What is everyone reading?
Books
Every Thursday, a book of the week: a personal recommendation, signed by whoever suggested it. The recommendations will disappear after seven days, so check back weekly for a new one!
Would you like to recommend a book? Write me by email or on LinkedIn, and I will consider it for a future week!
Below, a running look at what's topping bestseller lists, who's winning or has won big prizes (maybe you can find inspiration for the next book to read!), and how the love for different genres has changed over the years. All built from New York Times (NYT) bestseller history, Open Library metadata, and Hardcover reading data, refreshed periodically. Mostly a US picture for now, until I find a good data source for other markets.
Genre share, 2020–2026
Trend by genre
Many books from 2025 and 2026haven't been categorized yet in the NYT/Open Library data, so these years' genre shares are less certain than earlier ones.
2026 share
Most-listed author by genre
- MysteryDelia Owens 17
- Fiction - NarrativeJohn Grisham 22
- Science FictionAnthony Doerr 5
- FantasyRebecca Yarros
Also tracked in worldwide reading: Fourth Wing, Iron Flame.
52 - RomanceDanielle Steel 18
- BiographyGlennon Doyle 22
- Nonfiction - GeneralPeter Attia with Bill Gifford 30
- UncategorizedJames McBride 8
- HistoryDavid Grann 16
- PoetryOcean Vuong 3
- Young AdultAmanda Gorman 4
The most-listed author in a genre is whoever's books racked up the most NYT bestseller-list appearances in that genre across 2020–2026. An appearance is one book showing up in the top 15 of the Hardcover Fiction or Nonfiction list on one sampled date — a book stays on for several months, it earns one appearance per month. The number shown is that author's total appearances in the genre over those years, not sales or rank.
Literary awards
| Year | Winner | Rating Average reader rating on Hardcover (out of 5) for that book — not the award committee's own judgment. |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Angel Down — Daniel Kraus | 4.00 |
| 2025 | James — Percival Everett | 4.10 |
| 2024 | Night Watch — Jayne Anne Phillips | 4.00 |
| 2023 | Demon Copperhead — Barbara Kingsolver | 4.57 |
| 2022 | The Netanyahus — Joshua Cohen | 4.00 |
| 2021 | The Night Watchman — Louise Erdrich | 4.75 |
| 2020 | The Nickel Boys — Colson Whitehead | 4.38 |
| 2019 | The Overstory — Richard Powers | 4.17 |
| 2018 | Less — Andrew Sean Greer | 3.75 |
| 2017 | The Underground Railroad — Colson Whitehead | 3.96 |
| 2016 | The Sympathizer — Viet Thanh Nguyen | 4.10 |
| 2015 | All the Light We Cannot See — Anthony Doerr | 4.28 |
| 2014 | The Goldfinch — Donna Tartt | 3.99 |
| 2013 | The Orphan Master's Son — Adam Johnson | 4.31 |
| 2012 | No award given | |
| 2011 | A Visit from the Goon Squad — Jennifer Egan | 3.44 |
| 2010 | Tinkers — Paul Harding | 3.83 |
| 2009 | Olive Kitteridge — Elizabeth Strout | 4.33 |
| 2008 | The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao — Junot Díaz | 3.56 |
| 2007 | The Road — Cormac McCarthy | 3.89 |
| 2006 | March — Geraldine Brooks | 3.75 |
| 2005 | Gilead — Marilynne Robinson | 3.33 |
| 2004 | The Known World — Edward P. Jones | 4.00 |
| 2003 | Middlesex — Jeffrey Eugenides | 4.15 |
| 2002 | Empire Falls — Richard Russo | 3.83 |
| 2001 | The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay — Michael Chabon | 4.26 |
| 2000 | Interpreter of Maladies — Jhumpa Lahiri | 3.86 |
US bestsellers
Fiction
- #1HHOLLYWOOD, ENDINGJohn Green · Fiction - Narrative
- #2SSOMETIMES I SCARE MYSELFJeneva Rose · Fiction - Narrative
- #3HHOLLOW BONESJodi Picoult · Fiction - Narrative
- #4
THE CALAMITY CLUBKathryn Stockett · Fiction - Narrative - #5
AGATHA CHRISTIE: MURDER AT THE GRAND ALPINE HOTELLucy Foley · Fiction - Narrative
Nonfiction
- #1
SWAN SONGCharles Spencer · Fiction - Narrative - #2
ROLL THE CALLSAri Emanuel · Nonfiction - General - #3AACTUALLY, NEVERMINDTaylor Tomlinson · Nonfiction - General
- #4
AN UNEXPECTED LIFEGloria Steinem · Mystery - #5TTHE PERILOUS FIGHTColin Kaepernick with Nick Chiles · Nonfiction - General
Currently US-only (NYT). Other countries added if open sources are found.
