Are you curious about what other people around you are reading? Here are the ten most circulated books through the Charles County Public Library for adult fiction, nonfiction, and adult graphic novels.
(Note: Circulation results do not include Large Print or Audio Book versions).
Top Ten Circulating Adult Fiction Books:
The Covenant of Water: A Novel by Abraham Verghese (161 circulations)
“Spanning the years 1900 to 1977, The Covenant of Water is set in Kerala, on South India’s Malabar Coast, and follows three generations of a family that suffers a peculiar affliction: in every generation, at least one person dies by drowning–and in Kerala, water is everywhere. At the turn of the century, a twelve-year-old girl from Kerala’s long-existing Christian community, grieving the death of her father, is sent by boat to her wedding, where she will meet her forty-year-old husband for the first time. From this unforgettable new beginning, the young girl–and future matriarch, known as Big Ammachi–will witness unthinkable changes over the span of her extraordinary life, full of joy and triumph as well as hardship and loss, her faith and love the only constants. A shimmering evocation of a bygone India and of the passage of time itself, The Covenant of Water is a hymn to progress in medicine and to human understanding and a humbling testament to the difficulties undergone by past generations for the sake of those alive today. It is one of the most masterful literary novels published in recent years.”
-Provided by Publisher
The Women by Kristin Hannah (135 circulations)
“When twenty-year-old nursing student Frances “Frankie” McGrath hears these unexpected words, it is a revelation. Raised on idyllic Coronado Island and sheltered by her conservative parents, she has always prided herself on doing the right thing and being a good girl. But in 1965 the world is changing, and she suddenly imagines a different choice for her life. When her brother ships out to serve in Vietnam, she impulsively joins the Army Nurse Corps and follows his path. As green and inexperienced as the men sent to Vietnam to fight, Frankie is overwhelmed by the chaos and destruction of war, as well as the unexpected trauma of coming home to a changed and politically divided America.”
-Provided by Publisher
Demon Copperhead: A Novel by Barbara Kingsolver (133 circulations)
Set in the mountains of southern Appalachia, Demon Copperhead is the story of a boy born to a teenage single mother in a caravan, with no heritage other than his late father’s good looks and coppery hair, caustic wit, and a fierce talent for survival. Told in his own voice, Demon faces the modern dangers of foster homes, child labor, dilapidated schools, athletic success, addiction, disastrous loves, and crushing losses. Through all this, he faces his own invisibility in a popular culture in which even superheroes have abandoned rural towns in favor of cities. Many generations ago, Charles Dickens wrote David Copperfield from his experience as a survivor of institutional poverty and its harms to the children of his society. Those problems have not yet been solved in ours. Dickens is not an essential requirement for readers of this novel, but he served as an inspiration. In translating a Victorian epic novel to the contemporary American South, Barbara Kingsolver draws on Dickens’s anger and compassion and, above all, his faith in the transformative power of a good story.
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros (111 circulations)
“Twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail was supposed to enter the Scribe Quadrant, living a quiet life among books and history. Now, the commanding general–also known as her tough-as-talons mother–has ordered Violet to join the hundreds of candidates striving to become the elite of Navarre: dragon riders. But when you’re smaller than everyone else, and your body is brittle, death is only a heartbeat away … because dragons don’t bond to “fragile” humans. They incinerate them. With fewer dragons willing to bond than cadets, most would kill Violet to better their own chances of success. The rest would kill her just for being her mother’s daughter–like Xaden Riorson, the most powerful and ruthless wingleader in the Riders Quadrant. She’ll need every edge her wits can give her just to see the next sunrise. Yet, with every day that passes, the war outside grows more deadly, the kingdom’s protective wards are failing, and the death toll continues to rise. Even worse, Violet begins to suspect leadership is hiding a terrible secret.”
