The New York Times has released its hardcover bestseller list for the week ended February 14, highlighting top-selling fiction and nonfiction books for adults based on sales data from retailers across the United States. The list features established series continuations alongside new releases in various genres. Sales are compiled from a comprehensive panel of stores reflecting diverse demographics.
The New York Times bestseller list, compiled by its news department, draws from actual sales reported by thousands of locations nationwide. This week's rankings for hardcover books underscore ongoing reader interest in mystery, fantasy, and thriller genres in fiction, while nonfiction spans memoirs, political analysis, and historical accounts.
In fiction, Virginia Evans's The Correspondent (Crown) holds the top spot for the 16th week, following the story of Sybil Van Antwerp confronting her past through old letters. Debuting at number two is Matt Dinniman's Operation Bounce House (Ace), where a colonist defends his planet against Earth gamers piloting war machines. James Patterson and Brian Sitts's Cross & Sampson (Little, Brown), the 35th in the Alex Cross series, ranks third, tracking long-distance crimes. Other notable entries include Lauren Palphreyman's The Night Prince (Bloom), the second Wolf King book, and Kerri Maniscalco's Throne of Nightmares (Little, Brown), third in the Prince of Sin series. Matt Dinniman's Dungeon Crawler Carl series appears multiple times, with Carl’s Doomsday Scenario at 11 and The Dungeon Anarchist’s Cookbook at 14. John Grisham's The Widow (Doubleday) slips to 13 after 17 weeks on the list.
Nonfiction leads with Virginia Roberts Giuffre's Nobody’s Girl (Knopf), detailing her experiences with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. Peter Schweizer's The Invisible Coup (Harper) argues mass migration as a political tool. John Kennedy's How to Test Negative for Stupid (Broadside) remains at three after 19 weeks, sharing Washington and Louisiana political anecdotes. Jonathan Haidt's The Anxious Generation (Penguin Press) endures at five with 95 weeks, examining smartphone impacts on youth mental health. Michelle Obama's The Look (Crown), co-authored with Meredith Koop, holds seventh for 12 weeks, showcasing her style evolution through over 200 photos. Long-runners include Michael Harriot's Black AF History (Dey Street) at six with 28 weeks and Andrew Ross Sorkin's 1929 (Viking) at eight with 18 weeks.
Asterisks denote close sales ties, and (b) marks bulk orders, though none are noted here. Full methodology is available on the New York Times website.