Worldwide reading
319k
164k
59k
34k
19k
15k
12k
10k
9k
6k
6k
4k
3k
3k
3k
3k
Hardcover readers by genre, across the 150most-read books tracked. Each count is that book's all-time reader tally on Hardcover, not reads in a single year.
- #1Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
I cannot believe this is still first
J.K. Rowling · Fantasy · 14,201 readers - #21984George Orwell · Dystopian · 11,901 readers
- #3Harry Potter and the Chamber of SecretsJ.K. Rowling · Fantasy · 11,322 readers
- #4Project Hail MaryAndy Weir · Science Fiction · 11,199 readers
- #5Harry Potter and the Prisoner of AzkabanJ.K. Rowling · Fantasy · 11,039 readers
- #6Harry Potter and the Goblet of FireMary GrandPré · Fantasy · 10,507 readers
- #7The Hunger GamesSuzanne Collins · Dystopian · 10,374 readers
- #8Harry Potter and the Order of the PhoenixJ.K. Rowling · Fantasy · 9,906 readers
- #9The Hobbit, or There and Back AgainJ.R.R. Tolkien · Fantasy · 9,747 readers
- #10Harry Potter and the Deathly HallowsJ.K. Rowling · Fantasy · 9,671 readers
- #11Harry Potter and the Half-Blood PrinceJ.K. Rowling · Fantasy · 9,655 readers
- #12Animal FarmGeorge Orwell · Classics · 9,176 readers
- #13DuneFrank Herbert · Science Fiction · 8,466 readers
- #14The Hitchhiker's Guide to the GalaxyDouglas Adams · Science Fiction · 7,782 readers
- #15Catching FireSuzanne Collins · Dystopian · 7,610 readers
- #16The MartianAndy Weir · Science Fiction · 7,529 readers
- #17The Fellowship of the RingJ.R.R. Tolkien · Fantasy · 7,426 readers
- #18Mistborn: The Final EmpireBrandon Sanderson · Fantasy · 7,320 readers
- #19MockingjaySuzanne Collins · Young Adult · 7,206 readers
- #20A Game of ThronesGeorge R.R. Martin · Fantasy · 7,070 readers
- #21Fahrenheit 451Ray Bradbury · Science Fiction · 6,792 readers
- #22The Great GatsbyF. Scott Fitzgerald · Classics · 6,633 readers
- #23To Kill A MockingbirdHarper Lee · Classics · 6,590 readers
- #24Ready Player OneErnest Cline · Science Fiction · 6,559 readers
- #25Dungeon Crawler CarlMatt Dinniman · Fantasy · 6,415 readers
- #26The Well of AscensionBrandon Sanderson · Fantasy · 5,852 readers
- #27All Systems RedMartha Wells · Science Fiction · 5,816 readers
- #28Ender's GameOrson Scott Card · Science Fiction · 5,652 readers
- #29Red RisingPierce Brown · Science Fiction · 5,583 readers
- #30The Hero of AgesBrandon Sanderson · Fantasy · 5,404 readers
- #31Brave New WorldAldous Huxley · Science Fiction · 5,397 readers
- #32The Way of KingsBrandon Sanderson · Fantasy · 5,372 readers
- #33The Catcher in the RyeJ. D. Salinger · Classics · 5,232 readers
- #34The Two TowersJ.R.R. Tolkien · Fantasy · 5,177 readers
- #35The Three-Body ProblemCixin Liu · Science Fiction · 5,174 readers
- #36Carl's Doomsday ScenarioMatt Dinniman · Fantasy · 5,034 readers
- #37Lord of the FliesWilliam Golding · Young Adult · 5,004 readers
- #38Fourth WingRebecca Yarros · Fantasy · 4,913 readers
- #39The Lightning ThiefRick Riordan · Fantasy · 4,825 readers
- #40The Da Vinci CodeDan Brown · Thriller · 4,799 readers
- #41The Name of the WindPatrick Rothfuss · Fantasy · 4,662 readers
- #42A Clash of KingsGeorge R.R. Martin · Fantasy · 4,643 readers
- #43The AlchemistPaulo Coelho · Fantasy · 4,562 readers
- #44A Court of Thorns and RosesSarah J. Maas · Fantasy · 4,556 readers
- #45Words of RadianceBrandon Sanderson · Fantasy · 4,502 readers
- #46The Handmaid’s TaleMargaret Atwood · Dystopian · 4,401 readers
- #47The Lion, the Witch and the WardrobePauline Baynes · Fantasy · 4,376 readers
