In partnership with Bookstat, we are proud to offer three distinctive monthly bestseller lists.1
- Top 50 Self-Published Ebooks
- Top 50 Self-Published Print Books (online sales only)
- Top 50 Hidden Gems (print, online sales only) — includes traditionally and self-published books
Top 50 Hidden Gems (print)
The Hidden Gems list excludes Big Five publishers, as well as other publishers of significant size, like Norton and Scholastic. We let you know every month what we’ve excluded, or how we’ve changed list compilation. For April 2024, we’ve excluded maps and atlases, study and test prep guides, Bibles, and comics/manga compilations.
In cases where the publisher name matches the author name, the book is listed as self-published. Keep in mind that even if a publisher name is listed, the publisher might be owned and run by the author(s).
| Rank | Title | Author | Publisher | Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dark Souls Trilogy Compendium (25th anniversary edition) | Future Press | Future Press Verlag und Marketing GmbH | Apr. 15, 2024 |
| 2 | The Lost Book of Herbal Remedies | Claude Davis | Self-published | Jan. 1, 2019 |
| 3 | The Book: The Ultimate Guide to Rebuilding a Civilization | Hungry Minds | Bad Idea Company Ltd | Jan. 1, 2022 |
| 4 | The Milepost 2024: Alaska Travel Planner | Serine Reeves Morris Communications | Milepost | Apr. 1, 2024 |
| 5 | The Good and Beautiful Bible Study: Experiencing Stories from the Bible and What It Means for Our Lives Today | Alabaster Co. | Alabaster Co | Jun. 19, 2022 |
| 6 | The Covenant of Water | Abraham Verghese | Grove Press | May 2, 2023 |
| 7 | King of Sloth (Kings of Sin 4) | Ana Huang | Bloom Books/Sourcebooks | Apr. 30, 2024 |
| 8 | Wild Love (Rose Hill 1) | Elsie Silver | Bloom Books/Sourcebooks | Apr. 9, 2024 |
| 9 | My First Library (Box Set of 10 Board Books) | Wonder House Books | Wonder House Books | Apr. 25, 2018 |
| 10 | Don’t Believe Everything You Think: Why Your Thinking Is the Beginning & End of Suffering | Joseph Nguyen | Self-published | Mar. 28, 2022 |
| 11 | House Rules: How to Decorate for Every Home, Style, and Budget | Myquillyn Smith | Revell | Apr. 23, 2024 |
| 12 | Dungeons & Dragons Core Rulebooks Gift Set | Wizards RPG Team | Wizards of the Coast | Nov. 20, 2018 |
| 13 | The Indoctrinated Brain: How to Successfully Fend Off the Global Attack on Your Mental Freedom | Michael Nehls MD, PhD | Skyhorse Publishing | Dec. 12, 2023 |
| 14 | The Teacher | Freida McFadden | Poisoned Pen/Sourcebooks | Feb. 6, 2024 |
| 15 | Shōgun: The Complete Novel | James Clavell | Blackstone Publishing | Dec. 12, 2023 |
| 16 | Second Class: How the Elites Betrayed America’s Working Men and Women | Batya Ungar-Sargon | Encounter Books | Apr. 2, 2024 |
| 17 | The Complete Briar U Series Set | Elle Kennedy | Bloom Books/Sourcebooks | Apr. 16, 2024 |
| 18 | ¡Gracias! / Thank you! (Spanish edition) | Andrés Manuel López Obrador | Planeta Publishing | Apr. 16, 2024 |
| 19 | The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom | Don Miguel Ruiz | Amber-Allen Publishing | Nov. 7, 1997 |
| 20 | Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse Duet 1) | H.D. Carlton | Self-published | Aug. 13, 2021 |
| 21 | The Beach Boys | The Beach Boys | Genesis Publications | Apr. 2, 2024 |
