Bestsellers, book clubs and a special author visit drive a busy week at Waterstone’s Ballymena

Waterstone’s Ballymena has revealed its latest Top 10 bestselling books, with a strong mix of contemporary fiction, crime thrillers and memoirs leading the way — alongside a packed schedule of book clubs and a standout storytime event featuring a local author.

With readers continuing to seek out both escapist fiction and thought-provoking titles, this week’s chart reflects a broad and evolving range of interests across the Ballymena community.

Top 10 this week

A blend of bestselling authors, rising literary voices and popular non-fiction titles dominate this week’s list.

1. Seriously Epic Holiday of Lottie Brooks — Katie Kirby

A laugh-out-loud children’s favourite following Lottie’s latest chaotic and relatable adventures.

2. Gone Before Goodbye — Harlan Coben & Reese Witherspoon

A gripping thriller combining suspense and emotional depth, from one of the genre’s biggest names.

3. Rory — Alan Shipnuck

A detailed and revealing account of Rory McIlroy’s life and career in professional golf.

4. Flashlight — Susan Choi

A literary novel exploring identity, relationships and the fragile nature of memory.

5. We All Live Here — Jojo Moyes

A warm and engaging story centred on family, connection and the complexities of modern life.

6. Broken Country — Clare Leslie Hall

A deeply immersive and emotional novel exploring place, relationships and change.

7. Two Kinds of Stranger — Steve Cavanagh

A fast-paced legal thriller packed with tension, twists and courtroom drama.

8. London Falling — Patrick Radden Keefe

A compelling work of non-fiction examining power, corruption and hidden histories.

9. Weathering Storms — Alice Taylor & Emma Byrne

A reflective and uplifting book focusing on resilience, life’s challenges and personal growth.

10. The Midnight Feast — Lucy Foley

A dark and atmospheric mystery filled with secrets, suspense and shifting perspectives.

Book clubs open to new members

Waterstone’s Ballymena continues to host a range of welcoming book clubs, each catering to different genres and interests.

Fiction Book Club

Thursday 7 May at 7pm

This month’s read is The Pretender by Jo Harkin. The group is informal, with new members always welcome.

Sci-Fi and Fantasy Book Club

21 May at 7pm

Readers will be discussing Between Two Fires by Christopher Buehlman.

Romance Book Club

Friday 15 May at 7pm

This month’s title is Your Knife My Heart by K.M Moronova.

Tea and refreshments are provided at all sessions, with organisers encouraging new faces to come along and join the conversation.

Special storytime event with local author

A highlight in the coming days is a special storytime event featuring local author and illustrator Jonathan Sung.

Taking place at 12pm on Saturday 9 May, the session will include a live read-along of his whimsical new book Moon Moon Can’t Sleep!, offering young readers a chance to engage directly with the creator.

New releases in store

Several notable new titles have arrived on shelves this week, spanning literary fiction, memoir and crime.

• Go Gentle — Maria Semple

From the author of Where’d You Go, Bernadette comes a bittersweet and humorous novel about a carefully controlled life beginning to unravel after an unexpected encounter.

• Having Spent Life Seeking — Kae Tempest

A powerful and poetic exploration of identity, community and redemption as the protagonist returns home in search of connection and understanding.

• Fruit Fly — Josh Silver

A darkly comic and unsettling literary novel about fame, desperation and the search for inspiration, centred on a struggling writer and a vulnerable young man.

• A Deadly Episode — Anthony Horowitz

Another gripping instalment in Horowitz’s metafictional mystery series, blending humour, intrigue and a murder investigation on a film set.

Closing

With a strong mix of bestselling fiction, engaging community events and fresh new releases arriving in store, Waterstone’s Ballymena continues to build momentum as a go-to destination for readers across the area.

As the weeks unfold, the blend of big-name authors, local talent and welcoming in-store experiences shows no sign of slowing.