There are a lot of different factors that go into grabbing a spot on the New York Times Bestsellers list. According to Start a Wildfire, the coveted position depends on the opinion of the editors; it's not always because the book sold enough copies to qualify for a list as beloved as the New York Times'.
Celebrities have an easy shot at making the New York Times Bestsellers list because their name is well-known and fans typically want to read what they have to say. There's also more media coverage and promotional opportunities for celebrities. Despite it all, celebs still need to produce an intriguing and eye-catching book, which is exactly what these 10 celebrities did.
11 Dear Girls By Ali Wong
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Dear Girls: Intimate Tales, Untold Secrets & Advice for Living Your Best Life was written by writer, comedian, and actress Ali Wong.
The book released in October of 2019 and was a heartfelt, albeit hilarious, book dedicated to her two daughters. Wong hilariously teaches her girls (and readers) about dating, working, and her own relationship with their dad. The book is witty and warm with a touch of Wong's iconic sass.
9 Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood By Trevor Noah
Published by Penguin Random House in November of 2016, Born a Crime is still a worldwide success that's continuously being read by old and fans of Noah.
Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood is comedian Trevor Noah's autobiography detailing his life growing up in South Africa during the apartheid. Born to a white father and an African American mother, Trevor's mixed-race was crime-worthy during his childhood, yet he writes in a way that shows respect and love for his hardworking mother.
8 Inside Out By Demi Moore
Inside Out is Demi Moore's long-awaited memoir. The actress' words came out in September of 2019 and quickly made the New York Times Bestsellers list due to the drama surrounding it.
Demi speaks about her relationship with addiction, her children, and the famous men in her life. Her marriage to Ashton Kutcher was detailed in Inside Out, leading to plenty of people buying the book to read more about the highly publicized relationship in itself.
7 The Magnolia Story By Chip & Joanna Gaines
Chip and Joanna Gaines made a splash in the home decor world after their HGTV show Fixer Upper. Not only did husband and wife duo Chip and Joanna have an amazing taste with the homes they flipped but their relationship is widely adored.
It only made sense for the couple to release a book in 2016 called The Magnolia Story. The book is a story about their relationship and how they got to be where they are today. They discuss flipping houses, their biggest mistakes in the business, and memories that shape their marriage and parenting styles. Due to Chip and Joanna's popularity, their first book shot to the top of the NY Times Bestsellers list.
6 Why Not Me? By Mindy Kaling
Mindy Kaling can do it all. She acts, writes, produces, and she's a single mother. She's a one-woman show who deserves more credit for her incredible work.
Back in 2015, Mindy released Why Not Me? — a witty and hilarious book of essays about Mindy's life. The book did so well, it stayed on the NY Times Bestsellers list for 16 weeks. If anything, the book proves that Mindy fought hard to make her way in Hollywood, despite the many obstacles thrown her way.
5 Modelland By Tyra Banks
Tyra Banks isn't just a model and TV personality, she's also an author! Unlike other celebs on this list, Tyra's book Modelland isn't a memoir or an autobiography — it's a young adult novel.
Modelland is about a young girl named Tookie De La Crème who attends a boarding school called Modelland, where people can learn from the best to become the best. Along the way, Tookie meets other unique looking students and creates a bond; that is until secrets release about why they're really there... The 2011 book has mixed reviews but still made the bestsellers list.
4 Superficial By Andy Cohen
Andy Cohen has three books to his name. His first two books The Andy Cohen Diaries and Most Talkative hit the NY Times Bestsellers list with ease, making his third book Superficial long-awaited.
The memoir is a follow-up to his novel The Andy Cohen Diaries and detailed even more personal essays from the reality TV god. Andy takes his readers on a ride of their lives through his work and stories that his "publicist" wouldn't approve of.
3 The Last Black Unicorn By Tiffany Haddish
Comedian and actress Tiffany Haddish's celebrity shot up overnight. The hilarious starlet talks about her experiences in life through her book The Last Black Unicorn.
The book released in 2017 and made the NY Times Bestsellers list thanks to Tiffany's incredible storytelling. She talks about her hard childhood growing up in a poor neighborhood and how she survived by making people laugh. Fans of Tiffany's work can almost hear her speaking while reading the book. It's authentic and inspiring.
2 Over the Top: A Raw Journey to Self-Love By JVN
Jonathan Van Ness (JVN) is the shooting star from Netflix's Queer Eye. His bubbly personality and charism shot his stardom to the top. It only made sense for JVN to write a book about his life and what got him to this point of neverending self-love and gratitude.
In Over The Top, JVN asks himself how he became so over the top growing up in the Midwest and what led to his acceptance. His incredible mindset and capability is inspiring for people of all ages — even if they've never seen the show.
1 We're Going To Need More Wine By Gabrielle Union
We're Going to Need More Wine is Gabrielle Union's book of personal essays that hit home. The true stores range from topics of gender, working in front of the camera, race, and beyond.
It's beautifully done and is an inspiring read for women. The NY Times Bestselling book is both truthful and vulnerable, hitting home for many readers through Gabrielle's words.