| 22 | The Inner Work of Relationships: An Invitation to Heal Your Inner Child and Create a Conscious Relationship Together | Mathew Micheletti | The Inner Work | Mar. 18, 2024 |
| 23 | The Psychology of Money: Timeless Lessons on Wealth, Greed, and Happiness | Morgan Housel | Harriman House | Sep. 8, 2020 |
| 24 | Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents: How to Heal from Distant, Rejecting, or Self-Involved Parents | Lindsay C. Gibson | New Harbinger Publications | Jun. 1, 2015 |
| 25 | Hunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse Duet 2) | H.D. Carlton | Self-published | Jan. 25, 2022 |
| 26 | The Holistic Guide to Wellness : Herbal Protocols for Common Ailments | Nicole Apelian | Self-published | Mar. 20, 2023 |
| 27 | Berserk Deluxe (Volume 2) | Kentaro Miura | Dark Horse Manga | Jul. 9, 2019 |
| 28 | It’s Not You: Identifying and Healing from Narcissistic People | Ramani Durvasula, PhD | The Open Field | Feb. 20, 2024 |
| 29 | Moms on Call: Basic Baby Care 0–6 Months (Parenting 1) | Laura Hunter, LPN | Moms on Call | Jan. 1, 2006 |
| 30 | For Love of Country: Leave the Democrat Party Behind | Tulsi Gabbard | Regnery | Apr. 30, 2024 |
| 31 | Taming 7 (Boys of Tommen 5) | Chloe Walsh | Bloom Books/Sourcebooks | Apr. 16, 2024 |
| 32 | Tom Ford | Tom Ford | Rizzoli | Nov. 4, 2008 |
| 33 | Tired of Being Tired: Receive God’s Realistic Rest for Your Soul-Deep Exhaustion | Jess Connolly | Baker Books | Apr. 9, 2024 |
| 34 | Berserk Deluxe (Volume 1) | Kentaro Miura | Dark Horse Manga | Mar. 26, 2019 |
| 35 | By the Time You Read This: The Space between Cheslie’s Smile and Mental Illness—Her Story in Her Own Words | April Simpkins | Forefront Books | Apr. 23, 2024 |
| 36 | The Inmate | Freida McFadden | Poisoned Pen/Sourcebooks | Mar. 5, 2024 |
| 37 | The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy: The Final Analysis | David W. Mantik, MD, PhD | Post Hill Press | Mar. 8, 2024 |
| 38 | Livingood Daily: Your 21-Day Guide to Experience Real Health | Dr. Livingood | Self-published | Dec. 24, 2017 |
| 39 | Bad Dreams in the Night | Adam Ellis | Andrews McMeel Publishing | Apr. 16, 2024 |
| 40 | I Love You to the Moon and Back | Amelia Hepworth | Tiger Tales | Mar. 3, 2015 |
| 41 | Never Lie | Freida McFadden | Poisoned Pen/Sourcebooks | Dec. 5, 2023 |
| 42 | Compendium of the Emerald Tablets | Billy Carson | 4biddenknowledge Inc | Jan. 1, 2019 |
| 43 | One by One | Freida McFadden | Poisoned Pen/Sourcebooks | Apr. 2, 2024 |
| 44 | Jujutsu Kaisen (Volume 22) | Gege Akutami | VIZ Media | Apr. 16, 2024 |
| 45 | Can’t Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds | David Goggins | Lioncrest Publishing | Dec. 10, 2018 |
| 46 | Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect | Will Guidara | Optimism Press | Oct. 25, 2022 |
| 47 | World of Eric Carle: Around the Farm 30-Button Animal Sound Book | PI Kids | PI Kids | Feb. 1, 2013 |
| 48 | Self Heal By Design: The Role Of Micro-Organisms For Health | Barbara O’Neill | Bang Printing | Jan. 1, 2014 |
| 49 | Two O’Clock on a Tuesday at Trevi Fountain: A Search for an Unconventional Life Abroad | Helene Sula | Blue Star Press | Apr. 9, 2024 |
| 50 | The Mountain Is You: Transforming Self-Sabotage Into Self-Mastery | Brianna Wiest | Thought Catalog Books | Jun. 1, 2020 |
Top 50 Self-Published Ebooks
This list was updated on May 30, 2024 to exclude a title unavailable for sale in ebook form, Back Mechanic.
