This year’s Tournament of Books Champion is…

Kristin Hannah’s work of historical fiction about a young nurse who served in the US Army Nurse Corps during the Vietnam War entered the tournament as the book to beat. In the last year, The Women was by far the most popular book checked out at the Russell Library.

The results of the tournament confirm that it’s popularity is no fluke– it is truly worthy of being crowned the Tournament of Books Champion 2025! In a 63% – 37% decision, The Women prevailed over I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy, this year’s top Nonfiction title as decided by Middletown readers.

It is the second year in a row that the winning book came from the “Fiction” side of the bracket. The tournament is set up such that the top Fiction and Nonfiction titles will face off in the Championship Round.

Please stay tuned for the results of the Bracket Contest in the coming days. The Russell Library would like to thank everyone who submitted a bracket and voted throughout the four rounds in March. Which books will make the Tournament next year? Only time will tell!