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 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Relationships: Mothers, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Finance / Money / Wealth, LGBTQ, Love / Sexuality, Parenting, Relationships, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Grief / Death, Class, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2019
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Sexuality, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Society: Colonialism
Tags Asian Literature, Historical Fiction, Chinese Literature, Mystery / Crime Fiction, History: World, Magical Realism, Romance, Fantasy
The Night Tiger by Yangsze Choo was published in 2020. Like Choo's debut novel, The Ghost Bride (2013), The Night Tiger is a mixture of genres, including mythology and historical fiction, and it is a New York Times bestseller. The Night Tiger chronicles the period between May and July of 1931. The setting is colonial-era Malaysia, or “Malaya.”Plot SummaryChinese house servant Ren, is a 10-year-old orphan who’s mourning the death of his master, Dr. MacFarlane... Read The Night Tiger Summary
Publication year 2022
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Tags History: World, Music, History: U.S., Arts / Culture, Politics / Government, Sociology, Humor, Internet Culture / Social Media
Publication year 2013
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Family, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Emotions/Behavior: Memory
Tags Fantasy, Magical Realism, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Religion / Spirituality
In The Ocean at the End of the Lane (2013), a dark fantasy novel by Neil Gaiman, a young boy accidentally brings an evil entity from another reality into his world, and he needs the help of three mysterious women to try to get rid of the threat. A number-one New York Times bestseller, the novel won several honors, including the British Book Awards Book of the Year and the Locus Award for best fantasy... Read The Ocean at the End of the Lane Summary
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
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel/Book in Verse, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory
Tags Children's Literature, Fantasy, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Animals
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Art, Relationships: Mothers
Tags WWII / World War II, Historical Fiction, Military / War
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
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
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
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