Waterstone’s Ballymena reveals this week’s Top 10 bestselling books

Saturday 7 February 2026

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

From dark crime fiction to charming children’s stories and practical lifestyle reads, this week’s Top 10 reflects the wonderfully varied tastes of local readers.

Top 10 for this week

1. Pagans — James Alistair Henry

A darkly comic and thought-provoking novel exploring masculinity, belief and modern disillusionment.

2. A Schooling in Murder — Andrew Taylor

A gripping historical mystery from the master of literary crime fiction, rich with intrigue and atmosphere.

3. My Gardening Life — Mary Berry

The beloved cook and broadcaster shares her lifelong passion for gardening in this warm and personal account.

4. Cozy Friends — Coco Wyo

A charming and relaxing colouring book designed to spark creativity and bring a moment of calm.

5. My Teacher is a Diamond Thief — Pamela Butchart

A wildly funny children’s adventure full of chaos, mystery and laugh-out-loud classroom antics.

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. Clean Magic — Nancy Birtwhistle

A practical guide to eco-friendly cleaning packed with simple, effective and sustainable household tips.

8. I Love My Granny — Giles Andreae

A joyful and heartwarming board book celebrating the special bond between grandparents and grandchildren.

9. Hekate: The Witch — Nikita Gill

A powerful poetic retelling inspired by the mythology of Hekate, goddess of magic, crossroads and transformation.

10. Flashlight — Susan Choi

A compelling literary novel exploring memory, identity and the fragile connections that shape our lives.

Children’s Storytime

The next Children’s Storytime will take place on Saturday 14 March at 12pm. Join the team for a story and colouring activities.

This week’s book will be Mummy’s Promise by Michelle Robinson and Paddy Donnelly.

The event is suitable for toddlers up to age six.

New books in store

• The Library of Traumatic Memory — Neil Jordan

The first literary science fiction novel from Neil Jordan, visionary director of The Company of Wolves and Interview with the Vampire. Blending gothic mystery, speculative science and philosophical depth, The Library of Traumatic Memory is a haunting meditation on love, loss and the ethics of memory.

• Operation Unification — William McKee

The local author returns with the thrilling sequel to Collusion Inside the Maze, bringing readers to the dawn of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.

• A Bad, Bad Place — Frances Crawford

A dark, unputdownable story of redemption and resilience on the mean streets of Glasgow. Crawford’s atmospheric debut centres on a child who discovers a local hardman’s corpse and the secrets she is hiding about what really happened the night of the murder.

• The Island Retreat — Cathy Kelly

“A burst of Sicilian sunshine … Cathy writes from the heart with great warmth and sincerity.” — Erica James

Closing

With everything from gripping crime fiction and literary novels to children’s favourites and practical guides, this week’s selection highlights the wide range of books being enjoyed by readers across Ballymena.

Whether you’re searching for a thoughtful gift, a cosy weekend read or something entirely new, there’s plenty to discover on the shelves at Waterstone’s Ballymena.