The New York Times Fiction Best Sellers of 1981
# The New York Times Fiction Best Sellers of 1981

This is a list of adult fiction books that topped The New York Times Fiction Best Seller list in 1981.

| Date | Book | Author |
| - | - | - |
| January 4 | The Covenant | James Michener |
| January 11 | The Covenant | James Michener |
| January 18 | The Covenant | James Michener |
| January 25 | The Covenant | James Michener |
| February 1 | The Covenant | James Michener |
| February 8 | The Covenant | James Michener |
| February 15 | The Covenant | James Michener |
| February 22 | The Covenant | James Michener |
| March 1 | The Covenant | James Michener |
| March 8 | The Covenant | James Michener |
| March 15 | The Covenant | James Michener |
| March 22 | The Covenant | James Michener |
| March 29 | The Covenant | James Michener |
| April 5 | The Covenant | James Michener |
| April 12 | The Covenant | James Michener |
| April 19 | The Covenant | James Michener |
| April 26 | Gorky Park | Martin Cruz Smith |
| May 3 | Gorky Park | Martin Cruz Smith |
| May 10 | Noble House | James Clavell |
| May 17 | Noble House | James Clavell |
| May 24 | Noble House | James Clavell |
| May 31 | Noble House | James Clavell |
| June 7 | Noble House | James Clavell |
| June 14 | Noble House | James Clavell |
| June 21 | Noble House | James Clavell |
| June 28 | Noble House | James Clavell |
| July 5 | Noble House | James Clavell |
| July 12 | Noble House | James Clavell |
| July 19 | Noble House | James Clavell |
| July 26 | Noble House | James Clavell |
| August 2 | Noble House | James Clavell |
| August 9 | Noble House | James Clavell |
| August 16 | Noble House | James Clavell |
| August 23 | Cujo | Stephen King |
| August 30 | Cujo | Stephen King |
| September 6 | Cujo | Stephen King |
| September 13 | Cujo | Stephen King |
| September 20 | Cujo | Stephen King |
| September 27 | The Hotel New Hampshire | John Irving |
| October 4 | The Hotel New Hampshire | John Irving |
| October 11 | The Hotel New Hampshire | John Irving |
| October 18 | The Hotel New Hampshire | John Irving |
| October 25 | The Hotel New Hampshire | John Irving |
| November 1 | The Hotel New Hampshire | John Irving |
| November 8 | The Hotel New Hampshire | John Irving |
| November 15 | An Indecent Obsession | Colleen McCullough |
| November 22 | An Indecent Obsession | Colleen McCullough |
| November 29 | An Indecent Obsession | Colleen McCullough |
| December 6 | An Indecent Obsession | Colleen McCullough |
| December 13 | An Indecent Obsession | Colleen McCullough |
| December 20 | An Indecent Obsession | Colleen McCullough |
| December 27 | An Indecent Obsession | Colleen McCullough |
