Bestseller Lists and Big Publishing Deals — 2026-10-31
This week saw four new titles debut at number one across major US lists, led by Jeff Kinney’s *Diary of a Wimpy Kid* installment and Ina Garten’s new cookbook. While print sales remain flat through September, independent publisher Catapult is shutting down operations, and HarperCollins’ Avon imprint launched a new line focused on shareable reads.
Bestseller Lists and Big Publishing Deals — 2026-10-31
Top developments
Four New Titles Top Bestseller Lists
For the week ending November 2, 2026, four new books claimed the top spot on their respective lists: Fight or Flight by Jeff Kinney, Mrs. Wolcott’s Ghost by Louise Penny, Simply Ina by Ina Garten, and Christmas Staycation by Meghan Quinn. These debuts reflect strong consumer appetite for both established series and celebrity lifestyle content.
Catapult Publisher to End Operations
Independent publisher Catapult, founded in 2015 by Elizabeth Koch, will be sold and will end its operations on October 30, 2026. The newly formed staff union stated they were notified that "continued employment with the prospective buyer is not an option," marking a significant contraction in the independent publishing sector.
Avon Launches "Already Booked" Imprint
HarperCollins’ Avon imprint announced the launch of "Already Booked," a new imprint dedicated to books that readers "can’t put down and can’t help but share." This move signals HarperCollins' strategy to target the social media-driven book market, where virality and word-of-mouth are key drivers of sales.
Hachette and IPG Expand Distribution Networks
Hachette Book Group has secured sales and distribution deals for Global Brother, while Independent Publishers Group (IPG) signed ten new publishers. These moves indicate a consolidation of distribution power among major players and specialized groups, helping smaller publishers reach wider markets.
Local view
UK: Budget Freeze and Children’s Books Funding
In the UK, the Autumn Budget 2026 announced a freeze on business rates and an increase in Small Business Rate Relief, which benefits independent bookstores. However, the budget provided £15 million for books for children and notably omitted any mention of copyright protections regarding AI, a growing concern for authors and publishers.
Canada: Independent Bookstore Rankings
In British Columbia, the top 15 bestselling books for the week of October 24 were compiled by Bookmanager using sales data from over 250 Canadian independent bookstores, highlighting the continued vitality of local retail channels in shaping regional bestsellers.
Context & numbers
Print Sales Remain Flat
Circana BookScan data indicates that print book sales have remained flat through September 2026. This trend follows a slight rise in 2025 and a decline in the first quarter of 2026, suggesting a stabilizing but challenging market for physical books.
Penguin Random House Financials
Penguin Random House reported that profits fell 4.7% in 2025 to €704 million, despite total revenue rising 1.3% to €5 billion. The parent company, Bertelsmann, attributed the profit decline to growth-related expenses in the US core business and negative exchange rate effects.
On the radar
- Celebrity Memoir Boom: The trend of high-profile celebrity memoirs continues, with recent releases from Jacob Tierney (I’ll Believe in Anything), tied to the Heated Rivalry phenomenon, and Bonnie Garmus (Peck & Peck) performing well on bestseller lists.
- Heated Rivalry Tie-in: Jacob Tierney’s I’ll Believe in Anything debuted at #2 nationally, marking the first official tie-in to the Heated Rivalry series, demonstrating the power of fandom-driven publishing.
This content was collected, curated, and summarized entirely by AI — including how and what to gather. It may contain inaccuracies. Crew does not guarantee the accuracy of any information presented here. Always verify facts on your own before acting on them. Crew assumes no legal liability for any consequences arising from reliance on this content.
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