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
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 February 2024, we’ve excluded maps and atlases, study and test prep guides, titles from Hay House (now owned by Big Five publisher Penguin Random House), Bibles and Bible study guides, and comics 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 | If Only I Had Told Her | Laura Nowlin | Sourcebooks Fire | Feb. 6, 2024 |
| 2 | The Teacher | Freida McFadden | Poisoned Pen Press (Sourcebooks) | Feb. 6, 2024 |
| 3 | Don’t Believe Everything You Think: Why Your Thinking Is the Beginning & End of Suffering | Joseph Nguyen | Self-published | Mar. 28, 2022 |
| 4 | National Geographic Bucket List Family Travel: Share the World with Your Kids on 50 Adventures of a Lifetime | Jessica Gee | National Geographic | Feb. 6, 2024 |
| 5 | The Adventure Challenge: Couples Edition | Staff of the Adventure Challenge | The Adventure Challenge | Jan. 1, 2020 |
| 6 | Demon Slayer Complete Box Set (Volumes 1–23 with premium) | Koyoharu Gotouge | VIZ Media | Nov. 9, 2021 |
| 7 | The Lost Book of Herbal Remedies | Claude Davis | Self-published | Jan. 1, 2019 |
| 8 | My First Library (Box Set of 10 Board Books) | Wonder House Books | Wonder House Books | Apr. 25, 2018 |
| 9 | Psychology of Money | Morgan Housel | Harriman House | Sep. 8, 2020 |
| 10 | Attack from Within: How Disinformation Is Sabotaging America | Barbara McQuade | Seven Stories Press | Feb. 27, 2024 |
| 11 | Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse Duet 1) | H.D. Carlton | Self-published | Aug. 13, 2021 |
| 12 | Dungeons & Dragons Core Rulebooks Gift Set | Wizards RPG Team | Wizards of the Coast | Nov. 20, 2018 |
| 13 | Can’t Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds | David Goggins | Self-published | Dec. 10, 2018 |
| 14 | The Covenant of Water (Oprah’s Book Club) | Abraham Verghese | Grove Press | May 2, 2023 |
| 15 | Where’s Molly | H.D. Carlton | Self-published | Feb. 16, 2024 |
| 16 | NO GRID Survival Projects | Claude Davis | Self-published | Dec. 1, 2021 |
| 17 | Hunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse Duet 2) | H.D. Carlton | Self-published | Jan. 25, 2022 |
| 18 | The Pivot Year | Brianna Wiest | Thought Catalog Books | Apr. 25, 2023 |
| 19 | The Shadow Work Journal: A Guide to Integrate and Transcend Your Shadows | Keila Shaheen | Self-published | Nov. 2, 2021 |
| 20 | Harvey the Heart Had Too Many Farts | Jane Bexley | Self-published | Nov. 24, 2020 |
| 21 | Home at Last: Enduring Design for the New American House | Gil Schafer III | Rizzoli | Feb. 27, 2024 |
| 22 | The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom | Don Miguel Ruiz | Amber-Allen Publishing | Nov. 7, 1997 |
| 23 | Never Lie | Freida McFadden | Poisoned Pen Press (Sourcebooks) | Dec. 5, 2023 |
| 24 | The Mountain Is You: Transforming Self-Sabotage into Self-Mastery | Brianna Wiest | Thought Catalog Books | Jun. 1, 2020 |
| 25 | Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect | Will Guidara | Optimism Press | Oct. 25, 2022 |
| 26 | Real Food for Fertility: Prepare Your Body for Pregnancy with Preconception Nutrition and Fertility Awareness | Lily Nichols | Fertility Food Publishing | Feb. 12, 2024 |
| 27 | Chainsaw Man (Volume 14) | Tatsuki Fujimoto | VIZ Media | Feb. 6, 2024 |
| 28 | 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 |
| 29 | Livingood Daily: Your 21-Day Guide to Experience Real Health | Dr. Livingood | Self-published | Dec. 24, 2017 |
