Books to Read
Discover book recommendations for every kind of reader, brought to you by guest authors, booksellers, and our book-loving team.
Go to children's and teen book recommendations
Books to read with Pride: as recommended by LGBTQ+ bookshops
Pride month is the perfect time to read the rainbow!
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11 books to pair with a book token
For a special Father's Day gift, wrap up one of these spectacular selections with a book token.
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40 of the best new books in 2025
The best fiction and non-fiction you can discover in bookshops this year.
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6 brilliant books that centre Black women
Sareeta Domingo shares her favourite books with Black female protagonists.
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Jeremy Vine's 9 favourite whodunnits
The broadcaster-turned-author shares his top recommendations.
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25 summer reads to discover in bookshops
There are hundreds of brilliant bookshops to spend your National Book Tokens in this summer.
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15 summer reads recommended by booksellers
We asked booksellers what they're recommending over the (hopefully) hot summer days.
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9 great revenge thrillers to get stuck into
Nilesha Chauvet, author of Her Two Lives, shares her top picks.
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9 mother-daughter relationships in books
Niamh Mulvey, author of The Amendments, shares her favourite books.
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6 favourite Wuthering Heights adaptations
Layne Fargo, author of The Favourites, shares her pick of adaptations of this beloved story.
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13 books set in bookshops
13 books which take place in bookshops, from literary fiction and fantasy to ghost stories and thrillers.
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7 joyfully diverse rom-coms
Naina Kumar, author of Say You'll Be My Jaan, recommends her favourite inclusive rom-coms to buy.
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9 novels in which the house is more than just a setting
Kate Morton, author of Homecoming, shares her top picks.
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10 fantastic books by Irish authors
Cecelia Ahern, author of PS, I Love You and Postscript, shared her favourite books by Irish authors.
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8 inspirational places in Ireland - paired with books!
Faith Hogan, author of The Ladies Midnight Swimming Club, shares her top 8 inspirational places in Ireland, paired with great books.
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10 unputdownable novels with characters in STEM
Kara Gnodde, author of The Theory of (Not Quite) Everything, recommends fantastic books featuring characters in STEM.
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7 books that shine a light on Black British history
Lola Jaye, author of The Attic Child, shares her favourite fictional reads that shine a light on Black British history.
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10 swoonworthy romance novels to escape with
Laura Wood, author of dazzling period romances, recommends her top ten romantic reads.
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24 more books to read in 2024
To help you pick your upcoming reads, we've featured the best new books arriving in bookshops.
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24 new books to read in 2024
The best new books arriving in bookshops, from stories of friendship and epic love, to secret spies and space hotels.
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14 books to pair with a book token
For a truly special Valentine's Day gift, why not pair a handpicked book with a National Book Token?
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10 unexpected meet cutes
Beth O'Leary shares her top ten books starring characters who accidentally meet the love of their lives.
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10 must-read Nordic books
Aslak Nore, author of The Sea Cemetery, recommends his favourite Scandinavian fiction and non-fiction.
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12 crime novels that offer more than a body count
Kia Abdullah and Nadine Matheson recommend books that are perfect for reading by the pool.
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10 cosy crime reads
Julia Chapman, author of Date with Betrayal, share her favourite cosy crime reads.
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22 books set in the UK and Ireland
We asked booksellers up and down the UK and Ireland to recommend their favourite books set locally.
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10 books for fans of legal thrillers
HS Chandler, author of Degrees of Guilt, recommends books for fans of legal thrillers.
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20 brilliant books to buy with your book token
The most popular books for teens and young adults today.
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A university survival guide in books
Reading for fun has been shown to benefit mental wellbeing and improve academic performance.
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A survival guide in 42 brilliant books
Books for 16 to 24-year-olds that will inspire you, give you life skills, or make you happy!
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20 books to buy with your book tokens
There are thousands of brilliant books out there for young people to choose from, whether they're a fan of Alice Oseman or Charlotte Brontë.
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10 medical memoirs for fans of This is Going to Hurt
Leah Hazard, author of Hard Pushed: A Midwife's Story, shares her top ten must-read medical memoirs.
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10 books that will surely make you cry
We love a heartbreaking and emotional story, so we've put together a list of books guaranteed to make you cry.
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10 modern love stories
This Valentine's Day, we've recommended beautiful contemporary stories to fall in love with.
