
Kim, Ŏn-su
Paper Book
"[A] powerhouse of a novel....It reads as if Haruki Murakami rewrote The Day of the Jackal." - Locus Magazine "Editor's Choice" New York Times Book Review "The Most Anticipated Crime Books of 2019" CrimeReads "Most...

9

The Retirement Plan: A Novel
Hincenbergs, Sue
Paper Book
"The perfect cocktail of well-plotted, good-hearted, murderous fun." --Nina Simon, bestselling author of Mother-Daughter Murder Night THEY'D KILL TO BE WIDOWS. Three best friends turn to murder to collect on their husbands' life insurance policies... But the husbands have a plan of...

10

The women
Hannah, Kristin
Paper Book
A #1 bestseller on The New York Times, USA Today, Washington Post, and Los Angeles Times! From the celebrated author of The Nightingale and The Four Winds comes Kristin Hannah's The Women--at once an intimate portrait of coming of age in a...

11

Vigil : a novel
Saunders, George
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * "After his spectacular Lincoln in the Bardo, Saunders returns . . . with a new novel even more spectacular than the last."--Los Angeles Times A "daring" (Time) novel from the #1 New York Times bestselling, Booker Prize...

12

Yeonnam-Dong's smiley laundromat
Kim, Jiyun
Paper Book
For readers who loved Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Book Shop, this heartwarming Korean bestseller tells the story of a mysterious diary left in a laundromat brings together patrons from all walks of life. Yeonnam-Dong's Smiley Laundromat is a place where the...

13

A grim reaper's guide to cheating death
Dara, Maxie
Nora Bird works for S.C.Y.T.H.E., which might seem odd for someone as terrified of death as she is. But ever since her parents died in an accident when she was six, she's been obsessed with avoiding risk, and what better place to learn how to cheat death than the company that employs the nation's...

14

And the Crowd Went Wild: A Chicago Stars Novel
Phillips, Susan Elizabeth
#1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Elizabeth Phillips is back with the latest novel in her beloved Chicago Stars series, featuring a romance between a star quarterback and one of the country's most beautiful--and misunderstood--actresses. After a mortifying-...

15

Apostle's Cove
Krueger, William Kent
TRN

16

Badlands /
Box, C. J.
Paper Book
In C.J. Box's New York Times bestseller, Badlands, the town of Grimstad used to be a place people came from but were never headed to. Now it's the oil capital of North Dakota. With oil comes money, with money comes drugs, and with drugs come the dirtiest criminals Grimstad's new...

17

Black diamond
Walker, Martin
Paper Book
A noted truffle expert is murdered in this installment of the delightful, internationally acclaimed series featuring Chief of Police Bruno. Filled with an abundance of food and wine (including, bien sûr, many, many truffles), Black Diamond is a...

18

Brush of wings
Kingsbury, Karen
Paper Book
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Karen Kingsbury comes the third novel in an unforgettable series about divine intervention and the trials and triumphs of life for a group of friends. Despite needing a heart transplant and against the advice of her doctor, Mary Catherine...

19

Canticle
Rich Edwards, Janet
NATIONAL BESTSELLER * NEW YORK TIMES EDITORS' CHOICE * REAL SIMPLE BEST BOOKS OF 2025 * SPOTIFY BEST DEBUTS OF 2025 * GOODREADS READERS' MOST ANTICIPATED BOOKS OF FALL "Atmospheric and unforgettable."--People A masterful debut novel following a...

20

Clementine Crane prefers not to
Bair, Kristin
Clementine Crane has a few things on her plate: She keeps the peace, picks up the slack, and always puts everyone else first. But when her first hot flash strikes, perimenopause sends her into a tailspin. Between a husband who can't navigate a revolving door without her, three kids who treat her as...

21

Cross and Sampson: An Alex Cross and John Sampson Thriller
Patterson, James
Paper Book
In latest thriller from the world's most popular storyteller, detective partners Alex Cross and John Sampson are called to separate locations to investigate a pair of serious crimes. Stream Season 2 of the #1-rated Cross in February...

