Here’s what Bentonville Public Library patrons checked out the most in 2025.
Click on any title listed below to place a “hold” on the items you want to borrow from the library.
Most Popular Adult Books
Bentonville’s top adult novel of 2025 also happens to be the city’s most-read adult book from 2024. “The Women” by Kristin Hannah is about a combat nurse during the Vietnam War, shining a light on all women who put themselves in harm's way.
The only nonfiction book to make it to the top ten is “The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness” by Jonathan Haidt. The book investigates how technology negatively influences mental wellness in younger generations.
Emily Henry (“Funny Story” and “Great Big Beautiful Life”) and Rebecca Yarros (“Onyx Storm” and “Fourth Wing”) featured two titles each in the adult top 10.
Top 10 Adult Books | |
|---|---|
1. “The Women” | 6. “The God of the Woods” |
7. “The Frozen River” | |
3. “The Housemaid” | 8. “Onyx Storm” |
Alison Espach | 9. “Fourth Wing” |
5. “Funny Story” | 10. “Great Big Beautiful Life” |
Most Popular Books for Teens
Two books in the “Hunger Games” series, “Sunrise on the Reaping” and “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,” top the list of most checked-out young adult books.
Sarah J. Maas (“Crown of Midnight” “Heir of Fire” and “Throne of Glass”) scored three titles in the top 10 — all from the same sweeping fantasy series. Jennifer Lynn Barnes (“The Inheritance Games” and “Games Untold”) wrote two high-ranking entries.
Top 10 Young Adult Books | |
|---|---|
1. “Sunrise on the Reaping” | 6. “The Summer I Turned Pretty” |
2. “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” | 7. “A Good Girl's Guide To Murder” |
3. “Powerless” | 8. “Heir of Fire” |
4. “The Inheritance Games” | 9. “Games Untold” |
5. “Crown of Midnight: A Throne of Glass Novel” | 10. “Throne of Glass” |
Most Popular Children’s Books
“Dog Man” dethroned “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” atop the most popular children’s book list for 2025.
While Jeff Kinney’s “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” series swept the top four spots in 2024, Dav Pilkey’s “Dog Man” surged ahead to claim the No. 1 and No. 2 rankings for 2025.
Although it didn’t make the top ten checkouts list, the most popular picture book was “Bluey: Barky Boats,” which follows the adventures of characters from the popular animated series.
Top 10 Children’s Books | |
|---|---|
1. “Dog Man: The Scarlet Shedder” | 6. “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: No Brainer” |
2. “Dog Man: Big Jim Begins” | 7. “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hot Mess” |
3. “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Getaway” | 8. “Dog Man: A Tale of Two Kitties” |
4. “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Third Wheel” | 9. “Dog Man: Mothering Heights” |
5. “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Diper Overlode” | 10. “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Wrecking Ball” |
More Than Just Books
Books are only part of what patrons can borrow at the Bentonville Public Library. Other items available for checkout include book club kits, board games, and video games.
Top book club kit: “The Thursday Murder Club” by Richard Osman was the most popular club kit. The kit includes 10 book copies, discussion questions, and a "Snacks & Sips guide."
Top book to movie club kit: “Dune” ranked as the most checked-out movie among clubs who wanted to confirm that the book was better.
Top Library for Life kit: “Mental Health: Music for Meditation" was the top item in a curated collection of resources for some of life’s most challenging times.
Top video game: “Princess Peach: Showtime” for the Nintendo Switch was rented more than any other video game — yes, you can check out video games at the library.
Top board game: “Exploding Kittens” is a strategic card game in which players defuse and avoid … exploding kittens.
Top American Girl Doll: Library patrons were committed to helping “Addy Walker” on the road to freedom.