-Provided by Publisher
The Little Liar: A Novel by Mitch Albom (96 circulations)
“Eleven-year-old Nico Crispi never told a lie. When the Nazis invade his home in Salonika, Greece, the trustworthy boy is discovered by a German officer, who offers him a chance to save his family. All Nico has to do is convince his fellow Jewish residents to board trains heading towards “the east,” where they are promised jobs and safety. Unaware that this is all a cruel ruse, the innocent boy goes to the station platform every day and reassures the passengers that the journey is safe. But when the final train is at the station, Nico sees his family being loaded into a large boxcar crowded with other neighbors. Only after it is too late does Nico discover that he helped send the people he loved–and all the others–to their doom at Auschwitz. Nico never tells the truth again.”
-Provided by Publisher
Verity by Colleen Hoover (95 circulations)
“Lowen Ashleigh is a struggling writer on the brink of financial ruin when she accepts the job offer of a lifetime. Jeremy Crawford, husband of bestselling author Verity Crawford, has hired Lowen to complete the remaining books in a successful series his injured wife is unable to finish. Lowen arrives at the Crawford home, ready to sort through years of Verity’s notes and outlines, hoping to find enough material to get her started. What Lowen doesn’t expect to uncover in the chaotic office is an unfinished autobiography Verity never intended for anyone to read. Page after page of bone-chilling admissions, including Verity’s recollection of the night her family was forever altered. Lowen decides to keep the manuscript hidden from Jeremy, knowing its contents could devastate the already grieving father. But as Lowen’s feelings for Jeremy begin to intensify, she recognizes all the ways she could benefit if he were to read his wife’s words. After all, no matter how devoted Jeremy is to his injured wife, a truth this horrifying would make it impossible for him to continue loving her.”
-Dust jacket flap
The #1 Lawyer by James Patterson (95 circulations)
“Stafford Lee Penney is a small-town lawyer with a big-time reputation for winning every case he tries. In his sharp suits and polished Oxford shoes, Penney is Biloxi, Mississippi’s #1 Lawyer and top local celebrity. Just as Penney notches his latest courtroom victory, his wife is scandalously killed. He spirals into a legal and personal losing streak, damaging his reputation and ruining his career. That’s when Penney makes a bold decision. He stops trading on his power-lawyer identity and creates a new one: a lawyer lifeguard. Moonlighting at the beach, showing up to court in flip-flops, and mentoring a law student, the new Penney is at first unrecognizable. It’s said that a lawyer who represents himself has a fool for a client. But when Penney is accused of murder, the #1 Lawyer will find a way to triumph.”
-Provided by Publisher
Missing Persons: A Private Novel by James Patterson (94 circulations)
In Afghanistan, a US pilot is shot down during a covert mission. In New York, a mother is forced to flee with her two young children. Finding the connection between the two will lead the Private team right into a deadly trap. A wealthy businessman approaches Jack Morgan, head of Private – the world’s largest investigation agency – with a desperate plea to track down his daughter and two grandchildren, who have disappeared without a trace. What at first seems to be a simple missing persons case soon escalates into something much more deadly when Jack discovers the daughter is being pursued by highly trained operatives. As Jack uncovers more of the woman’s backstory, the trail leads towards Afghanistan – where Jack’s career as a US Marine ended in catastrophe . . . Jack will need to face the trauma of his past to save a family’s future.
Iron Flame by Revecca Yarros (94 circulations)
“Everyone expected Violet Sorrengail to die during her first year at Basgiath War College–Violet included. But Threshing was only the first impossible test meant to weed out the weak-willed, the unworthy, and the unlucky. Now, the real training begins, and Violet’s already wondering how she’ll get through. It’s not just that it’s grueling and maliciously brutal or even that it’s designed to stretch the riders’ capacity for pain beyond endurance. It’s the new vice commandant who’s made it his personal mission to teach Violet exactly how powerless she is unless she betrays the man she loves. Although Violet’s body might be weaker and frailer than everyone else’s, she still has her wits–and a will of iron. And leadership is forgetting the most important lesson Basgiath has taught her: Dragon riders make their own rules. But a determination to survive won’t be enough this year. Because Violet knows the real secret hidden for centuries at Basgiath War College–and nothing, not even dragon fire, may be enough to save them in the end.”
