Independent Press Bestsellers in Fiction for Week Ending September 20, 2026

The leading title this week is "The Calamity Club" by Kathryn Stockett, published by Spiegel & Grau. Following closely is "The Odyssey" translated by Emily Wilson and published by W.W. Norton. Other notable entries include "Fruit Fly" by Josh Silver from Crooked Lane Books, and "I Who Have Never Known Men" by Jacqueline Harpman from Transit Books.

The list highlights a range of works, including "The Birthing Tree" by Amanda Peters (Catapult) and "The Poison Daughter" by Sheila Masterson (Slowburn). Douglas Stuart's "John of John" (Grove Press) ranks high as well, alongside "The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion" series by Beth Brower published by Rhysdon Press.

Other prominent titles include classics such as "Stoner" by John Williams and contemporary works like "Lights Out (Into Darkness Series #1)" by Navessa Allen (Slowburn). The bestsellers also feature entries from respected authors like Octavia E. Butler and Richard Powers.

The complete list is as follows:

1. The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett (Spiegel & Grau)

2. The Odyssey by Homer, Emily Wilson (Transl.) (W.W. Norton)

3. Fruit Fly by Josh Silver (Crooked Lane Books)

4. I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman (Transit Books)

5. The Birthing Tree by Amanda Peters (Catapult)

6. The Poison Daughter by Sheila Masterson (Slowburn)

7. John of John by Douglas Stuart (Grove Press)

8. The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion: Vol. 1 by Beth Brower (Rhysdon Press)

9. Stitched by Eli McCann (Torrey House Press)

10. Heart the Lover by Lily King (Grove Press)

11. Stoner by John Williams (NYRB Classics)

12. On the Calculation of Volume (Book I) by Solvej Balle, Barbara J. Haveland (Transl.) (New Directions)

13. I See You’ve Called in Dead by John Kenney (Zibby Publishing)

14. The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion: Vol. 2 by Beth Brower (Rhysdon Press)

15. The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion: Vol. 3 by Beth Brower (Rhysdon Press)

16. Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan (Grove Press)

17. Sipsworth by Simon Van Booy (David R. Godine Publisher)

18. On the Calculation of Volume (Book II) by Solvej Balle, Barbara J. Haveland (Transl.) (New Directions)

19. Helen of Nowhere by Makenna Goodman (Coffee House Press)

20. Taiwan Travelogue: A Novel by Shuang-zi Yang (Graywolf Press)

21. Victorian Psycho: A Novel by Virginia Feito (Liveright)

22. The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion: Vol. 4 by Beth Brower (Rhysdon Press)

23. The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion: Vol. 5 by Beth Brower (Rhysdon Press)

24. The True True Story of Raja the Gullible (and His Mother) by Rabih Alameddine (Grove)

25. Writers & Lovers by Lily King (Grove Press)

26. Lights Out (Into Darkness Series #1) by Navessa Allen (Slowburn)

27. The Employees by Olga Ravn (New Directions)

28. The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters (Catapult)

29. My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante (Europa Editions)

30. Hungerstone by Kat Dunn (Zando)

31. Kindred by Octavia E. Butler (Beacon Press)

32. The Overstory by Richard Powers (W.W. Norton)

33. Orbital by Samantha Harvey (Grove Press)

34. The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion: Vol. 6 by Beth Brower (Rhysdon Press)

35. Carmilla, Deluxe Edition: The Dark Sapphic Romance that Inspired Dracula by Sheridan Le Fanu (Pushkin Press)

36. Sunburn by Chloe Michelle Howarth (Melville House)

37. The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion: Vol. 7 by Beth Brower (Rhysdon Press)

38. Slow Horses by Mick Herron (Soho Crime)

39. Game On by Navessa Allen (Slowburn)

40. Harvest Season by Brynne Weaver (Slowburn)