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 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Life/Time: The Future, Natural World: Animals

Tags Children's Literature, Animals, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Fantasy, Action / Adventure


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Family, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Art

Tags Romance, Holidays & Occasions


Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Sexuality, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Gender, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Relationships: Marriage

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


Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: The Past, Identity: Mental Health, Emotions/Behavior: Grief

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

The Woman in the Window, a psychological thriller published in 2018 by William Morrow. The novel was written by A.J. Finn, which is the pen name of American book editor and novelist, Dan Mallory. The novel tells the story from the first-person point of view of an unreliable female narrator, Dr. Anna Fox. The reader learns about Fox’s alcoholism, her agoraphobia, and the traumatizing events of her past, all of which take place in present-day... Read The Woman in the Window Summary


Publication year 2005

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Relationships: Marriage, Identity: Mental Health, Emotions/Behavior: Grief

Tags Grief / Death, Psychology, Psychology, Classic Fiction, Biography

Joan Didion’s memoir, The Year of Magical Thinking, explores her experiences mourning the death of her husband and the severe illness of her daughter in 2003. Didion, an American journalist and essayist, first gained popularity during the 1960s and 70s covering counterculture and Hollywood, but in The Year of Magical Thinking she turns to more intimate material. Didion’s husband John Gregory Dunne died of a heart attack while he and Didion were caring for their... Read The Year of Magical Thinking Summary


Publication year 2019

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Community, Emotions/Behavior: Memory

Tags Race / Racism, History: U.S., Class, History: World, Biography

The Yellow House is a nonfiction memoir published in 2019 by the American author Sarah M. Broom. In a narrative centered around her childhood home, “The Yellow House,” Broom chronicles the history of New Orleans through three generations of her family. The Yellow House won the 2019 National Book Award for Nonfiction and the National Book Critics Circle’s John Leonard Prize for best debut book.Plot SummaryIn 1961, Broom's mother, Ivory Mae, becomes a widow at the... Read The Yellow House Summary


Publication year 2014

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Natural World: Place, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger

Tags Fantasy, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction

The Young Elites (2014) by Marie Lu is a young adult fantasy novel with thriller and romance elements. Protagonist Adelina Amouteru faces a dismal future as a malfetto—a person marked by the blood fever epidemic that occurred when she was a child. Discovering that she has the supernatural capabilities of a Young Elite, a quality marking only a few malfettos, positions her on a path of deadly conflict and desire. Highlighting themes of The Concept... Read The Young Elites Summary


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Marriage, Relationships: Siblings, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

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


Publication year 2007

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Society: War, Natural World: Animals

Tags WWII / World War II, Holocaust, History: European, Animals, Military / War, History: World, Biography

The Zookeeper’s Wife, by Diane AckermanThe Zookeeper’s Wife is a non-fiction narrative recounting the heroic efforts of Antonina Żabińska and her husband, Jan Żabiński, during World War II. When soldiers of the Third Reich invade Poland on September 1, 1939, Jan is the ambitious director of the Warsaw Zoo. Antonina is an amazingly gifted woman who connects emotionally with all the animals in the zoo and the multitudes of human visitors and officials drawn to... Read The Zookeeper's Wife Summary


Publication year 2021

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Society: Community

Tags Business / Economics, Education, Education, Science / Nature, Psychology, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy, Self Help


Publication year 2011

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Economics, Society: Politics & Government

Tags Psychology, Science / Nature, Self Help, Leadership/Organization/Management, Business / Economics, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy

Thinking, Fast and Slow (2011), written by Nobel Laureate Daniel Kahneman, examines how people exercise judgment and make decisions. It draws from Kahneman’s long career—particularly his collaboration with fellow psychologist Amos Tversky beginning in 1969—identifying the mechanisms, biases, and perspectives that constitute human decision-making. Its 38 chapters provide detailed information affecting disciplines ranging from mathematics to law. The book was named one of the best books of 2011 by The New York Times and The... Read Thinking, Fast and Slow Summary


Publication year 2007

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Mental Health

Tags Realistic Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Depression / Suicide, Bullying, Modern Classic Fiction, Romance, Mental Illness

Tormented by false rumors and betrayals, high-schooler Hannah Baker dies by suicide—but leaves behind a set of tapes for 13 of her classmates explaining how they contributed to her death in Thirteen Reasons Why (2007) by Jay Asher. This suspenseful young adult drama—Asher’s debut novel—was inspired by a close family member who attempted suicide when she was Hannah’s age. She survived and shared with Asher the feelings and events that led to her suicide attempt... Read Thirteen Reasons Why Summary


Publication year 2020

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Politics & Government, Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Equality, Society: Community

Tags Race / Racism, Social Justice, Education, Children's Literature, Education, Politics / Government


Publication year 2021

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Race, Identity: Sexuality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Race / Racism, Black Lives Matter, Social Justice, Civil Rights / Jim Crow, African American Literature, American Literature, History: World, Politics / Government, Biography


Publication year 2009

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Marriage, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Emotions/Behavior: Love

Tags Humor, Psychological Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2021

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Natural World: Environment, Identity: Indigenous, Society: Colonialism, Society: Politics & Government

Tags Science / Nature, Psychology, Health / Medicine, Addiction / Substance Abuse, Agriculture, Anthropology, Business / Economics, History: European, History: U.S., Politics / Government, History: World, Journalism, Religion / Spirituality, Psychology, Food


Publication year 2014

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Identity: Femininity, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Identity: Mental Health, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Mothers

Tags Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction

This One Summer is a Canadian young adult graphic novel written by Mariko Tamaki and illustrated by her cousin, Jillian Tamaki. Mariko Tamaki has written several graphic novels, and has worked for both Marvel and DC Comics. This One Summer was originally published in 2014 by Groundwood Books, and follows the summer experiences of two young girls approaching adolescence and watching their parents cope with the various pressures of adulthood. The novel has been the... Read This One Summer Summary


Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

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

Tags Historical Fiction, Great Depression, History: World, Action / Adventure


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Fate, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Mental Health, Self Discovery

Tags Romance, Holidays & Occasions, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Fate, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality

Tags Fantasy, Romance, Mythology