Recommended Reads

"Ireland 1982, and Róisìn agrees to ferry love letters from the school bully to the local misfit Red, who she finds intelligent, funny and thoughtful. From these small moments grows a tightknit friendship, with the underlying hope of something more. Their story brings them to the squats of London and spans the years into their adulthood. This is a beautiful depiction of young friendships, love, and how the choices we blithely make when we are young can reverberate throughout our lives. "

Recommended by Hannah, Dubray Bray

'I gulped this down - convinced, fascinated and moved by every page' - Emma Donoghue

"Black Bag is an extremely witty, unique novel, longlisted for the Booker Prize 2026, about a struggling actor who accepts a new gig at a university. The he becomes part of a psychological experiment, wearing an oversized bag sitting at the back of the lecture halls, and becoming Black Bag. Kennard touches on multiple themes that reflect on our current climate, provoking questions on identity, toxic masculinity, loneliness, and you get to enjoy all these themes with so much laughter."

Recommended by Iman, Dubray Grafton St

'The funniest and smartest novel I've read in a while' - Zadie Smith

"1951 and war journalist Harry Flynn lands a job curating artifacts at The Festival of Britain, a madcap attempt to help the country recover from World War II. Surrounded an oddball mix of eccentric characters, Harry’s life quickly becomes more complicated with a missing (presumed dead) date, blackmail by Britain’s worst celebrity chef, glamorous secret agents and a precocious 13-year-old stepdaughter. Atkinson excels in historical mysteries, and here she blends wit with fascinating real-life details, I can’t recommend this enough."

Recommended by Susan, Dubray Support office

'Gleefully observed - also beautifully illustrated - this novel is a hoot. The characters are terrific.' - The Guardian

"Lee Clarke can’t quiet settle on whether he’s a righteous pilgrim or an ignoble coward. Fleeing the Vietnam draft, Lee brazenly embarks on an epic abscondment from his duties, his girlfriend and his life in LA. The novel plays out almost as a series of vignettes as a Canada-bound Lee checks in on his fractured family. DeWitt paints as always in bright, bold colours but his canvas reveals almost every shade and texture of the human condition – heartache, rapture, disquiet and deep, unutterable love."

Recommended by Leon, Dubray Grafton S

'A book for anyone who has ever thought their problems could be solved by running away' - Nicole Flattery, author of Nothing Special

"After a major life disruption, Louise O'Neill realises she has spent her life trying to be what everyone else wants her to be. Now in her 30's, she undertakes the dating world once again, traveling to 3 different cities across the world. O’Neill writes with honesty and humour as she explores dating, desire and wanting more from life. This book brought me many moments of personal reflection, reminding us not to lose yourself in the midst of the responsibilities of day-to-day life."

Recommended by Emma, Dubray Cork

'A groundbreaking shift in how we talk about women, love and relationships' - Marian Keyes

"Two women meet at the sacred river of a small religious sect in rural Virginia. Phyllipa, a scholar of Edgar Allan Poe, has travelled to meet Lana, a local who claims to be possessed by the spirit of Poe’s young wife, Virginia Clem. Amidst sweltering heat and sudden storms, each woman will realise that they are haunted, body and soul, by more than a single ghost. A darkly atmospheric gothic tale, told in rich, sensuous prose, I devoured this novel."

Recommended by Alison, Dubray Rathmines

'Rainsford is such a distinctive voice in Irish literature, with a particular talent for mixing the ordinary and the uncanny, for creating a certain ferocity of atmosphere, and cutting to the quick of human nature.' - Sara Baume

"An unbearably charming story about the importance of not always believing rumours. Is Dropbear as mean and scary as the other animals say? Appearances can be deceiving, so you'll just have to drop by and find out!"

Recommended by Graham, Dubray Liffey Valley

Reading Age 3+

"Rabbit has lots of questions. What are stars? And why are there so many? When his friends can't answer him, he decides to take a trip to the curious Bog of Frogs. But can his new froggy friends help him understand the universe?"

Recommended by Kate, Dubray Bray

Reading Age 6+

'A perfect animal double-act.' - The Times, Book of the Week

"Separated from her siblings, Gracie thinks her new life with her widowed Aunt Peg will be terribly lonely. Until she meets the Travelling Players, a theatre group that promises friendship and excitement. Another gem from the beloved Judi Curtin."

Recommended by Kate, Dubray Bray

Reading Age 9+

"A Halloween dare goes wrong when a group of boarding school students discover that Bloody Mary isn’t just a scary story, and in five days they will come face to face with the legendary ghost. Tim Burton’s Wednesday meets 2000s teen slasher flick, this book is sure to give you chills."

Reading Age 14+

Recommended by Nik, Liffey Valley