Ballymena’s bookshelf: The latest Top 10 from Waterstone’s revealed

Waterstone’s Ballymena has revealed its latest Top 10 bestselling books, with literary classics, gripping crime fiction and contemporary Irish writing all featuring strongly this week.

From Emily Brontë and John Steinbeck to Jo Nesbo and Jan Carson, the list reflects an eclectic mix of reader favourites and fresh releases.

Top 10 for This Week

1. Pagans — James Alistair Henry

A sharp, darkly comic novel exploring masculinity, belief and modern disillusionment with wit and bite.

2. Wuthering Heights — Emily Brontë

The enduring Gothic masterpiece of passion, revenge and obsession set against the wild Yorkshire moors.

3. East of Eden — John Steinbeck

Steinbeck’s sweeping family saga of love, jealousy and moral struggle, widely regarded as one of the great American novels.

4. Wolf Hour — Jo Nesbo

A tense and atmospheric thriller from the master of Scandinavian crime fiction, packed with psychological intensity.

5. My Gardening Life — Mary Berry

A warm and personal account of Mary Berry’s lifelong love of gardening, sharing her horticultural challenges and triumphs.

6. Three Days In June — Anne Tyler

A tender and perceptive novel capturing a pivotal few days in one woman’s life, filled with family tensions and quiet revelations.

7. The Easter Story — Brian Wildsmith

A beautifully illustrated retelling of the Easter story, perfect for sharing with younger readers.

8. Dog Man: Big Jim Believes — Dav Pilkey

The latest hilarious instalment in the bestselling Dog Man series, bursting with comic-book energy and heart.

9. Three Summers — Karen Swan

A sweeping romance set in an Italian village, where love, loyalty and second chances collide.

10. Don’t Let Him In — Lisa Jewell

A gripping domestic thriller where secrets simmer beneath the surface and trust is dangerously fragile.

Children’s Storytime

The next Children’s Storytime will take place on Saturday 7 March at 12pm.

Join the team for a story and colouring activities!

This week’s book is The Upside-Down Lighthouse by Paddy Donnelly. This event is suitable for toddlers up to age six.

New Books in Store

• My Gardening Life — Mary Berry

The beloved food writer, cook and television presenter introduces readers to her love of gardening in this highly personal account of her horticultural challenges and triumphs over the years.

• Cleopatra — Saara El-Arifi

From the bestselling author of Faebound comes a powerful and sweeping reimagining of the iconic Egyptian queen which counters the accusations made against her in thrilling prose.

• Three Summers — Karen Swan

From the queen of sweeping romance comes an irresistible love story suffused with the beauty of Italian village life, as Rafaella Parisi must choose between the life she has made and the future she could still have.

• The Shortest History of Ireland — James Hawes

A lucid read that almost leaps off the page, accounting Ireland’s history from its days of early Christianity, colonialism, and independence. This book is a wonder!

Half Price Offer

The current weekly half-price offer includes new releases such as Karen Swan’s Three Summers and Mary Berry’s My Gardening Life.

Author Event

Waterstone’s Ballymena is honoured to welcome local author Jan Carson back to the store to celebrate the release of her newest book, Few and Far Between.

The event will take place on 16 April at 7pm.

A reading will be followed by an audience Q&A. Stock will be available on the night for signing and refreshments will be provided.

Book Clubs

• Fiction Book Club

5 March at 7pm

This month’s read is Three Days in June by Anne Tyler. Join for tea, coffee, cake and plenty of bookish chat.

• Sci-Fi and Fantasy Book Club

19 March 2026 at 7pm

The group will be discussing Pagans by James Alistair Henry.

• Romance Book Club

Friday 20 March at 7pm

Join for snacks and laughs while discussing Bad Bishop by L.J. Shen, a decadent dark mafia romance. Please note this club is suitable for those aged 18+.

World Book Day – Thursday 5 March

This year’s World Book Day takes place on Thursday 5 March and aligns with the National Year of Reading’s call to ‘Go All In’ on reading for pleasure, celebrating children’s books and stories in all forms.

Children can exchange their World Book Day tokens in store for a £1 World Book Day Book.

Tokens are valid until 15 March.

With a mix of timeless literary classics, gripping thrillers and heartfelt contemporary fiction, this week’s selection highlights the wide range of tastes among Ballymena readers.

Whether you’re revisiting an old favourite or discovering something entirely new, there’s plenty on the shelves to inspire your next great read at Waterstone’s Ballymena.