books: top sellers

This is a list I found on Wikipedia of the bestselling novels in the United States as determined by Publishers Weekly beginning in 1987, the year that I was born.

1987

• The Tommyknockers by Stephen King
• Patriot Games by Tom Clancy
• Kaleidoscope by Danielle Steel
• Misery by Stephen King
• Leaving Home by Garrison Keillor
• Windmills of the Gods by Sidney Sheldon
• Presumed Innocent by Scott Turow
• Fine Things by Danielle Steel
• Heaven and Hell by John Jakes
• The Eyes of the Dragon by Stephen King

1988

• The Cardinal of the Kremlin by Tom Clancy
• The Sands of Time by Sidney Sheldon
• Zoya by Danielle Steel
• The Icarus Agenda by Robert Ludlum
• Alaska by James A. Michener
• Till We Meet Again by Judith Krantz
• The Queen of the Damned by Anne Rice
• To Be the Best by Barbara Taylor Bradford
• One by Richard Bach
• Mitla Pass by Leon Uris

1989

• Clear and Present Danger by Tom Clancy
• The Dark Half by Stephen King
• Daddy by Danielle Steel
• Star by Danielle Steel
• Caribbean by James A. Michener
• The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie
• The Russia House by John le Carré
• The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
• California Gold by John Jakes
• While My Pretty One Sleeps by Mary Higgins Clark

1990

• The Plains of Passage by Jean M. Auel
• Four Past Midnight by Stephen King
• The Burden of Proof by Scott Turow
• Memories of Midnight by Sidney Sheldon
• Message from Nam by Danielle Steel
• The Bourne Ultimatum by Robert Ludlum
• The Stand by Stephen King
• Lady Boss by Jackie Collins
• The Witching Hour by Anne Rice
• September by Rosamunde Pilcher

1991

• Scarlett by Alexandra Ripley
• The Sum of All Fears by Tom Clancy
• Needful Things by Stephen King
• No Greater Love by Danielle Steel
• Heartbeat by Danielle Steel
• The Doomsday Conspiracy by Sidney Sheldon
• The Firm by John Grisham
• Night Over Water by Ken Follett
• Remember by Barbara Taylor Bradford
• Loves Music, Loves to Dance by Mary Higgins Clark

1992

• Dolores Claiborne by Stephen King
• The Pelican Brief by John Grisham
• Gerald’s Game by Stephen King
• Mixed Blessings by Danielle Steel
• Jewels by Danielle Steel
• The Stars Shine Down by Sidney Sheldon
• The Tale of the Body Thief by Anne Rice
• Mexico by James A. Michener
• Waiting to Exhale by Terry McMillan
• All Around the Town by Mary Higgins Clark

1993

• The Bridges of Madison County by Robert James Waller
• The Client by John Grisham
• Slow Waltz in Cedar Bend by Robert James Waller
• Without Remorse by Tom Clancy
• Nightmares & Dreamscapes by Stephen King
• Vanished by Danielle Steel
• Lasher by Anne Rice
• Pleading Guilty by Scott Turow
• Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel
• The Scorpio Illusion by Robert Ludlum

1994

• The Chamber by John Grisham
• Debt of Honor by Tom Clancy
• The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield
• The Gift by Danielle Steel
• Insomnia by Stephen King
• Politically Correct Bedtime Stories by James Finn Garner
• Wings by Danielle Steel
• Accident by Danielle Steel
• Disclosure by Michael Crichton
• Remember Me by Mary Higgins Clark

1995

• The Rainmaker by John Grisham
• The Lost World by Michael Crichton
• Five Days in Paris by Danielle Steel
• The Christmas Box by Richard Paul Evans
• Lightning by Danielle Steel
• The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield
• Rose Madder by Stephen King
• “L”is for Lawless by Sue Grafton
• Politically Correct Holiday Stories by James Finn Garner
• The Horse Whisperer by Nicholas Evans

1996

• The Runaway Jury by John Grisham
• Executive Orders by Tom Clancy
• Desperation by Stephen King
• Airframe by Michael Crichton
• The Regulators by Richard Bachman (Stephen King)
• Malice by Danielle Steel
• Silent Honor by Danielle Steel
• Primary Colors by Anonymous
• Cause of Death by Patricia Cornwell
• The Tenth Insight by James Redfield

1997

• The Partner by John Grisham
• Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier
• The Ghost by Danielle Steel
• The Ranch by Danielle Steel
• Special Delivery by Danielle Steel
• Unnatural Exposure by Patricia Cornwell
• The Best Laid Plans by Sidney Sheldon
• Pretend You Don’t See Her by Mary Higgins Clark
• Cat and Mouse by James Patterson
• Hornet’s Nest by Patricia Cornwell

1998

• The Street Lawyer by John Grisham
• Rainbow Six by Tom Clancy
• Bag of Bones by Stephen King
• A Man in Full by Tom Wolfe
• Mirror Image by Danielle Steel
• The Long Road Home by Danielle Steel
• The Klone and I by Danielle Steel
• Point of Origin by Patricia Cornwell
• Paradise by Toni Morrison
• You Belong To Me by Mary Higgins Clark

