As we continue to settle into October, we’re also taking a look back at what held interest in September across the North American public library space.

Turns out, it was a lot of what held interest in the previous month, with a few exceptions. The number one spot, for instance, was previously held by Kristin Hannah’s The Women, but is now occupied by Emily Henry’s Great Big Beautiful Life. There are other spots throughout the list where certain books have moved up the list and others down. And, the books listed from #16 to #20 have mostly been replaced by books that weren’t on the list last month.

Overall, though, the list mostly seems to mirror bestseller lists, which are highly driven by budget sizes. For more diverse selections, make sure to look at this roundup of notable BIPOC books for October. They range from the dystopian and National Book Award-nominated A Guardian and a Thief by Megha Majumdar to the similarly award-nominated artist-trying-to-make-it-in-New-York-City story Minor Black Figures by Brandon Taylor. There’s also the knight/witch sapphic fantasy The Isle in the Silver Sea by Tasha Suri, and the Puerto Rican barrio-set generational tale This Is the Only Kingdom by Jaquira Díaz.

As for the most popular books checked out on Libby last month, there’s a friendship with a giant octopus, a mystery following a midwife in 1789 Maine, and Percival Everett’s 2024 multi-award-winning satire.

Libby’s 20 Most Popular Books of September

20. Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

19. Project Hail by Mary Andy Weir

18. The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon

17. James by Percival Everett

16. Deep End by Ali Hazelwood

15. Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros

14. The God of the Woods by Liz Moore

8. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

7. Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros

6. Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins

5. Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid

4. The Wedding People by Alison Espach

3. The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins

2. The Women by Kristin Hannah

1. Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry

To read more Libby news, visit Libby Life.

Find more news and stories of interest from the book world in Breaking in Books.