Quick Take

Mysteries, manga and even crochet dominated the Watsonville Public Library's most checked-out books in 2025, reflecting wide-ranging tastes among adult, teen and young readers. Library officials said patrons gravitated toward everything from cozy mysteries and how-to guides to graphic novels and children’s stories centered on family, school and adventure.

Books about mysteries and the art of crochet topped the list of Watsonville Public Library’s most checked-out books in 2025. 

“Something the Cat Dragged In” by Charlotte MacLeod and “How to Crochet” by Pauline Turner were the most checked-out fiction and nonfiction adult books, respectively, last year. 

Alicia Martinez, the library’s director, told Lookout, “Our readers enjoy a broad range of genres, from character-driven contemporary and literary fiction, to cozy mysteries, spy thrillers, graphic novels and Westerns.”

Young adults gravitated toward illustrated storytelling through manga and graphic novels such as the “Ouran High School Host Club” and “Naruto” series. 

Watsonville’s youngest readers were captivated by chapter books and transitional readers about school, family life and adventures such as “D.W. Flips” by Marc Brown and “A Pussycat’s Christmas” by Margaret Wise Brown. 

Inside the Watsonville Public Library. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz Public Libraries recently shared its 2025 top checked-out books list, where books about women topped both adult fiction and nonfiction categories. 

Need a fresh read? Take this list to the library on your next visit: 

Adult fiction

  1. “Something the Cat Dragged In,” by Charlotte MacLeod
  2. “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service,” by Ian Fleming
  3. “Magic Hour,” by Kristin Hannah
  4. “Watchmen,” by Alan Moore
  5. “End of the Drive,” by Louis L’Amour

Adult nonfiction 

  1. “How to Crochet: The Definitive Crochet Course Complete with Step-by-Step Techniques, Stitch Libraries and Projects for Your Home and Family,” by Pauline Turner
  2. “The First Woman Doctor: The Story of Elizabeth Blackwell, M.D.,” by Rachel Baker and illustrated by Corinne Malvern
  3. “The Grandmaster,” produced by Jack Pang Yee Wah, Kar Wait Wong; written by Kar Wai Wong, Jingzhi Zou, Haofeng Xu; directed by Kar Wai Wong
  4. “The Rape of Nanking: The Forgotten Holocaust of World War II,” by Iris Chang
  5. “Prozac Nation: Young and Depressed in America,” by Elizabeth Wurtzel

Young adult fiction

  1. “Ouran High School Host Club. Vol. 2,” by Bisco Hatori
  2. “One Piece, Vol. 5: For Whom the Bell Tolls,” by Eiichiro Oda
  3. “Goodbye Parakeet, Good Night My Sister,” by Tite Kubo
  4. “Naruto, Vol. 6: Predator,” by Masashi Kishimoto
  5. “Assassination Classroom, Vol. 1: Time for Assassination,” by Yusei Matsui

Young adult nonfiction

  1. “Algebra to Go: A Mathematics Handbook,” by Andrew Kaplan
  2. “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. The Official Script Book of the Original West End Production Special Rehearsal Edition, Parts 1 and 2,” based on an original new story by J.K. Rowling
  3. “The Complete Guitar Course: Learn to Play in 20 Easy-to-Follow Lessons,” by Tom Fleming
  4. “How to Read Literature like a Professor: A Lively and Entertaining Guide to Reading Between the Lines,” by Thomas C. Foster
  5. “Wide Awake: A Buddhist Guide for Teens,” by Diana Winston

Juvenile fiction and graphic novels

  1. “Ralph S. Mouse,” by Beverly Cleary and illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky
  2. “Babymouse,” by Jennifer L. Holm & Matthew Holm
  3. “Chi’s Sweet Home,” by Konami Kanata
  4. “Sisters,” by Raina Telgemeier
  5. “Yotsuba&!”, by Kiyohiko Azuma

Children’s and tweens fiction

  1. “Molly’s Surprise: A Christmas Story,” by Valerie Tripp
  2. “Arthur and the Perfect Brother,” by Stephen Krensky
  3. “Arthur and the Race to Read,” by Stephen Krensky
  4. “Arthur’s Mystery Envelope,” by Stephen Kresky
  5. “Big Nate and Friends,” by Lincoln Peirce

Picture books

  1. “D.W. Flips,” by Marc Brown
  2. “A Pussycat’s Christmas,” by Margaret Wise Brown
  3. “The Berenstain Bears and the Mama’s Day Surprise,” by Stan & Jan Berenstain
  4. I”t’s Pumpkin Time!”, by Zoe Hall
  5. “Duck in the Truck,” by Jez Alborough

Adult fiction Spanish books

  1. “El monje que vendió su Ferrari [una fábula espiritual],” por Robin S. Sharma
  2. “Tan veloz como el deseo,” por Laura Esquivel
  3. “Yoruga la tortuga y otros cuentos,” por Dr. Seuss
  4. “El llano en llamas,” por Juan Rulfo
  5. “Chicano: una novela,” por Richard Vasquez

Adult nonfiction Spanish books

  1. “El poder del ahora: un camino hacia la  realización espiritual,” por Eckhart Tolle
  2. “Cómo ser un gran padre: técnicas y estrategias para los primeros cinco años,” por Laura Davis y Janis Keyser
  3. “El universo de los aztecas,” por Jacques Soustelle
  4. “Evangelios apócrifos: [la verdadera conexión entre el Antiguo y el Nuevo Testamento]”
  5. “Lista para la foto,” por Jacqueline Jules
Inside the Watsonville Public Library. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

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After three years of reporting on public safety in Iowa, Hillary joins Lookout Santa Cruz with a curious eye toward the county’s education beat. At the Iowa City Press-Citizen, she focused on how local...