| 100% | NICKHORNBY | 10 | British author who wrote "About a Boy," 16-Across, and 31-Across (2 wds.) |
| 52% | KAZUOISHIGURO | 13 | British novelist who wrote 19-Across and 31-Across and was awarded the 2017 Nobel Prize in Literature (2 wds.) |
| 51% | PHOEBEBRIDGERS | 14 | 16-Across and 31-Across singer who was nominated for a 2020 Best New Artist Grammy Award (2 wds.) |
| 51% | GILLIANFLYNN | 12 | Author who wrote the novels from which 17-Across and 29-/31-Across were adapted: 2 wds. |
| 49% | TANEHISICOATES | 14 | 16-Across and 24-Across/35-Across author who has written Black Panther and Captain America series for Marvel Comics (2 wds.) |
| 49% | RINGOSTARR | 10 | 19-Across drummer who also wrote and sang 31-Across: 2 wds. |
| 48% | ANGELINAJOLIE | 13 | Actress who stars in, wrote, directed, and coproduced 16-Across: 2 wds. |
| 48% | WALTERISAACSON | 14 | Journalist and biographer who has written books about 16-Across, 34-Across, Steve Jobs, and Elon Musk (2 wds.) |
| 47% | DONDELILLO | 10 | Author of "Libra" and "Mao II" who wrote 18-, 26-, and 35-Across: 2 wds. |
| 47% | RUDYARDKIPLING | 14 | English author who wrote the children's literature at 18- and 41-Across: 2 wds. |
| 47% | LITTLEPRINCE | 12 | "The ___," children's book written by Antoine de Saint-Exupery about a boy who leaves his tiny planet to travel the universe: 2 wds. |
| 47% | DANIELLESTEEL | 13 | American author who wrote "A Perfect Life" and is currently the bestselling author alive: 2 wds. |
| 46% | ASHLEYELSTON | 12 | "10 Blind Dates" author who wrote 18-Across and 32-Across (2 wds.) |
| 45% | STEPHENHAWKING | 14 | British scientist who performed groundbreaking work in physics and cosmology and authored "A Brief History of Time": 2 wds. |
| 45% | ALICEHOFFMAN | 12 | American novelist who has written 29 novels, including "The Dovekeepers," 14-Across, and 31-Across (2 wds.) |
| 44% | ROBERTSCOTT | 11 | British explorer who tried to beat 31-Across to the South Pole, and who didn't make it back: 2 wds. |
| 44% | KARENBLIXEN | 11 | Danish author who wrote 17-Across and 30-Across under the pen name Isak Dinesen (2 wds.) |
| 44% | STEPHENCHBOSKY | 14 | Author who wrote the film adaptation of his own "The Perks of Being a Wallflower": 2 wds. |
| 44% | ALISONBECHDEL | 13 | "Fun Home" author and cartoonist who was awarded a "genius grant" in 2014: 2 wds. |
| 44% | LOVELYRITA | 10 | A track from 15-Across, written and sung by Paul McCartney, that is about affection towards a female traffic warden: 2 wds. |
| 43% | RUTHWARE | 8 | British novelist who wrote the bestsellers "The Woman in Cabin 10," 15-Across, and 29-Across (2 wds.) |
| 43% | THEWILDROBOT | 12 | 2024 animated film featuring the voices of Pedro Pascal, 14-Across, and 31-Across about an automaton who befriends animals on a remote island (3 wds.) |
| 43% | THEALCHEMIST | 12 | Paulo Coelho novel about a boy who travels to find a treasure at the Egyptian pyramids: 2 wds. |
| 43% | FREEWILLY | 9 | 1993 film about a boy who tries to rescue a killer whale from an unscrupulous aquarium: 2 wds. |
| 42% | THELITTLELIAR | 13 | Novel by 43-Across about a boy who always tells the truth (3 wds.) |
| 42% | MARIOPUZO | 9 | Author who wrote the novel 15-Across was based on: 2 wds. |
| 42% | AMYSCHUMER | 10 | Sketch comedy performer who wrote and stars in 41-Across: 2 wds. |
| 42% | SIDNEYSHELDON | 13 | American author who wrote "If Tomorrow Comes", and won an Academy Award for "The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer": 2 wds. |
| 42% | PAIGEDAVIS | 10 | TV personality and actress who hosts 31-Across: 2 wds. |
| 42% | FRECKLEJUICE | 12 | Chapter book by 38-Across about a boy who buys a potion to change his facial features (2 wds.) |