Weekly Bestseller Report: November 9, 2026
Sarah J. Maas dominates charts while political expos spark legal threats.
1Maas Leads Market Surge
Sarah J. Maas has achieved the year's biggest debut with A Court of Splintered Harmony, which secured the number one spot on the national bestseller list. The title outperformed the next seventy-eight books combined in sales volume. Within just one week, it became the fourth-bestselling book of the entire year.
2Romantasy Genre Evolution
The term romantasy has seen a significant rise in industry recognition since its first documented usage in a 2012 article about German paranormal romances. After a decade-long hiatus, the term resurfaced during the 2022 Frankfurt Book Fair coverage. This genre now represents a major commercial force within the current literary landscape.
3Murdoku Series Performance
Manuel Garand continues to see success with his murder mystery puzzle series, as the third installment, Murdoku: Around the World, debuts at number six on the trade paperback list. The series starter remains strong at number three this week. To date, the first book has sold 288,000 print copies across the market.
4Political Expos Controversy
Journalist Matthew Cole reached the tenth spot on the hardcover nonfiction list with his new book, Princes and Thieves. The work investigates alleged corruption involving Jared Kushner, the former senior adviser to President Trump. The narrative details secret bank accounts and foreign agent interactions that underpin specific U.S. foreign policy maneuvers.
5Legal Threats Escalate
Jared Kushner has publicly labeled the allegations in Cole's book as outrageous and categorically false. Following the publication of an excerpt in Vanity Fair, Kushner has threatened legal action against both the magazine and the publisher, Simon & Schuster. This conflict highlights the intense scrutiny surrounding political figures in contemporary literature.
6Sophia Bush Memoir Debut
Actor and activist Sophia Bush entered the hardcover nonfiction list at number four with her memoir, And I Will Tell You Mine. The title is derived from a line in Mary Oliver's poem Wild Geese. Bush previously narrated a 2024 Audie-winning tribute dedicated to the works of the late poet.
7Personal Literary Connections
Sophia Bush's deep connection to Mary Oliver's poetry extends into her personal life and professional projects. During her wedding to former soccer player Ashlyn Harris earlier this year, the couple included handwritten vows inside a volume of Oliver's poetry. This reflects the personal nature of her latest literary contribution.
8Market Trends Analysis
The current bestseller list reflects a diverse mix of high-fantasy fiction, puzzle-based mystery series, and investigative political nonfiction. While fiction titles like those by Maas and Garand drive massive volume, nonfiction works are increasingly becoming flashpoints for legal and political debate. These trends define the current state of the publishing industry.
Original article: Publishers Weekly — Weekly Bestseller Report: November 9, 2026