Quick Summary
Books, movies, and other physical items were flying off the shelves last year. If you’re curious to know which titles have patrons rushing to place holds, look no further.
Do some of these look familiar? That’s probably because you’ve seen them in your library request system, or are requesting them yourself. As the seasons change, tastes and interests will surely follow. These are the most-requested items for 2025, based on all our systems in Resource Sharing (in no particular order). Descriptions courtesy of MNLINK.
Books
Theo of Golden: A Novel (2023)
"Questions linger about Theo, a pleasant but mysterious stranger, after his arrival in the southern city of Golden. Who is he, and why is he here? He arrives early one spring and by chance - or is it? - he visits a coffee shop where 92 framed pencil portraits are on display. Inspired, Theo sets out on a mission of purchasing all the portraits one at a time and quietly bestowing them on their 'rightful owners.' Stories are told; friendships are born; and lives are changed. Theo of Golden is a beautifully crafted story about the power of creative generosity, the importance of wonder to a purposeful life, and the far-reaching possibilities of anonymous kindness."
The Unexpurgated Code: A Complete Manual of Survival and Manners (1975)
"Even Donleavy himself is reluctant to categorize this book, hinting that perhaps it is still fiction. It's most often found listed as nonfiction, however. A guide to social climbing and survival in the asphalt jungle as only Donleavy could write. Not for the easily offended and wonderfully about as non-politically correct as could be. Also rife with illustrations by the author."
And then we hit a rock (2024)
"A family of 5, a dog, and a cat move onto a sailboat. Hilarious true story! Did you know that the remora fish will try to swim up a whale shark's butt when they poop? The crew of Twig didn't. It turns out there was an awful lot the family of five didn't know when they decided to move aboard and set off for adventure on the high seas. After decades of dreaming and planning, the explorers finally sailed off into the sunset. Yes, they found the palm trees and coconuts they had longed for, but they also glimpsed the other side of paradise. They ran from waterspouts, dodged hurricanes, got (sort of) robbed by pirates, and played chicken with naval warships. They found themselves making emergency calls to the Coast Guard in the dead of night and learning the exact purpose of a nut jiggler during a late-night beach bonfire. Join as the inevitable is pondered after a meal of coffee and chili on a night watch in "What if I have to go poo?". Commiserate the anxiety of the hurricane season and practice dodging rogue unmanned boats during a midnight tropical storm. Laugh at the captain's intimate misfortunes with marine toilets, sense what a pirate smells like, and discover how not to get crabs in this page-turning journey of the East Coast. You are invited to follow along with the frustration and joy of a life newly discovered afloat a 46-foot catamaran. Remember: If everything had gone exactly as planned....it wouldn't have been much of an adventure.”
The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion. Vol. 1 (2019)
"The Year is 1883, and Emma M. Lion has returned to her London neighborhood of St. Crispian's. But Emma's plans for a charmed and studious life are sabotaged by her eccentric Cousin Archibald, her formidable Aunt Eugenia, and the slightly odd denizens of St. Crispian's. Emma M. Lion offers up her Unselected Journals, however self-incriminating they may be, which comprise a series of novella-length volumes."
I Who Have Never Known Men (1995)
"Deep underground, thirty-nine women live imprisoned in a cage. Watched over by guards, the women have no memory of how they got there, no notion of time, and only a vague recollection of their lives before. As the burn of electric light merges day into night and numberless years pass, a young girl - the fortieth prisoner - sits alone and outcast in the corner. Soon, she will show herself to be the key to the others' escape and survival in the strange world that awaits them above ground. 'I Who Have Never Known Men' is a haunting, heartbreaking post-apocalyptic novel of female friendship and intimacy, and the lengths people will go to maintain their humanity in the face of devastation."
A Handful of Heaven (2000)
"Yukon Territory was a gold miner's heaven, and Devon O'Shea had come to claim her share. What she found was a tent in the middle of a pasture."
