New York Times Best Sellers

Since 1931, the country's best-selling books have appeared on an authoritative weekly list in the New York Times, a list that has transformed into a resource for readers and booksellers alike. Read on to discover both past and present best sellers—you just might find your next book club pick!

Publication year 1997

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger

Tags Psychology, Self Help, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Crime / Legal, Relationships, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Science / Nature, Sociology, Psychology, Mental Illness


Publication year 2010

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Mental Health, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Joy

Tags Self Help, Inspirational, Psychology, Religion / Spirituality, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy, Mental Illness, Health / Medicine

The Gifts of Imperfection: Your Guide to Wholehearted Living (2022) by Brené Brown (originally published as The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You’re Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are in 2010) introduces the key concepts that have become a signature of Brown’s research, such as reclaiming the importance of vulnerability and defining shame as an obstacle to self-development and connection. The original book spent 75 weeks on The New... Read The Gifts of Imperfection Summary


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Identity: Gender

Tags Fantasy, Magical Realism, Action / Adventure, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Gender / Feminism, Diversity, Race / Racism, African Literature, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Romance


Publication year 2015

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Identity: Masculinity, Life/Time: The Past, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Relationships: Marriage

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Addiction / Substance Abuse, Modern Classic Fiction

Paula Hawkins wrote The Girl on the Train over the course of six months in 2014. Hawkins, an Oxford-educated journalist and writer, drew on her experience as a reporter in London to structure the novel and describe its locations. Drawing immediate comparisons to Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn, The Girl on the Train had similar performance, debuting at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list in 2015, and remaining there for 13 consecutive weeks... Read The Girl On The Train Summary


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Fate

Tags Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Romance, Mythology, Fairy Tale / Folklore, Asian Literature, History: World


Publication year 2005

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Gender, Relationships: Family, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Scandinavian Literature, Gender / Feminism, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Modern Classic Fiction

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is an international bestseller by writer and journalist Stieg Larsson. The crime thriller was published in Sweden shortly after his death in 2005 with the original Swedish title, Män som hatar kvinnor, or Men Who Hate Women. The book won the 2006 Glass Key Award for best crime novel in its native Sweden, and after the English translation was released it received the 2008 Boeke Prize (South Africa), Crime... Read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Summary


Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family

Tags Historical Fiction, History: World, Romance

The Giver of Stars (2019) by JoJo Moyes is a work of women’s fiction that can also be categorized as historical fiction. Not long after its publication, The Giver of Stars became embroiled in controversy when another author, Kim Michele Richardson, noted similarities between her book about the WPA Pack Horse Librarians, The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek, and Moyes’s novel. Moyes is the bestselling author of Me Before You, and The Giver of Stars... Read The Giver of Stars Summary


Publication year 2006

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Mental Health, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Religion / Spirituality, Science / Nature, Philosophy, Psychology, Psychology, Philosophy

The God Delusion, written by Richard Dawkins, was first published in 2006 by Bantam Press. In the book, Dawkins, a British evolutionary biologist and ethologist, uses his background in science and rational thought to explore and critique the concepts of God and religion. This non-fiction work falls under the subgenre of atheist literature and tackles concepts such as the question of the existence of God, the psychological and social reasons for religious belief, the impact... Read The God Delusion Summary


Publication year 1968

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Identity: Masculinity, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Drama / Tragedy

The Godfather, by American author Mario Puzo, was published in 1969 by G.P. Putnam’s Sons. It was an immediate success, remaining on the New York Times Bestseller List for 67 weeks and selling over nine million copies in two years. The book was lauded for its authenticity, despite the fact that Puzo had no real-life experience with the Mafia, though he did grow up in Vito Corleone’s Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood. In 1972, Francis Ford Coppola’s... Read The Godfather Summary


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Siblings, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Identity: Mental Health, Identity: Femininity, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Mothers, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Diversity, Grief / Death, Mental Illness, Parenting, Relationships, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2008

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Society: War, Relationships: Friendship

Tags Historical Fiction, Romance, WWII / World War II, Military / War, History: World

