Wollongong City Libraries manager Jessica Bruce at Wollongong Library. Photo: Wollongong City Council.
Borrowing trends across Wollongong and Shellharbour libraries throughout 2025 have revealed a shared love of many non-fiction titles — but some clear differences when it comes to fiction.
In Wollongong, readers gravitated strongly toward page-turning crime and big-name Australian authors, with Liane Moriarty topping the list as the city’s most borrowed fiction author of the year.
While at Shellharbour City Libraries, borrowing trends leaned even more heavily to fast-paced crime and blockbuster fiction, with authors such as Michael Connelly, James Patterson and David Baldacci dominating the most-read lists across the city’s libraries.
However, it was in non-fiction where readers from the two cities were most alike.
Wollongong readers sought insight and inspiration from non-fiction books including The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins, We Are the Stars by Gina Chick, The Season by Helen Garner and Recipetin Eats Tonight by Nagi Maehashi.
Robbins, Chick and Maehashi’s “Dinner” title from the same series all made Shellharbour’s most borrowed non-fiction list too, along with Virginia Roberts Giuffre’s Nobody’s Girl, Turia Pitt’s Selfish, and Adam Courtenay’s My Father Bryce.
Wollongong City Libraries manager Jessica Bruce said Liane Moriarty claimed the top spot for the year with Here One Moment.
Often hailed as a modern-day Jane Austen for her sharp observations of social mores, Moriarty’s latest novel has earned critical and popular acclaim for its exploration of family dynamics, free will, and the fragility of certainty.
Richard Osman’s We Solve Murders landed at number two in Wollongong’s most wanted fiction, praised for its fresh, cosy approach to crime, balancing humour and charm with genuine emotional depth.
Osman shared the spotlight with genre heavyweights Chris Hammer, Christian White, Dervla McTiernan, and acclaimed Wollongong author Hayley Scrivenor.
Historical fiction also made its mark. Kristin Hannah’s The Women secured third place, celebrated for its immersive storytelling and poignant tribute to courage, sacrifice, and the enduring spirit of women during the Vietnam War.
Jessica said these figures revealed a community passionate about stories that entertain, challenge, and inspire.
“It’s heartening to see such a diverse mix of titles, including local authors, resonating with our community,” Jessica said.
“The growth in reservations shows how much our community values free and easy access to stories that spark curiosity, connection, and joy.
“Whether you’re after a bestseller, a hidden gem, or something for the kids, there’s a world of stories waiting for everyone, and I encourage you to pop into one of our seven locations and explore what’s on offer.”
In Shellharbour, the most borrowed fiction titles were Michael Connelly’s latest in a new series, Nightshade, James Patterson and Emily Raymond’s gripping thriller Emma on Fire, while Patterson’s cat-and-mouse thriller The Imperfect Murder also made the list.
Others included David Baldacci’s historical fiction Strangers in Time, Freida McFadden’s The Housemaid Is Watching from the popular The Housemaid series, and Lee Child’s In Too Deep: A Reacher Novel.
Everybody’s favourite canine Bluey scored a trifecta in Wollongong in the junior picture books category, taking first, second and third place, while also dominating DVD and CD categories.
Bluey also made Shellharbour’s top picture books borrowed list, alongside The Gruffalo, two Where’s Wally? titles, the classic Spots Goes On Holiday and Winner Winner Bin Chicken Dinner.
Jessica said that in Wollongong, BookTok favourites crept into the top 15, including Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros, A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas, and Bonnie Garmus’s Lessons in Chemistry proving that social media trends continue to influence reading choices.
For Shellharbour, books made into TV series were popular for borrowing in the Young Adult category, including Jenny Han’s It’s Not Summer Without You and Holly Jackson’s A Good Girls Guide To Murder.
The Young Adult category also included Suzanne Collins with two titles – Sunrise on the Reaping and The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes – along with Lynette Noni’s The Prison Healer and Lauren Roberts’ Powerless.
In Wollongong, physical item borrows topped the million mark for the second year running.
