So Who Really Picks the NYT Best Sellers? 'Cause It Ain’t Just Sales, Sis.

🕵🏾‍♀️ The List Is Secret—On Purpose

The New York Times pulls data from a secret mix of bookstores. We’re talking:

📚 Indie bookstores (shoutout to Black-owned bookshops!)

🏬 Big chains like Barnes & Noble

🧳 Airport stores (yes, really)

💻 Online spots (Amazon… duh)

🎁 Randoms like gift shops and university stores

But NOT Target. NOT Walmart. And definitely not that cousin of yours running sales from the trunk. 😅

📉 What They Don’t Want You To Know:

They won’t tell us exactly which stores count (they like to keep it mysterious—probably to block shady bulk-buy schemes 👀).

If a book gets too many bulk orders (even from book clubs or giveaways), it can get hit with a † on the list, like a scarlet letter for “you tried it.”

🗣️ So Why Does This Matter?

Because some of the dopest stories—especially from Black authors—don’t always move through these “approved” channels. Our faves might be moving thousands of copies at events, book tours, or even straight from their websites… and still get no NYT love.

That’s why supporting Black authors means more than just buying the book. We gotta show up, spread the word, and when we can—buy from the bookstores that count.

💡 Pro Tip for the Lit Fam:

Wanna help your fave hit those charts?

👉🏾 Grab your copy from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or a known indie bookstore—preferably one that’s part of the American Booksellers Association.

And always, always run them reviews up. 🔥