Written in epistolary form, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is a historical novel set during the German Occupation of the English Channel Islands during World War II (WWII). The novel was co-written by Mary Ann Shaffer, an editor, librarian, and bookshop clerk, and her niece, Annie Barrows, author of the Ivy and Bean children’s books series. Shaffer began writing the novel, but when she was diagnosed with cancer she requested Barrows’s help... Read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society Summary


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Marriage, Relationships: Siblings, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Life/Time: The Past

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction

The Guest List by Lucy Foley is a contemporary murder mystery novel published in 2020. Foley, an English author, weaves a tale of intrigue, secrets, and betrayal upon the backdrop of an isolated island in West Ireland. Foley is also known for the thrillers The Hunting Party (2018) and The Paris Apartment (2022), among others. Often likened to Agatha Christie, Foley’s novel is a slow-burn whodunit.Plot SummaryMany perspectives compose The Guest List; each chapter jumps... Read The Guest List Summary


Publication year 2011

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Life/Time: The Future, Society: Globalization

Tags Christian literature, Religion / Spirituality, Mystery / Crime Fiction

The Harbinger, by Jonathan Cahn, a Messianic Jewish rabbi and author, is Cahn’s debut novel. The Harbinger is described as a Christian novel; it uses and relies on themes, concepts, and scripture that are prevalent in the Old Testament. It was initially published in September 2011 by FrontLine, an imprint of Charisma House, which is a religious publishing group dedicated to spreading religious messages. FrontLine is the imprint of Charisma House used for discussing cultural... Read The Harbinger Summary


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Siblings, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Romance, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Class, Modern Classic Fiction, Fantasy, Action / Adventure


Publication year 2023

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Climate, Society: Class

Tags Science / Nature, Climate Change


Publication year 2008

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Life/Time: The Future, Life/Time: The Past, Natural World: Food, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Mothers, Society: Colonialism, Society: Community, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Historical Fiction, History: U.S.

The Heretic’s Daughter (2008) is the debut novel of author Kathleen Kent. Upon publication, it immediately made the New York Times bestseller list. Kent followed this title with two other best-selling historical fiction works: The Traitor’s Wife (2010) and The Outcasts (2013). She also wrote a crime fiction trilogy that was nominated for an Edgar Award. A resident of Texas, Kent was inducted into the Texas Institute of Letters in 2020 for her contribution to... Read The Heretic's Daughter Summary


Publication year 2015

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Place, Natural World: Objects

Tags Science / Nature

Peter Wohlleben’s 2015 book The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate—Discoveries from a Secret World explores what modern science has learned—and has yet to find out—about trees and forests. Wohlleben’s book was named a best seller by the New York Times, Washington Post, and Wall Street Journal and won the Indie Choice Award for Best Nonfiction Book of the Year. Wohlleben, who has decades of experience working as a professional forester... Read The Hidden Life of Trees Summary


Publication year 2021

Genre Poem, Fiction

Tags Inspirational, African American Literature, Gender / Feminism, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World, Social Justice, Politics / Government


Publication year 1979

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: Politics & Government, Natural World: Space & The Universe, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology

Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Humor, Fantasy, Action / Adventure

Douglas Adams’s The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy first appeared in book form in 1979, after Adams originally conceived it as a radio play. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy explores and satirizes many facets of modern life, such as the legitimacy of authority, the absurdity of bureaucracy, and the search for the ultimate answer to the question of life, the universe, and everything. The book follows the galactic exploits of Arthur Dent, the last... Read The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Summary


Publication year 2008

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil

Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Fantasy, Romance, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction

The Host is bestselling author Stephenie Meyer’s first science fiction novel, published as Meyer was wrapping up her Twilight series. Published in 2008, The Host blends science fiction, romance, and psychological drama. Meyer sets the novel in a dystopian future where Earth has been overtaken by parasitic aliens called “souls.” These souls inhabit human bodies, erasing their consciousness.The novel focuses on Wanderer, a soul who takes over the body of a human, Melanie Stryder, who... Read The Host Summary