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 2016
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Marriage, Relationships: Siblings
Tags Realistic Fiction, Humor, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2020
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Mental Health, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Relationships: Family, Society: Community
Tags Psychology, Self Help, Health / Medicine, Relationships, Sociology, Science / Nature, Psychology, Mental Illness
Publication year 2016
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Fathers, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Mental Health, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Romance, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, New Adult, Trauma / Abuse / Violence
Publication year 2020
Genre Biography, Nonfiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Values/Ideas: Fame
Tags Politics / Government, Psychology, History: U.S., History: World, Psychology, Biography
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Space & The Universe, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Society: War, Natural World: Flora/plants, Relationships: Teams
Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Fantasy
Publication year 2006
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Identity: Disability, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Relationships: Family, Society: Class, Society: Economics, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction
Publication year 2009
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Siblings, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride
Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Romance, Drama / Tragedy
Publication year 2016
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Marriage, Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Relationships, Psychological Fiction, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Parenting, Love / Sexuality
Truly Madly Guilty is Liane Moriarty’s seventh adult novel, published in 2016. The work uses suspense elements and a nonlinear timeline to tell a story of a backyard barbecue and its deep emotional and psychological repercussions for the attendees. The book explores themes of friendship, marriage, and parenthood through the relationships of three couples, Erika and Oliver, Clementine and Sam, and Tiffany and Vid.The edition referenced is the first US e-book edition from Flatiron Books.Plot... Read Truly Madly Guilty Summary
Publication year 2013
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Sexuality, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Family
Tags Realistic Fiction, LGBTQ, Depression / Suicide, Love / Sexuality, Parenting, American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, Romance
David Levithan’s 2013 young adult novel Two Boys Kissing is narrated from the perspective of the gay men who died during the 1980s HIV/AIDS epidemic. This chorus, resembling that of ancient Greek theater, observes the novel’s present-day characters—several gay teenage boys in neighboring American small towns—as they explore love, relationship, and identity. The central narrative follows two boys, Harry and Craig, who attempt to break the Guinness World Record for longest continuous kiss by kissing... Read Two Boys Kissing Summary
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Environment, Emotions/Behavior: Apathy, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Identity: Indigenous, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Teams, Relationships: Mothers, Natural World: Animals, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Natural World: Flora/plants, Natural World: Place, Society: Politics & Government, Society: Community
Tags Action / Adventure, Survival Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Children's Literature, Natural Disaster, Climate Change, Modern Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Relationships: Marriage, Relationships: Family
Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction
Publication year 2023
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Race, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Politics / Government, History: U.S., American Literature, Business / Economics, History: World, Social Justice
Publication year 2014
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt
Tags Love / Sexuality, Modern Classic Fiction, Romance
Publication year 2023
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Natural World: Food
Tags Food, Health / Medicine, Science / Nature, Self Help
Publication year 2011
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Fantasy, Romance, Action / Adventure, Religion / Spirituality
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Identity: Mental Health, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Memory
Tags Fantasy, Romance, LGBTQ, Modern Classic Fiction, Magical Realism, Religion / Spirituality
Publication year 2022
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, History: World, Biography, Crime / Legal, History: U.S.
Publication year 2018
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Mothers, Society: Immigration, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Relationships: Family
Tags Historical Fiction, Relationships, Politics / Government, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World
Unsheltered was written by American author Barbara Kingsolver and first published in 2018. The novel explores themes of family, marriage, science in society, social justice issues, overcoming personal challenges, and new possibilities. Kingsolver is the recipient of the National Humanities Medal, a Pulitzer Prize finalist, and winner of the Orange Prize, Dayton Literary Peace Prize, and PEN/Faulkner award, and she has received many other recognitions by national and international associations and publications. Unsheltered is her... Read Unsheltered Summary
Publication year 2015
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Mental Health, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Self Discovery
Tags Romance, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Sports, Modern Classic Fiction
Abbi Glines’s Until Friday Night is a young adult romance novel that follows the relationship between the two protagonists, Maggie Carlton and West Ashby. Maggie’s and West’s alternating first-person narratives reveal their complex feelings for each other and their struggles to navigate falling in love. Their evolving dynamic is the basis for the novel’s themes of Coping with Grief and Trauma, The Development of Teenage Romantic Relationships, and The Role of Communication in Healing. This... Read Until Friday Night Summary
Publication year 1973
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Identity: Disability, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Marriage, Society: Class, Society: Community, Society: Politics & Government
Tags History: U.S., Politics / Government