Howard County’s public library system loaned 7.3 million items in 2024, up from 7.1 million in 2023, and books about family, politics, love, health, celebrities and societal conventions were among the most popular.

According to library spokesperson Christie Lassen, the most checked-out adult fiction book was “The Women,” by Kristin Hannah, which tells the stories of the women who served in the Vietnam War. The other adult fiction books on the most-checked-out list for 2024 included:

“The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store,” by James McBride, in which the discovery of a skeleton unveils the secret history of a small Pennsylvania community with large Black and Jewish populations.

“Tom Lake,” by Ann Patchett interrogates themes of love and finding happiness through the narrative of a mother sharing the story of a past relationship with her daughters that happened before they were born.

“Lessons in Chemistry,” by Bonnie Garmus is a humorous and uplifting story about a female scientist who challenges societal gender roles and expectations; it’s set in 1960s California.

A couple that broke up months ago tries to trick their friends into thinking they are still together for a weeklong vacation in Emily Henry’s “Happy Place.”

Spanning the years 1900 to 1977, Abraham Verghese’s “The Covenant of Water” is set in Kerala, India, and follows three generations of a family with a particular tendency to die by drowning, touching on themes of progress in medicine and sacrifices in the name of family.

Fictional movie star Evelyn Hugo makes the surprising decision to select an unknown magazine reporter to write her biography in “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo,” by Taylor Jenkins Reid, and the duo discovers an unanticipated connection.

Barbara Kingsolver’s “Demon Copperhead,” which won the 2023 Pulitzer Prize for fiction, is the story of a boy born to a teenage single mother in a trailer in southern Appalachia, who must survive the many trials of rural institutional poverty, inspired by Charles Dickens’ “David Copperfield.”

A psychological thriller full of mystery, “None of This is True” by Lisa Jewell is about a true crime podcast creator who could become the subject of a crime story herself, if she is not careful.

“Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow,” by Gabrielle Zevin is an unconventional love story about childhood friends who become successful video game developers and are later subject to overambitious reach and betrayal.

Nonfiction

The most popular adult nonfiction book in Howard’s library system was “The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny, and Murder,” by David Grann, which tells the story of British sailors who embarked on a secret mission in 1740, and are rediscovered in 1742 after a series of trials and misfortunes. Other popular titles included:

“The Demon of Unrest: A Saga of Hubris, Heartbreak, and Heroism at the Dawn of the Civil War,” by Erik Larson elucidates the events leading to the beginning of the civil war, including the five months Abraham Lincoln served as president before the country became engulfed in the Civil War.

In “Outlive: The Science & Art of Longevity,” Peter Attia presents the latest science of nutrition, exercise and sleep, which purport to have the potential to improve the physical, mental and emotional health for those that implement their findings into their own life.

From Liz Cheney, a Republican who represented Wyoming in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2017 to 2023, and took a stand against the Jan. 6 insurrection, “Oath and Honor: A Memoir and a Warning” tells her first-hand account of that day.

In “The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness,” Jonathan Haidt examines the factors that contribute to a decline in youth mental health, which began in the early 2010s, including the shift from play-based to phone-based childhood experiences, and issues a cry for society to change course.

An account of early 20th Century murders of dozens of wealthy native American and police, “Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI,” by David Grann presents the FBI contributions and missteps that uncover a chilling conspiracy.

A biography published in 2023, Walter Isaacson’s “Elon Musk” details the rise to prominence and childhood circumstances that shaped the life of Musk, who is the world’s wealthiest person.

An expert on habit formation shares strategies for forming good habits, breaking bad ones, and mastering the tiny behaviors that lead to big results in “Atomic Habits,” by James Clear.

“Crying in H Mart” is the autobiography of Michelle Zauner, known for being the lead singer of the band Japanese Breakfast. She writes about her experiences growing up as a Korean American in Eugene, Oregon, with humor and heart.

“I’m Glad My Mom Died,” the autobiography of former teen actor Jeanette McCurdy, recounts her experiences as co-star on Nickelodeon children’s shows “iCarly” and “Sam & Cat,” and details how her mother pushed her into the spotlight.

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