If you’re in the mood for a good read and don’t know where to find the perfect book, just look at USA TODAY’s Best-seller list, which has a little something for everyone.
Every Wednesday, USA TODAY publishes the top 150 books using sales data from the previous Monday through Sunday. We collect our data from independent booksellers, bookstore chains, mass merchandisers and online retailers to give you a weekly snapshot of which books are selling, regardless of genre.
Here’s what made it to the top 10 this week.
Popular books this week: USA TODAY Best-seller List
These books comprise the top spots on the USA TODAY Best-seller List for the week of Dec. 18.
Check out: USA TODAY’s weekly Best-selling Booklist
1. “Dog Man: Big Jim Begins” by Dav Pilkey
From the creator of “Captain Underpants” comes the 13th installment of the “Dog Man” chronicles. This graphic novel is the origin story of the series’ beloved characters as they team up to stop the Space Cuties from destroying the city. “Dog Man: Big Jim Begins” is recommended for ages 7 and up.
2. “James” by Percival Everett
This year’s “National Book Award” winner, “James” is a retelling of “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” told from the perspective of the enslaved Jim. The story picks up after Jim overhears he is about to be sold to a man in New Orleans and separated from his wife and daughter. At the same time, Huck Finn has recently returned to town after faking his death to escape his violent father. The two embark on a dangerous and transcendent journey down the Mississippi River.
3. “Wind and Truth” by Brandon Sanderson
“Wind and Truth” is the fifth book in Brandon Sanderson’s ambitious fantasy epic. This series follows the warriors, scholars, kings and assassins of the violently storming and war-ravaged planet Roshar. “Wind and Truth” is the climax of the first half of the “Stormlight Archive” series and is a whopping 1,300 pages.
4. “The Serviceberry” by Robin Wall Kimmerer
The latest from the author of “Braiding Sweetgrass” and Indigenous scientist, “The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World” uses Indigenous wisdom to reimagine what we value most. This nonfiction novel envisions our current economy – “rooted in scarcity, competition, and the hoarding of resources,” the publisher writes – instead in the way of the serviceberry, distributing wealth to meet needs and fulfill relationships rather than self-sufficiency.
5. “Hot Mess” by Jeff Kinney
“Hot Mess” is the 19th book in the “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” series. In this novel, Greg Heffley and his family decide to spend summer break with both Mom’s and Dad’s relatives. But this presents a unique dilemma – how can you be in two places at once? Greg, of course, is caught up right in the middle of the trouble. Can he help his family pull off the scheme?
6. “Melania” by Melania Trump
Soon-to-be First Lady (again) Melania Trump reflects on her Slovenian childhood, time as a model, meeting Donald Trump and motherhood in her memoir. She also brings readers inside the White House during the first Trump administration. Read our full explainer of the biggest revelations and takeaways from “Melania.”
7. “The Backyard Bird Chronicles” by Amy Tan
Written and illustrated by the author of “The Joy Luck Club,” this collection chronicles Tan’s journey to the natural world in search of peace. “The Backyard Bird Chronicles” contains daily entries, meditations and sketches on birdwatching.
8. “The Guru Gap” by David McKnight
“The Guru Gap” is a caveat to the retirement strategies pedaled by top financial gurus, using a math-based approach to debunk “outdated, one-size-fits-all advice,” the publisher writes. McKnight walks readers through maximizing their savings and shielding from risks that could derail retirement plans.
9. “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Sleigh!” by Mo Willems
This is the holiday edition of the beloved series that brought you the classic children’s book “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus.” In this 2023 picture book, the Pigeon made a list and checked it twice – now all that’s left is his Christmas wish to drive Santa’s sleigh.
10. “Quicksilver” by Callie Hart
This enemies-to-lovers romantasy novel set in an unforgiving desert follows a girl with a closely guarded secret – Saeris Fane is hiding strange powers. She’s also been stealing from the Undying Queen’s reservoirs. But when Saeris accidentally opens a gateway between realms, she’s transported to a land of ice and snow inhabited by warring Fae, who she always thought were merely legends.
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