5 years of New York Times No.1 best sellers

[Brian G Turner]

I've compiled the past five years of New York Times No.1 best selling authors and titles into this thread.

Firstly, to get a snapshot of what's selling most in the publishing industry, which has to be of interest to any aspiring writer.

Secondly, to provide a guide on both the authors and the fiction titles that have sold the most - according to the NYT - between 2011-2015.

The question is - how many have you already read? And how many more are you going to read now?

Personally I'm going to expand my reading specifically to the No.1 authors listed here - that I've yet read. I would love to write best sellers, so it makes sense to look at books that already are, and see if I can discover any specific technical pointers from them.

I already suspect that common features of a best seller might include tight POV use, close character experience, and strong use of conflict. And that concise and functional descriptions trump beautiful prose.

We'll see.


New York Times No.1 best selling authors: 2011-2015 inclusive

Andy Weir
Anthony Doerr
Brad Meltzer
Brad Thor
Brandon Sanderson
Charlaine Harris
Dan Brown
David Baldacci
David Lagercrantz
Dean Koontz
Deborah Harkness
Diana Gabaldon
Donna Tartt
E. L. James
Elizabeth George
Emily Giffin
George R. R. Martin
Gillian Flynn
Harlan Coben
Harper Lee
J. D. Robb
J.K. Rowling
J. R. Ward
James Patterson
Jamie McGuire
Janet Evanovich
Jasper Fforde
Jean M. Auel
Jim Butcher
John Grisham
John Sandford
Jonathan Safran Foer
Karen Marie Moning
Kathryn Stockett
Ken Follett
Kristin Hannah
Lee Child
Liane Moriarty
Lisa Gardner
Louise Penny
Maya Banks
Michael Connelly
Nelson DeMille
Nicholas Sparks
Nora Roberts
Patricia Briggs
Patricia Cornwell
Patrick Rothfuss
Paula Hawkins
Rachel Van Dyken
Robert Jordan
Robyn Carr
S.C. Stephens
Sandra Brown
Sara Gruen
Stephen King
Stieg Larsson
Stuart Woods
Sue Grafton
Sue Monk Kidd
Sylvia Day
Tom Clancy
Vince Flynn


