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Best Sellers

Hardcover Fiction

Week of October 5, 2025

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THE SECRET OF SECRETS
Dan Brown
Cover of THE SECRET OF SECRETS

THE SECRET OF SECRETS

by Dan Brown · Doubleday

2 wks at #1 · 2 on list

The world’s most celebrated thriller writer returns with his most stunning novel yet—a propulsive, twisty, thought-provoking masterpiece that will entertain readers as only Dan Brown can do. Robert Langdon, esteemed professor of symbology, travels to Prague to attend a groundbreaking lecture by Katherine Solomon—a prominent noetic scientist with whom he has recently begun a relationship. Katherine is on the verge of publishing an explosive book that contains startling discoveries about the nature of human consciousness and threatens to disrupt centuries of established belief. But a brutal murder catapults the trip into chaos, and Katherine suddenly disappears along with her manuscript. Langdon finds himself targeted by a powerful organization and hunted by a chilling assailant sprung from Prague’s most ancient mythology. As the plot expands into London and New York, Langdon desperately searches for Katherine . . . and for answers. In a thrilling race through the dual worlds of futuristic science and mystical lore, he uncovers a shocking truth about a secret project that will forever change the way we think about the human mind.

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THE ACADEMY
Elin Hilderbrand and Shelby Cunningham
Cover of THE ACADEMY

THE ACADEMY

by Elin Hilderbrand and Shelby Cunningham · Little, Brown

1 wks on list

From #1 bestselling author of The Perfect Couple, Elin Hilderbrand, and her daughter, Shelby Cunningham, deliver the irresistible, deliciously scandalous story of one drama-filled year at a New England boarding school. It’s move-in day at Tiffin Academy and amidst the happy chaos of friends reuniting, selfies uploading, and cars unloading, shocking news arrives: America Today just ranked Tiffin the number two boarding school in the country. It’s a seventeen-spot jump—was there a typo? The dorms need to be renovated, their sports teams always come in last place, and let’s just say Tiffin students are known for being more social than academic. On the other hand, the campus is exquisite, class sizes are small, and the dining hall is run by an acclaimed New York chef. And they do have fun—lots of parties and school dances, and a piano man plays in the student lounge every Monday night. But just as the rarefied air of Tiffin is suffused with self-congratulation, the wheels begin to turn—and then they fall off the bus. One by one, scandalous blind items begin to appear on phones across Tiffin’s campus, thanks to a new app called ZipZap, and nobody is safe. From Davi Banerjee, international influencer and resident queen bee, to Simone Bergeron, the new and surprisingly young history teacher, to Charley Hicks, a transfer student who seems determined not to fit in, to Cordelia Spooner, Admissions Director with a somewhat idiosyncratic methodology—everyone has something to hide. As if high school wasn’t dramatic enough ... As the year unfolds, bonds are forged and broken, secrets are shared and exposed, and the lives of Tiffin’s students and staff are changed forever. The Academy is Elin Hilderbrand’s fresh, buzzy take on boarding school life, and a thrilling new direction from one of America’s most satisfying and popular storytellers.

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THE LAST LETTER
Rebecca Yarros
Cover of THE LAST LETTER

THE LAST LETTER

by Rebecca Yarros · Amara

1 wks on list

“The Last Letter is a haunting, heartbreaking and ultimately inspirational love story.“—InTouch Weekly Beckett, If you’re reading this, well, you know the last-letter drill. You made it. I didn’t. Get off the guilt train, because I know if there was any chance you could have saved me, you would have. I need one thing from you: get out of the army and get to Telluride. My little sister Ella’s raising the twins alone. She’s too independent and won’t accept help easily, but she has lost our grandmother, our parents, and now me. It’s too much for anyone to endure. It’s not fair. And here’s the kicker: there’s something else you don’t know that’s tearing her family apart. She’s going to need help. So if I’m gone, that means I can’t be there for Ella. I can’t help them through this. But you can. So I’m begging you, as my best friend, go take care of my sister, my family. Please don’t make her go through it alone. Ryan

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KATABASIS
R.F. Kuang
Cover of KATABASIS

