Are you looking for your next great read? Why not try out the books from across the pond? Despite from what governments say, books are essential and are needed now, more than ever. So if you are need of a variety and want to read diverse stories, then I suggest you try out some British and Irish titles!
We may have left 2025 behind, but the pain and struggles of last year are still being faced, especially independent bookstores. Continue to support indie bookstores by shopping on Bookshop.org and Hive.co.uk.
Waterstones currently ships to the United States but there will be an international shipping fee. You can also try with the British bookstore, Blackwell’s. Now on with the recommendations!
Featured Book of the Month
Your Murder Next by Ravena Guron
When the most popular girl at Myra’s new school is found frozen to death in a walk-in chiller, wannabe journalist Myra is sure of two things:
1. Scarlett was murdered.
2. One of Scarlett’s friends is to blame.
So she infiltrates the popular clique’s world of envy and backstabbing to prove it. But then a strange boy holds her up at gunpoint in the woods, claiming he’s killed the killer. Who is he, who did he kill…and who will die next? (Credit: Usborne Publishing)
Wild Magic: Escape of the Sea Turtles by Abiola Bello and illustrated by Emma McCann
Misha and Ziggy are super excited to be joining their wildlife presenter father on a trip to Mexico, where they’ll be able to test their magical powers all over again. Misha can’t wait to talk to all the fascinating animals she meets and Ziggy is eager to shapeshift into all the amazing animals he sees!
When Misha and Ziggy discover that there are turtles trapped in plastic and fishing nets in the sea, they must work together to free the turtles so that they can lay their eggs. Can Misha and Ziggy help the sea turtles before nesting season is over? (Credit: Simon & Schuster UK)
Like A Brother by Nathanael Lessore
They’re totally different. Except in all the ways that matter.
Owais lives a chill life. He’s well-liked, funny and everything’s a breeze – until his estranged cousin shows up.
Loud, unpredictable and one bad decision away from serious trouble, Abass crashes into Owais’ laidback world like a hurricane: picking fights, ruining parties, disappearing without explanation and clogging toilets in places he absolutely shouldn’t.
But as the boys get to know each other and their bond deepens, Owais starts to see there’s more to Abass than the chaos – and more to himself than just being the popular guy who coasts through life. Because sometimes, the person who turns your world upside down is also the person who helps you figure out where you’re really meant to be . . . (Credit: Hot Key Books)
Such A Nice Girl by Andrea Mara
Everyone has secrets. Even your daughter…
The morning after a glamorous, luxury wedding, you and your best friend go to wake your twenty-four-year-old daughters. You open the door to their shared room in the pool-house and find a lamp smashed on the floor, a blood stain on the carpet, a ringing phone – and both girls are nowhere to be seen.
The police come and you discover something shocking. Something inexplicable. Is one of your daughters trying to kill the other? And that’s when you and your best friend begin to unravel what’s really going on between the girls.
You need to work together to find your daughters, testing your friendship to its limits. And you can’t help but wonder: which girl is the killer and which is the victim? (Credit: Transworld Publishers)
How to Kill a Language: Power, Resistance and the Race to Save Our Words by Sophia Smith Galer
As Sophia Smith Galer’s Nonna lay dying, she realised it wasn’t just a beloved grandmother she was losing – it was the language she spoke, too. From Northern Italy, she spoke a dialët that Sophia, like so many children and grandchildren of migrants, can understand but can’t speak. With the death of the language, Sophia would lose a culture, a history, an inheritance – a whole world.
This tragedy reaches far beyond her family. Globally we are witnessing an unprecedented mass extinction event. By the end of this century half of the world’s 7000 languages will be gone, killed by war, climate breakdown, migration, nationalism or neglect, along with the vital knowledge that they have sustained for centuries.
Award-winning journalist Smith Galer has journeyed across continents and generations to report from this disappearing world. From Ghana to Greece, Ecuador to Oman, California to the UK, she meets people experiencing this loss at first hand – but also campaigners and linguists who prove that a multilingual future is still possible. Her travels ultimately lead her back to where she began: to Italy, and the tiny mountainside village where the church bells still ring out for her Nonna.