-Provided by Publisher
Crosshairs by James Patterson (94 circulations)
NYC detective Michael Bennett teams up with a former Army Ranger and sniper whose long, unexplained absences from duty cause suspicions during the investigation of a serial killer.
Top Ten Circulating Adult Nonfiction Books:
The Ultimate Scholarship Book: Billions of Dollars in Scholarships, Grants, and Prizes (78 circulations)
“Information on 1.5 million scholarships, grants, and prizes is easily accessible in this revised directory with more than 300 new listings that feature awards indexed by career goal, major, academics, public service, talent, athletics, religion, ethnicity, and more.”
Amazon.com
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change by Steven R. Covey (74 circulations)
One of the most inspiring and impactful books ever written, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People has captivated readers for nearly three decades. It has transformed the lives of presidents and CEOs, educators and parents–millions of people of all ages and occupations. Now, this 30th-anniversary edition of the timeless classic commemorates the wisdom of the 7 Habits with modern additions from Sean Covey. The 7 Habits have become famous and are integrated into everyday thinking by millions and millions of people. Why? Because they work! With Sean Covey’s added takeaways on how the habits can be used in our modern age, the wisdom of the 7 habits will be refreshed for a new generation of leaders.
Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson (74 circulations)
The hierarchy of caste is not about feelings or morality. It is about power– which groups have it and which do not. Wilkerson explores how America today and throughout its history has been shaped by a hidden caste system and a rigid hierarchy of human rankings. Linking the caste systems of America, India, and Nazi Germany, Wilkerson explores eight pillars that underlie caste systems across civilizations, including divine will, bloodlines, stigma, and more. She discusses why the cruel logic of caste requires that there be a bottom rung for those in the middle to measure themselves against. Finally, she points forward to ways America can move beyond the artificial and destructive separations of human divisions toward hope in our common humanity.
– Adapted from jacket
The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny, and Murder by David Grann (73 circulations)
“From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Killers of the Flower Moon and The Lost City of Z, a mesmerizing story of shipwreck, survival, and savagery, culminating in a court martial that reveals a shocking truth On January 28, 1742, a ramshackle vessel of patched-together wood and cloth washed up on the coast of Brazil. Inside were thirty emaciated men, barely alive, and they had an extraordinary tale to tell. They were survivors of His Majesty’s Ship the Wager, a British vessel that had left England in 1740 on a secret mission during an imperial war with Spain. While the Wager had been chasing a Spanish treasure-filled galleon known as “the prize of all the oceans,” it had wrecked on a desolate island off the coast of Patagonia. The men, after being marooned for months and facing starvation, built the flimsy craft and sailed for more than a hundred days, traversing 2500 miles of storm-wracked seas. They were greeted as heroes. But then … six months later, another, even more decrepit craft landed on the coast of Chile. This boat contained just three castaways, and they had a very different story to tell. The thirty sailors who landed in Brazil were not heroes – they were mutineers. The first group responded with countercharges of their own, of a tyrannical and murderous captain and his henchmen. It became clear that while stranded on the island the crew had fallen into anarchy, with warring factions fighting for dominion over the barren wilderness. As accusations of treachery and murder flew, the Admiralty convened a court martial to determine who was telling the truth. The stakes were life-and-death-for whomever the court found guilty could hang. The Wager is a grand tale of human behavior at the extremes told by one of our greatest nonfiction writers. Grann’s recreation of the hidden world on a British warship rivals the work of Patrick O’Brian, his portrayal of the castaways’ desperate straits stands up to the classics of survival writing such as The Endurance, and his account of the court martial has the savvy of a Scott Turow thriller. As always with Grann’s work, the incredible twists of the narrative hold the reader spellbound. Most powerfully, he unearths the deeper meaning of the events, showing that it was not only the Wager’s captain and crew who were on trial – it was the very idea of empire.”
