Current UK Top 10 Best-Selling Books
(Ranked by overall sales across print formats in the latest Sunday Times chart) (The Times)
- Always Remember — Charlie Mackesy
A reflective and beautifully illustrated book about connection, creativity and kindness from the author of The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse. (The Times) - Diddly Squat: The Farmer’s Dog — Jeremy Clarkson
A humorous memoir from the broadcaster and farmer, mixing rural life stories with heartfelt reflections. (The Times) - When Gavin Met… — (Title truncated in chart data)
(Specific subtitle wasn’t available in the public preview, but it’s among the high-performing new hardbacks on the current list.) (The Times) - The Housemaid — Freida McFadden
A long-running bestseller and thriller that dominated UK readership throughout 2025; it also was the most read book on Kindle in 2025. (inkl) - The Impossible Fortune — Richard Osman
The latest in the Thursday Murder Club series, continuing the hugely popular cosy-mystery franchise that topped 2025 sales charts. (The Guardian) - Frankly — Nicola Sturgeon
The former First Minister’s memoir hit number one on non-fiction charts and remains a strong seller across formats. (Wikipedia) - Sunrise on the Reaping — Suzanne Collins
A Hunger Games spin-off that has reclaimed traction in children’s and YA charts. (The Bookseller) - Brimstone — Callie Hart
A romantasy sequel that’s been performing well globally and is charting in the UK as genre fiction’s popularity continues. (Wikipedia) - Quicksilver — Callie Hart
The first in the Fae & Alchemy trilogy and a viral BookTok success story — still selling strongly a year after its debut. (Wikipedia) - Other charting titles
While full weekly position data beyond #9 isn’t fully publicly released without subscription, sources like Waterstones’ bestseller list and Amazon UK bestsellers show ongoing strong sales for a mix of thrillers, memoirs and stylish fiction across formats. (Waterstones)
What’s Driving UK Book Sales Right Now
1. Thrillers & Crime Fiction
Psychological thrillers and cosy mysteries continue to dominate print and ebook charts: The Housemaid (McFadden) and Richard Osman’s Thursday Murder Club books have enjoyed consistent chart-topping sales throughout 2025 and into 2026. (inkl)
2. Memoirs & Non-Fiction
High-profile memoirs like Frankly by Nicola Sturgeon are performing well — topping multiple charts including Amazon UK and Waterstones and sustaining momentum across print and digital formats. (Wikipedia)
3. Viral & Social Media Influence
Books like Quicksilver and Brimstone show how BookTok / social sharing can propel romance-fantasy titles into bestseller territory long after initial release. (Wikipedia)
4. Children’s & YA
Children’s titles like Suzanne Collins’ Sunrise on the Reaping aren’t just charting in their own category — they often cross over into the general top-sellers due to franchise popularity and school holiday sales. (The Bookseller)
Trends & Insights
Genre dominance: Crime thrillers and romantasy are especially strong in current UK sales. (inkl)
Memoirs with personality: High-profile political and cultural memoirs (e.g., Frankly) are resonating with adult readers. (Wikipedia)
Long tails: Older titles with strong word-of-mouth (e.g., The Housemaid) remain in bestseller lists well beyond publication year. (inkl)
How the List Is Compiled
The Sunday Times bestseller list is the UK’s official weekly book sales chart, compiled from Nielsen BookScan’s Total Consumer Market (TCM) data covering print formats — and is widely regarded as the industry benchmark. (The Times)
Here’s a case-study and commentary breakdown of the Top 10 best-selling books in the UK right now — looking at current sales trends, bestselling titles from the latest Sunday Times UK charts, examples of hit books and what commentators are saying about the state of the UK book market.
