A new month brings new stories, and we’re excited to share our latest recommendations of the books our staff members have loved this month.
Find these must-reads in our shops and online now. Happy browsing!
View all of our Recommended Reads from this year here.
June's Recommended Reads
Land - Maggie O'Farrell
"In the aftermath of Ireland's Famine, Thomás maps the unimaginably altered landscape little knowing the far-reaching consequences the project will have. Telling of one family, a wider people, and the deep ties binding them to a place which has sustained them for millennia, this powerful story threads myth through history to reveal what we instinctively know - that nothing ever truly goes away but only changes. And we, and the land, remember."
Recommended by Martha, Dubray Liffey Valley
"A deep-mapping of a place and its people, a heart-bursting story of resilience and love. Land is simply the best novel I've read in years" -- Louise Kennedy
Whistler - Ann Patchett
"Eddie Triplett was Daphne’s stepfather for just a year when she was nine years old. They don’t see each other again until an accidental meeting many years later. Despite the brevity of their earlier relationship, the reunion reminds them of how close they once were. As they reconnect, they reflect on the choices made and consider the future together. Told with delicate grace and clear-eyed empathy, this story wrapped around my heart and left me tingling. One of the finest novels I’ve read."
Recommended by Donal, Dubray Stillorgan
''Ann Patchett leads us with the intelligence, detail, wit and nuance of the greatest chroniclers of human nature and relationships. Nothing escapes her" -- Rachel Joyce
Said the Dead - Doireann Ní Ghríofa
"What would the dead say if given the opportunity? Ní Ghríofa gives voice to the women who lived and died in an old Victorian mental hospital in Cork to try and answer this question. In this mix between fact and fiction she poetically paints the stories of the women who laboured and existed in a society that didn’t want to understand them. A stunning read from a powerful Irish voice. "
Recommended by Eilis, Dubray Stillorgan
''Lush, lyrical prose that dazzles readers from the get-go . . . sumptuous, almost symphonic, in its intensity.' Sunday Times
Our Deadly Summer - Emer McLysaght and Sarah Breen
"Besties Laura and Dee haven't spoken since that fateful summer in the US when they buried a body together. They thought it would be their best summer ever. Little did they know that "deadly" would take on a more sinister meaning. If you're a fan of the Oh My God, What a Complete Aisling series and are looking for a dark-comedy thriller, this is the book for you! The perfect summer read with a great blend of romance, dark humour and suspense."
Recommended by Chloé, Dubray Mary St
'Wistful, funny and sweet and just a small bit murder-y' Marian Keyes
The Midnight Train - Matt Haig
"Nobody can change the past, but the Midnight Train can take you there. Wilbur had it all with Maggie until he let her slip away. Decades later, a mysterious train journey offers him a second chance at happiness, but it means risking everything. What would you do? Returning to the world of The Midnight Library, this poignant, hopeful fable is a celebration of life and love in all their complexities, contradictions, and limitless glorious possibilities - just beautiful."
Recommended by Martha, Dubray Liffey Valley
'If you enjoyed The Midnight Library, you'll love this. The Midnight Train is exquisite storytelling and utterly brilliant. One of the most beautiful stories you'll ever experience' - Joanna Cannon, author of The Trouble with Goats and Sheep,
The Wind Beneath the Stone - David Keohan
"What started out as an alternative exercise regime to build his strength during covid, soon became a quest to rediscover some of Ireland’s lost trials of Stone Lifting and the hidden magic behind their folklore. The Wind Beneath the Stone is an incredible show of strength, resilience, and determination, while creating a lifetime of memories and friendships. Powerful and rich with emotion. It’s not very often that a book like this falls into your hands."
Recommended by Sinéad, Dubray Waterford
'Strange to say, but this book about lifting heavy ancient stones is a blast of fresh air. An utterly original and joyously uplifting memoir of extreme sport and unearthing folklore' -- John Lewis-Stempel, author of England: A Natural History
The River Is Waiting - Wally Lamb
"Stay-at-home dad Corby Ledbetter leads a troubled life, until one terrible mistake brings unthinkable tragedy and tears his family apart. In prison, his guilt and addiction issues add to the violent and brutal environment. But as he slowly adapts, he builds new friendships with a troubled young teen and the prison librarian and draws strength from small acts of kindness. A profoundly emotional read, this is a searing yet hopeful exploration of atonement and redemption from the incomparable Wally Lamb."
Recommended by Emma, Dubray Support office
"As usual, Wally Lamb gripped me with his perceptive, page-turning novel, The River Is Waiting, a story that illuminates how the traumas of mass incarceration and addiction stigma spare no one. Lamb delivers what's most needed in these turbulent times-an absolute empathy bomb." - Beth Macy, author of Dopesick
This is Also a Love Story - Sally Hayden
"A powerful and hopeful reminder of the strength of the human spirit. Renowned foreign correspondent Sally Hayden showcases the passion, courage, and endurance of love in all its forms in even the bleakest of situations. Each chapter tell a story of love’s endurance from a different part of the world, many of which have been devastated by conflict or war. A necessary and meaningful book whose lessons will stay with me for a long time. "
Recommended by Laura, Dubray Waterford
'A deeply moving and necessary book. The news may move from horror to horror, but Hayden pauses, returns, looks through violence and atrocity to find the greater, gentler forces that hold people together. She gives us something to hold on to, in dark times' - Anne Enright
Is This a Plum? - Dan & Finn Ojari
"A laugh-out-loud father and son collaboration chock full of surprises that will have you questioning what things truly are. With visual tricks and silly rhymes, it’s a creatively fun time for all ages!"
Reading Age 2+
Recommended by Jessica, Dubray Waterford
"Clever, satisfying, and silly, this is Each Peach Pear Plum for a new generation." - The Bookseller
Pablo and Splash: Viking Voyage - Sheena Dempsey
"When time-travelling penguins Pablo and Splash tell their friends about Vikings and their longships, their friend Benji steals a time machine to go plundering for treasure. Can the duo get to Viking-era Ireland in time to warn them? A hilariously gripping fun adventure."
Reading Age 6+
Recommended by Isobel, Dubray Dun Laoghaire
'You'll laugh your flippers off!' - John Patrick Green, creator of InvestiGATORS
Minotaur Boy - Shane Hegarty, Ruby Fresson (illus.)
"What’s more difficult than being an adolescent boy battling those pesky growing pains? Finding out you’re a Minotaur, of course! But twelve-year-old Alex isn’t the only monster in town. A wonderfully spun tale with a humorously mythological twist and stunning illustrations."
Reading Age 9+
Recommended by Jessica, Dubray Waterford
'A rollercoaster adventure with legendary characters that are also very human. At the core of Shane's books there is always great story telling, humour and heart.' - Eoin Colfer
Boy Friends - Kai Spellmeier
"Luca has been secretly in love with Simo for as long as he can remember. But when an anonymous message on their small town’s noticeboard threatens everything, will they figure out how they feel about each other, or lose their friendship for good? A heartwarming summer read, perfect for fans of Heartstopper."
Reading Age 14+
Recommended by Isobel, Dubray Dun Laoghaire
''Sparkling, shimmering story, BOY FRIENDS promises us that love in all its forms-romantic, platonic, familial-is what makes life rich' - Adib Khorram, authoe of Darius the Great Is Not Okay