22

Dandelion is dead
Storey, Rosie
"Dandelion is Dead is breathtakingly original. A brilliant premise, smart, funny and heartbreaking in equal measure. I adored it." --Clare Leslie Hall, New York Times bestselling author of Broken Country Jake has fallen head over heels for Dandelion. The...

23

Dead in the Water
Marrs, John
From the multi-million copy bestselling author comes a chilling tale about life flashing before your eyes--including terrifying scenes you don't remember. When Damon survives a near-drowning, his life flashes before his eyes. Every memory is crystal clear--except one. A dead boy. A...

24

Definitely Maybe Not a Detective
Fox, Sarah
In this delightfully charming rom-com mystery, a woman becomes accidentally entangled in a murder investigation (and with a handsome stranger) when her fake detective agency is enlisted to solve a real homicide. Emersyn Gray is definitely not a detective. ...

25

Don't read poetry : a book about how to read poems
Burt, Stephanie
Paper Book
An award-winning poet offers a brilliant introduction to the joys--and challenges--of the genre In Don't Read Poetry, award-winning poet and literary critic Stephanie Burt offers an accessible introduction to the seemingly daunting task of...

26

Exit strategy : a Nick Mason novel
Hamilton, Steve
Paper Book
In the stunning follow-up to the New York Times bestseller The Second Life of Nick Mason, the remarkable hero fights to take back control from the crime lord who owns his life, as he races to complete a daring and dangerous new mission... Nick Mason has been given a...

27

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...

28

Happily never after
Painter, Lynn
Paper Book
Their name? The objectors. Their job? To break off weddings as hired. Their dilemma? They might just be in love with each other.   When Sophie Steinbeck finds out just before her nuptials that her fiancé has cheated yet again, she desperately wants...

29

Homeschooled : a memoir
Block, Stefan Merrill
A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER! * A READ WITH JENNA TODAY SHOW BOOK CLUB PICK  *  A heartbreaking, empowering, often hilarious debut memoir about a mother's all-consuming love, a son's perilous quest to discover the world beyond the front door and the unregulated homeschool...

30

Inside Man: A Head Cases Novel
McMahon, John
In this sequel to McMahon's electrifying series debut, Head Cases, Gardner Camden and the PAR team return to investigate potentially connected cases. FBI Agent Gardner Camden is an analytical genius with an affinity for puzzles. He and his squad of brilliant yet quirky...

31

Intermezzo : a novel
Rooney, Sally
Paper Book
AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER | A National Indie Bestseller Short-listed for the An Post Irish Book Awards Novel of the Year | Long-listed for the DUBLIN Literary Award Named a Best Book of the Year and a Critics'...

32

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...

33

Knitting the U.S.A. : 50 easy-to-follow designs for beautiful beanies inspired by each state in America
Bates, Nancy (Knitter)
From the lighthouses of Maine to the pine forests of Washington and the wheat fields of Kansas - knit unique beanies inspired by the beauty of the natural treasures, state symbols, and distinctive landmarks of each state in the union. Whether it's a corn field in Iowa, the...

34

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...

35

Losing hope : a novel /
Hoover, Colleen,
Paper Book
#1 Sunday Times bestselling author of It Ends with Us held readers spellbound with her novel Hopeless, the story of what happened when a troubled girl named Sky encountered a long-lost childhood friend, Dean. Now, in Losing Hope, we...

36

Lost lambs : a novel
Cash, Madeline
National bestseller. A New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice. Named a Most Anticipated Book of 2026 by Vulture, Bustle, Good Housekeeping, Playboy, The Times (UK), Our Culture, Vol. 1 Brooklyn and Harper's Bazaar. A Book Club Pick from...

37

Maisie Dobbs : a novel
Winspear, Jacqueline
Paper Book
After the Armistice in the spring of 1929, Maisie hangs out her shingle: M. Dobbs, Trade and Personal Investigations. Her very first case involves suspected infidelity but turns up something else, a tombstone with only a first name. The deceased had lived on a cooperative farm called The Retreat, a...

38

Murder at Haven's Rock /
Armstrong, Kelley,
Paper Book
" New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong's Rockton Novels had one of the most unique towns in crime fiction. Murder at Haven's Rock is a spinoff, a fresh start... with a few new dangers that threaten everything before it even begins.