KATABASIS

by R.F. Kuang · Harper Voyager

4 wks on list

'Katabasis is a formidable, timeless work, destined to be a modern classic' OLIVIE BLAKE 'Katabasis is more than a novel to savor. This book is an experience. I envy those who get to read it for the first time' REBECCA ROSS 'A witty, gory, harrowing ride' LEIGH BARDUGO Katabasis, noun, Ancient Greek. The story of a hero's descent to the underworld. Grad student Alice Law has only ever had one goal: to become the brightest mind in the field of analytic magick. But the only person who can make her dream come true is dead and - inconveniently - in Hell. And Alice, along with her biggest rival Peter Murdoch, is going after him. But Hell is not as the philosophers claim, its rules are upside-down, and if she's going to get out of there alive, she and Peter will have to work together. That's if they can agree on anything. Will they triumph, or kill each other trying? 2025's most unexpected love story is going to be hell in the new novel by Sunday Times Number One Bestseller R.F. Kuang. Coming August 2025.

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ASSISTANT TO THE VILLAIN
Hannah Nicole Maehrer
Cover of ASSISTANT TO THE VILLAIN

ASSISTANT TO THE VILLAIN

by Hannah Nicole Maehrer · Red Tower

1 wks on list

THE INSTANT #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER Once Upon a Time meets The Office in Hannah Maehrer’s laugh-out-loud viral TikTok series turned novel, about the sunshine assistant to an Evil Villain...and their unexpected romance. ASSISTANT WANTED: Notorious, high-ranking villain seeks loyal, levelheaded assistant for unspecified office duties, supporting staff for random mayhem and terror, and other Dark Things In General. Discretion a must. Excellent benefits. With ailing family to support, Evie Sage's employment status isn't just important, it's vital. So when a mishap with Rennedawn’s most infamous Villain results in a job offer—naturally, she says yes. No job is perfect, of course, but even less so when you develop a teeny crush on your terrifying, temperamental, and undeniably hot boss. Don’t find evil so attractive, Evie. But just when she’s getting used to severed heads suspended from the ceiling and the odd squish of an errant eyeball beneath her heel, Evie suspects this dungeon has a huge rat...and not just the literal kind. Because something rotten is growing in the kingdom of Rennedawn, and someone wants to take the Villain—and his entire nefarious empire—out. Now Evie must not only resist drooling over her boss but also figure out exactly who is sabotaging his work...and ensure he makes them pay. After all, a good job is hard to find. The Assistant and the Villain series is best enjoyed in order. Reading Order: Book #1 Assistant to the Villain Book #2 Apprentice to the Villain Book #3 Accomplice to the Villain

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BUCKEYE
Patrick Ryan
Cover of BUCKEYE

BUCKEYE

by Patrick Ryan · Random House

3 wks on list

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • READ WITH JENNA BOOK CLUB PICK AS FEATURED ON TODAY • “A glorious sweep of a novel” (Ann Patchett) that weaves the intimate lives of two midwestern families across generations, from World War II to the late twentieth century. “Mesmerizing.”—People “Captivating.”—The New York Times Book Review “A once-in-a-decade novel . . . I fell in love with these characters.”—Jenna Bush Hager ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: The New York Times Book Review, The Washington Post, NPR, People, Minnesota Star Tribune, New York Post, Chicago Public Library LONGLISTED FOR THE JOYCE CAROL OATES PRIZE That, as he saw it now, was his life’s work: trying to make right what he’d gotten wrong. Wasn’t that a fair measure of a person, what they did with their mistakes? In the jubilant aftermath of the Allied victory in Europe, Cal Jenkins, a man wounded not in war but by his inability to serve in it, shares a single, life-altering moment with Margaret Salt, a woman determined to outrun her past. Cal is married to Becky, whose spiritual gifts help the living speak to the dead, while Margaret’s husband, Felix, is serving at sea, believed to be safe—until a telegram suggests otherwise. What begins as a fleeting transgression becomes a complex secret that irrevocably binds all four of them in unexpected ways. As their small Ohio town remakes itself in the postwar boom, the Salt and Jenkins families remain in each other’s orbit, and the consequences of choices made long ago begin to emerge, reshaping their lives in ways that will forever impact the next generation. Sweeping yet intimate, resplendent with moments of deep emotion and unforgettable characters, Buckeye is a transportive story of love, loyalty, sacrifice, and forgiveness.

