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A week after Election Day, it turns out that readers were ready for more.

Two highly anticipated memoirs, Sen. Bernie Sanders's "Our Revolution: A Future to Believe In," and Fox News star Megyn Kelly's "Settle for More," have been hot sellers since each went on sale Nov. 15.

In the first six days on bookstore shelves, Ms. Kelly's memoir sold 64,000 copies, while former Democratic presidential contender Sen. Sanders's book sold 45,000 copies, according to Nielsen BookScan, which tracks 85% of retail book sales in the U.S. excluding digital copies.

On Wednesday morning, Ms. Kelly's book ranked No. 7 on Amazon.com Inc.'s best-seller list, while Sen. Sanders's book ranked No. 12. The two have been neck-and-neck on Amazon since their release.

Both titles were highly anticipated, particularly after the surprise victory of Donald Trump in the presidential election. Sen. Sanders had been a close contender for the Democratic presidential nomination, and his book was expected to give an intimate view of the campaign.

Ms. Kelly's book, some of which leaked prior to publication, dished on her public feud with Mr. Trump. Ms. Kelly had asked him a question during a Republican presidential debate about disparaging comments he had made about women.

Ms. Kelly also addressed her relationship with former Fox News chief Roger Ailes, who resigned in July amid accusations of sexual harassment. Ms. Kelly wrote in her book that she too had been harassed by her former boss. Mr. Ailes has denied all allegations against him of sexual harassment, and said of Ms. Kelly: "I worked tirelessly to promote and advance her career."

HarperCollins Publishers, announced a hardcover printing of 2 million copies for "Settle for More." A spokeswoman declined to provide an update. Fox News is part of 21st Century Fox, which, like News Corp, the owner of The Wall Street Journal and HarperCollins Publishers, counts Rupert Murdoch and his family as major stakeholders.

Ms. Kelly has promoted her book in TV interviews and at a Barnes & Noble Inc. bookstore in Manhattan. Upcoming appearances include a sold-out event on Dec. 5 in Washington, D.C.

"People want to come because she's smart, attractive and famous," said Mark LaFramboise, chief buyer for the Politics & Prose bookstore, which is the event's co-organizer. The bookstore sold 12 copies of Ms. Kelly's book and about 50 copies of "Our Revolution" during the first week the titles were on sale, he said.

Thomas Dunne Books, an imprint of St. Martin's Press, printed 300,000 hardcover copies of "Our Revolution" by Nov. 15 and has since gone back to print, said veteran publisher Thomas Dunne.

"He's been working like a dog," said Mr. Dunne, referring to Sen. Sanders. "He wants it to be successful."

Mr. Dunne expects media interest in Sen. Sanders to remain strong through the New Year, driving book sales through the holidays. "He's been waiting nearly his entire life to give this message to huge audiences," said Mr. Dunne. "Happily, they're buying books."

Prior to publication of Sen. Sanders's memoir, Vivien Jennings, owner of the independent store Rainy Day Books based in Fairway, Kan., suggested readers might have had their fill of presidential politics after Election Day.

Sen. Sanders's book has since sold four copies at her bookstore, while Ms. Kelly's book has sold 16 copies. In addition, Rainy Days Books has sold more than 800 copies of Ms. Kelly's book related to a luncheon it is co-sponsoring with the The KMBZ Speaker Series on Nov. 29 in Olathe, Kan.

"People are interested in her book because she was right in the middle of everything," said Ms. Jennings.

Write to Jeffrey A. Trachtenberg at jeffrey.trachtenberg@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

November 23, 2016 13:45 ET (18:45 GMT)

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