39

Nash falls
Baldacci, David
When Walter Nash is recruited by the FBI to help bring down a global crime network his life is turned completely upside down in this thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author David Baldacci. Nash is an intelligent man, tough but fair-minded. He has a...

40

No exit : a novel /
Adams, Taylor,
Paper Book
Soon to be a Hulu original film: a fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat psychological thriller about a determined young woman who struggles to save a kidnapped child while trapped in a blizzard--and who must unmask and outwit a deviously twisted psychopath before it's too late. ...

41

No one knew
Elliot, Kendra
For a detective and an FBI agent, two seemingly disparate murder investigations collide with a twist in an explosive novel of suspense by a Wall Street Journal bestselling author. In the crisp mountain air of central Oregon, a teenage girl's search for discarded cans leads to...

42

NO ONE WOULD DO WHAT THE LAMBERTS HAVE DONE
Hannah, Sophie
The twistiest murder mystery you are ever likely to read? A story about a family that does the unthinkable? Both? Or something else altogether? You think it will never happen to you. The doorbell. The policeman. The words that turn your world inside out: I'm afraid there's...

43

Northwoods : a novel /
Pease, Amy,
Paper Book
"Riveting." --People In this "compelling and heartbreaking debut that marks a new and important voice in the mystery genre" (William Kent Krueger), a murder with ties to America's opioid epidemic reveals the dark underbelly of an idyllic Midwestern resort town.

44

Once there were wolves
McConaghy, Charlotte
Paper Book
INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER "Blazing...Visceral" (Los Angeles Times) · "Exceptional" (Newsweek) · "Bold...Heartfelt" (New York Times Book Review) · "Thought-provoking and thrilling" (GMA) · "Suspenseful and poignant" (...

45

Queen Charlotte
Quinn, Julia
Paper Book
Go beyond the original Shondaland series on Netflix, Queen Charlotte, with this lushly romantic historical romance and Bridgerton prequel novel written by New York Times bestselling authors Julia Quinn and Shonda Rhimes as the marriage of convenience between Queen Charlotte and King...

46

Radioactive : Marie & Pierre Curie, a tale of love & fallout
Redniss, Lauren
Paper Book
The National Book Award Finalist is now a major motion picture directed by Marjane Sartrapi, starring Rosamund Pike and Sam Riley. "Vivid and ethereal."--The New York Times "Radioactive is quite unlike any book I have ever read--part history, part love story, part art...

47

Real Japanese Cooking: The Only Japanese Cookbook You Will Ever Need! Traditions, Tips, Techniques And Over 600 Authentic Recipes
Itoh, Makiko.
Paper Book
**CODES Committee Essential Cookbook of 2026** and Booklist's Top Ten Food Books of 2025** "Maki Itoh has succeeded in creating a treasure trove in her exploration of Japanese recipes and culinary traditions...Perfect for the Japanese food loving home cook." -...

48

Return to Virgin River
Carr, Robyn
Paper Book
The basis for the longest running scripted series on Netflix! #1 New York Times bestselling author Robyn Carr returns to the beloved town of Virgin River with a brand-new story about fresh starts and new friends. Now a Netflix Original Series!

49

Seascraper
Wood, Benjamin
Longlisted for the Booker Prize, this "cinematically plotted...radiant" (The New York Times) novel follows shanker Thomas Flett as his quiet life in a small English coastal town is forever changed over the course of one fateful day. Twenty-year-old Thomas Flett lives a...

50

Secret nights and northern lights
Oliver, Megan
Mona Miller lives her life by platitudes: she's just fine, thanks; all good; not a problem! Everything is right as rain-even if it's all a lie. Everyone at the travel magazine where she works knows her as a team player (in other words, the one who won't complain about the endless fluff pieces pushed...

51

Seven days in June : a novel
Williams, Tia
Paper Book
One of TIME's 50 Best Romances to Read Right Now   "Sumptuous writing" - Sarah Jessica Parker Two writers get a second chance at love in this romantic, sexy-as-hell New York Times bestselling novel.

