The Adult Book List committee of the Orange County Library System was formed by several librarians who met in person in early August and later met virtually. The committee selected books published within the past year, aiming for titles that were not on the New York Times bestseller list for a prolonged period and were not featured in the Staff Picks area. Over 70 titles were read, rated and then chosen, with most books read by at least two librarians to ensure a thorough evaluation.
The final list spans a variety of genres, including non‑fiction, fantasy, graphic novels and romantasy. Highlighted titles include Godzilla’s Monsterpiece Theatre by Tom Scioli, a graphic novel that blends classic literary characters with a monster‑filled setting; Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton, a non‑fiction account of caring for a newborn hare during lockdown; Deep Cuts by Holly Brickley, a fiction novel set against modern music history; and Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry, a romantasy selected for a January 2026 book club at the Orlando Public Library.
Press release issued by Orange County Library System:
https://ocls.org/ocls-blog/best-books-of-2025-adult/
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