| 100% | ABEL | 4 | "Kane and ___" (best-selling novel of 1980) |
| 75% | CHOCOLATE | 9 | Best selling novel and film: "Like Water for __" |
| 71% | MARYBETHKEANE | 13 | Best-selling author of four novels, including 17-Across and 40-Across (3 wds.) |
| 67% | COMMERCE | 8 | Buying and selling of goods |
| 65% | COMMERCE | 8 | The activity of buying and selling goods |
| 62% | LETTE | 5 | Kathy —, author of novels Best Laid Plans and Courting Trouble |
| 62% | JOYLUCKCLUB | 11 | Best-selling novel of 1989, with "The" |
| 61% | RHYS | 4 | Jean —, author of novels Good Morning, Midnight and Wide Sargasso Sea |
| 61% | JEANRHYS | 8 | Author of the novels Good Morning, Midnight and Wide Sargasso Sea |
| 61% | GRAY | 4 | "The Picture of Dorian ___," 1980 gothic and philosophical novel by Oscar Wilde |
| 60% | HOLLYBLACK | 10 | Best-selling author of the "Novels of Elfhame" and "Folk of the Air" "romantasy" series: 2 wds. |
| 60% | P8ONPLACE | 9 | Racy best-selling novel of 1956 |
| 60% | THEPOLICE | 9 | Winner of back-to-back Best Rock Instrumental Grammys in 1980 and 1981 |
| 60% | GALE | 4 | Patrick —, author of novels A Perfectly Good Man and Notes from an Exhibition |
| 59% | THEREWERENONE | 13 | "And Then ___," Agatha Christie's best selling novel published in 1939 about a group of strangers who arrive as guests on a private island: 3 wds. |
| 59% | KOOMSON | 7 | Dorothy —, author of novels My Best Friend's Girl and The Ice Cream Girls |
| 57% | BALDACCI | 8 | Best-selling author David who writes the “King and Maxwell” novels |
| 57% | STEPHENKING | 11 | Best-selling author of 25-, 36-, and 44-Across: 2 wds. |
| 57% | JANETMOCK | 9 | Transgender rights activist and best-selling author of "Redefining Realness" |
| 55% | LAID | 4 | "The Best ___ Plans," 1997 novel by Sidney Sheldon which is the story of Oliver Russel and Leslie Stewart |
| 55% | GODS | 4 | "The Food of the ___ and How It Came to Earth," 1904 sci-fi novel by H.G. Wells |
| 54% | DANIELLESTEEL | 13 | Best-selling author of more than 140 novels, including 2017's "Past Perfect": 2 wds. |
| 54% | STEPHENKING | 11 | Best-selling author of more than 50 novels, including 2017's "Sleeping Beauties": 2 wds. |
| 54% | RICKRIORDAN | 11 | Best-selling author of fantasy novels whose main characters are descended from gods: 2 wds. |
| 53% | ALBUSDUMBLEDORE | 15 | School head in a best-selling series of novels |
| 53% | ISLAND | 6 | "The ___ of Doctor Moreau," 1896 science fiction novel by H.G. Wells that follows a scientist and his hybrid creations |
| 53% | CHESS | 5 | Best-selling board game of all time, ahead of Checkers (#2), Backgammon (#3) and Monopoly (#4) |
| 53% | JOHNGRISHAM | 11 | Best-selling author of more than 30 novels, including 2017's "The Rooster Bar": 2 wds. |
| 53% | NORA | 4 | ___ Roberts, author known for best-selling romance novels like "Whiskey Beach" and "Blue Smoke" |
| 53% | AMEN | 4 | Multiple NYT best-selling author and Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, Daniel ___ |