| Rank | Title | Author | Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tangled Innocence (Egorov Bratva 1) | Nicole Fox | Apr. 3, 2024 |
| 2 | Tangled Decadence (Egorov Bratva 2) | Nicole Fox | Apr. 3, 2024 |
| 3 | The Perfect Accomplice (Jessie Hunt 32) | Blake Pierce | Jul. 2, 2024 |
| 4 | Girl, Betrayed (Ella Dark 18) | Blake Pierce | Apr. 1, 2024 |
| 5 | Avenging Angel | Kristen Ashley | Apr. 2, 2024 |
| 6 | A Taste of Whiskey: Sasha Whiskey (Whiskeys 4) | Melissa Foster | Apr. 10, 2024 |
| 7 | When the Moon Hatched (Moonfall 1) | Sarah A. Parker | Jan. 13, 2024 |
| 8 | Hopelessly Romantic | Barbara Freethy | Apr. 2, 2024 |
| 9 | The Fool | Lani Lynn Vale | Apr. 1, 2024 |
| 10 | Holy Grail | Charae Lewis | Apr. 4, 2024 |
| 11 | Dr. Single Dad | Louise Bay | Apr. 9, 2024 |
| 12 | Frigid Magic (Ard’s Oath 3) | Bruce Sentar | Apr. 7, 2024 |
| 13 | Fastlander Fury (Fastlanders 1) | T.S. Joyce | Apr. 12, 2024 |
| 14 | Satin Empire | B.B. Hamel | Apr. 10, 2024 |
| 15 | The Black Dragon (Executioner Knights 14) | Kathryn Le Veque | Apr. 4, 2024 |
| 16 | Thirteen of a Kind (Kind Brothers 18) | Sandi Lynn | Apr. 19, 2024 |
| 17 | The Ashes and the Star-Cursed King (Crowns of Nyaxia 2) | Carissa Broadbent | Apr. 14, 2023 |
| 18 | The Puzzle of Parham House (Lord Edgington Investigates 13) | Benedict Brown | Apr. 21, 2024 |
| 19 | Wright Kind of Love | K.A. Linde | Apr. 15, 2024 |
| 20 | The Art of Avoiding Your Soulmate (Wildwood 3) | Lola Glass | Apr. 3, 2024 |
| 21 | The Thief (Black Arrowhead 4) | Dannika Dark | Apr. 6, 2024 |
| 22 | Single Mom’s SEALs (Lucky Lady Reverse Harems) | Kai Lesy | Apr. 1, 2024 |
| 23 | Shalin (Outsider 12) | Aiden Phoenix | Apr. 1, 2024 |
| 24 | Blue Ridge Breakdown (Jubilee 4) | Rachel Hanna | Apr. 8, 2024 |
| 25 | Broken (Erebus Assassins 1) | Reese Knightley | Apr. 4, 2024 |
| 26 | Slay King | Abbi Glines | Apr. 14, 2024 |
| 27 | Swamp Spies | Jana DeLeon | Feb. 20, 2024 |
| 28 | Never Say Never | Jennifer Sucevic | Apr. 1, 2024 |
| 29 | Something about Silver | Sharon Hamilton | Jan. 23, 2024 |
| 30 | The Crone of Midnight Embers (Myrtlewood Crones 1) | Iris Beaglehole | Sep. 30, 2023 |
| 31 | Obeying Beliefs (Artemis University 23) | Erin R Flynn | Apr. 19, 2024 |
| 32 | Blue Ridge Breakdown | Rachel Hanna | Apr. 8, 2024 |
| 33 | Out on a Limb | Hannah Bonam-Young | Jul. 11, 2023 |
| 34 | The Witch Queen of Halloween | Kresley Cole | Mar. 26, 2024 |
| 35 | Dan & Kara | Marie Force | Mar. 29, 2024 |
| 36 | When You’re Silent (Finn Wright 6) | Blake Pierce | Apr. 10, 2024 |
| 37 | Diamond Reef (Chase Gordon Tropical Thrillers 1) | Douglas Pratt | Jun. 30, 2020 |
| 38 | Simon Says … Swim | Dale Mayer | Apr. 9, 2024 |
| 39 | Sick Fux | Tillie Cole | Oct. 7, 2017 |
| 40 | The ChatGPT Millionaire: Making Money Online Has Never Been This Easy | Neil Dagger | Jan. 16, 2023 |
| 41 | Dawnshard | Brandon Sanderson | Nov. 10, 2020 |
| 42 | Walker | Dale Mayer | Apr. 19, 2024 |
| 43 | LIttle Sis (Three Oaks Ranch 4) | Leigh Fenty | Apr. 1, 2024 |
