Waterstone’s Ballymena highlights bestsellers, book clubs and new releases in busy spring line-up

Waterstone’s Ballymena has unveiled another packed weekly update, with bestselling fiction, welcoming community book clubs and a wave of notable new releases helping to keep readers engaged this spring.

This week’s Top 10 reflects a broad mix of tastes among Ballymena readers, with everything from children’s favourites and sci-fi adventures to literary fiction and historical drama featuring strongly.

Top 10 this week

(Saturday 9 May 2026)

A varied mix of bestselling fiction and contemporary favourites dominates the chart this week.

1. Seriously Epic Holiday of Lottie Brooks — Katie Kirby

The latest hilarious instalment in the hugely popular series following Lottie’s chaotic and relatable adventures.

2. Yesteryear — Caro Claire Burke

A sharp and addictive debut exploring the hidden realities behind a carefully curated online life.

3. Rory — Alan Shipnuck

A revealing and detailed portrait of golfing superstar Rory McIlroy and the pressures of elite sport.

4. Project Hail Mary — Andy Weir

A gripping sci-fi thriller following a lone astronaut tasked with saving humanity from extinction.

5. Heart The Lover — Lily King

An emotionally rich literary novel exploring intimacy, relationships and human connection.

6. Sharpe’s Storm — Bernard Cornwell

Another action-filled historical adventure featuring Richard Sharpe amid the turmoil of war.

7. Broken Country — Clare Leslie Hall

A deeply immersive and moving story centred on relationships, identity and personal transformation.

8. The Raven Scholar — Antonia Hodgson

A richly atmospheric historical mystery layered with intrigue, danger and intellectual rivalry.

9. Flesh — David Szalay

A striking literary work examining masculinity, desire and modern existence.

10. The Predicament — William Boyd

An elegantly crafted and compelling novel from one of Britain’s most acclaimed storytellers.

Book clubs continue to grow

Waterstone’s Ballymena’s regular book clubs continue to attract readers from across the area, with organisers encouraging new members to come along and join the discussion.

• Romance Book Club

Friday 15 May at 7pm

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

• Sci-Fi and Fantasy Book Club

Thursday 21 May at 7pm

Readers will discuss Between Two Fires by Christopher Buehlman.

• Fiction Book Club

Thursday 4 June at 7pm

This month’s read is Fundamentally by Nussaibah Younis.

Tea and refreshments are provided during all book club sessions.

Children’s Storytime returns

Families are invited to join Waterstone’s Ballymena for storytime and colouring at 12pm on Saturday 16 May.

This week’s featured book will be Room for Us All by Lu Fraser and Sarah Warburton.

New releases in store

A broad selection of highly anticipated new titles has arrived in store this week, spanning memoir, crime, literary fiction and social commentary.

• Hoax — Madeleine Pelling

“Fascinating, gripping, brilliantly written, Hoax goes deep into the heart of eighteenth century Britain, its secrets and lies, crime and punishment, and the enthralling tale of three women.”

• True Crime — Patricia Cornwell

An event-packed memoir from the bestselling creator of the Scarpetta novels, tracing Cornwell’s troubled childhood, near-death experiences and early career as a forensic expert.

• People Pleaser — Bryony Gordon

A funny and relatable debut novel following a people-pleasing protagonist on a chaotic journey of self-discovery.

• A River Red With Blood — John Connolly

The latest Charlie Parker thriller sees the detective investigating a sinister case involving a missing woman and the discovery of a teenager’s body in Maine.

• Femme Feral — Sam Beckbessinger

A provocative and fiercely energetic exploration of feminine rage and suppressed anger.

• A Plot to Die For — Ardal O’Hanlon

The much-loved comedian launches a new mystery series centred on a celebrity gardener solving murders in his hometown.

• Shrink Solves Murder — Philippa Perry

A witty and warm crime caper featuring psychotherapist Patricia Philipps, who turns amateur detective after one of her patients dies.

• Thirst — John Robins

The comedian’s powerful and moving memoir explores addiction, sobriety and recovery with honesty and humour.

• Training John & Murray — Martin Clunes

A heartwarming and hilarious canine memoir guaranteed to delight dog lovers.

With bestselling fiction, lively discussion groups and an ever-growing range of new releases arriving weekly, Waterstone’s Ballymena continues to strengthen its place as a welcoming hub for readers, families and literary enthusiasts across the local community.