New York Times No.1 best selling book titles and authors, 2011-2015 inclusive

The Martian, by Andy Weir
All the Light We Cannot See, by Anthony Doerr
The Inner Circle, by Brad Meltzer
Act of War, by Brad Thor
Hidden Order, by Brad Thor
Words of Radiance, by Brandon Sanderson
Dead Ever After, by Charlaine Harris
Dead Reckoning, by Charlaine Harris
Inferno, by Dan Brown
Memory Man, by David Baldacci
The Target, by David Baldacci
The Hit, by David Baldacci
Zero Day, by David Baldacci
The Girl in the Spider's Web, by David Lagercrantz
What the Night Knows, by Dean Koontz
The Book of Life, by Deborah Harkness
Written in My Own Heart's Blood, by Diana Gabaldon
Outlander, by Diana Gabaldon
The Goldfinch, by Donna Tartt
Grey, by E. L. James
Fifty Shades of Grey, by E. L. James
Just One Evil Act, by Elizabeth George
The One and Only, by Emily Giffin
A Dance with Dragons, by George R. R. Martin
Gone Girl, by Gillian Flynn
Missing You, by Harlan Coben
Six Years, by Harlan Coben
Live Wire, by Harlan Coben
Go Set a Watchman, by Harper Lee
Festive in Death, by J. D. Robb
Celebrity in Death, by J. D. Robb
Treachery in Death, by J. D. Robb
Calculated in Death, by J. D. Robb
The Casual Vacancy, by J.K. Rowling
The King, by J. R. Ward
Lover At Last, by J. R. Ward
14th Deadly Sin, by James Patterson
Cross Justice, by James Patterson
Unlucky 13, by James Patterson
Invisible, by James Patterson
Hope to Die, by James Patterson
Alex Cross, Run, by James Patterson
Cross My Heart, by James Patterson
Private Games, by James Patterson
Tick Tock, by James Patterson
Kill Alex Cross, by James Patterson
Second Honeymoon, by James Patterson and Howard Roughan
Private L.A., by James Patterson and Mark Sullivan
12th of Never, by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
Private: #1 Suspect, by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
Alert, by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge
Gone, by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge
Now You See Her, by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge
Walking Disaster, by Jamie McGuire
Tricky Twenty-Two, by Janet Evanovich
Top Secret Twenty-One, by Janet Evanovich
Takedown Twenty, by Janet Evanovich
Notorious Nineteen, by Janet Evanovich
Smokin' Seventeen, by Janet Evanovich
Explosive Eighteen, by Janet Evanovich
One of Our Thursdays Is Missing, by Jasper Fforde
The Land of Painted Caves, by Jean M. Auel
Skin Game, by Jim Butcher
Gray Mountain, by John Grisham
Rogue Lawyer, by John Grisham
Sycamore Row, by John Grisham
Gray Mountain, by John Grisham
Sycamore Row, by John Grisham
The Racketeer, by John Grisham
The Litigators, by John Grisham
Gathering Prey, by John Sandford
Storm Front, by John Sandford
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, by Jonathan Safran Foer
Shadowfever, by Karen Marie Moning
The Help, by Kathryn Stockett
Edge of Eternity, by Ken Follett
Winter of the World, by Ken Follett
The Nightingale, by Kristin Hannah
Home Front, by Kristin Hannah
Make Me, by Lee Child
Personal, by Lee Child
Never Go Back, by Lee Child
A Wanted Man, by Lee Child
The Affair, by Lee Child
Big Little Lies, by Liane Moriarty
Alone, by Lisa Gardner
The Long Way Home, by Louise Penny
Burn, by Maya Banks
The Crossing, by Michael Connelly
The Burning Room, by Michael Connelly
The Gods of Guilt, by Michael Connelly
The Black Box, by Michael Connelly
The Fifth Witness, by Michael Connelly
The Drop, by Michael Connelly
Radiant Angel, by Nelson DeMille
See Me, by Nicholas Sparks
Safe Haven, by Nicholas Sparks
The Longest Ride, by Nicholas Sparks
The Best of Me, by Nicholas Sparks
The Liar, by Nora Roberts
Concealed in Death, by Nora Roberts
Shadow Spell, by Nora Roberts
The Collector, by Nora Roberts
Blood Magick, by Nora Roberts
Whiskey Beach, by Nora Roberts
Dark Witch, by Nora Roberts
The Perfect Hope, by Nora Roberts
Night Broken, by Patricia Briggs
The Bone Bed, by Patricia Cornwell
Red Mist, by Patricia Cornwell
The Wise Man's Fear, by Patrick Rothfuss
The Girl on the Train, by Paula Hawkins
The Bet, by Rachel Van Dyken
The Cuckoo's Calling, by Robert Galbraith (Pseudonym for J.K. Rowling).
A Memory of Light, by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
The Chance, by Robyn Carr
The Hero, by Robyn Carr
Reckless, by S.C. Stephens
Friction, by Sandra Brown
Water for Elephants, by Sara Gruen
Finders Keepers, by Stephen King
Mr. Mercedes, by Stephen King
Revival, by Stephen King
Doctor Sleep, by Stephen King
11/22/63, by Stephen King
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, by Stieg Larsson
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest, by Stieg Larsson
Carnal Curiosity, by Stuart Woods
X, by Sue Grafton
W is for Wasted, by Sue Grafton
The Invention of Wings, by Sue Monk Kidd
Captivated by You, by Sylvia Day
Entwined With You, by Sylvia Day
Reflected in You, by Sylvia Day
Threat Vector, by Tom Clancy
Dead or Alive, by Tom Clancy and Grant Blackwood
Kill Shot, by Vince Flynn
The Last Man, by Vince Flynn
The Survivor, by Vince Flynn and Kyle Mills

 

[Brian G Turner]

Checking the list, I've only read 13 of the 63 listed authors - and 13 of the 139 listed books.

I already have a few of each already on my reading list - I'm going to ensure that I explore more of the above.

 

[Jackie Bee]

Thanks for the list! I will surely pick something out of it, there are many names I haven't even heard before...

 

[MWagner]

Lots of Mysteries and Thrillers. I thought Fantasy was challenging the popularity of those genres, but from the looks of that list, it hasn't caught up yet - I see only four Fantasy authors on the list. Mysteries and Thrillers tend to appeal to an older audience than Fantasy. Maybe younger people aren't reading as much?

