The year鈥檚 most borrowed books at some of Canada鈥檚 biggest libraries include 鈥淭he Women鈥� by Kristin Hannah and 鈥淔ourth Wing鈥� by Rebecca Yarros.

The Toronto Public Library says many of its most-borrowed books for 2024 centre on strong female characters.

鈥淔ourth Wing鈥� and its sequel 鈥淚ron Flame鈥� top the list at the TPL, which is the nation鈥檚 largest and busiest library system.

The books, which were both published last year, are part of the Empyrean series, fantasy romance novels about a heroine named Violet Sorrengail who attends a war college for dragon riders.

Hannah鈥檚 鈥淭he Women,鈥� which was released in February, is No. 2 on Toronto鈥檚 list, but it tops lists at the Halifax Public Library and the Saskatoon Public Library.

The 2022 novel 鈥淟essons in Chemistry鈥� by Bonnie Garmus was also popular at all three libraries, coming in second in Toronto, third in Halifax and fifth on Saskatoon鈥檚 list of adult fiction books.

Top-performing non-fiction titles at the three libraries include 鈥淎tomic Habits鈥� by James Clear, a self-help book published in 2018 that argues tiny changes can have a big impact.

The Toronto Public Library also released its most-borrowed Canadian titles, and local author Carley Fortune features prominently.

Two of her romance novels top the list: 鈥淭his Summer Will Be Different,鈥� published this year, and last year鈥檚 鈥淢eet Me at the Lake,鈥� while her 2022 debut 鈥淓very Summer After鈥� comes in 10th.

Nicole Thompson, The Canadian Press