# Weekly Bestseller Report: November 9, 2026 Sarah J. Maas dominates charts while political expos spark legal threats. - **Source:** [Publishers Weekly](https://www.publishersweekly.com) - **Published:** 2026-11-06 - **Topic:** [culture](https://brifing.si/c/culture) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/2baac7ed-95b6-4d3d-a0e5-eb6686b208d3 ## Maas 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. ## Romantasy 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. ## Murdoku 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. ## Political 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. ## Legal 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. ## Sophia 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. ## Personal 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. ## Market 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. ## Sources covering this story - http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/bookselling/article/101718-this-week-s-bestsellers-november-9-2026.html — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._