1999

• The Testament by John Grisham
• Hannibal by Thomas Harris
• Assassins by Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye
• Star Wars: Episode 1, The Phantom Menace by Terry Brooks
• Timeline by Michael Crichton
• Hearts in Atlantis by Stephen King
• Apollyon by Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye
• The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon by Stephen King
• Irresistible Forces by Danielle Steel
• Tara Road by Maeve Binchy

2000

• The Brethren by John Grisham
• The Mark: The Beast Rules the World by Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye
• The Bear and the Dragon by Tom Clancy
• The Indwelling: The Beast Takes Possession by Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye
• The Last Precinct by Patricia Cornwell
• Journey (book) by Danielle Steel
• The Rescue by Nicholas Sparks
• Roses Are Red by James Patterson
• Cradle and All by James Patterson
• The House on Hope Street by Danielle Steel

2001

• Desecration by Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye
• Skipping Christmas by John Grisham
• A Painted House by John Grisham
• Dreamcatcher by Stephen King
• The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen
• Black House by Stephen King and Peter Straub
• Last Man Standing by David Baldacci
• Valhalla Rising by Clive Cussler
• A Day Late and a Dollar Short by Terry McMillan
• Violets Are Blue by James Patterson
• Blindsighted by Karin Slaughter

2002

• The Summons by John Grisham
• Red Rabbit by Tom Clancy
• The Remnant by Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye
• The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
• Prey by Michael Crichton
• Skipping Christmas by John Grisham
• The Shelters of Stone by Jean M. Auel
• Four Blind Mice by James Patterson
• Everything’s Eventual: 14 Dark Tales by Stephen King
• The Nanny Diaries by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus

2003

• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling
• The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
• The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom
• The King of Torts by John Grisham
• Bleachers by John Grisham
• Armageddon by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins
• The Teeth of the Tiger by Tom Clancy
• The Big Bad Wolf by James Patterson
• Blow Fly by Patricia Cornwell
• The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

2004

• The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
• The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom
• The Last Juror by John Grisham
• Glorious Appearing by Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye
• Angels & Demons by Dan Brown
• State of Fear by Michael Crichton
• London Bridges by James Patterson
• Trace by Patricia Cornwell
• The Rule of Four by Ian Caldwell and Dustin Thomason
• The Da Vinci Code: Special Illustrated Collector’s Edition by Dan Brown

2005

• The Broker by John Grisham
• The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
• Mary, Mary by James Patterson
• At First Sight by Nicholas Sparks
• Predator by Patricia Cornwell
• True Believer by Nicholas Sparks
• Light from Heaven by Jan Karon
• The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova
• The Mermaid Chair by Sue Monk Kidd
• Eleven on Top by Janet Evanovich

2006

• For One More Day by Mitch Albom
• Cross by James Patterson
• Dear John by Nicholas Sparks
• Next by Michael Crichton
• Hannibal Rising by Thomas Harris
• Lisey’s Story by Stephen King
• Twelve Sharp by Janet Evanovich
• Cell by Stephen King
• Beach Road by James Patterson and Peter De Jonge
• The 5th Horseman by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro

2007

• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
• A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
• Playing For Pizza by John Grisham
• The Choice by Nicholas Sparks
• Lean Mean Thirteen by Janet Evanovich
• Plum Lovin’ by Janet Evanovich
• Book of the Dead by Patricia Cornwell
• The Quickie by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge
• The 6th Target by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
• The Darkest Evening of the Year by Dean Koontz

2008

• The Appeal by John Grisham
• The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski
• The Host by Stephenie Meyer
• Cross Country by James Patterson
• The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks
• Fearless Fourteen by Janet Evanovich
• Christmas Sweater by Glenn Beck
• Scarpetta by Patricia Cornwell
• Your Heart Belongs to Me by Dean Koontz
• Plum Lucky by Janet Evanovich

2009

• The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown
• The Associate by John Grisham
• The Help by Kathryn Stockett
• I, Alex Cross by James Patterson
• The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks
• Ford County by John Grisham
• Finger Lickin’ Fifteen by Janet Evanovich
• The Host by Stephenie Meyer
• Under the Dome by Stephen King
• Pirate Latitudes by Michael Crichton
• The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

2010

• The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest by Stieg Larsson
• The Confession by John Grisham
• The Help by Kathryn Stockett
• Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks
• Dead or Alive by Tom Clancy
• Sizzling Sixteen by Janet Evanovich
• Cross Fire by James Patterson
• Freedom by Jonathan Franzen
• Port Mortuary by Patricia Cornwell
• Full Dark, No Stars by Stephen King

2011

• The Litigators by John Grisham
• 11/22/63 by Stephen King
• The Best of Me by Nicholas Sparks
• Smokin’ Seventeen by Janet Evanovich
• A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin
• Explosive Eighteen by Janet Evanovich
• Kill Alex Cross by James Patterson
• Micro by Michael Crichton
• Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris
• Locked On by Tom Clancy and Mark Greaney

2012

• Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James
• The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
• Fifty Shades Darker by E.L. James
• Fifty Shades Freed by E.L. James
• Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
• Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
• Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Third Wheel by Jeff Kinney
• Fifty Shades Trilogy Box Set by E.L. James
• The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan
• Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn