Harry Potter, Twilight, The Hobbit, The Little Prince, The Da Vinci Code. What do these books have in common? They’re among the best-selling books of all time.

Writing a book is one thing. Making it a bestseller is another. Data analysis of thousands of published novels can reveal consistent patterns worth knowing.

In their 2016 book The Bestseller Code, researchers Jodie Archer and Matthew Jockers used machine learning to analyze approximately 5,000 novels and developed an algorithm they claim predicts New York Times bestseller status with 80–90% accuracy. Their findings, alongside broader publishing industry data, point to recurring patterns across commercially successful books.

Whether you’re writing literary fiction or commercial genre work, knowing which patterns bestsellers share can inform your approach to writing and publishing.

Check out our infographic below, which breaks down 11 key patterns found in bestselling novels.

Thousands of books are published each year — in 2015 alone, 2,714,409 books were printed in English, and that figure has continued to rise as new authors publish their work.

The publishing industry is highly competitive, and only a small fraction of new titles ever reach a bestseller list.

Most authors want to connect with a wide audience through compelling characters, vivid scenes and a solid plot. When a manuscript isn’t reaching that level, the next step is usually to revisit it with an editor or to apply the kinds of structural and stylistic approaches that have worked for successful authors.

There is no predetermined formula — if there were, everyone would follow it. But learning from the patterns that consistently appear across successful books is a reasonable starting point.

Patterns in bestselling novels

Here is a checklist of patterns and principles drawn from bestseller research that can help shape your novel and improve its chances of reaching a wide readership.

Clear, concise and coherent

In The Bestseller Code (2016), Jodie Archer and Matthew Jockers developed an algorithm they claim predicts New York Times bestseller status with 80–90% accuracy. Among their findings: books that reach the list tend to use short sentences, build dominant narratives, and favour simple vocabulary over complex or specialist language.

To make your book more readable, write in a way your target audience is familiar with. If you are targeting young adults, avoid jargon or phrasing that creates unnecessary distance.

Keep sentences short, and limit the use of semicolons and exclamation marks — though question marks work well where they fit organically.

An important way to make your book more readable is to ensure there are no spelling or grammar errors. Proofreading and editing can, therefore, be helpful steps in the publication process.

An appealing title

A novel’s title is its first impression and deserves careful thought. A strong title captures the essence of the book and sets accurate expectations for the reader.

For example, Danielle Steel’s novel Five Days in Paris immediately signals both its setting and, given Steel’s reputation, its genre.

Looking at successful novels from the past, a clear pattern emerges: many popular works begin with the word “The” — The Da Vinci Code being a well-known example.

Similarly, the word “wife” has appeared in numerous bestselling titles, such as The Silent Wife, while “husband” has featured far less frequently on the same lists.

Female leading characters

Novels with female protagonists have consistently appeared in award lists and on bestseller charts. Books like Jane Eyre, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and Gone Girl centre on complex, difficult or displaced female characters.

The Archer and Jockers analysis found that female protagonists were more common among award-winning novels than male leads, and that most memorable antagonists in popular fiction tend to be male.

Don’t lose focus

To keep readers engaged, successful authors tend to concentrate their books on one or two core topics. The Archer/Jockers data suggests that around 30% of a bestselling novel’s content focuses on its dominant theme — anything beyond two or three primary subjects risks losing the reader.

For instance, a significant portion of John Grisham’s novels focus on the legal system, while Danielle Steel is known for centring her narratives on domestic life.

Choose a genre that sells

Genre selection matters. Romance is consistently the top-selling fiction category, generating over $1 billion annually in the US market according to the Romance Writers of America, and accounting for a significant share of both print and digital bestseller lists.

Beyond genre, the Archer/Jockers data also identified themes that recur frequently in bestselling fiction: death, marriage, work and school all appeared disproportionately in successful novels.

Pick a perspective and stick to it

The narrative perspective you choose affects how readers connect with your story. The Archer/Jockers data found that the majority of bestsellers — approximately 52% — are written from a third-person perspective, with around 39% written in the first person.

First-person narration creates direct intimacy with the reader; third person offers more flexibility and scope. The right choice depends on the story. The key is to commit: shifting perspective mid-novel without purpose weakens the narrative.

An author should pick the perspective that best fits the plot and maintain it throughout.

Find a good publisher

Finding the right publisher is vital for a novel’s success. Look for a publisher with a strong track record in your genre, a capable editorial team, and meaningful distribution reach.

The US is the largest single publishing market, but it is not the only one. China, Japan, Germany, France and the UK are all significant book markets and viable targets for international rights sales.

A good book editor is also essential. This article explains what a book editor really costs.

Fiction or non-fiction

The majority of bestselling novels are works of fiction — only a small proportion are based on actual events. That said, adult non-fiction has grown substantially as a market and consistently outsells fiction in total unit terms. Both categories offer viable paths, though fiction has historically held the edge on bestseller lists.

Gender of the author

On fiction bestseller lists, female and male authors appear in roughly equal numbers. In non-fiction, male authors have historically been more prevalent, though that gap has been narrowing.

The practical takeaway is to write for the broadest possible audience unless your topic is specifically addressed to one group.

Strike while the iron is hot

Launch timing matters. Releasing a book during periods of heavy competition — the run-up to Christmas, for example, when the market is flooded with new titles — can suppress visibility.

Where possible, align your launch with relevant cultural moments. A science fiction novel with a strong fan community might benefit from timing its release around a major convention or media event in the same space.

Think about accessibility

When planning your book launch and marketing, consider how accessible your materials are to all potential readers. Ensure your author website works with screen readers, that social media posts include image descriptions, and that any in-person launch events are physically accessible to attendees with mobility needs.

Making your work available in multiple formats — audiobook, large print, and accessible digital editions — can extend your readership meaningfully without significant additional effort at the publishing stage.

Summing up

These patterns offer a data-informed starting point, not a blueprint. There is no formula that guarantees bestseller status. But understanding what successful novels have in common — in structure, style, theme and protagonist — can help you make more deliberate decisions at every stage of the writing and publishing process.