Publishers Weekly list of bestselling novels in the United States in the 1990s


This is a list of bestselling novels in the United States in the 1990s, as determined by Publishers Weekly. The list features the most popular novels of each year from 1990 through 1999.
The standards set for inclusion in the lists – which, for example, led to the exclusion of the novels in the Harry Potter series from the lists for the 1990s and 2000s – are currently unknown.

1990

  1. The Plains of Passage by Jean M. Auel
  2. Four Past Midnight by Stephen King
  3. The Burden of Proof by Scott Turow
  4. Memories of Midnight by Sidney Sheldon
  5. Message from Nam by Danielle Steel
  6. The Bourne Ultimatum by Robert Ludlum
  7. The Stand by Stephen King
  8. Lady Boss by Jackie Collins
  9. The Witching Hour by Anne Rice
  10. September by Rosamunde Pilcher

    1991

  11. Scarlett by Alexandra Ripley
  12. The Sum of All Fears by Tom Clancy
  13. Needful Things by Stephen King
  14. No Greater Love by Danielle Steel
  15. Heartbeat by Danielle Steel
  16. The Doomsday Conspiracy by Sidney Sheldon
  17. The Firm by John Grisham
  18. Night Over Water by Ken Follett
  19. Remember by Barbara Taylor Bradford
  20. Loves Music, Loves to Dance by Mary Higgins Clark

    1992

  21. Dolores Claiborne by Stephen King
  22. The Pelican Brief by John Grisham
  23. Gerald's Game by Stephen King
  24. Mixed Blessings by Danielle Steel
  25. Jewels by Danielle Steel
  26. The Stars Shine Down by Sidney Sheldon
  27. The Tale of the Body Thief by Anne Rice
  28. Mexico by James A. Michener
  29. Waiting to Exhale by Terry McMillan
  30. All Around the Town by Mary Higgins Clark

    1993

  31. The Bridges of Madison County by Robert James Waller
  32. The Client by John Grisham
  33. Slow Waltz in Cedar Bend by Robert James Waller
  34. Without Remorse by Tom Clancy
  35. Nightmares & Dreamscapes by Stephen King
  36. Vanished by Danielle Steel
  37. Lasher by Anne Rice
  38. Pleading Guilty by Scott Turow
  39. Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel
  40. The Scorpio Illusion by Robert Ludlum

    1994

  41. The Chamber by John Grisham
  42. Debt of Honor by Tom Clancy
  43. The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield
  44. The Gift by Danielle Steel
  45. Insomnia by Stephen King
  46. Politically Correct Bedtime Stories by James Finn Garner
  47. Wings by Danielle Steel
  48. Accident by Danielle Steel
  49. The Bridges of Madison County by Robert James Waller
  50. Disclosure by Michael Crichton

    1995

  51. The Rainmaker by John Grisham
  52. The Lost World by Michael Crichton
  53. Five Days in Paris by Danielle Steel
  54. The Christmas Box by Richard Paul Evans
  55. Lightning by Danielle Steel
  56. The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield
  57. Rose Madder by Stephen King
  58. Silent Night by Mary Higgins Clark
  59. Politically Correct Holiday Stories by James Finn Garner
  60. The Horse Whisperer by Nicholas Evans

    1996

  61. The Runaway Jury by John Grisham
  62. Executive Orders by Tom Clancy
  63. Desperation by Stephen King
  64. Airframe by Michael Crichton
  65. The Regulators by Richard Bachman
  66. Malice by Danielle Steel
  67. Silent Honor by Danielle Steel
  68. Primary Colors by Anonymous
  69. Cause of Death by Patricia Cornwell
  70. The Tenth Insight by James Redfield

    1997

  71. The Partner by John Grisham
  72. Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier
  73. The Ghost by Danielle Steel
  74. The Ranch by Danielle Steel
  75. Special Delivery by Danielle Steel
  76. Unnatural Exposure by Patricia Cornwell
  77. The Best Laid Plans by Sidney Sheldon
  78. Pretend You Don't See Her by Mary Higgins Clark
  79. Cat and Mouse by James Patterson
  80. Hornet's Nest by Patricia Cornwell

    1998

  81. The Street Lawyer by John Grisham
  82. Rainbow Six by Tom Clancy
  83. Bag of Bones by Stephen King
  84. A Man in Full by Tom Wolfe
  85. Mirror Image by Danielle Steel
  86. The Long Road Home by Danielle Steel
  87. The Klone and I by Danielle Steel
  88. Point of Origin by Patricia Cornwell
  89. Paradise by Toni Morrison
  90. All Through the Night by Mary Higgins Clark

    1999

  91. The Testament by John Grisham
  92. Hannibal by Thomas Harris
  93. Assassins by Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye
  94. by Terry Brooks
  95. Timeline by Michael Crichton
  96. Hearts in Atlantis by Stephen King
  97. Apollyon by Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye
  98. The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon by Stephen King
  99. Irresistible Forces by Danielle Steel
  100. Tara Road by Maeve Binchy