Publishers Weekly list of bestselling novels in the United States in the 1980s

This is a list of bestselling novels in the United States in the 1980s, as determined by Publishers Weekly. The list features the most popular novels of each year from 1980 through 1989.

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.

1980

The Covenant by James A. Michener

The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum

Rage of Angels by Sidney Sheldon

Princess Daisy by Judith Krantz

Firestarter by Stephen King

The Key to Rebecca by Ken Follett

Random Winds by Belva Plain

The Devil's Alternative by Frederick Forsyth

The Fifth Horseman by Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre

The Spike by Arnaud de Borchgrave and Robert Moss

1981

Noble House by James Clavell

The Hotel New Hampshire by John Irving

Cujo by Stephen King

An Indecent Obsession by Colleen McCullough

Gorky Park by Martin Cruz Smith

Masquerade by Kit Williams

Goodbye, Janette by Harold Robbins

The Third Deadly Sin by Lawrence Sanders

The Glitter Dome by Joseph Wambaugh

No Time for Tears by Cynthia Freeman

1982

E.T., The Extraterrestrial by William Kotzwinkle

Space by James A. Michener

The Parsifal Mosaic by Robert Ludlum

Master of the Game by Sidney Sheldon

Mistral's Daughter by Judith Krantz

The Valley of Horses by Jean M. Auel

Different Seasons by Stephen King

North and South by John Jakes

2010: Odyssey Two by Arthur C. Clarke

The Man from St. Petersburg by Ken Follett

1983

Return of the Jedi by James Kahn

Poland by James A. Michener

Pet Sematary by Stephen King

The Little Drummer Girl by John le Carré

Christine by Stephen King

Changes by Danielle Steel

The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco

White Gold Wielder by Stephen R. Donaldson

Hollywood Wives by Jackie Collins

The Lonesome Gods by Louis L'Amour

1984

The Talisman by Stephen King and Peter Straub

The Aquitaine Progression by Robert Ludlum

The Sicilian by Mario Puzo

Love and War by John Jakes

The Butter Battle Book by Dr. Seuss

"...And Ladies of the Club" by Helen Hooven Santmyer

The Fourth Protocol by Frederick Forsyth

Full Circle by Danielle Steel

The Life and Hard Times of Heidi Abromowitz by Joan Rivers

Lincoln by Gore Vidal

1985

The Mammoth Hunters by Jean M. Auel

Texas by James A. Michener

Lake Wobegon Days by Garrison Keillor

If Tomorrow Comes by Sidney Sheldon

Skeleton Crew by Stephen King

Secrets by Danielle Steel

Contact by Carl Sagan

Lucky by Jackie Collins

Family Album by Danielle Steel

Jubal Sackett by Louis L'Amour

1986

It by Stephen King

Red Storm Rising by Tom Clancy and Larry Bond

Whirlwind by James Clavell

The Bourne Supremacy by Robert Ludlum

Hollywood Husbands by Jackie Collins

Wanderlust by Danielle Steel

I'll Take Manhattan by Judith Krantz

Last of the Breed by Louis L'Amour

The Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy

A Perfect Spy by John le Carré

1987

The Tommyknockers by Stephen King

Patriot Games by Tom Clancy

Kaleidoscope by Danielle Steel

Misery by Stephen King

Leaving Home by Garrison Keillor

Windmills of the Gods by Sidney Sheldon

Presumed Innocent by Scott Turow

Fine Things by Danielle Steel

Heaven and Hell by John Jakes

The Eyes of the Dragon by Stephen King

1988

The Cardinal of the Kremlin by Tom Clancy

The Sands of Time by Sidney Sheldon

Zoya by Danielle Steel

The Icarus Agenda by Robert Ludlum

Alaska by James A. Michener

Till We Meet Again by Judith Krantz

The Queen of the Damned by Anne Rice

To Be the Best by Barbara Taylor Bradford

One by Richard Bach

Mitla Pass by Leon Uris

1989

Clear and Present Danger by Tom Clancy

The Dark Half by Stephen King

Daddy by Danielle Steel

Star by Danielle Steel

Caribbean by James A. Michener

The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie

The Russia House by John le Carré

The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett

California Gold by John Jakes

While My Pretty One Sleeps by Mary Higgins Clark

1980s in the United States

1980s books