Look to Last Summer for the Hot Titles of This Summer

The media has made several stabs at divining what will be the surprise hit of the summer, but a “debut” mystery that was released in April got by everyone, until the author’s true name was revealed.

The ebook version of  The Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galbraith (aka, J.K. Rowling) (Hachette/Mulholland) shoots to #1 on the new USA Today best seller list.

Meanwhile, some of the hot books of this summer were actually published last year.

The leader, of course, is Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl, (RH/Crown), now at #7 after 58 weeks on the NYT hardcover best seller list (a paperback release date still hasn’t been announced). Most libraries have whittled down the wait time for it to just a few weeks and a couple have practically, but not quite, wiped out holds by buying over 650 copies. Holds also continue on Flynn’s earlier titles, Sharp Objects and Dark Places (the movie adaptation of the latter may make it to screens before Gone Girl. Reports say filming is set to begin next month with stars Charlize Theron, Chloe Moretz, and Nicholas Hoult).

Three other surprise hits from last summer have been on the trade paperback list since their spring release in that format  and continue to show holds in libraries.

Beautiful Ruins, Trade Pbk.   Where'd You Go, Bernadette, Trade Pbk   The Light Between Oceans, Trade Pbk

Beautiful RuinsJess Walter, (Harper Perennial) — Note that the audio (HarperAudio), which was declared the best of the year by Audible, is also showing holds.

Where’d You Go, Bernadette, (Hachette/Back Bay; Hachette Audio; Thorndike)

The Light Between Oceans, M.L. Stedman (S&S/Scribner; Thorndike)

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