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

People who are retired tend to have a lot more time to read than younger readers do. I used to work in a branch library in a neighborhood where a large proportion of the residents were senior citizens. They would come in, go straight to the shelves of new books, and go home with a dozen or more each time.

Brian, I think you will find that what number one bestsellers have in common is that each author writes with his or her own distinctive voice, not to be replicated by anyone else.

 

[MWagner]

Brian, I think you will find that what number one bestsellers have in common is that each author writes with his or her own distinctive voice, not to be replicated by anyone else.

Well, there's James Patterson

 

[Droflet]

So next year you'll have to update it to include Brian Turner?

 

[Gonk the Insane]

Interesting stuff, Brian, and thanks for posting it. I've read 18 of the authors, but was surprised by how many authors I hadn't heard of (perhaps I'm just showing my ignorance/fuddy-duddyness though). I think if you're intent on becoming a bestseller then it certainly can't hurt to read widely from the list. I rather suspect though that finding commonalities between the novels will be trickier than expected. As Teresa said, it might be that the uniqueness of the author's voice is the standout factor.

 

[Brian G Turner]

So next year you'll have to update it to include Brian Turner?

I'll probably need a decade...

 

[ratsy]

I've read 12 of the authors, and doubt there are more than another ten I even would want to read. Along the same lines as Brian, I read Gillian Flynn and Paula Hawkins this year just to see what all the fuss was about. In both cases they were great books IMO.

I do see a bunch of names on there that my wife has read though.

 

[LittleStar]

Raising my hand as a bestseller illiterate
I was quite surprised to find I've read books by 7 of the authors... I would honestly have thought 1-2 at most. But I did hit only 3 of the books on the list though.

I'm not very well read at all though. Compared to the people on these forums I've read next to nothing.

I'd love to read more bestsellers and prize winners (and there are a few authors and titles on there that I do intend to read) and be able to join in with meaningful literary conversation, but the reality is I find it quite difficult to get myself motivated to read a genre/book that I wouldn't pick up straight away and say 'this is the kind of thing I read', even if I've liked the book after reading it I would more easily slip back into my 'prefered' genre when I pick up the next one.

 

[MWagner]

I've only read books by 7 of the authors. But then I don't read mysteries or thrillers, and they account for about 80 per cent of bestsellers.

I remember a figure from when I worked at a bookstore twenty years ago: 30 authors account for 90 per cent of all fiction book sales. I suspect that's still true today.

 

[Lex E. Darion]

Thanks for posting this Brian.

I have read a few on the list but I think I will read more of a variety, especially those whose name appears more than once (except EL James - got to page 8 and gave up - I couldn't take anymore! And James Patterson, started reading one of his and wasn't enthralled :/ but he obviously knows more than I do).

It seems that best-sellers does not equate to best writers - there must be something in that! People will forgive a lot if the story is good enough.

 

[MWagner]

It seems that best-sellers does not equate to best writers - there must be something in that! People will forgive a lot if the story is good enough.

I'd go as far as to say that to the overwhelming proportion of readers, story is all that matters.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

I have not read any of the books on the list.

I have read older books (often much older books) by Koontz, Martin, Lee, and King.

 

[Brian G Turner]

Well, Unfinished Business by Nora Roberts is currently 99p on Amazon UK. Although the book isn't on the above list, she commonly is. So I've bought it using a promotional credit.

Though I can't say I'm looking forward to reading a romance, I'd rather challenge my boundaries than remain narrow minded and ignorant.

 

[Brian G Turner]

Am at my sister-inlaw's and on her shelves found two on the list. And so borrowing them.

James Patterson - Private LA
David Baldacci - Zero Day

Also borrowed a couple of UK bestselling authors:

Karen Slaughter - Unseen
Lynda La Plante - Blood Line

 

[ratsy]

My wife has read a few Nora Roberts and feels they are each basically the same story with slight changes. By the formula kind of reads, but she has sold a huge amount of books so its working.

 

[Lex E. Darion]

Am at my sister-inlaw's and on her shelves found two on the list. And so borrowing them.

James Patterson - Private LA
David Baldacci - Zero Day

Also borrowed a couple of UK bestselling authors:

Karen Slaughter - Unseen
Lynda La Plante - Blood Line

So crime does pay

 

[Léandrel]

Thanks for the list! I will surely pick something out of it, there are many names I haven't even heard before...

God!! and here i thought i had read a lot of books..guess we still ve a long way to go Jackie