New York Times
Hardcover Fiction Bestsellers
January 25, 2026

1. The Correspondent
by Virginia Evans

Letters from someone she used to know push Sybil Van Antwerp toward revisiting her past and finding a way to forgive.
2. The First Time I Saw Him
by Laura Dave

Hannah’s husband turns up five years after he disappeared, which forces her to go on the run with her daughter.
3. The Widow
by John Grisham

When Simon Latch, a lawyer in rural Virginia, is accused of murder, he goes in search of the real killer.
 
4. The Secret of Secrets
by Dan Brown

As he searches for the missing noetic scientist he has been seeing, Robert Langdon discovers something regarding a secret project.
5. Alchemised
by SenLinYu

After the war, an imprisoned alchemist is sent to a necromancer to recover her lost memories.
6. Brimstone
by Callie Hart

The second book in the Fae & Alchemy series. To save those close to them, Saeris and Fisher face a new set of dangers.
7. Rings of Fate
by Melissa de la Cruz

The fate of two kingdoms depends on the actions taken by a barmaid looking for freedom and a prince who carries powerful ancient weapons.
8. Mona's Eyes
by Thomas Schlesser

A 10-year-old who may get permanent vision loss is bolstered by her grandfather’s quest to bring beauty into her life; translated by Hildegarde Serle.
9. The Intruder
by Freida McFadden

During a rough storm, Casey puts herself in danger when she lets a girl, who is covered in blood, into her cabin.
10. Dungeon Crawler Carl
by Matt Dinniman

A Coast Guard vet named Carl and his ex-girlfriend's cat, Princess Donut, are trapped in a fantasy dungeon.
11. Atmosphere
by Taylor Jenkins Reid

In the summer of 1980, Joan Goodwin begins training with a group of candidates for NASA's space shuttle program. 
12. The Viper
by Brad Meltzer

The third book in the Escape Artist series. A murder in pursuit of a priceless object brings up a cold case involving the death of Nola’s mother.
13. The Invisible Woman
by James Patterson and Susan DiLallo

An F.B.I. agent goes undercover to look into an art dealer’s potential connection to organized crime.
14. Twice
by Mitch Albom

Alfie Logan, who was gifted with the ability to live any moment a second time but must accept the outcomes, makes a risky love decision.
15. Gone Before Goodbye
by Reese Witherspoon and Harlan Coben

When a mysterious man disappears, the former combat surgeon giving him medical assistance goes on the lam.
©2026 All rights reserved by New York Times Syndication Sales Corp. This material may not be published, broadcast or redistributed in any manner.
 
A version of this list appears in the January 25, 2026 issue of The New York Times Book Review. Rankings reflect sales for the week ending January 10, 2026.
Thank you for subscribing to Houston Public Library's weekly "New York Times Fiction Bestsellers" newsletter. Due to high demand or publication date, some titles featured on this newsletter may not be immediately available in the Library’s catalog. We apologize for the inconvenience. Please check for these titles of interest at a later time.