How to Kill a Language is an impassioned investigation into a hidden global crisis, and a call to speak, read and write the languages of our world, before it’s too late. (Credit: HarperCollins)
Quite Ugly One Evening by Chris Brookmyre
An Atlantic voyage. A family at war. A secret worth killing over.
Reporter Jack Parlabane thrives on chasing stories in unlikely places, and where could be less likely than a fan convention on a cruise liner celebrating a contentious Sixties TV series? But unlike the media family exploiting their show’s renewed relevance, he’s not there to stoke controversy: he’s there to solve a murder.
Already in deep water with his employer, Jack desperately needs a win, and solving this decades-old mystery could be it. Problem is, he’s in the middle of the Atlantic, and someone onboard has already killed once to keep their secret.
And that’s not even the tricky part. No, the tricky part is definitely the dead body locked in a stateroom with him, covered in his blood. Now Jack has to solve two murders, otherwise the only way he’s getting off this ship is in handcuffs – or in a body bag.
Quite Ugly One Evening is a zeitgesty locked-room mystery that sees the return of rogue journalist Jack Parlabane thirty years after his first appearance in Quite Ugly One Morning. (Credit: Little, Brown Book Group)
Storm Bringer by Tig Wallace
Obey the storm, or die with it …
In a world ravaged by supernatural storms where people are divided between magic and science, Amelio is thrown into a spiralling crisis. Discovering a dormant power within himself, he joins companions Paige and Vintane on a quest to unite divided provinces against the most destructive storm the world has ever seen.
Bravery, loyalty and love clash in an exhilarating mission to save humanity from nature’s wrath …
The first book in an epic all-action fantasy series from new YA star Tig Wallace.
The magical setting of Shadow and Bone meets the breathtaking action-peril of Twisters. Close-up action in an intricately-crafted, extraordinary fantasy world where magic and science collide – and divide. (Credit: Chicken House)
More Than A Shirt by Joey D’Urso
Compelling and eye-opening, More Than A Shirt will change the way you think about the beautiful game’s most universal symbol. Football shirts are the sport’s greatest means of cultural expression, but a seemingly innocuous combination of colours, sponsor logos and materials can all reflect the social values, financial struggles and political ideologies of the day, as geopolitical issues increasingly seep into every aspect of the game.
Investigative journalist Joey D’Urso has travelled across the globe, combining on-the-ground reporting with unparalleled analysis to collate a list of the twenty-two football shirts that best explain the modern world. More Than A Shirt will take fans on a journey from Birmingham to Belgrade and onto Medellin and Mumbai, outlining how we can see the war in Ukraine in the shirt of Schalke in Germany, China’s foreign policy in West Bromwich Albion’s and why the French national kit embodies worldwide migration patterns. (Credit: Orion Publishing)
A Plot to Die For by Ardal O’Hanlon
The first in a mystery series from the much-loved Irish actor, writer and comedian, for readers who enjoy the warmth of Graham Norton and the mystery of Death in Paradise, all wrapped up in one small Irish town.
When beloved celebrity gardener Finn O’Leary returns to his hometown of Abbeyford in Ireland to care for his aging mother, he is naturally roped into the Tidy Towns committee.
The Tidy Towns is a competition fanatically fought over by every town and village in the land. And for his best friend’s sister, Aoife, it’s a competition she’s determined to win. With everyone’s favourite gardener on board, she is sure that this year Abbeyford will take home the prize.
But Finn’s not been back long when an alto-baritone at his mother’s choir practice drops dead during a rendition of ‘What the World Needs Now’.
With more at stake than just winning Tidy Towns, Finn soon finds himself trying to solve a murder – or two. For one of his many qualities is that people tend to confide in him…
With his mother, her Nigerian carer and Aoife in tow, Finn sets out to discover just who has brought murder to Abbeyford.