-Provided by Publisher
The Small Business Start-Up Kit by Peri Pakroo (69 circulations)
“Your one-stop guide to starting a small business… Want to start a business? Don’t know where to begin? The Small Business Start-Up Kit shows you how to set up a small business in your state and deal with state and local forms, fees, and regulations. The 13th edition is updated with the latest legal and tax rules affecting small businesses, plus social media and e-commerce trends.”
–Description provided by Publisher
Kaplan: ASVAB Prep Plus (62 circulations)
“Kaplan’s ASVAB Prep Plus 2024–2025 features proven strategies and realistic practice for all sections of the ASVAB and AFQT. Comprehensive subject review, expert tips, detailed explanations, and flashcards will help you face the test with confidence. Kaplan is so certain that ASVAB Prep Plus offers all the knowledge you need to excel at the ASVAB that we guarantee it: After studying with the online resources and book, you’ll score higher on the test—or you’ll get your money back. Essential Practice : More than 1,000 realistic practice questions with explanations, Six full-length ASVAB practice tests with detailed explanations: 3 online and 3 in the book, Flashcards in the book and also in an app to review on the go, Detailed subject review, including targeted strategies for vocabulary questions and math problem solving, An extensive word list to help you build your vocabulary, Math video instruction to provide refreshers on the tested concepts. Expert Guidance : Comprehensive content review and specific methods for tackling all technical topics: science, electronics, auto/shop, mechanical information, and object assembly, Specific strategies for mastering the Computer Adaptive Test format, We invented test prep—Kaplan (kaptest.com) has been helping students for 80 years. Our proven strategies have helped legions of students achieve their dreams.”
– Provivder by Publisher
Guinness World Records (57 circulations)
“Guinness World Records, 2025 marks the 70th anniversary of the publishing phenomena that has sold more than 150 million copies in over 100 countries. The new edition–fully revised and updated with over 1,000 images–continues the annual tradition of delivering thousands of awe-inspiring facts, eye-watering feats, and mind-blowing figures in a book that’s designed for the whole family to enjoy. Whether you’re a committed bookworm or a casual browser, you’re sure to get a buzz from the bite-sized facts and never-before-seen photography.”
Estate Planning Basics by Attorney Denis Clifford (52 circulations)
“Get the need-to-know basics about wills, trusts, avoiding probate, and planning for incapacity with Estate Planning Basics. This book lays out your options in plain English, guiding you to the right estate plan for you and your family.”
– Description provided by Publisher
The Legal Guide for Starting & Running a Small Business (49 circulations)
This book is for current and aspiring entrepreneurs, as well as managers and other critical small business employees, who want practical and comprehensive guidance on business laws–without paying a lot in legal fees. The book helps owners and managers successfully begin and run a small business, covering topics like raising start-up money, protecting personal assets, negotiating leases and contracts, and more.
Build the Life You Want: The Art and Science of Getting Happier by Arthur C. Brooks (48 circulations)
“Arthur C. Brooks and Oprah Winfrey combine their decades of experience studying happiness from every angle to show readers how to improve their lives right now, instead of waiting for the outside world to change. They offer a research-based work plan that shows the reader how to manage their emotions so they no longer control their outlook and behavior; turn life’s inevitable difficulties and challenges into opportunities for growth; strengthen their family ties by managing expectations and building trust; create and preserve deep and lasting friendships at any age; develop an approach to work that fits their life and brings satisfaction; and find inner peace with a spiritual practice.”
– Provided by Publisher
Top Ten Circulating Adult Graphic Novels:
Kaiju no. 8 by Naoya Matsumoto (143 circulations)
“Kafka wants to clean up kaiju, but not literally! Will a sudden metamorphosis stand in the way of his dream?”
