The bookworms of Baldwin dove into the fictional worlds of many award-winning novels last year. According to Elizabeth Olesh, the Baldwin Public Library director, the top books that were checked out at the BPL in 2025 followed local and national trends. Although these books seem wildly different at first glance, all five of these novels are character-driven stories that use intimate lives to interrogate larger truths, with similar themes intertwining throughout every story.
No. 1: “James” by Percival Everett
At the top of the list is Everett’s award-winning Huckleberry Finn reimagining, “James.” Taking place in the pre-Civil War American South, this powerful novel follows the journey of an enslaved man named Jim down the Mississippi River as he escapes to find his family. This searing critique of American racism, although a heart wrenching read, “James” is an unputdownable book and had Baldwin residents deeply moved from the very first page.
No. 2: “The God of the Woods” by Liz Moore
The one and only mystery on this list was Liz Moore’s expertly paced thriller, “The God of the Woods.” Set in upstate New York, this New York Times bestselling novel dives into the disappearance of a 13-year-old-girl at a summer camp in 1975. Moore kept readers, including Baldwin residents, on their toes with her riveting story about family secrets and lies.
No. 3: “Great Big Beautiful Life” by Emily Henry
“Great Big Beautiful Life” is Emily Henry’s most recent contemporary romance novel about two rival journalists who are competing to write the biography of an elusive socialite, while falling in love with each other at the same time. Henry brilliantly uncovers her characters secrets and scandals, through a duel-timeline storyline that keeps readers wanting more after every chapter.
No. 4: “The Berry Pickers” by Amanda Peters
“The Berry Pickers” is a powerful Indigenous novel about a Mi’kmaq family in Maine and Nova Scotia, following the disappearance of a young girl and the impact it brought. This domestic historical fiction has a subtle mystery about it as characters uncover family truths across generations. The explored themes of loss, identity, trauma, and secrets made this book unforgettable for readers.
No. 5: “On Fire Island” by Jane L. Rosen
“On Fire Island” is about a book editor who is spending one last summer on Fire Island after her untimely death, where she is observing the ripple effects her life has on those she loved. Taking place on Long Island and having been written by a Baldwin native, the Baldwin community could not get enough of this heartwarming beach read last year.
