TOP 10 | All the latest news from Waterstone’s Ballymena - Saturday 21 June 2025

Welcome to this week’s news, reviews, and ‘all-things-books’ latest from the team at Waterstone’s Ballymena!

This week’s Top 10 bestselling books…

1. The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley

2. Long Island by Colm Toibin

3. The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins

4. The World's Worst Superheroes by David Williams

5. Kincora's: Britain's Shame by Chris Moore

6. Intermezzo by Sally Rooney

7. Never Flinch by Stephen King

8. Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty

9. The Safekeep by Yael Van Der Wouden

10. The new Neighbours by Claire Douglas

New addition to our half price offers…

• Island Calling by Francesa Segal

On remote Tuga de Oro, vet Charlotte Walker’s caseload of donkeys, cows, and ailing lizards has only increased. She still can’t believe the humiliating truth about her father. Probably, she ought to feel worse than she does. But the islanders have taken Charlotte to their hearts and somehow, between days on the farms and nights with a new love interest, she’s content to remain in blissful retreat from her real life in London. Just for now.

But real life hits the island with the force of a tropical storm: Charlotte’s mother arrives. Lucinda Compton-Neville knows an identity crisis when she sees one, and has come to haul her daughter back on course: back to England, back to her career, back home where she belongs.

Funny, moving, and hope-filled, Island Calling is a joyous novel about mothers and daughters; about holding on and letting go.

New releases….

• The Benefactors by Wendy Erskine

In The Benefactors we meet Frankie, Miriam and Bronagh - very different women but all mothers to 18-year-old boys. Glamorous Frankie, now married to a wealthy, older man, grew up in care. Miriam has recently lost her beloved husband Kahlil in ambiguous circumstances. Bronagh, the CEO of a children's services charity, loves the celebrity and prestige this brings her.

They do not know each other yet, but when their sons are accused of sexually assaulting Misty Johnston, whose family lacks the wealth and social-standing of their own, they'll leverage all the power of their position to protect their children.

From the prize-winning author of Dance Move and Sweet Home, this is an astounding novel about intimate histories, class and money - and what being a parent means. Brutal, tender and rigorously intelligent, The Benefactors is a daring, polyphonic presentation of modern-day Northern Ireland. It is also very funny.

• Dave & Me by Lili Myers

A beautiful, uplifting celebration of the life of The Hairy Bikers’ Dave Myers from his widow Lili.

Dave Myers lived his life with joy. He always told his wife Lili that, if you were going to do something, you should do it full-heartedly. With that in mind, Lili gives her whole self to writing a celebration of his life and their love, full of the warmth and joy that Dave and the Hairy Bikers brought to their fans throughout their career spanning two decades.

Inviting readers into their world, Lili shares her personal story alongside her professional insights as a grief counsellor, offering a unique perspective on the complexities of loss and the healing process.

Lili takes us on an intimate journey through life with her beloved husband, recounting their serendipitous meeting in 2005, the blossoming of their relationship as pen pals and the adventures that followed as they built a life together in the UK.

Interspersed with vivid memories – like the plaid shirt that carries a special significance, the shoes that tell a story of their travels, and the lost wedding ring that symbolises their unbreakable bond – Lili paints a rich tapestry of their life together. She describes the joy of their wedding day, the camaraderie of friendships, and the challenges they faced during Dave's cancer diagnosis, his treatment, and the final days they spent together.

As well as a reflection on Lili’s profound grief, this deeply moving memoir is a testament to the enduring power of love and, amidst the sorrow, Lili finds ways to celebrate Dave’s life, honouring his legacy and the impact he had on a nation that adored him. Looking to the future, Lili offers readers a beacon of hope, sharing her coping strategies and the ways she keeps Dave's memory alive.

Dave and Me is a heartfelt tribute to a remarkable man and story of love that transcends loss.

Weekend Storytime…

Our next Storytime sessions will be held on Saturday 21st June at 12pm and again on Sunday 22nd June at 2pm.

We will be reading How Long Is That Dog by John Bond and The Ugly Five by Julia Donaldson. There will be colouring in afterwards!

Young Adult Book Club …

Don’t miss this month’s Young Adult Book Club on Thursday 26 June at 7pm.

This month we are reading Heir Of Storms by Lauryn Hamilton Murray. 

We are an informal, fun group who love to chat about books. New members very welcome!