And so it begins. (Credit: Simon & Schuster)
Lido Land: How Britain Learned to Make a Splash by Tom Fort
People are currently flocking back to Britain’s lidos in their thousands. But this isn’t the first time they’ve made a splash.
From the author of The A303: Highway to the Sun comes a deep dive into the historical and cultural significance of the British lido that will make you fall in love with outdoor swimming.
Tom Fort takes us on a fun-packed journey around the UK’s lidos past and present, proving that lidos can tell us more about social trends, progress and political ideology than you might think. Along the way he takes us to the only surviving Lido in Wales, built in 1927 to help miners wash off their daily dirt, to the Portobello Pool in Edinburgh where Sean Connery was once a lifeguard, and around the iconic seaside towns of Blackpool and Weston-super-Mare where the loosening of Victorian moral standards could be measured by the shrinking of swimming costumes. Along the way, we meet the beauty queens competing for the Miss New Brighton crown at the Merseyside lido in 1966, a mayor who finished Guildford lido’s opening ceremony by stripping off his robes and gold chain and diving headfirst into the water, and we spend time with the colourful characters involved in designing, creating and keeping lidos afloat through the years.
His journey shows us, time and time again, the personal significance of the lidos’ communal spaces – the unmistakable cold of the water rising above your shoulders, the sounds and smells of poolside sunbathing, the sun-baked tiles underfoot and the warm towel after a freezing dip. Fort, with his characteristic wryness and nostalgia, gathers memories and observations from the swimmers he meets along the way, interspersing these with historical fragments and moments from his own history. He laments the lidos we have lost, celebrates those saved by persistent community organising, and takes a frank look into their future. (Credit: Bloomsbury Publishing)
The Ministry of Manners by David Solomons and illustrated by Hazem Asif
A bolf new middle-grade adventure from the award-winning author David Solomons exploring what’s lost in keeping quiet and what’s found in fighting back.
Be quiet. Be polite. Or be silenced.
Alfie and Margot Hawthorne have grown up under the Ministry of Manners, where politeness isn’t a choice – it’s the law. And one wrong word can change your life. He knows how to stay out of trouble, but she has never been one for quiet obedience.
When the Ministry takes Margot, everything changes. Inside the Manners Retreat, she fights to stay herself in a place built to erase her. Meanwhile, Alfie falls in with the Unsilenced – those who still dare to speak. But the Ministry has plans of its own. And if they succeed, rebellion won’t just be punished. It’ll be impossible. (Credit: Bonnier Books)
Dragonflare by Jamie Hammond
Solve the puzzles to find the gold in this thrilling and funny interactive dragon-riding adventure from the bestselling author-illustrator of Grumpfort, packed with epic illustrations!
You are invited to compete in the Wingrider Trials on Dragonflare Island!
Do you have what it takes to become a dragon rider, solve the puzzles and find the treasure? Flynn definitely doesn’t. So, when a dragon kidnaps him to be her partner in the trials, things get complicated.
Now they’re stuck in a labyrinth full of hungry monsters, impossible obstacle courses, and backstabbing competitors. To win, they’ll need brains, bravery and – worst of all – teamwork.
But the trials are hiding a deadly secret, and if Flynn and his dragon don’t win, the whole island could be doomed… (Credit: Usborne Publishing)
The Walking Cure: A healthier, happier life one step at a time by Annabel Streets
‘The right place, walked at the right time, can heal, energise, restore and inspire. Instead of ambling the same old track, find a route to match and mend your mood … and prepare to be astonished.’
In this inspirational guide, Annabel Streets explores the curative and therapeutic benefits of both rural and urban landscapes: from mountains to meadows, disused railway lines to rivers, and coastal cliffs to city parks. She investigates how walking benefits us not only physically, but also how we see, feel and experience ourselves and the world.