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8 thrillers that pack an emotional punch
Sam Lloyd, author The Memory Wood, recommends thrillers that pack an emotional punch.
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7 sports stories for fiction fans
If you loved Nick Hornby's Fever Pitch, here are even more fantastic sports stories.
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12 books for music lovers
The next best thing to music is reading about it, so here’s our list of recommended reads to soundtrack your summer.
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10 non-fiction books that changed the world
We recommend powerful works of non-fiction that changed the world we live in.
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11 books for armchair travellers
Our recommended reads for armchair travellers, featuring distant lands and captivating journeys.
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8 novels in translation
Gary Perry, bookseller at Foyles Caring Cross Road, recommens his favourite translated fiction, from magnificent classics to award winners.
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10 books about books
Whether they're set in bookshops or feature a book-within-a-book, these are all brilliant reads for booklovers.
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13 Christmas rom-coms to read this winter
Looking for a feel-good, heart-warming romance to pick up with your National Book Token?
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The ultimate Christmas book list
A go-to collection of Yuletide books to pick up from your local bookshop.
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The best book gifts for Christmas 2024
Browse our gift recommendations for readers of all ages, from fiction to memoir and books for children.
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10 festive books to read this Christmas
Lizzie Byron, author of Someday at Christmas, shares her recommended books to read this Christmas.
Read nowChildren's & Teen Book Recommendations
Discover the best books for young booklovers to pick up with their National Book Tokens.
40 of the best new children's books in 2025
The most exciting fiction and non-fiction young readers can discover in bookshops this year.
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10 exciting Greek myth retellings for children and teens
Bryony Pearce, author of Aphrodite, shares her top ten myth-inspired reads that reimagine ancient tales.
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11 awesome books featuring characters with disabilities
S.A. Reyhani, author of A Sequence of Cosmic Accidents, recommends books with positive disability representation.
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12 egg-cellent children's books
Pair these books with a National Book Token for the perfect Easter gift!
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15 captivating children's books for Eid
Discover children's books for all ages, perfect for pairing with a National Book Token.
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10 best illustrated children's adventures
Jamie Hammond, author of Grumpfort, recommends 10 fantastic illustrated adventures for readers aged 7 to 11.
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12 excellent Irish language children's books
We've highlighted the best Irish language books for children and teens from Treoirleabhar Léitheoireachta 2025.
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5 graphic novels for younger readers
Dan and Jason, creators of Blue, Barry & Pancakes, recommend graphic novels for ages 5-7.
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10 brilliant children's books by Irish authors
Celebrate the talent of Irish artists with these highlights from the 2024 Recommended Irish Reads guide!
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Tips for children who want to write!
We asked our favourite authors to share their writing tips and advice for BBC 500 Words.
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9 books for children that champion neurodiversity
Liz and Julie at Next Page Books – a children's bookshop devoted to inclusivity and diversity – share books which feature neurodiverse characters.
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7 illustrated children's books about disability
James Catchpole, author of What Happened to You?, shares his top illustrated books.
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5 books for children who love video games
Christopher Edge, author of Escape Room, recommends his top books for children – whether to introduce them to even more adventures or to inspire reluctant readers.
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10 armchair adventures for junior bookworms
Katherine Rundell, author of The Good Thieves, shares her favourite adventure stories for children.
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5 comic book series for kids who love graphic novels
Jamie Smart shares his top comic book recommendations.
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10 brilliant books to read by Black writers
Layla, a bookseller at Round Table Books, recommends brilliant books for both children and adults written by Black authors.
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13 books about mental health for you and your teens
Josh Silver, who is a mental health nurse and author of HappyHead, recommends books about mental health for adults and teenagers alike.
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6 must-read LGBTQ+ YA stories to celebrate Pride Month
Sonora Reyes, author of The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School, recommends their favourite LGBTQ+ young adult books.
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11 Queer YA books that will steal your heart
Kacen Callender, author of Felix Ever After, has joined us to recommend Queer novels for teenagers that will steal your heart.
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24 new children's and teen books out in 2024
The best new children's and YA titles, from brilliant graphic novels and magical delights to stories of friendship and family.
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24 more children's and teen books out in 2024
The best new children's books, whether they love shipwrecks and survival, feisty friendships, or heart-pounding fantasy.
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