- #48The Dungeon Anarchist's CookbookMatt Dinniman · Fantasy · 4,343 readers
- #49Pride and PrejudiceJane Austen · Classics · 4,324 readers
- #50TwilightStephenie Meyer · Romance · 4,267 readers
- #51Of Mice and MenJohn Steinbeck · Classics · 4,264 readers
- #52The Little PrinceAntoine de Saint-Exupéry · Children's Literature · 4,224 readers
- #53The Midnight LibraryMatt Haig · Science Fiction · 4,170 readers
- #54Leviathan WakesJames S. A. Corey · Science Fiction · 4,131 readers
- #55American GodsNeil Gaiman · Fantasy · 4,129 readers
- #56Golden SonPierce Brown · Science Fiction · 4,100 readers
- #57Angels & DemonsDan Brown · Thriller · 4,056 readers
- #58Slaughterhouse-FiveKurt Vonnegut · Science Fiction · 4,004 readers
- #59A Storm of SwordsGeorge R.R. Martin · Fantasy · 4,002 readers
- #60Artificial ConditionMartha Wells · Science Fiction · 3,963 readers
- #61The Gate of the Feral GodsMatt Dinniman · Fantasy · 3,880 readers
- #62The MetamorphosisFranz Kafka · Classics · 3,875 readers
- #63Dark MatterBlake Crouch · Science Fiction · 3,863 readers
- #64OathbringerBrandon Sanderson · Fantasy · 3,834 readers
- #65The StrangerAlbert Camus · Classics · 3,823 readers
- #66PiranesiSusanna Clarke · Fantasy · 3,815 readers
- #67DivergentVeronica Roth · Young Adult · 3,781 readers
- #68The Picture of Dorian GrayRobert Mighall · Classics · 3,777 readers
- #69The Fault in Our StarsJohn Green · Romance · 3,756 readers
- #70A Feast for CrowsGeorge R.R. Martin · Fantasy · 3,722 readers
- #71The GiverLois Lowry · Science Fiction · 3,715 readers
- #72The Golden CompassPhilip Pullman · Fantasy · 3,620 readers
- #73EragonChristopher Paolini · Fantasy · 3,608 readers
- #74The Song of AchillesMadeline Miller · Romance · 3,594 readers
- #75Morning StarPierce Brown · Science Fiction · 3,576 readers
- #76The Girl with the Dragon TattooStieg Larsson · Mystery · 3,565 readers
- #77FoundationIsaac Asimov · Science Fiction · 3,554 readers
- #78The Return of the KingJ.R.R. Tolkien · Fantasy · 3,497 readers
- #79FrankensteinMary Shelley · Science Fiction · 3,490 readers
- #80A Court of Mist and FurySarah J. Maas · Fantasy · 3,469 readers
- #81Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, WitchNeil Gaiman · Fantasy · 3,464 readers
- #82The Seven Husbands of Evelyn HugoTaylor Jenkins Reid · Romance · 3,454 readers
- #83The Butcher's MasqueradeMatt Dinniman · Fantasy · 3,441 readers
- #84The Eye of the WorldRobert Jordan · Fantasy · 3,436 readers
- #85Atomic habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad OnesJames Clear · Self-Help · 3,398 readers
- #86Dune MessiahFrank Herbert · Science Fiction · 3,396 readers
- #87Rogue ProtocolMartha Wells · Science Fiction · 3,364 readers
- #88Iron FlameRebecca Yarros · Fantasy · 3,364 readers
- #89A Dance with DragonsGeorge R.R. Martin · Fantasy · 3,361 readers
- #90The Wise Man's FearPatrick Rothfuss · Fantasy · 3,314 readers
- #91CirceMadeline Miller · Fantasy · 3,289 readers
- #92The Alloy of LawBrandon Sanderson · Fantasy · 3,283 readers
- #93The Sea of MonstersRick Riordan · Fantasy · 3,283 readers
- #94Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and TomorrowGabrielle Zevin · Literary Fiction · 3,240 readers
- #95ElantrisBrandon Sanderson · Fantasy · 3,213 readers
- #96ArtemisAndy Weir · Science Fiction · 3,210 readers
- #97The RoadCormac McCarthy · Science Fiction · 3,189 readers
- #98The Lord of the RingsJ.R.R. Tolkien · Fantasy · 3,180 readers
- #99Romeo and JulietWilliam Shakespeare · Classics · 3,162 readers
- #100The Last WishAndrzej Sapkowski · Fantasy · 3,129 readers