With warmth, wisdom and a compelling blend of anecdotal and scientific evidence, Streets identifies the perfect place to walk whatever your mood. Whether it be a canal path to spark creativity, a bustling city to allay boredom or the coastline to heal grief and worry. The Walking Cure celebrates the joy of walking and shares the extraordinary health benefits that landscape unlocks. (Credit: Bloomsbury Publishing)
Andromeda by E.S. McLeod
Expected Publication Date: May 14
A myth rewritten. A name reclaimed.
Blessed by the gods with unparalleled beauty, Andromeda lives a life of ease within her Aethiopian palace walls. Content with her sanctuary, the young princess has no concerns other than the royal expectations her parents have for her – until a single, fateful proclamation changes everything.
When the queen defies the gods with a blasphemous claim, Poseidon, fearsome God of the Seas, delivers a deadly ultimatum that puts the queen’s life in Andromeda’s hands. Poseidon sends his loyal servant, the shape-shifting Ceto, to seal the princess’s fate.
But Ceto is not just a servant. With a sharp tongue and hardened heart, she has little interest in the princess’s appearance – and even less in the games of gods. Yet an undeniable tension begins to bloom between them, and both quickly realise Andromeda’s beauty is not only a gift, but a weapon to wield. As Poseidon’s judgement draws ever closer, the two women find themselves pulled into something far more passionate – and dangerous – than either could have predicted… (Credit: Transworld Publishers)
Same Time Next Week?: Living with anxiety in the modern world by Joshua Fletcher
Expected Publication Date: May 14
Same Time Next Week? is an unflinchingly honest guide to living with anxiety in an age of constant optimisation, digital overload and curated calm.
Millions now turn to AI for therapy before they turn to a human, often leaving them with more questions than answers. In this refreshingly honest book, therapist Joshua Fletcher shares the stories of four brave clients who choose to bring their whole selves to his therapy room and learn to make space for the messy feelings that won’t quite fit into an AI prompt box.
Alongside the stories of Miriam, Ruben, Liya Su and Magnus, Josh shares his experience of returning to practice after wrestling with his own mental health challenges. Through these hopeful stories, Josh offers invaluable insights on how to manage anxiety in our modern world and resist the overwhelming pressure to be perfect.
This is not a book about fixing yourself because you are not a problem to be solved. In this book you’ll learn how to better understand your anxiety and, by slowing down and building the right support, find a way to live a fulfilling life alongside it. (Credit: Orion Publishing)
Wonderland by Patience Agbabi
Expected Publication Date: May 14
Colwyn Bay, 1980. Sixteen-year-old Tamilola has moved up from London; everything’s different, everyone belongs except her. Then she discovers an amazing Northern Soul club at the end of the pier with its athletic dancers and rare records. But conflict comes with a rival nightclub. This book’s about finding your tribe, finding a record, finding romance and finding yourself. (Credit: Firefly Press)
Marcus Rashford: World of Football: My Ultimate Guide to the Game by Marcus Rashford and Carl Anka
Expected Publication Date: May 21
Welcome to Marcus’s World of Football – a complete guide to the game, from the greatest players to the biggest stadiums and everything in between. From the No. 1 bestselling authors of You Are a Champion, Marcus Rashford and Carl Anka
Discover everything there is to know about football! Including top player stats, fun facts about your favourite clubs and the rules of the game. Marcus will also teach you some handy tips and tricks on improving your own skills, as well as showing you all the different ways that you can get into football. Whether you’re a footballing pro or new to the game, Marcus’s World of Football is the ultimate guide to the beautiful game. (Credit: Pan Macmillan)
Body of Lies by Jo Callaghan
Expected Publication Date: May 21
Human suspicion. AI manipulation.
Who can you trust when truth has no meaning?
DCS Kat Frank returns to work at the Future Policing Unit after a tragic loss, only to find herself thrust into a new high-profile case. On the night of Halloween a local MP is found murdered, with a taunting message written in binary code that seems to target Kat specifically: Catch me if you can.
