News

Kiáradt, Mélissa da Costa’s New Bestseller, and a New Book on the Balaton Underworld Top Bookline’s May Bestseller List

In May, books on public affairs, investigative accounts of organized crime, crime fiction, and romance novels proved especially popular among Hungarian readers, while several new titles also entered the top twenty. As always, Bookline’s Top 50 bestseller list brought a few surprises.

At the top of the Bookline Top 50 bestseller list was Kiáradt – A Tisza útja a győzelemig, a book chronicling the rise of the Tisza Party. Papp Gergő’s volume was followed by Mélissa da Costa’s Visszatérés, a psychological novel exploring loss, grief, and the possibility of new beginnings. The novel had led the rankings in April.

Mélissa da Costa remains one of the most popular authors among Hungarian readers. Two of her earlier books, Az ég minden kékje and Manon virágai, also secured places in the Top 50.

Debuting in third place was journalist Dezső András’s latest investigative work, A magyar tenger kalózai – Alvilág és felvilág a Balaton partján. The book examines the lesser-known side of Lake Balaton in the years following the regime change, using the stories of notorious underworld figures, gangland feuds, and business networks of the 1990s to reveal how organized crime evolved into a far more sophisticated system that often operates under the appearance of legality.

New Favorites in the Top 20

One of the biggest surprises among the top-ranked titles was Lázár by Nelio Biedermann, which finished in fourth place in May. The young Swiss author of Hungarian descent portrays the major historical turning points of the first half of the twentieth century through the story of a Hungarian aristocratic family. Spanning several generations, the novel follows the tradition of great European family sagas while creating a uniquely ominous atmosphere.

Another notable newcomer was David Szalay’s Test, which quickly climbed the rankings and reached 15th place shortly after publication. Through the story of a young Hungarian man, the novel explores identity, social mobility, and the consequences of personal choices. The book has received significant international attention, and Szalay was awarded the Booker Prize last year.

Public Affairs and Psychology Among the Front-Runners

Books dealing with public and political issues also performed strongly. The Válasz Offline Bookazine finished in 8th place, while Orbán kora by Török Gábor and Zárug Péter Farkas ranked 9th. The works of Hungarian-born Holocaust survivor and psychologist Edith Eva Eger returned to the spotlight following her recent passing. A döntés ranked 7th, while Az ajándék finished 39th on the May bestseller list.

Crime Fiction, Thrillers, and Dark Stories Dominated the Month

Crime fiction and thrillers were undoubtedly the strongest genres on May’s bestseller list. Freida McFadden’s psychological thriller A fogoly reached 5th place, jumping 38 positions in a single month. Zajácz D. Zoltán’s Ködös Balaton improved by three places compared to April and finished 6th, while Borsa Brown’s dark romantic suspense novel Jakuza – Festék a bőrön claimed 10th place.

The middle section of the list also featured numerous suspenseful and chilling reads. Shortly after publication, Szántó Dániel’s mystical novel Ködhalom gyermekei entered the Top 50 and finished in 26th place. International authors were equally well represented: Steve Cavanagh’s Gyilkos idegenek ranked 29th, Dan Brown’s A titkok titka 30th, and Christopher Berry-Dee’s Pszichopata sorozatgyilkosok 31st. Stefan Ahnhem’s Éjjeli lepkék reached 33rd place, Alice Feeney’s Higgy nekem ranked 36th, while Robin Cook’s medical thriller Bellevue finished 42nd. The Top 50 was rounded out by Tess Gerritsen’s spy novel Nyaralóvendégek in 50th place.

Is May Also the Month of Romance?

Romance novels continue to be among Bookline readers’ favorites. Interestingly, several representatives of the increasingly popular “hockey romance” subgenre appeared on the list this month. Elle Kennedy’s The Score – A pont debuted in 11th place, while two of her other novels, The Mistake – A baklövés and The Deal – Az üzlet, also made it into the Top 50. Becka Mack’s Fall with Me – Zuhany velem! likewise represents the hockey romance genre and finished 35th in May.

Among the returning favorites from previous months were Anne L. Green’s Tövisek a toszkán liliomok között (23rd place), Bauer Barbara’s historical romance A hídépítő 2. (24th place), and Eva-Maria Bast’s A Notre-Dame asszonyai. Karen Swan’s series finale Éjféli titok ranked 44th.

No Bestseller List Without Lifestyle and Children’s Books

Lifestyle titles once again played an important role in the Bookline Top 50. In May, Az egészség tanulható by Gergely Anna and Makra Milán finished in 12th place, offering practical health and lifestyle advice based on the latest scientific research. James Clear’s Atomi szokások also remained highly popular, reaching 13th place, while Giulia Enders’s Testünk jelzései ranked 41st.

In the children’s category, Bartos Erika continued to be a dominant presence, with her books appearing in four separate positions on the list. One standout title was Bajzáth Mária’s Kertünk népmeséi, which ranked 16th. Through folktales, legends, and myths, the book introduces young readers to the wonders of the natural world. In 20th place was Minden gyerek kicsi kincs, a collaborative work by Palya Bea, Szabó T. Anna, and Gyurkó Szilvia, which uses poems, songs, and rhymes to help children develop a healthy and secure body image. Another potential summer favorite for beginning readers is Bella Swift’s Csipesz, a tacsi szörfözik, which finished the month in 47th place.

