California Bestsellers: Top Books This Week – Fiction & Nonfiction
Southern California independent bookstores are seeing strong sales across a range of genres, with Alice Hoffman’s essay collection, The Best Dog in the World: Essays on Love, leading nonfiction charts for the week ending March 22, according to data released by the California Independent Booksellers Alliance and IndieBound. The collection, featuring contributions from fourteen writers, reflects a continued appetite for emotionally resonant nonfiction, while Virginia Evans’ debut novel, The Correspondent, maintains its position at the top of the fiction bestseller list.
The hardcover fiction list remains largely consistent with previous weeks, with Tayari Jones’ Kin holding steady at number two. George Saunders’ Vigil, a darkly comedic exploration of morality and the afterlife, continues to resonate with readers, securing the third spot. Lily King’s Heart the Lover and Madeline Cash’s Lost Lambs round out the top five, offering narratives centered on complex relationships and familial struggles.
The popularity of debut novels is also notable, with Rachel Hochhauser’s reimagining of the Cinderella story, Lady Tremaine, appearing at number eight on the fiction list. Mieko Kawakami’s Sisters in Yellow, set in 1990s Tokyo, also continues to draw readers, landing at number nine. Lauren Groff’s short story collection, Brawler, completes the top ten, offering a diverse range of narratives.
Beyond fiction, the nonfiction list reveals a strong interest in memoir and self-reflection. Christina Applegate’s You with the Sad Eyes, detailing her battle with multiple sclerosis, is at number four, while Gavin Newsom’s memoir, Young Man in a Hurry, offers an inside look at the California governor’s life and career. Belle Burden’s Strangers, exploring the complexities of marriage, is also proving popular, holding the number two position.
The paperback charts also present continued strength for established titles. Andy Weir’s Project Hail Mary remains the top-selling trade paperback fiction title, while Erik Larson’s The Demon of Unrest leads the paperback nonfiction list, according to the data. The Indie Bestseller List, compiled from reporting from independent booksellers, provides a snapshot of reading trends in Southern California and beyond. The full list can be found on the Daily News website.
The Midwest Independent Booksellers Association also released its list for the week ending March 15, 2026, which largely mirrored the Southern California trends, further solidifying the positions of titles like The Correspondent and Kin. Details of the MIBA list are available on MSN.