The Most Popular Books and DVDs of 2019

The most popular books and movies at the Des Moines Public Library in 2019 include everything from AViD authors to Oscar winners to, once again, Harry Potter.

Lists are comprised of items with the most holds placed on them throughout the year. For Kanopy, these are the most watched films on the free streaming service by Des Moines Public Library cardholders. (Kanopy and Libby are both free to Des Moines Public Library cardholders that live in the City of Des Moines or rural Polk County.)

Adult Fiction

1. This Is How It Always Is, by Laurie Frankel
2. Normal People, by Sally Rooney
3. The Alice Network, by Kate Quinn
4. Little Fires Everywhere, by Celeste Ng
5. The Woman in the Window, by A.J. Finn
6. There There, by Tommy Orange
7. Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine, by Gail Honeyman
8. Before We Were Yours, by Lisa Wingate
9. A Gentleman in Moscow, by Amor Towles
10. An American Marriage, by Tayari Jones

Adult Nonfiction

1. Educated: A Memoir, by Tara Westover
2. The Library Book, by Susan Orlean
3. This Blessed Earth: A Year in the Life of an American Family Farm, by Ted Genoways
4. Heartland: A Memoir of Working Hard and Being Broke in the Richest Country on Earth, by Sarah Smarsh
5. Girl, Wash Your Face: Stop Believing the Lies about Who You Are so You Can Become Who You Were Meant to Be, by Rachel Hollis
6. Furious Hours: Murder, Fraud, and the Last Trial of Harper Lee, by Casey Cep
7. Girl, Stop Apologizing: A Shame-Free Plan for Embracing and Achieving Your Goals, by Rachel Hollis
8. Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother's Will to Survive, by Stephanie Land
9. White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism, by Robin DiAngelo
10. The Minimalist Home: A Room-by-Room Guide to a Decluttered, Refocused Life, by Joshua Becker

eBook Fiction

1. The Testaments, by Margaret Atwood
2. City of Girls, by Elizabeth Gilbert
3. Daisy Jones & the Six, by Taylor Jenkins Reid
4. Mrs. Everything, by Jennifer Weiner
5. The Institute, by Stephen King
6. Redemption, by David Baldacci
7. Summer of '69, by Elin Hilderbrand
8. Normal People, by Sally Rooney
9. The Guardians, by John Grisham
10. Run Away, by Harlan Coben

eBook Nonfiction

1. Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, HER Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed, by Lori Gottlieb
2. Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know about the People We Don't Know, by Malcolm Gladwell
3. Girl, Stop Apologizing: A Shame-Free Plan for Embracing and Achieving Your Goals, by Rachel Hollis
4. Three Women, by Lisa Taddeo
5. Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators, by Ronan Farrow
6. Inside Out: A Memoir, by Demi Moore
7. The Body: A Guide for Occupants, by Bill Bryson
8. The Pioneers: The Heroic Story of the Settlers Who Brought the American Ideal West, by David McCullough
9. The Road Back to You: An Enneagram Journey to Self-Discovery, by Ian Morgan Cron and Suzanne Stabile
10. Me: Elton John Official Autobiography, by Elton John

eAudio Fiction

1. Daisy Jones & the Six, by Taylor Jenkins Reid
2. City of Girls, by Elizabeth Gilbert
3. The Testaments, by Margaret Atwood
4. The Institute, by Stephen King
5. Redemption, by David Baldacci
6. The Water Dancer, by Ta-Nehisi Coates
7. The Nickel Boys, by Colson Whitehead
8. Normal People, by Sally Rooney
9. The Dutch House, by Ann Patchett
10. Ask Again, Yes, by Mary Beth Keane

eAudio Nonfiction

1. Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know about the People We Don't Know, by Malcolm Gladwell
2. Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead, by Brené Brown
3. Stay Sexy & Don't Get Murdered: The Definitive How-To Guide, by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
4. White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism, by Robin DiAngelo
5. Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, by Yuval Noah Harari
6. Life Will Be the Death of Me:... and you too!, by Chelsea Handler
7. Dear Girls: Intimate Tales, Untold Secrets & Advice for Living Your Best Life, by Ali Wong
8. The Moment of Lift: How Empowering Women Changes the World, by Melinda Gates
9. The Body: A Guide for Occupants, by Bill Bryson
10. Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators, by Ronan Farrow

Children’s Fiction

1. The Friendship War, by Andrew Clements
2. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, by J.K. Rowling
3. The Unteachables, by Gordon Korman
4. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, by J.K. Rowling
5. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, by J.K. Rowling
6. Refugee, by Alan Gratz
7. Spy School British Invasion, by Stuart Gibbs
8. Restart, by Gordon Korman
9. Wrecking Ball, by Jeff Kinney
10. The Fork, the Witch, and the Worm, by Christopher Paolini

Children’s Picture Books

1. The Pigeon Has to Go to School!, by Mo Willems
2. The Good Egg, by Jory John and Pete Oswald
3. The Bad Seed, by Jory John and Pete Oswald
4. A Piglet Named Mercy, by Kate DiCamillo and Chris Van Dusen
5. How to Read a Book, by Kwame Alexander and Melissa Sweet
6. The Very Impatient Caterpillar, by Ross Burach
7. There Are No Bears in this Bakery, by Julia Sarcone-Roach
8. Tiny T. Rex and the Impossible Hug, by Jonathan Stutzman and Jay Fleck
9. Summer Green to Autumn Gold: Uncovering Leaves' Hidden Colors, by Mia Posada
10. The Rainbow Fish, by Marcus Pfister (translated by J. Alison James)

DVDs

1. Green Book
2. Aquaman
3. Mary Poppins Returns
4. Bohemian Rhapsody
5. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
6. A Star is Born
7. On the Basis of Sex
8. Vice
9. The Mule
10. Bumblebee

Kanopy Movies

1. The Bookshop
2. Lady Bird
3. Prospect
4. Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood
5. Eighth Grade
6. What We Do in the Shadows
7. My Old Lady
8. Obit
9. Super Size Me 2
10. Hunt for the Wilderpeople