| 30 | The Lost Ways | Claude Davis | Capital Printing | Jan. 1, 2016 |
| 31 | How to Catch a Leprechaun | Adam Wallace | Sourcebooks Wonderland | Feb. 2, 2016 |
| 32 | If He Had Been with Me | Laura Nowlin | Sourcebooks Fire | Nov. 1, 2019 |
| 33 | Chainsaw Man Box Set (Volumes 1–11) | Tatsuki Fujimoto | VIZ Media | Sep. 26, 2023 |
| 34 | I Love You Like No Otter | Rose Rossner | Sourcebooks Wonderland | Jan. 7, 2020 |
| 35 | Berserk Deluxe (Volume 1) | Kentaro Miura | Dark Horse Manga | Mar. 26, 2019 |
| 36 | The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts | Gary Chapman | Northfield Publishing | Jan. 1, 2015 |
| 37 | Moms on Call: Basic Baby Care 0–6 Months (Parenting 1) | Laura Hunter LPN | Moms on Call | Jan. 1, 2006 |
| 38 | World of Eric Carle: Around the Farm | PI Kids | PI Kids | Feb. 1, 2013 |
| 39 | Things We Never Got Over (Knockemout 1) | Lucy Score | Bloom Books (Sourcebooks) | Jan. 12, 2022 |
| 40 | The End of Race Politics: Arguments for a Colorblind America | Coleman Hughes | Thesis | Feb. 6, 2024 |
| 41 | Living in the Daze of Deception: How to Discern Truth from Culture’s Lies | Jack Hibbs | Harvest House Publishers | Feb. 6, 2024 |
| 42 | Stop Overthinking: 23 Techniques to Relieve Stress, Stop Negative Spirals, Declutter Your Mind, and Focus on the Present | Nick Trenton | Self-published | Mar. 1, 2021 |
| 43 | The Survival Medicine Handbook: The Essential Guide for When Help Is NOT on the Way | Joseph Alton, MD | Doom and Bloom, LLC | Aug. 24, 2021 |
| 44 | Self-Love Workbook for Women: Release Self-Doubt, Build Self-Compassion, and Embrace Who You Are | Megan Logan, MSW, LCSW | Rockridge Press | Sep. 29, 2020 |
| 45 | Berserk Deluxe (Volume 2) | Kentaro Miura | Dark Horse Manga | Jul. 9, 2019 |
| 46 | Architectural Digest at 100: A Century of Style | Architectural Digest | Abrams | Oct. 8, 2019 |
| 47 | Visions of Flesh and Blood (Blood and Ash) | Jennifer L. Armentrout | Blue Box Press | Feb. 20, 2024 |
| 48 | A Little SPOT of Emotion (8 Plush Toys with Feelings Book Box Set) | Diane Alber | Self-published | Apr. 29, 2020 |
| 49 | The Holistic Guide to Wellness: Herbal Protocols for Common Ailments | Nicole Apelian | Self-published | Mar. 20, 2023 |
| 50 | Back Mechanic | Stuart McGill | Self-published | Sep. 30, 2015 |
Top 50 Self-Published Ebooks
| Rank | Title | Author | Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Teacher | Freida McFadden | Feb. 6, 2024 |
| 2 | The Reason I Married Him | Meghan Quinn | Feb. 6, 2024 |
| 3 | Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse Duet 1) | H.D. Carlton | Aug. 12, 2021 |
| 4 | The Inmate | Freida McFadden | Jun. 13, 2022 |
| 5 | Things We Never Got Over (Knockemout 1) | Lucy Score | Jan. 13, 2022 |
| 6 | Sonata of Lies (Zakrevsky Bratva 2) | Nicole Fox | Jan. 24, 2024 |
| 7 | Ashes of You (Lost & Found 5) | Catherine Cowles | Feb. 8, 2024 |
| 8 | Requiem of Sin (Zakrevsky Bratva 1) | Nicole Fox | Jan. 24, 2024 |
| 9 | Rhapsody of Pain (Zakrevsky Bratva 3) | Nicole Fox | Jan. 24, 2024 |
| 10 | Never Lie | Freida McFadden | Sep. 19, 2022 |
| 11 | Hunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse Duet 2) | H.D. Carlton | Jan. 28, 2022 |
| 12 | Where’s Molly | H.D. Carlton | Feb. 16, 2024 |
| 13 | King of Wrath (Kings of Sin 1) | Ana Huang | Oct. 20, 2022 |
| 14 | Things We Left Behind (Knockemout 3) | Lucy Score | Sep. 5, 2023 |
| 15 | Things We Hide from the Light (Knockemout 2) | Lucy Score | Feb. 21, 2023 |
