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!

The One and Only Bob

by Katherine Applegate

Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt

Tags Animals, Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Children's Literature

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The One and Only Ruby

by Katherine Applegate

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel/Book in Verse, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory

Tags Children's Literature, Fantasy, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Animals

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The Only Good Indians

by Stephen Graham Jones

Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Natural World: Environment, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Relationships: Friendship, Natural World: Animals, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Fear

Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Religion / Spirituality

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The Only Plane in the Sky

by Garrett M. Graff

Publication year 2019

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Teams, Society: Globalization, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger

Tags History: U.S., Crime / Legal, September 11 Attacks, History: World, Biography, Politics / Government

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The Orchid Thief

by Susan Orlean

Publication year 1998

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Flora/plants, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Society: Community

Tags Journalism, Crime / Legal, Science / Nature, Mystery / Crime Fiction, History: World, Biography

The Orchid Thief is a nonfiction book by Susan Orlean, originally published in 1998. It is a narrative nonfiction account of the crimes and trial of John Laroche, accused of stealing endangered orchid species from the Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve in Florida. The basic story of Laroche and his crimes originally ran as an article in The New Yorker, entitled “Orchid Fever” and published in 1995. The book expands the story and also details Orlean’s... Read The Orchid Thief Summary

The Orphan Collector

by Ellen Marie Wiseman

Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Mothers, Society: Class, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Relationships: Family

Tags Historical Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Health / Medicine, History: World

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The Other Boleyn Girl

by Philippa Gregory

Publication year 2001

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Gender, Life/Time: The Future, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Family, Society: Nation

Tags Historical Fiction, British Literature, Romance, Auto/Biographical Fiction

The Other Boleyn Girl (2001) is a historical women’s fiction novel by British author and journalist Philippa Gregory. Gregory first reached bestseller status with her debut historical novel Wideacre (1987). The Other Boleyn Girl won the Romantic Novel of the Year Award from the Romantic Novelists’ Association and was adapted into a film. The novel is narrated by Mary, the Boleyn daughter whose more famous sister, Anne, has overshadowed her in the historical record. Mary... Read The Other Boleyn Girl Summary

The Other Mrs.

by Mary Kubica

Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

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

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The Other Woman

by Sandie Jones

Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Mothers, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger

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

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The Outsider

by Stephen King

Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos

Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Fantasy, Religion / Spirituality

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The Oz Principle

by Roger Connors, Tom Smith, Craig Hickman

Publication year 1994

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Apathy, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Relationships: Teams

Tags Business / Economics, Leadership/Organization/Management, Psychology, Psychology, Romance, Self Help

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The Paper Palace

by Miranda Cowley Heller

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Mothers, Life/Time: The Past, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Relationships: Family

Tags Relationships, Romance, Love / Sexuality, Modern Classic Fiction

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The Paris Daughter

by Kristin Harmel

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Art, Relationships: Mothers

Tags WWII / World War II, Historical Fiction, Military / War

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The Paris Library

by Janet Skeslien Charles

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Life/Time: Coming of Age

Tags Historical Fiction, Auto/Biographical Fiction, History: European, WWII / World War II, Military / War, French Literature, History: World

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The Partner

by John Grisham

Publication year 1997

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil

Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Crime / Legal

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The Passage

by Justin Cronin

Publication year 2010

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Society: War

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

The Passage is a 2010 novel by Justin Cronin. It is the first novel in a post-apocalyptic horror series that includes The Twelve and City of Mirrors. The Passage is Cronin’s take on the vampire genre. He uses world-building to examine themes of Passages and Transitions, Vampirism as a Metaphor, and The Value of Life. The Passage was well-received and was adapted into a television series for the Fox Network, which aired its final episode... Read The Passage Summary

The Passenger

by Cormac McCarthy

Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality

Tags Historical Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Psychological Fiction, American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction

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