Apple Books released its September 2026 paid bestseller lists, offering a snapshot of what American readers are purchasing across both e‑books and audiobooks. The rankings reflect a diverse selection of genres, from contemporary romance to legal thrillers, and underscore the continued popularity of digital reading platforms.
Top Paid E‑Books
The paid e‑book chart is led by The Thoroughbreds by Elin Hilderbrand and Shelby Cunningham, published by Little, Brown and Company. Following closely is Jodi Picoult’s Hollow Bones from Random House Publishing Group. Neuroscientist‑author Andrew D. Huberman’s Protocols (S&S/Simon Element) takes third place, while Kathryn Stockett’s historical novel The Calamity Club (Spiegel & Grau) rounds out the top four.
Other notable entries include Richard Osman’s We Chase Shadows (Penguin Publishing Group) at number five, Lisa Jewell’s It Could Have Been Her (Atria Books) at six, and the long‑running legal series by J.D. Robb with Fury in Death (St. Martin’s Publishing Group) at seven. John Grisham’s new offering, The Law Student (JG Publishing), appears at eight, while Liane Moriarty’s Big Little Truths: Reese’s Book Club (Crown) holds the ninth spot. Sally Hepworth closes the list with Mad Mabel (St. Martin’s Publishing Group) at number ten.
Top Paid Audiobooks
In the audiobook arena, Kathryn Stockett’s The Calamity Club: A Novel (INaudio, LLC) leads the pack, demonstrating strong crossover appeal between the print and audio formats. Christian Craighead’s memoir One Man In (Unabridged) (Simon & Schuster Digital Sales) follows, and Huberman’s Protocols (Unabridged) secures the third position, reflecting continued interest in health‑focused nonfiction.
Matt Dinniman’s popular series makes a double appearance: Dungeon Crawler Carl: Dungeon Crawler Carl, Book 1 (Unabridged) (Audible) at four and Carl’s Doomsday Scenario: Dungeon Crawler Carl, Book 2 (Unabridged) (Audible) at ten. Colleen Hoover’s bestseller Verity (Unabridged) (Audible) lands at five, while James Patterson and Viola Davis team up for Judge Stone (Hachette Audio) at six.
Sally Hepworth’s Mad Mabel (Macmillan Publishing Group, LLC) appears at seven, and Allen Levi’s Theo of Golden (Unabridged) (Simon & Schuster Digital Sales) rounds out the top eight. Jodi Picoult’s Hollow Bones: A Novel (Unabridged) (Penguin Random House, LLC) secures the ninth spot, completing a list that showcases both fiction and nonfiction titles across a range of publishers.
What the Rankings Reveal
The September lists illustrate several trends. Established authors such as Picoult, Grisham and Stockett continue to dominate, suggesting that name recognition remains a powerful driver of sales. At the same time, newer voices like Huberman and Craighead demonstrate that readers are eager for fresh perspectives, particularly in health and personal development.
Audiobook consumption remains robust, with titles that blend narrative storytelling and high‑quality production pulling strong numbers. The presence of genre fiction—particularly fantasy and thriller series—highlights the growing appetite for immersive, long‑form audio experiences.
Publishers across the spectrum benefit from Apple Books’ platform, which offers a unified marketplace for both e‑books and audiobooks. The rankings provide valuable insight for authors, agents and booksellers seeking to gauge market demand and plan future releases.
Looking Ahead
As the digital reading market evolves, Apple Books’ monthly updates will continue to serve as a barometer for consumer preferences. Readers can expect a blend of familiar favorites and emerging titles to shape the next wave of bestsellers, while publishers will likely leverage these insights to fine‑tune marketing strategies and release schedules.
Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.
