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 1999

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Mental Health, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Relationships: Family

Tags Psychology, Science / Nature, Health / Medicine, Parenting, Disability, Psychology, Mental Illness, Self Help


Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Gender, Identity: Race

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


Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality

Tags Romance, Fantasy, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Religion / Spirituality


Publication year 2021

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Marriage, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Self Discovery, Identity: Language

Tags Self Help, Psychology, Health / Medicine, Relationships, Psychology, Mental Illness


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Love

Tags Romance, Relationships, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Race, Society: Class, Relationships: Marriage

Tags Romance, Humor, Race / Racism


Publication year 2004

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Natural World: Objects, Natural World: Place, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags History: World, WWII / World War II, Action / Adventure, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Military / War, Science / Nature, Biography

Shadow Divers: The True Story of Two Americans Who Risked Everything to Solve One of the Last Mysteries of World War II (2004) by Robert Kurson is a celebrated nonfiction adventure book. Kurson, an adventure journalist whose stories have been featured in Rolling Stone, Esquire, and The New York Times Magazine, is known for his immersive and entertaining style. His first book-length work, Shadow Divers was a New York Times Best Seller and won the... Read Shadow Divers Summary


Publication year 2012

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Gender, Life/Time: Birth, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Fathers, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal

Tags Fantasy, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Religion / Spirituality, Historical Fiction, Romance

Shadow of Night (2012) is a historical fantasy romance novel by Deborah Harkness, and the second book in the All Souls Trilogy, preceded by A Discovery of Witches (2011) and followed by The Book of Life (2014). A prequel novel, Time’s Convert (2019), follows the origin story of Matthew’s son Marcus, who is a minor character in Shadow of Night.Harkness holds a PhD from the University of California, Davis and teaches early modern European history... Read Shadow of Night Summary


Publication year 2015

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger

Tags Fantasy, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Action / Adventure


Publication year 2016

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Mental Health, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality

Tags Inspirational, Christian literature, Sports, Disability, Biography, Self Help, Religion / Spirituality

Shaken is a 2018 book by NFL quarterback Tim Tebow. In his book, Tebow shares personal experiences, inspirational stories, and biblical scriptures and parables to encourage readers to develop a strong Christian faith. Tebow reveals how his faith has helped him develop a strong identity, find his life’s purpose, and remain hopeful throughout life’s challenges. He coaches the reader to remain open to God’s influence in their life by maintaining strong friendships and asking for... Read Shaken Summary


Publication year 1992

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Mental Health, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

Tags Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Drama / Tragedy, Modern Classic Fiction, Mental Illness

She’s Come Undone is a realistic fiction novel written by Wally Lamb and originally published in 1992. Lamb demonstrates his penchant for creating detailed psychological character portraits in his debut novel, which is a coming-of-age story about a woman named Dolores Price. As the novel traces Dolores’s life from childhood through middle age in the mid-20th century, Lamb examines imbalanced power dynamics within relationships, intergenerational trauma and healing, the loss of innocence, and body image... Read She's Come Undone Summary


Publication year 2009

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Natural World: Animals, Relationships: Friendship, Self Discovery

Tags Fantasy, Romance

Shiver (2009) is the first installment in Maggie Stiefvater’s young adult paranormal romance series The Wolves of Mercy Falls. Influential in shaping modern fantasy romance narratives, the bestselling series is set in a universe where werewolves exist and their transformations are controlled by the weather. Shiver tracks the story of Grace Brisbane, who was bitten by werewolves when she was child but never changed, and Sam Roth, a werewolf destined to remain a wolf forever... Read Shiver Summary


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Tags Historical Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Roaring Twenties, British Literature, History: World


Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Society: War, Self Discovery, Natural World: Animals, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness

Tags Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Addiction / Substance Abuse, Leadership/Organization/Management, Love / Sexuality, Military / War, Politics / Government, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Religion / Spirituality, Romance


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Self Discovery, Relationships: Siblings, Relationships: Mothers, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance

Tags Fantasy, Romance


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Teams, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt

Tags Children's Literature, Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Mythology, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Fate, Self Discovery, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Life/Time: Mortality & Death

Tags Fantasy, Mythology, Historical Fiction, Romance


Publication year 2001

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Society: Community, Emotions/Behavior: Love

Tags Humor, Holidays & Occasions, Modern Classic Fiction

Skipping Christmas is a 2001 satirical novella by John Grisham. It tells the story of Luther and Nora Krank, a married couple whose adult daughter, Blair, moves to Peru a month before Christmas. Facing their first Christmas without their daughter, and disillusioned by the holiday’s excesses, they decide to forego Christmas that year and go on a cruise instead. However, their decision brings them into conflict with their friends and neighbors, who expect them to... Read Skipping Christmas Summary


Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Space & The Universe, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Teams, Society: Class, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War

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


Publication year 2024

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Apathy, Identity: Mental Health, Society: Education, Self Discovery

Tags Psychology