– Provided by Publisher
Spy X Family by Tatsuya Endō (130 circulations)
“Master spy Twilight is the best at what he does when it comes to going undercover on dangerous missions in the name of a better world. But when he receives the ultimate impossible assignment–get married and have a kid–he may finally be in over his head! Not one to depend on others, Twilight has his work cut out for him procuring both a wife and a child for his mission to infiltrate an elite private school. What he doesn’t know is that the wife he’s chosen is an assassin and the child he’s adopted is a telepath!”
-Back cover of Volume 1
Chainsaw Man by Tatsuki Fujimoto (74 circulations)
Denji’s a poor young man who’ll do anything for money, even hunting down devils with his pet devil-dog Pochita. He’s a simple man with simple dreams, drowning under a mountain of debt. But his sad life gets turned upside down one day when he’s betrayed by someone he trusts. Now with the power of a devil inside him, Denji’s become a whole new man–Chainsaw Man!
-Provided by Publisher
Lore Olympus by Rachel Smythe (115 circulations)
Persephone, young goddess of spring, is new to Olympus. Her mother, Demeter, has raised her in the mortal realm, but after Persephone promises to train as a sacred virgin, she’s allowed to live in the fast-moving, glamorous world of the gods. When her roommate, Artemis, takes her to a party, her entire life changes: she ends up meeting Hades and feels an immediate spark with the charming yet misunderstood ruler of the Underworld. Now Persephone must navigate the confusing politics and relationships that rule Olympus, while also figuring out her own place–and her own power.
Peach Boy Riverside by Coolkyousinnjya (95 circulations)
Sartrienne Aldraic, princess of the Kingdom of Aldraic, dreams of traveling the world — a dangerous dream in a land where monsters roam the countryside as they please, and humans live behind high, strong walls. But when a chance meeting with traveler Mikoto gives hope to her dream, he shatters it soon after, as he reveals himself to be none other than Momotaro, ruthless demon-slayer. Though horrified by the gore Momotaro leaves behind, Sartrienne is convinced more than ever that she needs to learn about the world beyond her walls, and journeys out… following the steps of the mysterious, charismatic, terrifying boy she met that day…
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime by Fuse (87 circulations)
“Average, unexceptional, 37-year-old salaryman Satoru Mikami has found himself in a gooey situation. After getting killed while saving his coworkers’ lives, he gets a new lease on life–just not the life he was expecting. He has been reincarnated in a fantasy world as a magic-wielding slime creature. Under his new name “Rimuru Tempest,” this once-normal man will have to learn to survive in this strange, new world–and with his incredible wit, affable nature, and a few powerful allies, he’ll quickly ooze his way into the hearts and minds of everyone he encounters along his journey.”-
-Provided by Publisher
The Walking Dead by Robert Kirkman (77 circulations)
Police officer Rick Grimes and a few human survivors battle hordes of decomposing zombies.
Vinland Saga by Makoto Yukimura (63 circulations)
Set in medieval England during the Viking invasions, this saga follows the adventures of Thorfinn, a young Viking warrior driven by his twin desires to avenge his father’s death and reach the free and peaceful land Leif Ericson called Vinland.
The Saga of Tanya the Evil by Carlo Zen (63 circulations)
When the average Japanese salaryman is suddenly thrown into a world wracked with warfare and hardship by a supernatural power, they might first think to hide or run away. But not Tanya Degurechaff. A calculating and utilitarian man has been reborn as a child soldier. This young girl will do anything to rise in rank and find a way to live a life of comfort, and woe to any king, country, or god who stands in her way.
Magical Girl Site by Kentaro Sato (59 circulations)
Asagiri Aya has a difficult life. The middle school girl is the target of cruel bullying at school by day, and violent abuse at home by night. One day, while surfing the web, she came across a creepy figure who granted her a gift of magic power…