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ONYX STORM
Rebecca Yarros
Cover of ONYX STORM

ONYX STORM

by Rebecca Yarros · Red Tower

35 wks on list

Desafía la oscuridad Tras casi dieciocho meses en el Colegio de Guerra Basgiath, Violet Sorrengail tiene claro que no queda tiempo para entrenar. Hay que tomar decisiones. La batalla ha comenzado y, con enemigos acercándose a las murallas e infiltrados en sus propias filas, es imposible saber en quién confiar. Ahora Violet deberá emprender un viaje fuera de los límites de Aretia en busca de aliados de tierras desconocidas que acepten pelear por Navarre. La misión pondrá a prueba su suerte, y la obligará a usar todo su ingenio y fortaleza para salvar a quienes más ama: sus dragones, su familia, su hogar y a él. Aunque eso signifique tener que guardar un secreto tan peligroso que podría destruirlo todo. Navarre necesita un ejército. Necesita poder. Necesita magia. Y necesitará algo que solo Violet puede encontrar: la verdad. Pero una tormenta se aproxima... y no todos sobrevivirán a su furia. ENGLISH DESCRIPTION Brave The Dark After nearly eighteen months at Basgiath War College, Violet Sorrengail knows there's no more time for lessons. No more time for uncertainty. Because the battle has truly begun, and with enemies closing in from outside their walls and within their ranks, it's impossible to know who to trust. Now Violet must journey beyond the failing Aretian wards to seek allies from unfamiliar lands to stand with Navarre. The trip will test every bit of her wit, luck, and strength, but she will do anything to save what she loves--her dragons, her family, her home, and him. Even if it means keeping a secret so big, it could destroy everything. They need an army. They need power. They need magic. And they need the one thing only Violet can find--the truth. But a storm is coming...and not everyone can survive its wrath.

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MY FRIENDS
Fredrik Backman
Cover of MY FRIENDS

MY FRIENDS

by Fredrik Backman · Atria

20 wks on list

Four teenagers form a deep friendship that offers them refuge from troubled home lives and inspires the creation of a mysterious painting. Twenty-five years later, Louisa, a young artist, inherits the artwork and sets out on a journey to uncover its origin. As she pieces together the story behind the painting and its creators--Joar, Ted, Ali, and the reclusive artist--Louisa discovers not only their lasting impact on one another but also how art and connection can change lives. Blending humor and emotional depth, Backman explores themes of friendship, healing, and self-discovery.

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BROKEN COUNTRY
Clare Leslie Hall
Cover of BROKEN COUNTRY

BROKEN COUNTRY

by Clare Leslie Hall · Simon & Schuster

26 wks on list

Over 1 Million Copies Sold A REESE’S BOOK CLUB PICK | A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER “Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall is an unforgettable story of love, loss, and the choices that shape our lives…but it’s also a masterfully crafted mystery that will keep you guessing until the very last page. Seriously, that ending?! I did not see it coming.” —Reese Witherspoon “Stirring and mysterious…fires directly at the human heart and hits the mark.” —Delia Owens, New York Times bestselling author of Where the Crawdads Sing A love triangle unearths dangerous, deadly secrets from the past in this thrilling tale perfect for fans of The Paper Palace and Where the Crawdads Sing. “The farmer is dead. He is dead, and all anyone wants to know is who killed him.” Beth and her gentle, kind husband Frank are happily married, but their relationship relies on the past staying buried. But when Beth’s brother-in-law shoots a dog going after their sheep, Beth doesn’t realize that the gunshot will alter the course of their lives. For the dog belonged to none other than Gabriel Wolfe, the man Beth loved as a teenager—the man who broke her heart years ago. Gabriel has returned to the village with his young son Leo, a boy who reminds Beth very much of her own son, who died in a tragic accident. As Beth is pulled back into Gabriel’s life, tensions around the village rise and dangerous secrets and jealousies from the past resurface, this time with deadly consequences. Beth is forced to make a choice between the woman she once was, and the woman she has become. A sweeping love story with the pace and twists of a thriller, Broken Country is a novel of simmering passion, impossible choices, and explosive consequences that toggles between the past and present to explore the far-reaching legacy of first love.

