Every year we release data revealing the most popular authors and titles borrowed from UK public libraries.

Most popular authors and titles

The most borrowed author and title listings in UK public libraries are now available to view. 

These are based on the latest PLR sample library loans data for the 2020/21 PLR year, which includes authors who are registered with PLR as well as others who are dead or ineligible for remuneration under the PLR Scheme. 

A quick snapshot is provided below with the full list including top adult’s and children’s authors, top children’s titles and top titles by print, audiobook and ebook available to view here

Top 10 authors  

1) James Patterson

2) Lee Child

3) Julia Donaldson

4) David Baldacci

5) Daisy Meadows

6) MC Beaton

7) David Walliams

8) Ann Cleeves

9) Peter James

10) Danielle Steele

(Browse the most borrowed authors archive.)

Top 10 titles

1) The Thursday Murder Club - Richard Osman

2) Blue Moon - Lee Child

3) The Long Call - Ann Cleeves

4) The Midnight Library - Matt Haig

5) Becoming - Michelle Obama

6) The Giver of Stars - Jojo Moyes

7) Girl, Woman, Other - Bernadine Evaristo

8) Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - J K Rowling

9) Find them Dead - Peter James

10) The Sentinel - Lee Child

Browse the most borrowed titles archive.

Information on the most borrowed authors and books in Irish public libraries can be found on the Irish PLR website