More news
© 2026

Libri Bookline Zrt.

Good Life Books is a worldwide publisher of bestselling books on self-improvement, healthy living, psychology and spirituality. A balanced, healthy harmony of our physical body, mind and spiritual self is at the heart of the publisher’s holistic approach. Its mission is to empower as many people as possible with self-knowledge. One of the major challenges of our time is the unity of physical and mental health, the discovery of paths to self-knowledge, which is an important prerequisite for the development and functioning of a creative and innovative personality.

Go to the publisher's site​

Since its foundation in 1989, this publishing house with one of the most distinctive profiles on the Hungarian book market has brought popular self-help, lifestyle, self-improvement, spiritual and esoteric books to Hungarian readers. Their international bestsellers include Roxie Nafousi, Louise Hay, Anthony William, Joe Dispenza, Nick Trenton, Dr. Michael Greger, Neale Donald Walsch, Dan Millman, Rhonda Byrne, Eckhart Tolle and Deepak Chopra.

Go to the publisher's site​

Founded in 1994, Scolar has become one of the country’s leading publishing houses, based on its values rather than on the trends of the moment. Their titles include fiction, children’s books and science textbooks. Their authors include such distinguished domestic and foreign writers as Ian McEwan, David Grossman, Sofi Oksanen, Orsolya Karafiáth, Dezső Tandori, Kata Tisza and Ferenc Temesi.

Go to the publisher's site​

For over twenty years, Jaffa Publishing has offered books on psychology, self-development, literature, and popular science that set readers on the path of change. Its catalog includes the outspoken works of Imre Csernus, literary rarities such as the complete works of Magda Szabó, Fanni Gyarmati’s Diary, the writings of Ádám Kosztolányi, and the volumes of the Modern Hungarian History series. Among its authors are prominent Hungarian and international creators, including Balázs Ablonczy, Barbara Bauer, Leonóra Mörk, Harlan Coben, and Jeff Abbott.

Go to the publisher's site​

Hitel Publishing, a subsidiary of the Libri-Bookline Group, was established in October 2023, offering fiction, sophisticated entertainment literature and biographies, as well as scientific and popular science books. As publisher of the Hitel magazine, it is also responsible for the publication of the magazine’s issues, inheriting its spirit and traditions.

Go to the publisher's site​

Diafilmgyártó Kft., founded in 1954, is the successor to MDV and is now Europe’s only producer of slide films.

Its selection includes over 300 titles, including many new titles by contemporary authors and illustrated by renowned graphic artists. Slide film owes its popularity not only to the product, but also to the uniqueness of the genre. Psychologists also recommend slide films to families with young children, emphasising their many benefits and values.

Go to the publisher's site​

Launched in 2012, its growing selection includes classic children’s and young adult literature, as well as books related to Disney and Marvel heroes, Star Wars, Minecraft and DC. The publishing house an important role to play in promoting reading, and they try to put reading materials in the hands of children and their parents from birth to adulthood.

Go to the publisher's site​

In the spirit of its decades-long tradition, this publishing house is still responsible for the life works of Sándor Márai, István Örkény and Ignác Romsics. It also publishes outstanding world literary classics (such as Kurt Vonnegut and Vladimir Nabokov), Hungarian contemporary authors (including Tibor Bödőcs, Zoltán Kőhalmi, János Lackfi and András Cserna-Szabó), biographies and high-quality works on philosophy, history and cultural history. With the Helikon Pocket Books series, launched in 2015 and awarded the prize for Fine Hungarian Books, it offers the classics of world literature at affordable prices.

Go to the publisher's site​

For more than thirty years, it has been a significant Hungarian publishing house. During this time, it has published 1500 books in print and received numerous awards and recognitions. In both its popular science and fiction titles, it strives to provide readers with timely and accurate interpretations of the world. Its main objective is to produce professionally proofread, rigorously edited, beautifully produced, high quality and interesting books for open-minded readers.

Go to the publisher's site​

Founded in 1993, the legendary company aims to showcase the diversity of contemporary Hungarian literature and to convey the values of late modern and contemporary world literature. Its world literature authors include Margaret Atwood, Cormac McCarthy and Albert Camus. This is where the books of several young Hungarian poets are published. The publishing house is responsible for the works of Alaine Polcz, Miklós Mészöly, Ágnes Nemes Nagy and Szilárd Borbély, and also publishes books by Noémi Orvos-Tóth.

Go to the publisher's site​

Since 2011, as a major player in the Hungarian book market, it has been publishing both novels and popular fiction, and its portfolio includes nearly every genre from historical and romantic novels to cookbooks and psychological guides. Some of its most popular Hungarian authors, such as Tamás Náray, Tamás Frei, Beáta Bibók and Janka Fábián, are regulars on the bestseller lists.

Go to the publisher's site​