The Independent Press Top 40 Bestsellers: Fiction
Here are this week’s Independent Press Top 40 Bestsellers for fiction, based on sales in hundreds of independent bookstores nationwide, generously provided by the American Booksellers Association. Compiled, designed, and distributed by The Independent Publishers Caucus.
This article presents the Independent Press Top 40 Bestsellers: Fiction for the week ending September 20, 2026. The list ranks 40 fiction books based on sales data from hundreds of independent bookstores across the United States. The rankings are compiled and distributed by The Independent Publishers Caucus with support from the American Booksellers Association, an organization that represents independent bookstores. The list includes a mix of contemporary novels, classic works, and translated literature, highlighting the diversity of fiction available in independent bookstores. Each entry includes the book title, author, publisher, and a link to purchase the book online.
Several publishers are prominently featured in this week’s top 40 list, including Grove Press, New Directions, Catapult, and Slowburn. Grove Press appears 5 times with titles like John of John by Douglas Stuart and Heart the Lover by Lily King, while New Directions has 3 entries, such as On the Calculation of Volume (Book I and II) by Solvej Balle. Catapult and Slowburn each have 2 books in the top 40. Other notable publishers include Spiegel & Grau, W.W. Norton, Transit Books, and Rhysdon Press, which has 5 volumes of The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion in the list. These publishers are known for their focus on literary fiction, translations, and innovative storytelling.
The top 40 list includes works by both well-known and emerging authors. Kathryn Stockett, author of The Calamity Club, is a prominent name, known for her bestselling novel The Help. Lily King appears twice with Heart the Lover and Writers & Lovers, while Amanda Peters has two entries: The Birthing Tree and The Berry Pickers. Elena Ferrante’s My Brilliant Friend is also featured, a critically acclaimed novel from her Neapolitan Novels series. Other notable works include Stoner by John Williams, a classic novel reissued by NYRB Classics, and Kindred by Octavia E. Butler, a groundbreaking work of science fiction exploring themes of race and time travel.
The list showcases a wide range of genres and themes in fiction. Historical fiction is represented by The Odyssey (translated by Emily Wilson) and Victorian Psycho by Virginia Feito. Mystery and suspense appear in titles like Fruit Fly by Josh Silver and Lights Out by Navessa Allen. Literary fiction dominates the list, with books like Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan and The Overstory by Richard Powers, which won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2019. The list also includes translated works, such as I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman, and experimental fiction like On the Calculation of Volume by Solvej Balle. This diversity reflects the eclectic tastes of readers who frequent independent bookstores.
The rankings are based on sales from hundreds of independent bookstores nationwide, highlighting the significant role these stores play in the literary ecosystem. Independent bookstores often focus on curating unique, high-quality selections rather than mass-market titles, which is reflected in this list. Organizations like the *American Booksellers Association* support these stores by providing resources, advocacy, and data-sharing platforms like the *Independent Press Top 40*. The list demonstrates how independent bookstores contribute to the discovery and promotion of diverse and innovative fiction, often serving as gateways for lesser-known authors and niche genres.
