OpenBook shares their insight into the top books on their fiction, nonfiction, and children’s bestseller lists from November, plus a look at what international authors are selling well in China.

By Erin L. Cox, Publisher | @erinlcox

In October, the bestselling books in China saw a bump in sales for the new Nobel Prize for Literature winner László Krasznahorkai on the fiction list; a focus on health, wellness, and wealth in the nonfiction category; and classics like Charlotte’s Web topping the children’s list.

For November’s bestseller list, OpenBook’s report gathered from information provided by bookstores and online retailers around the country, show a boost in sales from Double 11 online promotions as well as readers concern for the state of the world.

Started in 2009, Double 11 (November 11) is often referred to as “Singles’ Day” and has turned into one of the largest shopping days of the year in China, akin to Black Friday.

Driven by the Double 11 online promotions, on the fiction list, there was an increase in sales of various classic works including Red Crag, as well as continued sales for web novels-turned-print books, The Scum Villain’s Self-Saving System (2 volumes), and new book Dawn Rebirth has had fantastic sales right out of the gate due to the popularity of the author.

In addition, the announcement that a TV series adapted from award-winning novel (in four volumes) Zhang Juzheng by Xiong Zhaozheng in October saw a boost in sales leading up to the series release.

On the nonfiction side, the top-selling books signal a need for practical advice on work, mental health, and overall well-being. Top books include Don’t worry about the future offers readers practical steps to manage anxiety about distant goals and provides actionable daily checklists to help achieve success; Lessons from Japan: A Survival Guide for the Recession Era uses Japan’s economic cycles and social transformation as case studies to help readers make wiser decisions in career choices and skill development; and Let There Be Light addresses teen mental health.

Though nonfiction isn’t all practical, with another top seller being a new edition in the If History were a Group of Cats series – If History were a Group of Cats: The Late Qing Dynasty, which was released in October. The series by renowned cartoonist Fei Zhi puts cats into historical periods and events, providing an entertaining way to learn about history.

On the children’s list, it is the sales channels and pricing that are the most helpful for sales – with content sold in online retailers that target the key audience as well as provide books at a reasonable price point topping the list, particularly those geared toward education like Mehrabian’s Rule in Comics, Chinese Children’s Illustrated Encyclopedia (Borderline Collector’s Edition).

Again, classic books – Charlotte’s Web and Guess How Much I Love – are popular as well as franchise books like The Magic School Bus series.

Below are the Top Ten of OpenBook’s bestseller lists from November 2025 with a note on how the lists are collected. The lists are separated into overall bestseller lists at the top with the bottom two lists separated out to show top books by international authors.

Fiction Bestsellers

Nonfiction Bestsellers

Children’s Bestsellers

Fiction Bestsellers by International Authors

Nonfiction Bestsellers by International Authors

Notes on the Charts

OpenBook is a privately owned industry-data research firm based in Beijing. It functions somewhat as Nielsen and NDP do from the West, and Nielsen Book Research International has worked with OpenBook in Asian operations.

With authoritative data and information resources, OpenBook is able to deliver consulting service to partners who would like to explore the Chinese book market and identify suitable partners.

At last report, OpenBook monitored more than 26,000 online and off-line bookstores.

The online channel includes digital retailers such as large self-operated online stores, platform stores, and small- and medium-sized stores.

The off-line channels include more than 5,100 bookstores. Coverage includes most of the state-owned and influential privately owned bookstores in 30 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions. Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Tibet are not included in OpenBook’s system. In 2024, OpenBook tracked around 82.66 billion RMB in sales (US$11.39 billion). Retail outlets include:

• Traditional bookstores;
• Supermarkets;
• Campus bookstores;
• “Professional” stores, said to be small stores with a specific industrial or trade focus; and
• Airport stores.

In addition, OpenBook is drawing data from online bookstores of three main types:

• The “Tmall” stores of Alibaba (Tmall is described as a marketplace of companies that create storefronts online to sell products including books)
• The “JingDong” Stores of JD.com (similar to Tmall as a marketplace of both individual companies and bookstores operated by JD.com)
• Ten independent online bookselling retailers

Mainland China has 500 or more publishers in operation today. Most of them are government-owned. Private publishers are required to generate ISBNs for their titles from a publishing company that is government-owned—which, in other words, creates a system in which all ISBNs are registered through government channels. The government approves each book published in China.