52

Squirrel : how a backyard forager shapes our world
Castaldo, Nancy F.
Squirrels are a common sight, seemingly everywhere in wild and urban nature. Their chattering antics in city parks delight us while their raids on our backyard gardens and birdfeeders never fail to exasperate. But squirrels are more than amusing backyard entertainers, and few of us know much about...

53

Stone blind : a novel
Haynes, Natalie
Paper Book
Longlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction 2023 "Haynes is master of her trade . . . She succeeds in breathing warm life into some of our oldest stories."--Telegraph (UK) The national bestselling author of A Thousand Ships and Pandora's Jar returns...

54

Tangled up in you
Lauren, Christina
Paper Book
A witty and deeply romantic modern reimagining of Disney's Tangled, by the New York Times bestselling author duo Christina Lauren (In a Holidaze), part of the acclaimed and bestselling Meant to Be collection. She has a dream. He has a plan....

55

The Bookbinder's Secret
Bell, A D
Every book tells a story. This one tells a secret. A young bookbinder begins a hunt for the truth when a confession hidden beneath the binding of a burned book reveals a story of forbidden love, lost fortune, and murder. Now a USA Today bestseller! ...

56

The crash /
McFadden, Freida,
Paper Book
A brand new psychological thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author Freida McFadden! The nightmare she's running from is nothing compared to where she's headed. Tegan is eight months pregnant, alone, and desperately wants to put her crumbling life in the rearview mirror. So...

57

The crowded grave
Walker, Martin
Paper Book
Another delightful installment in the internationally acclaimed series featuring Bruno, Chief of Police: It's spring in the idyllic village of St. Denis, and for Chief of Police Bruno Courrèges that means lamb stews, bottles of his beloved Pomerol, morning walks with his hound, Gigi, and a...

58

The Fort Bragg cartel : drug trafficking and murder in the Special Forces
Harp, Seth
Paper Book
INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER A New Yorker Best Book of 2025 A Forbes Best True Crime Book of 2025 "Probably the most gripping, memorable, eye-opening book I've read in months." --David Wallace-Wells, The New York Times ...

59

The great alone
Hannah, Kristin
Paper Book
#1 New York Times Instant Bestseller In Kristin Hannah's The Great Alone, a desperate family seeks a new beginning in the near-isolated wilderness of Alaska only to find that their unpredictable environment is less threatening than the erratic behavior found in...

60

The Great Shadow: A History of How Sickness Shapes What We Do, Think, Believe, and Buy
Bauer, Susan Wise
"Written in lively, informative prose...The Great Shadow offers wide-ranging evidence of alternative frameworks for disease." --Science "Allows readers to practically experience firsthand how humans have adapted to and dealt with disease throughout...

61

The guest list : a novel
Foley, Lucy
Paper Book
Don't miss Lucy Foley's latest book, The Midnight Feast! A REESE'S BOOK CLUB PICK THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER ONE OF THE NEW YORK TIMES BEST THRILLERS OF THE YEAR "I loved this book. It gave me the same waves of...

62

The haunting of Paynes Hollow
Armstrong, Kelley
Paper Book
From New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong comes a nail-biting supernatural horror about a haunted lakeside property and twisted family secrets. When Samantha Payne's grandfather dies, she figures she won't even get a mention in the will. After all, she hasn...

63

The house across the lake : a novel
Sager, Riley
Paper Book
THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER Named a most-anticipated summer book by USA Today, People, E! News, Cosmopolitan, PureWow, CNN.com, New York Post, CrimeReads, POPSUGAR, and more  The bestselling author of...

64

The Infamous Gilberts
Tomaski, Angela
The Remains of the Day meets The Royal Tenenbaums in this darkly funny debut novel about a wealthy, eccentric family in decline and the secrets held within the walls of their crumbling country manor. Thornwalk, a once-stately English manor, is on the brink of...

65

The King's Ransom
Evanovich, Janet
Paper Book
INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER "Thriller master" (Mystery and Suspense Magazine) Janet Evanovich takes you on a global hunt to track down missing masterpieces in this action-packed and steamy follow up to the instant New York Times...

66

The let them theory : a life-changing tool that millions of people can't stop talking about
Robbins, Mel
Paper Book
Over 7 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,...

