Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus has been crowned the winner in the inaugural Libraries Unlimited Book Awards.
The awards, organised by the charity that runs libraries in in the county, launched last November with a shortlist of twenty of the most borrowed titles from Devon and Torbay’s libraries. Library users then cast their votes, with polling stations in the libraries and an online voting system.
Bonnie Garmus’ Lessons in Chemistry took the top spot. The novel which deals with chemistry, cookery and feminism in the 1950s, well and truly passed the litmus test with Devon’s readers.
On receiving the award Bonnie said: “I’m very honoured to receive the inaugural Libraries Unlimited Book Award! A huge thanks to Torbay and Devon readers for checking out Lessons in Chemistry in such great numbers and for their votes. I’m astonished and grateful. And an even bigger thanks to all the fearless librarians who work hard to keep books on the shelves and their doors open to everyone. Your work matters more than ever.”
The Book Awards are designed to encourage library use and celebrate the power of reading at a time when library closures are increasing across the country. Recognising the role libraries play in providing accessible information, activities, and community support, the Awards aim to highlight and promote reading by spotlighting the most borrowed books of the past year and inviting the public to vote for their favourites.
Sophie Crofts, Reading Development Manager, Libraries Unlimited said: “Because the shortlist was coming from the most borrowed books across our libraries, it was an incredible list to start with, so really a coup to get the most votes in this one! People across Devon and Torbay really got behind this. Not only did people cast their votes, but we also saw an increase in borrowing the top twenty titles, so they could make an informed decision.”
The Book Awards will be an annual event, with the next shortlist being announced in November 2025.
2024 Book Awards shortlist – the most borrowed books in Devon & Torbay Libraries:
The Bullet That Missed, Richard Osman
Homecoming, Kate Morton
Shrines of Gaiety, Kate Atkinson
Someone Else’s Shoes, Jojo Moyes
The Rising Tide, Ann Cleeves
Lessons in Chemistry, Bonnie Garmus
No Plan B, Lee Child and Andrew Child
Snow, John Banville
Demon Copperhead, Barbara Kingsolver
The Golden Couple, Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen
A Secret Garden Affair, Erica James
The Murders at Fleat House, Lucinda Riley
Death Comes to Dartmoor, Stephanie Austin
The Last Remains, Elly Griffiths
In a Thousand Different Ways, Cecelia Ahern
A Winter Grave, Peter May
The Family Remains, Lisa Jewell
Murder Before Evensong, Reverend Richard Coles
Hamnet, Maggie O’Farrell
Marple: Twelve New Stories, Agatha Christie, et al
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