| 44 | So Cruel (Faith Bold 13) | Blake Pierce | Jun. 20, 2024 |
| 45 | Royal | LeAnn Ashers | Apr. 9, 2024 |
| 46 | Swamp Spies | Jana DeLeon | Feb. 20, 2024 |
| 47 | Promise You Forever (Promises Duet 2) | Nichole Greene | Apr. 8, 2024 |
| 48 | Rich Dad Poor Dad | Robert T. Kiyosaki | Sep. 18, 2015 |
| 49 | Hopelessly Romantic | Barbara Freethy | Apr. 2, 2024 |
| 50 | Sinful Devotion (Grachev Bratva 1) | Brook Wilder | Apr. 4, 2024 |
Top 50 Self-Published Print Books
| Rank | Title | Author | Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Lost Book of Herbal Remedies | Claude Davis | Jan. 1, 2019 |
| 2 | Don’t Believe Everything You Think: Why Your Thinking Is the Beginning & End of Suffering (Beyond Suffering 1) | Joseph Nguyen | Mar. 28, 2022 |
| 3 | Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse Duet 1) | H.D. Carlton | Aug. 13, 2021 |
| 4 | Hunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse Duet 2) | H.D. Carlton | Jan. 25, 2022 |
| 5 | The Holistic Guide to Wellness: Herbal Protocols for Common Ailments | Nicole Apelian | Mar. 20, 2023 |
| 6 | Livingood Daily: Your 21-Day Guide to Experience Real Health | Dr. Livingood | Dec. 24, 2017 |
| 7 | Two O’Clock on a Tuesday at Trevi Fountain: A Search for an Unconventional Life Abroad | Helene Sula | Apr. 9, 2024 |
| 8 | NO GRID Survival Projects | Claude Davis | Dec. 1, 2021 |
| 9 | The Mindf*ck Series | S.T. Abby | Apr. 3, 2019 |
| 10 | A Little SPOT of Emotion (8 Book Box Set) | Diane Alber | Apr. 29, 2020 |
| 11 | A Little SPOT of Emotion (8 Plush Toys with Feelings Book Box Set) | Diane Alber | Jul. 10, 2021 |
| 12 | Stop Overthinking: 23 Techniques to Relieve Stress, Stop Negative Spirals, Declutter Your Mind, and Focus on the Present | Nick Trenton | Mar. 1, 2021 |
| 13 | The Forager’s Guide to Wild Foods | Nicole Apelian | Jun. 21, 2021 |
| 14 | The Survival Medicine Handbook: The Essential Guide for When Help Is NOT on the Way | Joseph Alton, MD | Aug. 24, 2021 |
| 15 | The Ritual | Shantel Tessier | Dec. 1, 2021 |
| 16 | Cozy Spaces (Coloring book) | Coco Wyo | Mar. 9, 2024 |
| 17 | Food & Snacks Coloring Book | Meg Publishing | Jan. 19, 2024 |
| 18 | The Perfect Son | Freida McFadden | Apr. 7, 2020 |
| 19 | The Microsoft Office 365 Bible | James Holler | Dec. 11, 2022 |
| 20 | Say You Swear (Alternate cover) | Meagan Brandy | Nov. 17, 2022 |
| 21 | The Inner Work: An Invitation to True Freedom and Lasting Happiness | Mathew Micheletti | May 3, 2019 |
| 22 | Our Little Adventures: Stories Featuring Foundational Language Concepts for Growing Minds | Tabitha Paige | Oct. 20, 2020 |
| 23 | Back Mechanic | Stuart McGill | Sep. 30, 2015 |
| 24 | The Simple Path to Wealth: Your Road Map to Financial Independence and a Rich, Free Life | J.L. Collins | Jun. 18, 2016 |
| 25 | Recovery from Narcissistic Abuse, Gaslighting, Codependency and Complex PTSD | Linda Hill | Sep. 23, 2022 |
| 26 | Ward D | Freida McFadden | May 8, 2023 |
| 27 | The Secret Life of Sunflowers | Marta Molnar | Jul. 14, 2022 |
