Libby's January Bestsellers REVEALED! Are YOUR Favorites on the List?!

Alright bookworms, settle in! It's time for your weekly dose of literary news, fresh from the presses (or, you know, the internet). And this week, the team at Book Riot have been busy, as always. Let's dive straight into the juiciest bits.

Libby's January Bestsellers REVEALED! Are YOUR Fav...

First up, and probably the headline that caught my eye immediately: "The Most Popular Books on Libby in January." Now, I'm a huge fan of Libby, that little app that lets you borrow ebooks and audiobooks from your local library. It's a lifesaver, especially when you're on a budget or just don't want to clutter your shelves with more physical books (guilty!). I always find it fascinating to see what's trending on Libby, because it really reflects what people are actually *reading*, not just what's being hyped by publishers. No spoilers here, you'll have to go check out the full list to see which titles dominated January's digital lending scene. But I will say this: yes, "Heated Rivalry" is on the list, according to the snippet – so romance readers, rejoice!

Moving on, and this is a slightly more concerning trend: "YA Books Are Disappearing from Public Libraries." Ouch. This is a real shame. Young adult literature is so vital for encouraging reading habits in teenagers and providing them with stories that reflect their own experiences. Reducing access to these books feels like a real disservice to the next generation of readers. Hopefully libraries can find creative solutions to maintain a diverse and engaging YA collection.

Next, the 2025 L.A. Times Book Prizes Finalists & Honorees have been announced! These prizes are a big deal in the literary world, and a great place to discover your next favorite author or book. Time to add some titles to my TBR pile, I think! It's always exciting to see which books are recognized for their excellence and contribution to literature.

And now for the frankly depressing news: "Amidst Lawsuit, Utah Bans Its 23rd Book from All Public Schools." And just when you thought things couldn't get worse, "Criminal Charges for Georgia Library Workers, and More Library News." These headlines are deeply troubling. Libraries should be safe havens for knowledge and free expression, not battlegrounds for political agendas. Criminalizing library workers for simply doing their jobs is a dangerous precedent to set. Let's hope these situations are resolved swiftly and justly.

That's the roundup for this week! As always, Book Riot offers All Access memberships for those hungry for even more bookish content, including intriguing news items that didn't make it to the main site. Sounds tempting! And remember, as Rebecca Joines Schinsky (Chief of Staff for Riot New Media Group) reminds us, you can always get in touch with her – and the rest of the Book Riot team – with your comments and suggestions. Happy reading, everyone!