Best-selling books in the U.S. 2024
The best-selling book in the United States as of the week ending February 10th, 2024 was "The Women" by Kristin Hannah with 121.03 thousand units sold. Sarah J. Maas had two titles in the bestseller's list that week, "House of Flame and Shadow" and "A Court of Thorns and Roses".
For other writers such as E. L. James (author of the 'Fifty Shades’ series) being part of fan fiction communities and crafting a story based on an existing narrative, notably Stephanie Meyer’s ‘Twilight’, helped to push sales by targeting a particular demographic.
Many best-selling books go on to become classics, however not all members of the classical literary canon shot to fame upon publishing a novel.
Anne Frank’s book is an excellent example of one which became a best-seller (and indeed, a classic) unintentionally, however like so many authors Frank sadly never lived to see her diary grow to global success.
What makes a book a best-seller?
Ultimately, there is no secret ingredient to making a book a best-seller, despite numerous online articles offering tips on how to craft a novel or non-fiction piece that will earn millions. However, being an international icon naturally presents an advantage. Michelle Obama’s millions of Instagram followers and her previous position as First Lady of the United States certainly helped thrust her book "Becoming" into the media spotlight.For other writers such as E. L. James (author of the 'Fifty Shades’ series) being part of fan fiction communities and crafting a story based on an existing narrative, notably Stephanie Meyer’s ‘Twilight’, helped to push sales by targeting a particular demographic.
Many best-selling books go on to become classics, however not all members of the classical literary canon shot to fame upon publishing a novel.
A look at classic literature
A survey on readership of selected literary genres showed that classics were one of the most favorable among U.S. adults, and numerous books in this category proved popular among Goodreads users. As of November 2018, almost 1.06 million Goodreads users had marked Harper Lee’s ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ as ‘to be read’, with other important literary works such as Anne Frank’s ‘The Diary of a Young Girl’ garnering significant interest on the platform, as well as books by George Orwell, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Jane Austen.Anne Frank’s book is an excellent example of one which became a best-seller (and indeed, a classic) unintentionally, however like so many authors Frank sadly never lived to see her diary grow to global success.