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THE COLOR OF DEATH
Trey Gowdy with Christopher Greyson
Cover of THE COLOR OF DEATH

THE COLOR OF DEATH

by Trey Gowdy with Christopher Greyson · Fox News

3 wks on list

From the number-one New York Times bestselling author and FOX News host Trey Gowdy comes a dark mystery debut about a murder in a small South Carolina town. Assistant DA Colm Truesdale must pick up the pieces of his own life in order to solve the case. Following the death of his wife and daughter, Colm Truesdale is left mentally scarred. After time off, and with no desire to return to the courtroom, Truesdale is brought back into the investigation of the murder of a young woman who ran a beauty salon outside of town. When a page from her appointment book goes missing, and then the crime scene burns down, it’s up to Colm to untangle the web of deception that implicates a powerful judge and his family. Taking readers inside the cat-and-mouse psychology of a killer and the assistant district attorney who must catch him, this thrilling fiction debut from bestselling author Trey Gowdy and celebrated author Christopher Greyson will keep you guessing until the very last page.

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FRAMED IN DEATH
J.D. Robb
Cover of FRAMED IN DEATH

FRAMED IN DEATH

by J.D. Robb · St. Martin's

3 wks on list

Death imitates art in the brand-new crime thriller starring homicide cop Eve Dallas from the #1 New York Times-bestselling author J.D. Robb. Manhattan is filled with galleries and deep-pocketed collectors who can make an artist's career with a wave of a hand. But one man toils in obscurity, his brilliance unrecognized while lesser talents bask in the glory he believes should be his. Come tomorrow, he vows, the city will be buzzing about his work. Indeed, before dawn, Lt. Eve Dallas is speeding toward the home of the two gallery owners whose doorway has been turned into a horrifying crime scene overnight. A lifeless young woman has been elaborately costumed and precisely posed to resemble the model of a long-ago Dutch master, and Dallas plunges into her investigation.

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QUICKSILVER
Callie Hart
Cover of QUICKSILVER

QUICKSILVER

by Callie Hart · Forever

Llega el romantasy más esperado. El enemies to lovers que ha conquistado a las lectoras de todo el mundo y que ha causado furor en TikTok. ***PRIMERA EDICIÓN LIMITADA CON CANTOS PINTADOS HASTA AGOTAR EXISTENCIAS*** No toques la espada. No gires la llave. No abras la puerta. A la joven Saeris Fane se le da bien guardar secretos. Nadie está al tanto de los poderes que posee ni de que lleva toda la vida robando para sobrevivir y escamoteando de los depósitos de la Reina Imperecedera. En una tierra de desiertos implacables hay pocas cosas que una chica no esté dispuesta a hacer a cambio de un vaso de agua. Sin embargo, todo secreto es como un nudo: tarde o temprano está destinado a desatarse. Cuando Saeris se enfrenta cara a cara con la Muerte encarnada, acaba abriendo sin querer un portal entre reinos que la transporta a una tierra de hielo y nieve. Los faes siempre han pertenecido al territorio de las leyendas, de los mitos, de las pesadillas... pero resulta que son reales. Y Saeris ha aterrizado en medio de un conflicto que lleva en marcha desde hace siglos. Un conflicto que podría costarle la vida. Saeris, la primera de su especie en poner un pie en las montañas heladas de Yvelia desde hace más de mil años, acaba sellando por error un pacto con Kingfisher, un atractivo guerrero fae que tiene sus propios secretos y perversos planes. Kingfisher está dispuesto a usar la magia alquímica de Saeris para proteger a su pueblo, sin importar el precio que haya que pagar... o quién tenga que pagarlo. La Muerte encarnada tiene un nombre: Kingfisher de Puerta Ajun. Es un guerrero con un pasado turbio y un temperamento repugnante. Pero también es el único modo que tiene Saeris de volver a casa. Cuidado con los pactos que haces, querida niña. El diablo está en los detalles...

Historical bestseller data sourced from the New York Times Book Review, archived by Hawes Publications.