Popularity Contest

On December 18, LitHub published its tabulation of the books that appeared on the most best-of-2018 lists, and sales of the books that, by LitHub’s count, were most recommended have shown steady improvement over the past few weeks. Here’s how they did this week compared with the week before.

My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfesh: up 70%

There There by Tommy Orange: up 63%

Circe by Madeline Miller: up 94%

An American Marriage by Tayari Jones: up 97%

Educated by Tara Westover: up 63%

(See all of this week's bestselling books.)

K Is for Knowledge

P Is for Pterodactyl by Raj Halder and Chris Carpenter, illustrated by Maria Tina Beddia, is billed as “the worst alphabet book ever.” In addition to the title, helpful hints include “G Is for Gnat” and “K Is for Knight.” It pubbed November 13 and, a month later, debuts on our children’s picture book list at #3 with 24K print copies sold—more than three times as many as it sold in the previous four weeks combined.

When They Go Low, Sales Go High

Amid the many books selling well this holiday season, here are three naughty-list titles with print-unit sales in the five figures this week.

What the F*@# Should I Make for Dinner? by Zack Golden, a 2011 Running Press cookbook: 21K print copies

The Farting Animals Coloring Book by M.T. Lott, a 2016 self-published coloring book: 14K print copies

50 Ways to Eat Cock: Healthy Chicken Recipes with Balls! by Adrienne N. Hew: 12K print copies

Top 10 Overall

Rank Title Author Imprint Units
1 Becoming Michelle Obama Crown 503,723
2 The Wonky Donkey Smith/Cowley Scholastic 101,788
3 The Meltdown (Diary of a Wimpy Kid #13) Jeff Kinney Amulet 96,940
4 The Point of It All Charles Krauthammer Crown Forum 66,964
5 Homebody Joanna Gaines Harper Design 65,174
6 Girl, Wash Your Face Rachel Hollis Nelson 57,240
7 The Reckoning John Grisham Doubleday 53,226
8 Whose Boat Is This Boat? The Late Show Simon & Schuster 51,576
9 Magnolia Table Joanna Gaines Morrow 51,188
10 Educated Tara Westover Random House 40,242

All unit sales per Nielsen BookScan except where noted.