Gruffalo Granny takes No.1 as Waterstone’s Ballymena unveils fresh autumn reads
Saturday 03 October 2026
Gruffalo Granny by Julia Donaldson has taken the number one spot at Waterstone’s Ballymena, as the store celebrates the completion of its refit and welcomes readers in to discover its refreshed look.
Rebecca Yarros’ Threshing Day enters the chart at number two following its release, while last week’s bestseller, Charles Spencer’s Swan Song, remains popular in third place.
The latest Top 10 offers an especially atmospheric selection for autumn, with horror, dark fantasy, mystery and magical fiction all featuring alongside some familiar bestselling names.
Meanwhile, four new releases bring fresh choices from John Boyne, Evan Gershkovich, Charles Spicer and Silvia Moreno-Garcia, while another family Storytime is planned for next Saturday.
This week’s Top 10
1. Gruffalo Granny — Julia Donaldson
Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler return to the much-loved world of The Gruffalo for a new adventure introducing Gruffalo Granny, more than two decades after the original stories became favourites with generations of young readers.
2. Threshing Day — Rebecca Yarros
Fans of Rebecca Yarros’ hugely popular Empyrean series have sent Threshing Day straight towards the top of the Ballymena chart. The collection of short stories brings readers back to the world of Fourth Wing and features favourite characters from the series.
3. Swan Song — Charles Spencer
Charles Spencer remains among Ballymena’s bestselling authors this week with Swan Song, following its number one position in last week’s chart.
4. We Used to Live Here — Marcus Kliewer
A chilling horror novel about a young couple renovating an old house whose lives take a disturbing turn when strangers arrive at the door claiming they once lived there.
5. The New Neighbours — Claire Douglas
Bestselling thriller writer Claire Douglas delivers another suspenseful story where new arrivals, hidden secrets and growing suspicion combine to make everyday surroundings feel increasingly dangerous.
6. Paper Heart — Cecelia Ahern
The bestselling Irish author brings her trademark warmth and emotional insight to a story exploring love, hope and the unexpected turns capable of transforming a life.
7. The Killing Stones — Ann Cleeves
The acclaimed creator of Vera Stanhope and the Shetland series delivers another atmospheric crime novel, combining a strong sense of place with the character-driven storytelling and carefully constructed mystery for which she is renowned.
8. Strange Pictures — Uketsu
The Japanese mystery sensation challenges readers to uncover the sinister connections hidden within a collection of seemingly innocent drawings, creating an inventive puzzle where the pictures themselves hold vital clues.
9. Between Two Fires — Christopher Buehlman
Set in plague-ravaged medieval France, this dark historical fantasy follows a disgraced knight and a mysterious young girl on a dangerous journey through a world where earthly horrors collide with a supernatural battle between good and evil.
10. Practical Magic — Alice Hoffman
A modern classic of magical fiction following the Owens sisters and the extraordinary family legacy that has shaped generations of women, blending love, family, loss and witchcraft.
Four new releases to discover
This week’s new arrivals range from alternative literary history and a powerful account of imprisonment in Russia to British aviation history and magical realism.
• The Weight of Angels — John Boyne
John Boyne takes a pivotal moment in Oscar Wilde’s life as the starting point for an imaginative alternative history.
The author of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas asks what might have happened had Wilde ignored the Marquess of Queensberry’s infamous note rather than pursuing a libel action, imagining a dramatically different future for the iconic writer.
• This Cursed Beautiful Land — Evan Gershkovich
Wall Street Journal correspondent Evan Gershkovich recounts his arrest by Russia’s FSB, his imprisonment and his eventual release as part of an extraordinary multinational prisoner exchange.
Alongside his personal experience, Gershkovich offers a portrait of Russia and its people, drawing on the country he reported from before his detention.
• Flying Pianos — Charles Spicer
Charles Spicer charts the birth and development of manned flight in Britain, tracing the aeroplane’s extraordinary transformation from an expensive novelty enjoyed by the upper classes into a formidable machine of modern warfare.
• Signal to Noise — Silvia Moreno-Garcia
In 1980s Mexico City, awkward teenager Meche discovers that she can cast spells using vinyl records. Together with friends Sebastian and Daniela, she begins using her newfound powers to change their fortunes — but magic comes at a price.
Two decades later, Meche returns to the city for her estranged father’s funeral, forcing her to confront memories she had buried and raising the question of whether the magic of the past might still offer a route towards a different future.
Saturday Storytime
Young book lovers are invited back to Waterstone’s Ballymena next weekend for another Storytime and colouring session.
The event takes place at 12pm on Saturday 10 October, when the team will be reading Skunk and Sniffy by Muireann Ní Chíobháin.
There is no need to book in advance and everyone is welcome to come along.
Refit complete at Waterstone’s Ballymena
Customers visiting the store will also notice a fresh new look, with the Waterstone’s Ballymena refit now officially complete.
The team is inviting customers to call in and explore the revamped store, browse its latest titles and discover new recommendations across a wide range of genres.
The completed makeover comes at a busy time for booksellers, as autumn publishing gathers pace and attention begins turning towards the Christmas season.
With Gruffalo Granny taking the top spot, Rebecca Yarros making a strong chart entry and an unusually spooky selection of books filling much of the Top 10, there is plenty to tempt readers looking for their next autumn re
And with a newly refreshed store to explore, four new releases on the shelves and another free family Storytime approaching, there are plenty of reasons for local book lovers to pay Waterstone’s Ballymena a visit.
