Library’s top reads of 2020

When people think of the work that librarians perform, their minds often turn to buying books. While this is arguably the most fun aspect of our job, we also deal with reports, lots and lots of reports. One of the reports I always look forward to seeing is the one that lists the items with the most checkouts over the past year.

And today, I share that with you! Lethbridge, here are some of your most borrowed titles from 2020 (descriptions provided by the publisher):

“The Darwin Affair” — Tim Mason. London, June 1860: When an assassination attempt is made on Queen Victoria, and a petty thief is gruesomely murdered moments later — and only a block away — Chief Detective Inspector Charles Field quickly surmises that the crimes are connected. Was Victoria really the assassin’s target? Or were both crimes part of an even more sinister plot? Field’s investigation soon exposes a shocking conspiracy: the publication of Charles Darwin’s controversial “On the Origin of Species” has set off a string of terrible crimes — murder, arson, and kidnapping.

“The Wives” — Tarryn Fisher. Thursday’s husband, Seth, has two other wives. She’s never met them, and she doesn’t know anything about them. She agreed to this unusual arrangement because she’s so crazy about him. But one day, she finds something. Something that tells a very different – and horrifying – story about the man she married. What follows is one of the most twisted, shocking thrillers you'll ever read.

“White Fragility” — Robin DiAngelo. DiAngelo deftly illuminates the phenomenon of white fragility. Referring to the defensive moves that white people make when challenged racially, white fragility is characterized by emotions such as anger, fear and guilt, and by behaviours including argumentation and silence. These behaviours, in turn, function to reinstate white racial equilibrium and prevent any meaningful cross-racial dialogue. In this in-depth exploration, DiAngelo examines how white fragility develops, how it protects racial inequality, and what we can do to engage more constructively.

“Sunrise on Half Moon Bay” — Robyn Carr. Sometimes the happiness we’re looking for has been there all along… Adele and Justine have never been close. Born 20 years apart, Justine was already an adult when Addie was born. The sisters love each other but they don’t really know each other. When Addie dropped out of university to care for their ailing parents, Justine, a successful lawyer, covered the expenses. It was the best arrangement at the time but now that their parents are gone, the future has changed dramatically for both women. Neither woman knows how to start life over but both realize they can and must support each other the way only sisters can.

Be sure to visit

(click on “Explore” and “Recent Activity”) for a complete list of our Top 50 most borrowed books from 2020! All the best for 2021 everyone!