Case Study 1 — Current UK Top-Selling Books
Based on the Sunday Times best-selling list this week (which tracks print and major format sales across the UK), here are the leading sellers right now (note: full chart positions sometimes change weekly) — showcasing a mix of memoirs, celebrity titles, humour, and strong fiction: (The Times)
- Always Remember — Charlie Mackesy
A reflective illustrated book from the creator of The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse, resonating with readers seeking comfort and inspiration. (The Times) - Diddly Squat: The Farmer’s Dog — Jeremy Clarkson
A humorous memoir by the well-known broadcaster about life on his Herefordshire farm, appealing to fans of Clarkson’s personality and rural life narratives. (The Times) - When Gavin Met… (title partially truncated in public charts)
A high-selling new release, likely buoyed by author profile or strong launch marketing — showing how engaging narratives and character-led books still drive weekly sales. (The Times)
4–10. Various fiction and non-fiction titles
Crime and thriller books (e.g., Richard Osman’s The Impossible Fortune), psychological thrillers like The Housemaid, and popular memoirs also continue to sell strongly in UK supermarkets and bookshops. (The Times)
Trends reflected in this list:
- Broad appeal memoirs and illustrated keepsakes do well across demographics. (The Times)
- Celebrity authors and media figures often top charts shortly after release. (The Times)
- Fiction remains dominated by crime, thriller and accessible literary titles, reflecting long-standing UK reading habits. (The Times)
Case Study 2 — 2025 Yearly Performers Driving the Charts
While current charts are weekly snapshots, several books have continued to sell strongly throughout 2025 and into 2026 — influencing what’s “best-selling right now”:
Richard Osman’s The Impossible Fortune
This title topped the UK’s 2025 annual bestsellers list, selling hundreds of thousands of copies and helping cement the Thursday Murder Club series as a consistent chart performer. (The Guardian)
Commentary: Osman’s blend of cosy mystery and character-driven plots continues to resonate with UK readers month after month, not just at launch.
Freida McFadden’s The Housemaid
Another long-running bestseller, this psychological thriller dominated charts throughout 2025, appealing to fans of page-turning suspense and binge reading. (The Times)
These longer-term sellers demonstrate that beyond weekly chart leaders, titles with word-of-mouth momentum retain strong positions in cumulative sales. (The Times)
Comments & Industry Perspectives
Genre Popularity
Commentators note that crime fiction and psychological thrillers dominate UK readership trends, while fantasy and “romantasy” continue to grow thanks to BookTok / social media buzz and reader communities — particularly for series like Rebecca Yarros’s works (e.g., Onyx Storm). (The Guardian)
Memoirs and Celebrity Influence
Books by well-known figures — from memoirists to TV personalities and public figures — frequently break into bestseller lists upon release. For example, memoirs such as Nicola Sturgeon’s Frankly performed strongly across UK charts, debuting at the top in multiple formats. (Wikipedia)
Shifts from Non-Fiction to Fiction
Data shows fiction currently outpacing non-fiction in weekly and yearly sales overall, with readers seeking escapism and story-led content, while nonfiction popularity varies more with seasonal events or notable author releases. (The Guardian)
Why These Lists Matter
- Weekly bestseller lists like The Sunday Times reflect real current consumer purchases across the UK book market. (The Times)
- They provide insights into cultural and reading trends, including readers’ preferences toward humour, memoir, suspense, and emotionally resonant fiction. (The Times)
- Best-selling titles often feed each other’s success: social media buzz and critical praise can sustain sales long after launch week — as seen with Osman and McFadden. (The Guardian)
Top Trends Shaping UK Book Sales
| Trend | Insight |
|---|---|
| Crime & Thriller Dominance | Series like Thursday Murder Club keep fiction sales high. (The Guardian) |
| Celebrity Memoirs | Public figures’ memoirs can hit top spots quickly. (Wikipedia) |
| Social Buzz Influence | BookTok and online communities help titles sustain broader interest. (The Guardian) |
| Broad Appeal Illustrated/Gift Books | Titles like Mackesy’s continue to chart due to visual and emotional appeal. (The Times) |