The Let Them Theory: A Life-Changing Tool that Millions of People Can't Stop Talking About (2024)
"If you've ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or frustrated with where you are, the problem isn't you. The problem is the power you give to other people. Two simple words - Let Them - will set you free. Free from the opinions, drama, and judgments of others. Free from the exhausting cycle of trying to manage everything and everyone around you. The Let Them Theory puts the power to create a life you love back in your hands - and this book will show you exactly how to do it. [Robbins] teaches you how to stop wasting energy on what you can't control and start focusing on what truly matters: YOU. Your happiness. Your goals. Your life. Using the same no-nonsense, science-backed approach that's made The Mel Robbins Podcast a global sensation, Robbins explains why The Let Them Theory is already loved by millions and how you can apply it in eight key areas of your life to make the biggest impact."
How We Learn to be Brave: Decisive Moments in Life and Faith (2023)
"In recent years, Bishop Mariann Budde has become known for offering the right words at the right time, creating moments of healing amid turmoil. With 'How We Learn to Be Brave,' she teaches readers to respond with clarity and grace even in the toughest times. Being brave is not a singular occurrence; it's a journey that we can choose to undertake every day. The decisive moments in life are those pivot points when we're called upon to push past our fears and act with strength. Drawing on examples ranging from Harry Potter to the Gospel According to Luke, Bishop Budde seamlessly weaves together personal experiences with stories from scripture, history, and pop culture to underscore both the universality of these moments and the particular call each one of us must heed when they arrive."
Sustain Me: A Handbook of Natural Remedies (2024)
"Regain control of your health and learn to work with the natural healing forces God created to maintain equilibrium and prevent disease. The body, and the body only, has the power to heal, and it will, if given the right conditions. Backed by decades of research, Barbara O'Neill shares these nine simple foundational health pillars that form the acronym Sustain Me."
Other Physical Media
Killers of the Flower Moon (2024)
“Based on David Grann's broadly lauded best-selling book, 'Killers of the Flower Moon,' is set in 1920s Oklahoma and depicts the serial murder of members of the oil-wealthy Osage Nation, a string of brutal crimes that came to be known as the Reign of Terror.”
Only murders in the building: Seasons 1-3 (2021)
" Three strangers - who live in the same New York City apartment building and share an obsession with true crime - suddenly find themselves embroiled in a murder."
A Complete Unknown (2025)
“New York, 1961. Against the backdrop of a vibrant music scene and tumultuous cultural upheaval, an enigmatic 19-year-old from Minnesota named Bob Dylan arrives with his guitar and revolutionary talent, destined to change the course of American music.
Heretic (2025)
“Two young missionaries are forced to prove their faith when they knock on the wrong door and are greeted by a diabolical Mr. Reed, becoming ensnared in his deadly game of cat-and-mouse.”
Fly Me to the Moon (2024)
"A marketing maven and a by-the-book launch director team up for a mission set against the high-stakes backdrop of NASA's historic Apollo 11 moon landing."
Hacks Season 2 (2022)
"Multiple Emmy Award winner Jean Smart stars as a legendary Las Vegas comedian who is forced to hire an ambitious young writer. These two talented comedic voices from different generations form an unlikely bond in this new comedy."
Small Things Like These (2025)
"'Small Things Like These' takes place over Christmas in 1985, when devoted father and coal merchant Bill Furlong discovers startling secrets kept by the convent in his town, along with some shocking truths of his own. The film reveals truths about Ireland's Magdalene laundries, horrific asylums run by Roman Catholic institutions from the 1820s until 1996, ostensibly to reform 'fallen young women.' Adapted from the Booker Prize-nominated novel by Claire Keegan."
Death of a Unicorn (2025)
“A father and daughter accidentally hit and kill a unicorn while on a weekend retreat, where his billionaire boss seeks to exploit the creature's miraculous curative properties. While the family plans a prosperous future, the baby unicorn's family seeks deadly revenge.”
Chicago - Original Album Series Vol. 2
Featuring five essential albums by the band Chicago, including hits compilations and key studio albums from their popular '70s and '80s eras: Chicago IX - Greatest Hits 69-74, Chicago X, Chicago XI, Chicago 16, and Chicago 17.