| 28 | The Simplest Baby Book in the World | S.M. Gross | Nov. 16, 2021 |
| 29 | The Lost Ways | Claude Davis | Jan. 1, 2016 |
| 30 | The Shadow Work Journal: A Guide to Integrate and Transcend Your Shadows | Keila Shaheen | Nov. 2, 2021 |
| 31 | Real Food for Pregnancy: The Science and Wisdom of Optimal Prenatal Nutrition | Lily Nichols | Feb. 21, 2018 |
| 32 | How to Draw Everything: 300 Drawings of Cute Stuff, Animals, Food, Gifts, and Other Amazing Things | Emma Greene | Nov. 18, 2023 |
| 33 | Our Little Library: A Foundational Language Vocabulary Board Book Set for Babies | Tabitha Paige | Nov. 7, 2023 |
| 34 | Meditations: Adapted for the Contemporary Reader | Marcus Aurelius | Nov. 7, 2016 |
| 35 | Where’s Molly | H.D. Carlton | Feb. 16, 2024 |
| 36 | A Little SPOT Emotional Regulation (49–56 Box Set) | Diane Alber | Jun. 6, 2023 |
| 37 | What Should Danny Do? | Adir Levy | May 17, 2017 |
| 38 | Rich Dad Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids about Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not! | Robert T. Kiyosaki | Apr. 5, 2022 |
| 39 | Would You Rather Book For Kids: 300+ Hilarious, Silly, and Challenging Questions To Make You Laugh | Stephen J. Ellis | Sep. 22, 2021 |
| 40 | Built from Broken: A Science-Based Guide to Healing Painful Joints, Preventing Injuries, and Rebuilding Your Body | Scott H Hogan | Jun. 7, 2021 |
| 41 | Ask for Andrea | Noelle West Ihli | Apr. 14, 2022 |
| 42 | System Design Interview | Alex Xu | Jun. 12, 2020 |
| 43 | Emotional Intelligence 2.0 | Travis Bradberry | Jun. 16, 2009 |
| 44 | Once You’re Mine | Morgan Bridges | Sep. 26, 2023 |
| 45 | Project 369: The Key to the Universe | David Kasneci | Sep. 21, 2020 |
| 46 | The Dr. Barbara Natural Remedies Encyclopedia | Jacqueline Bridge | Mar. 3, 2024 |
| 47 | Adult Swear Words Coloring Book: Live, Laugh, Fuck Off | Pink Stylish Press | Jun. 22, 2021 |
| 48 | Mom’s Story: A Memory and Keepsake Journal for My Family | Korie Herold | Sep. 13, 2022 |
| 49 | The Midnight Rider Rides Again | Derek Johnson | Jan. 19, 2024 |
| 50 | Wilderness Long-Term Survival Guide: Forgotten Skills to Make the Wild Your Home | Dr. Nicole Apelian | Jan. 1, 2023 |
Jane Friedman has spent her entire career working in the publishing industry, with a focus on business reporting and author education. Established in 2015, her newsletter The Bottom Line provides nuanced market intelligence to thousands of authors and industry professionals; in 2023, she was named Publishing Commentator of the Year by Digital Book World.
Jane’s expertise regularly features in major media outlets such as The New York Times, The Atlantic, NPR, The Today Show, Wired, The Guardian, Fox News, and BBC. Her book, The Business of Being a Writer, Second Edition (The University of Chicago Press), is used as a classroom text by many writing and publishing degree programs. She reaches thousands through speaking engagements and workshops at diverse venues worldwide, including NYU’s Advanced Publishing Institute, Frankfurt Book Fair, and numerous MFA programs.
