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
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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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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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 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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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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20 brilliant books to buy with your book token
The most popular books for teens and young adults today.
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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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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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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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10 must-read Nordic books
Aslak Nore, author of The Sea Cemetery, recommends his favourite Scandinavian fiction and non-fiction.
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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 modern love stories
This Valentine's Day, we've recommended beautiful contemporary stories to fall in love with.
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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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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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A university survival guide in books
Reading for fun has been shown to benefit mental wellbeing and improve academic performance.
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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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15 summer reads recommended by booksellers
We asked booksellers what they're recommending over the (hopefully) hot summer days.
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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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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 books for fans of legal thrillers
HS Chandler, author of Degrees of Guilt, recommends books for fans of legal thrillers.
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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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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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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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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.
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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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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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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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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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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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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