| 16 | When the Moon Hatched (Moonfall 1) | Sarah A. Parker | Jan. 13, 2024 |
| 17 | The Secret Fiancée (The Windsors) | Catharina Maura | Feb. 23, 2024 |
| 18 | Flawless | Elsie Silver | Jun. 24, 2022 |
| 19 | Vile Boys (Spine Ridge University) | Clarissa Wild | Feb. 1, 2024 |
| 20 | The Ritual | Shantel Tessier | Nov. 19, 2021 |
| 21 | The Serpent and the Wings of Night (Crowns of Nyaxia 1) | Carissa Broadbent | Aug. 30, 2022 |
| 22 | Twisted Love | Ana Huang | Apr. 29, 2021 |
| 23 | Antarctica Station | A.G. Riddle | Jan. 15, 2024 |
| 24 | Swamp Spies (Miss Fortune Mysteries 26) | Jana DeLeon | Feb. 19, 2024 |
| 25 | Credence | Penelope Douglas | Jan. 13, 2020 |
| 26 | The Perfect Fit | Sadie Kincaid | Dec. 10, 2023 |
| 27 | My Anti-Hero | Tijan | Feb. 8, 2024 |
| 28 | He’s Not My Type | Meghan Quinn | Nov. 28, 2023 |
| 29 | Once You’re Mine (Possessing Her 1) | Morgan Bridges | Oct. 1, 2023 |
| 30 | Nero (Alliance 1) | S.J. Tilly | Mar. 16, 2023 |
| 31 | Hunted by a Shadow (Kings of Mafia) | Michelle Heard | Feb. 5, 2024 |
| 32 | Twisted Games | Ana Huang | Jul. 29, 2021 |
| 33 | The Ashes and the Star-Cursed King (Crowns of Nyaxia 2) | Carissa Broadbent | Apr. 14, 2023 |
| 34 | Den of Vipers | K.A. Knight | Jul. 10, 2020 |
| 35 | The Pucking Wrong Date (Pucking Wrong 3) | C.R. Jane | Feb. 23, 2024 |
| 36 | Pretty Rings and Broken Things (Black Tie Billionaires) | Kat Singleton | Feb. 22, 2024 |
| 37 | Want to Know a Secret? | Freida McFadden | Jan. 5, 2021 |
| 38 | The Coworker | Freida McFadden | Aug. 29, 2023 |
| 39 | The Wildcat (Playing to Win 2) | Bella Matthews | Feb. 8, 2024 |
| 40 | The Fake Out (Vancouver Storm 2) | Stephanie Archer | Dec. 7, 2023 |
| 41 | Powerless | Elsie Silver | Feb. 10, 2023 |
| 42 | Heartless | Elsie Silver | Oct. 14, 2022 |
| 43 | Wild for You (Wilds of Montana 1) | Kristen Proby | Jan. 30, 2024 |
| 44 | Hooked (Never After) | Emily McIntire | Sep. 7, 2021 |
| 45 | God of Malice (Legacy of Gods 1) | Rina Kent | Jul. 14, 2022 |
| 46 | Mother Faker | Brittanee Nicole | Jan. 18, 2024 |
| 47 | Twisted Hate | Ana Huang | Jan. 27, 2022 |
| 48 | Loving Romeo (Magnolia Falls 1) | Laura Pavlov | Jan. 18, 2024 |
| 49 | Twisted Lies | Ana Huang | Jun. 30, 2022 |
| 50 | Taming Seraphine | Gigi Styx | Dec. 26, 2023 |
Top 50 Self-Published Print Books
| Rank | Title | Author | Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Don’t Believe Everything You Think: Why Your Thinking Is the Beginning & End of Suffering (Beyond Suffering 1) | Joseph Nguyen | Mar. 28, 2022 |
| 2 | The Adventure Challenge: Couples Edition | Staff of the Adventure Challenge | Jan. 1, 2020 |
| 3 | The Lost Book of Herbal Remedies | Claude Davis | Jan. 1, 2019 |
| 4 | Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse Duet 1) | H.D. Carlton | Aug. 13, 2021 |
| 5 | Where’s Molly | H.D. Carlton | Feb. 16, 2024 |
| 6 | NO GRID Survival Projects | Claude Davis | Dec. 1, 2021 |
| 7 | Hunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse Duet 2) | H.D. Carlton | Jan. 25, 2022 |
| 8 | The Shadow Work Journal | Keila Shaheen | Nov. 2, 2021 |
| 9 | Harvey the Heart Had Too Many Farts | Jane Bexley | Nov. 24, 2020 |
| 10 | Livingood Daily: Your 21-Day Guide to Experience Real Health | Dr. Livingood | Dec. 24, 2017 |
| 11 | The Lost Ways | Claude Davis | Jan. 1, 2016 |
| 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 Survival Medicine Handbook: The Essential Guide for When Help Is NOT on the Way | Joseph Alton, MD | Aug. 24, 2021 |