- #101And Then There Were NoneAgatha Christie · Mystery · 3,109 readers
- #102DraculaBram Stoker · Horror · 3,109 readers
- #103WarbreakerBrandon Sanderson · Fantasy · 3,078 readers
- #104Rhythm of WarBrandon Sanderson · Fantasy · 3,052 readers
- #105The Book ThiefMarkus Zusak · Historical Fiction · 3,031 readers
- #106NeuromancerWilliam Gibson · Science Fiction · 3,022 readers
- #107The Eye of the Bedlam BrideMatt Dinniman · Fantasy · 3,021 readers
- #108The ShiningStephen King · Horror · 3,016 readers
- #109The Titan's CurseRick Riordan · Fantasy · 3,015 readers
- #110Exit StrategyMartha Wells · Science Fiction · 2,999 readers
- #111Throne of GlassSarah J. Maas · Fantasy · 2,998 readers
- #112The GunslingerStephen King · Horror · 2,997 readers
- #113A Court of Wings and RuinSarah J. Maas · Fantasy · 2,991 readers
- #114The Silent PatientAlex Michaelides · Thriller · 2,990 readers
- #115Flowers for AlgernonDaniel Keyes · Science Fiction · 2,990 readers
- #116Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?Philip K. Dick · Science Fiction · 2,990 readers
- #117Jurassic ParkMichael Crichton · Science Fiction · 2,979 readers
- #118The Colour Of MagicTerry Pratchett · Fantasy · 2,973 readers
- #119Caliban's WarJames S. A. Corey · Science Fiction · 2,931 readers
- #120Gone GirlGillian Flynn · Mystery · 2,925 readers
- #121Sapiens: A Brief History of HumankindYuval Noah Harari · History · 2,866 readers
- #122The Battle of the LabyrinthRick Riordan · Fantasy · 2,857 readers
- #123The Old Man and the SeaErnest Hemingway · Classics · 2,827 readers
- #124The Diary of a Young GirlOtto H. Frank · History · 2,817 readers
- #125Shadows of SelfBrandon Sanderson · Fantasy · 2,800 readers
- #126The Last OlympianRick Riordan · Fantasy · 2,789 readers
- #127This Is How You Lose the Time WarAmal El-Mohtar · Science Fiction · 2,783 readers
- #128WoolHugh Howey · Science Fiction · 2,778 readers
- #129The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good LifeMark Manson · Psychology · 2,773 readers
- #130The Blade ItselfJoe Abercrombie · Fantasy · 2,745 readers
- #131I'm Glad My Mom DiedJennette McCurdy · Memoir · 2,743 readers
- #132The Kite RunnerKhaled Hosseini · Literary Fiction · 2,724 readers
- #133Tress of the Emerald SeaHoward Lyon · Fantasy · 2,717 readers
- #134HyperionDan Simmons · Science Fiction · 2,715 readers
- #135The Dark ForestJoel Martinsen · Science Fiction · 2,712 readers
- #136We Are LegionDennis E. Taylor · Fantasy · 2,702 readers
- #137Wuthering HeightsRichard J. Dunn · Classics · 2,701 readers
- #138The Perks of Being a WallflowerStephen Chbosky · Young Adult · 2,695 readers
- #139Children of TimeAdrian Tchaikovsky · Science Fiction · 2,686 readers
- #140Harry Potter and the Cursed ChildJ.K. Rowling · Fantasy · 2,662 readers
- #141The Fifth SeasonN. K. Jemisin · Fantasy · 2,652 readers
- #142Legends & LattesTravis Baldree · Fantasy · 2,635 readers
- #143The Invisible Life of Addie LaRueV. E. Schwab · Fantasy · 2,630 readers
- #144The Bands of MourningBrandon Sanderson · Fantasy · 2,629 readers
- #145The Restaurant at the End of the UniverseDouglas Adams · Science Fiction · 2,627 readers
- #146This Inevitable RuinErik Wilson · Fantasy · 2,619 readers
- #147The House in the Cerulean SeaTJ Klune · Fantasy · 2,584 readers
- #148New MoonStephenie Meyer · Fantasy · 2,575 readers
- #149Crime and PunishmentLeonard Stanton · Classics · 2,569 readers
- #150AnnihilationJeff VanderMeer · Science Fiction · 2,564 readers
Data is refreshed monthly, on the first of the month.