67

The Marigold Cottages murder collective : a mystery
Nichols, Jo
Paper Book
The perfect summer read, full of charm and heart, written in the vein of The Thursday Murder Club or Only Murders in the Building but with a southern California twist. Mrs. B, the landlady of The Marigold Cottages is a stubborn idealist who only rents to people...

68

The night we lost him : a novel
Dave, Laura
Paper Book
An instant New York Times bestseller from the author of The Last Thing He Told Me "Dave's signature blend of twisty mystery, family drama, and moving love story is top-notch" (The Boston Globe) in this instant New York Times bestseller where...

69

The Official We Do Not Care Club Handbook: A Hot-Mess Guide for Women in Perimenopause, Menopause, and Beyond Who Are Over It
Sanders, Melani
New York Times Bestseller We. Do. Not. Care. Hop aboard the Hot Mess Express, Sisters, and welcome to the club! Do you wake up with night sweats at 3:26 a.m., overstimulated, mad at anything breathing, and ready to put the world on notice?

70

The Picasso heist
Patterson, James
Paper Book
Instant New York Times bestseller! "Weeks before thieves broke into the Louvre, James Patterson started promoting an upcoming jewelry heist novel. The Picasso Heist is now ripped-from-the-headlines relevant." --USA Today...

71

The Rest of Our Lives
Markovits, Ben
NATIONAL BESTSELLER FINALIST FOR THE BOOKER PRIZE "Feels less like reading a novel and more like sitting in a car beside a dear friend as he navigates the road up ahead. A profoundly moving experience." --Ann Patchett "Deeply human...a...

72

The storm : a novel
Hawkins, Rachel
NATIONAL BESTSELLER * A January 2026 Indie Next Pick * "This gripping page-turner feels like it was ripped from the juiciest headlines." --People * "Sexy and full of surprises...an ideal curl-up-by-the-fire read." --Real Simple Hurricane season can be murder.....

73

The three lives of Cate Kay
Fagan, Kate
Paper Book
REESE'S BOOK CLUB PICK | NATIONAL BESTSELLER Named a Best Book of 2025 by Time, NPR, Goodreads, and others. "[A] propulsive puzzle of a novel." --The New York Times Book Review "This story swept me away with its big...

74

The wedding people : a novel
Espach, Alison
Paper Book
The runaway New York Times bestseller with over one million copies sold A Today Show #ReadwithJenna Book Club Pick, New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice, and a #1 Indie Next Pick Named a Best Book of the Year by The Guardian, Time,...

75

The widow
Grisham, John
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * John Grisham is the acclaimed master of the legal thriller. Now, he's back with his first-ever whodunit, even more suspenseful than his courtroom dramas, as a small-time lawyer accused of murder races to find the real killer to clear his name.

76

The Winter Warriors
Norek, Olivier
A GUARDIAN BEST BOOK OF 2025 "A novel you will not put down. Maybe never."--Richard Ford With over 600,000 copies sold, an award-winning WWII novel about the heroism of a single Finnish infantry company--and the best sniper the world has ever seen--defending...

77

The witching hours
Graham, Heather
A haunting murder and kidnapping on the outskirts of Salem, Massachusetts, sends two people with unique talents hunting for answers from both the past and present in internationally bestselling author Heather Graham's electrifying new Krewe of Hunters spin off for fans of Stephen King, Jayne Ann...

78

Then she was gone : a novel /
Jewell, Lisa,
Paper Book
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Family Upstairs and None of This Is True comes an "acutely observed family drama" (People) about the lingering aftermath of a young girl's disappearance. Ellie Mack was the perfect daughter. She was...

79

This book made me think of you
Page, Libby
An Instant USA Today Bestseller! "A lovely, affecting paean to the power of books and enduring love."--People A woman receives an unexpected gift from the man she loved and lost--a year of books, one for every month--launching a reading-inspired journey to...

80

This is your mind on plants
Pollan, Michael
Paper Book
The instant New York Times bestseller | A Washington Post Notable Book | One of NPR's Best Books of the Year "Expert storytelling . . . [Pollan] masterfully elevates a series of big questions about drugs, plants and humans that are likely to leave readers thinking in...

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