New Yorkers love nonfiction, and that’s a fact.
The bestselling memoir “Educated,” by first-time author Tara Westover, was the most read book throughout all New York Public Library’s 88 branches in August, with 721 checkouts total, data compiled for The Post shows. That’s about 24 times a day.
In the No. 2 spot was another memoir: former First Lady Michelle Obama’s tome “Becoming,” with 693 loans. In third, bestselling novelist David Baldacci’s thriller “One Good Deed” snagged 575 checkouts.
But not all neighborhoods took a page from the top books.
Readers in Washington Heights consumed Greek mythology, The Bronx gravitated toward health and self-help books and female divers in Korea struck the interest of readers in New Dorp, Staten Island. Brooklyn embraced a popular Chinese magazine, and a Japanese manga series piqued the interest of readers in Woodhaven, Queens.
Here are the most popular books at 25 public library branches, in all five boroughs, based on the latest data.
MANHATTAN
- Battery Park City “The Big Kahuna” by Janet and Peter Evanovich
- Columbus “Becoming” by Michelle Obama: “Michelle didn’t always grow up with the most resources, but her family made the best of it,” said library manager Leiana Stooner. “That is definitely relatable for New Yorkers since they’re always going the extra mile.”
- Hudson Park “Educated: A Memoir” by Tara Westover: “It’s just the kind of book you read on the subway and realize you missed your stop because it’s so engrossing,” said library manager Miranda Hudson.
- Mid-Manhattan “One Good Deed” by David Baldacci
- Washington Heights “Circe” by Madeline Miller
‘China Rich Girlfriend’ and ‘Normal People’THE BRONX
- Clason Point “Eat Beautiful: Food and Recipes to Nourish Your Skin from the Inside Out” by Wendy Rowe: “A lot of people in the community have emphasized fitness as a main concern and want books on how to eat healthy,” said library manager Jasmin Hernandez.
- Grand Concourse “Slick” by Brenda Hampton
- Mott Haven “Murdergram, Part 2” by Nisa Santiago
- Parkchester “Fahrenheit 451” by Ray Bradbury: “There’s a recent surge in interest in fiction books with political messages,” said librarian Nina Maness.
- Van Cortlandt “Girl, Wash Your Face” by Rachel Hollis
QUEENS
- Astoria “China Rich Girlfriend” by Kevin Kwan
- Howard Beach “The Inn” by James Patterson
- Ozone Park “New York City SHSAT Prep” (for Specialized High School Admissions Testing)
- Kew Gardens Hills “The New Girl” by Daniel Silva: “This is a primarily Jewish community, and the main character in the book is an Israeli intelligence operative,” says librarian Asher MacInnis-Call. “That has a big appeal since there aren’t a lot of books with Jewish main characters.”
- Woodhaven “One Piece” by Eiichiro Oda
‘The Island of Sea Women’ and ‘Eat Beautiful’BROOKLYN
- Carroll Gardens “Normal People” by Sally Rooney: “People here are really well read,” said library manager John Leighton. “A book like that is always going to be very popular since they want to be abreast of the latest modern contemporary books.”
- Gravesend Dong Zhou Kan magazine
- Marcy “My Sister, the Serial Killer” by Oyinkan Braithwaite
- Park Slope “Where the Crawdads Sing” by Delia Owens
- Walt Whitman Library “Private Property” by La Jill Hunt
STATEN ISLAND
- Great Kills “The Perfect Witness” by Iris Johansen
- New Dorp “The Island of Sea Women” by Lisa See: “Our patrons were really excited about this book,” said library manager Colleen Chioffe of the novel, which takes place in Korea. “It’s both relatable and foreign.”
- St. George “A Man Called Ove” by Fredrik Backman
- Stapleton “1984” by George Orwell
- Tottenville “Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup” by John Carreyrou
