The Most Popular Authors of 2024, According to Libby (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

A photo of James Patterson and Colleen Hoover.Photo:Denise Truscello/Getty; Charles Sykes/Bravo via Getty

Denise Truscello/Getty; Charles Sykes/Bravo via Getty

Who was at the top of everyone’s reading list this year? The hits may surprise you!

Taking the top spot wasJames Patterson, who penned several titles that were released this year includingLies He Told Me,The House of Cross— which forms the basis for an upcoming Amazon Prime show — andTiger, Tiger, a biography onTiger Woods.

The bestselling author of novels likeAlong Came a SpiderandKiss the Girlsalso recently announced that he was partnering up withBill Clintonto write a new thriller calledThe First Gentleman. Their newest follows the United States’ first female president whose husband is on trial for murder.

Bonnie Jo Mount/The Washington Post/Getty

Sarah J. Maas— who penned the popularromantasyA Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) series— was the runner-up of most popular authors this year. She publishedHouse of Flame and Shadow, the third installment of herCrescent Cityseries in January and is expected to release another book in her iconicACOTARseries next year.

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Rounding out the top three isColleen Hoover, the bestselling author of theIt Ends With Usseries. The first book was adapted into a hot-button film starringBlake LivelyandJustin Baldoni. That movie’s release in August likely helped fuel her popularity despite not coming out with a new book this year. (Her last release wasNever, Neverin 2023.)

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Next came David Baldacci, who is known for his suspense novels and legal thrillers. He released his new bookTo Die Forin November.Kristin Hannah, known for her historical fiction novels likeThe Women,The NightingaleandThe Four Windstook the fifth spot on the list.

Rounding out the list isStephen King, the bestselling horror, suspense and science fiction writer whose novels includingCarrie,The ShiningandThe Shawshank Redemptionbecame fan-favorite cult movies. This year, he came out with short story collectionYou Like It Darkerand is set to publish his new novelNever Flinchin May 2025.

source: people.com