Top Bestsellers in Southern California's Independent Bookstores as of September 16, 2026

As of September 16, 2026, the Southern California Independent Booksellers Alliance has released its bestsellers list, based on sales from local independent bookstores. This list is compiled through reporting from the California Independent Booksellers Alliance and IndieBound.

In the Hardcover Fiction category, the leading title is "Whistler" by Ann Patchett, published by Harper at $30. Other notable titles include:

- "Switzy" by Emma Cline ($32, Random House)

- "The Pirate Queen" by Ariel Lawhon ($32, Doubleday)

- "The Disappearers" by Marlon James ($32, Riverhead Books)

- "The Correspondent" by Virginia Evans ($28, Crown)

- "Yesteryear (Indies Introduce)" by Caro Claire Burke ($30, Knopf)

- "The Calamity Club" by Kathryn Stockett ($35, Spiegel & Grau) and several others.

The top Hardcover Nonfiction title is "How to Eat an Elephant: One Voter at a Time" by Sarah Longwell ($29, St. Martin’s Press). Additional bestselling nonfiction includes:

- "London Falling" by Patrick Radden Keefe ($35, Doubleday)

- "Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage" by Belle Burden ($30, The Dial Press)

- "Famesick: A Memoir" by Lena Dunham ($32, Random House) and more titles.

In Paperback Fiction, the bestselling title is "Theo of Golden" by Allen Levi ($20, Atria Books). Other top sellers include:

- "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck ($25, Penguin)

- "Dungeon Crawler Carl" by Matt Dinniman ($20, Ace) and various others.

The Paperback Nonfiction list is led by "Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It" by Cory Doctorow ($20, Picador). Other popular titles feature:

- "Kitchen Confidential" by Anthony Bourdain ($18.99, Ecco)

- "Just Kids" by Patti Smith ($18.99, Ecco) among others.

Mass Market Paperbacks are topped by Dan Simmons' "Hyperion" priced at $11. More titles include well-known classics like:

- "1984" by George Orwell ($12, Signet)

- "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin ($9.99, Random House Worlds).

The youth categories highlight titles such as "Rowley Jefferson’s Awesome Friendly Spooky Stories 2" by Jeff Kinney for early and middle grade readers, while "Our Strange Duet" by Erin A. Craig is notable in the young adult category.

For illustrated children's books, "Room on the Broom" by Julia Donaldson is a highlight, along with several beloved classics.

For more information on independent bookstores in your area, visit IndieBound.org.