| 14 | A Little SPOT of Emotion (8 Book Box Set) | Diane Alber | Apr. 29, 2020 |
| 15 | The Holistic Guide to Wellness: Herbal Protocols for Common Ailments | Nicole Apelian | Mar. 20, 2023 |
| 16 | Back Mechanic | Stuart McGill | Sep. 30, 2015 |
| 17 | A Little SPOT of Emotion (8 Plush Toys with Feelings Book Box Set) | Diane Alber | Jul. 10, 2021 |
| 18 | The Man behind the Maps | James Niehues, Todd Bennett, Jason Blevins, Ben Farrow | Jan. 1, 2019 |
| 19 | 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 |
| 20 | The Mindf*ck Series | S.T. Abby | Apr. 3, 2019 |
| 21 | The Inner Work: An Invitation to True Freedom and Lasting Happiness | Mathew Micheletti | May 3, 2019 |
| 22 | PMP Exam Prep Simplified | Andrew Ramdayal | Jan. 4, 2021 |
| 23 | What Should Danny Do? (Power to Choose) | Adir Levy | May 17, 2017 |
| 24 | The LSAT Trainer | Mike Kim | May 17, 2022 |
| 25 | The Guerrilla’s Guide to the Baofeng Radio | NC Scout | Dec. 1, 2022 |
| 26 | The Ritual | Shantel Tessier | Dec. 1, 2021 |
| 27 | Herbally Infused and Chronically Bemused: An Herbally Infused Cookbook and Broccoli Lover’s Guide to Exceptional Elevation | Daniel Gossard | Feb. 3, 2024 |
| 28 | Our Little Adventures: Stories Featuring Foundational Language Concepts for Growing Minds | Tabitha Paige | Oct. 20, 2020 |
| 29 | The Power of Discipline: How to Use Self-Control and Mental Toughness to Achieve Your Goals | Daniel Walter | Apr. 8, 2020 |
| 30 | Meditations: Adapted for the Contemporary Reader | Marcus Aurelius | Nov. 7, 2016 |
| 31 | The Simple Path to Wealth: Your Road Map to Financial Independence and a Rich, Free Life | J.L. Collins | Jun. 18, 2016 |
| 32 | The Simplest Baby Book in the World: The Illustrated, Grab-and-Do Guide for a Healthy, Happy Baby | S.M. Gross | Nov. 16, 2021 |
| 33 | The Forager’s Guide to Wild Foods | Nicole Apelian | Jun. 21, 2021 |
| 34 | Real Food for Pregnancy: The Science and Wisdom of Optimal Prenatal Nutrition | Lily Nichols | Feb. 21, 2018 |
| 35 | The Secret Life of Sunflowers | Marta Molnar | Jul. 14, 2022 |
| 36 | Food & Snacks Coloring Book | Meg Publishing | Jan. 19, 2024 |
| 37 | Project 369: The Key to the Universe | David Kasneci | Sep. 21, 2020 |
| 38 | $100M Leads: How to Get Strangers to Want to Buy Your Stuff | Alex Hormozi | Aug. 30, 2023 |
| 39 | Recovery from Narcissistic Abuse, Gaslighting, Codependency and Complex PTSD | Linda Hill | Sep. 23, 2022 |
| 40 | Emotional Intelligence 2.0 | Travis Bradberry | Jun. 16, 2009 |
| 41 | Credence | Penelope Douglas | Jan. 13, 2020 |
| 42 | You Are an Amazing Girl | Nadia Ross | Nov. 8, 2021 |
| 43 | Chair Yoga for Seniors over 60 | Barbara Lewiss | Nov. 13, 2023 |
| 44 | How to Draw Everything: 300 Drawings of Cute Stuff, Animals, Food, Gifts, and Other Amazing Things | Emma Greene | Nov. 18, 2023 |
| 45 | Once You’re Mine (Possessing Her) | Morgan Bridges | Sep. 26, 2023 |
| 46 | A Little SPOT Emotional Regulation (49–56 Box Set) | Diane Alber | Jun. 6, 2023 |
| 47 | The Microsoft Office 365 Bible | James Holler | Dec. 11, 2022 |
| 48 | Rapid Interpretation of EKGs, Sixth Edition | Dale Dubin | Nov. 1, 2000 |
| 49 | The New Testament for Gen Z | Broseph Smith | Aug. 25, 2023 |
| 50 | Master Your Emotions: A Practical Guide to Overcome Negativity and Better Manage Your Feelings | Thibaut Meurisse | May 16, 2018 |
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.