The victim’s anti-AI sentiments suggest a political motive, and as Kat investigates with her partner AIDE Lock – the world’s first AI detective – she finds herself once again battling her own prejudices about the technological future he represents. But when a cyberattack takes out the National Grid, Kat and Lock have to race against the clock to track down the hacker before thousands die.
Tangled in a web of suspicion and deception, Kat must choose who and what to believe when the truth seems to defy both instinct and logic.
Can she set aside her old doubts and put her faith in her AI partner one last time?
Or will this case send Lock down a path she just can’t follow – a path that will leave humanity behind for good? (Credit: Simon & Schuster)
Bim Blake’s Hot Takes: My Pencil Case Doesn’t Define Me by Tolá Okogwu and illustrated by Ariyana Taylor
Expected Publication Date: May 21
Hi bestie! My name’s Bím Blake. I’ve just started high school and here’s my hot take on it: Year Seven is a LOT harder than I thought! I’ve realised my school skirt is way too long, my pencil case is way too uncool, my boobs are way too big and the new boy (who’s the son of popstar parents!!!) is way too cute for my liking . . .
If that wasn’t bad enough, tell me why my dad has been acting weirder than usual. He’s been making TikToks (cringe!), experimenting in the kitchen (I call it attempted murder!) and he’s even started exercising . . . It must be tough being over forty! Add into the mix a trio of annoying older brothers (yes, I have three – pray for me!), a duo of feuding aunts, one friend mishap and a huge helping of drama and you have a recipe for chaos. Welcome to my life! (Credit: Simon & Schuster UK)
Our Deadly Summer by Emer McLysaght and Sarah Breen
Expected Publication Date: May 21
Laura and Dee haven’t spoken since the day they buried a body together.
2001. It was supposed to be the best summer of their lives. A break from university, from parents, from wasting their time on Irish boys with farmer’s tans.
They’d imagined flirting with Ryan Phillippe on a New York rooftop. Instead, with summer jobs waitressing at a country club on Long Island, pickings are slim.
Mikey is a bully. Marco is off limits. Jose is angry. Mr Haight is a sleaze. Josh is too keen. And Other Josh… he’s something else entirely.
It’s a miracle only one of them ends up dead.
Dee is pretty sure she didn’t mean to kill him. Laura, to her credit, never asked.
Not until she sends an email, out of the blue, more than twenty years later. It’s finally time to mend the biggest heartbreak of that summer; Laura wants her best friend back. (Credit: Bloomsbury Publishing)
Said the Dead by Doireann Ni Ghriofa
Expected Publication Date: May 21
In the city of Cork, a derelict Victorian mental hospital is being converted into modern apartments. One passerby has always flinched as she passes the place. Had she lived in another time, she too might have found herself held within those walls.
Now, she notices a sign: FOR SALE.
It is the first of many signs. Guided by an irresistible impulse, she follows them. Soon, she is trespassing, stealing, absconding from the routine of mother, spouse, daughter, as she uncovers a chorus of startling voices: those of the women who knew the hospital best. They murmur from archives and old records. They haunt from stairwells and walls. In them – and in one figure in particular — she may find meaning and solace, righteous anger, salvation even. Or her final vanishing?
A work of sublime intensity and tenderness, Said the Dead breaks the boundaries between worlds — past and present, imagined and real, fact and fiction — to make something new and lasting: an experience full of danger, full of love and full of truth. (Credit: Faber & Faber)
Unfairies: Death by Toad by Huw Aaron
Expected Publication Date: May 28
Prepare to re-enter the garden.
The Treefairy stronghold of Oakhold has a new ruler. Yay! But there’s already trouble. Boo!
Something sinister is stirring in The Garden . . . And Pip could not give two hoots about it.
That is, until best buddy Twig is kidnapped. Now it’s up to Pip and a most unlikely ally to set off on an epic rescue mission.
Along the way, they will face ferocious squirrels, leeches, shocking betrayals, angry ladybirds, fairy enemies old and new, mroe leeches . . . and try their best to avoid . . . death by toad. (Credit: Penguin Random House Children’s UK)
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