Recommended Reads

"Sybil is in her twilight years and through her regular letter writing to all & sundry (including some real-life authors), we get a sense of her life, her loves, and her regrets. She is cantankerous but kind; wise but harsh, and so very human. The book is charming, witty and full of heart with characters that would not be out of place in an Elizabeth Strout or Ann Tyler novel – high praise indeed"

Recommended by Mairead, Dubray Support Office

Winner of Women's Prize for Fiction 2026

"Ronan is Brennan’s best friend and only ally, and he is rattled when Ronan doesn't show up on the first day of their final year in secondary school. Brennan discovers that something terrible happened to his friend over the summer and that he will never be the same again. This will pull at your heartstrings as Brennan tries to find a way to navigate the new school year alone and the new shape of their friendship. A tender, heartbreaking debut."

Recommended by Shiane, Dubray Grafton St.

'A painfully optimistic book that does the favour of making you laugh as it breaks your heart' - Kenneth Branagh

"Sara Baume first encountered Mollie Douthit’s art at a mutual friend’s makeshift gallery in 2022. Upon learning that they lived in the same small corner of West Cork, they struck up a friendship based around a monthly sea swim and shared intimacies over homemade soup. Featuring stunning full-colour photographs of Mollie’s paintings throughout, this is an intimate and illuminating study of artists at work and a reckoning with the near impossibility of creating great art while living a full life."

Recommended by Alison, Dubray Rathmines

'I am a completist when it comes to Sara Baume's work: she is an artist of profound integrity' - Anne Enright

"Two discoveries are pulled from the same Irish bog, many years apart; the antler of a Great Irish Elk, gnawed loose by a dog, and the mutilated body of a prehistoric woman, uprooted by a local man’s sléan. These ancient remains entangle themselves in the lives and preoccupations of four people, shifting restlessly between narratives that span decades. Armstrong unearths something ancient and raw, petrified and crackling, within the human condition and exposes the connective tissue between our past and present."

Recommended by Aoife, Dubray Rathmines

'When the book burners knock on your door, this is one to hide in the flour barrel' - Annie Proulx

"Follow young journalist Joseph as he travels to the home of the famous painter Tartuffe and his niece, to unearth the mystery of this reclusive master. Ettie’s sheltered life with her uncle means that she has never gone farther than her local village. The world Joseph wants to enter, is the one she can’t escape from. A captivating, sensory novel that transports you to the south of France and highlights all the colours of life, the light and the dark."

Recommended by Gráinne, Dubray Bray

'A furiously romantic, sun-drenched mystery . . . The Artist will leave you yearning in every sense of the word' - Yael van der Wouden, author of The Safekeep

"Austin's best book yet with a somewhat memorable opening line. Darcy is a librarian dealing with grief and guilt over the death of her ex-boyfriend. She is finding her feet again, with thanks to her therapist, but comes back to work only to face a troupe of far-right protestors. An uplifting story that really makes you think about our views, biases and assumptions. I just adored this, and there's a cute, grumpy stray cat. Perfect for fans of flawed protagonists and relatable cringe."

Recommended by Caoimhe, Dubray Cork

'The queen of darkly quirky, endearingly flawed heroines' - Sarah Haywood, author of The Cactus

"Travis is an unassuming man living a solitary life in a quiet town. He is also the modern incarnation of Death, tasked with gently guiding souls into the next realm without judgment. His routine, and earnest detachment is disrupted however when he is befriended by his new neighbours, single mom midwife Dalia and her vibrant eight-year-old daughter Layla. This beautiful story, which weaves amongst the many lives he encounters, is heartbreaking in moments but ultimately uplifting and life-affirming with a bittersweet twist. "

Recommended by Susan, Dubray Support office

'One of the most original, riveting, and moving books I've read in a long while' - Graeme Simsion, Sunday Times-bestselling author of The Rosie Project

"Ten little Vikings set off on an epic adventure. From snowball fights with gnomes to battles with Norse Gods, will our intrepid Vikings reunite a baby dragon with its family? With bright, bold pictures enhancing the fun counting rhyme – this is fun for all."

Reading Age 3+

Recommended by Una, Dubray Blackrock

"Anders is looking forward to his summer holidays which he thinks is going to be full of reading comics, eating ice cream and playing games, but instead it turns out to be full of Earth-saving adventures. Will he be able to save the world before he has to go back to school? Great for readers looking for funny adventures."

Reading Age 6+

Recommended by Una, Dubray Blackrock

'These stories make me wish I was a kid again.' - Terry Denton

"Welcome to The Common Criminals Club! When Mae is sent on an errand to her boarding school’s kitchen, the last thing she expects is for a body to fall out of the fridge and land on top of her. With the Guards and the teachers being less than helpful it’s up to Mae and her friends to solve the murder... and then another body turns up. A wonderful new cosy mystery series full of danger and devious criminals!"

Reading Age 8+

Recommended by Una, Dubray Blackrock

'Funny, clever, and sharp. A brilliant new take on the murder mystery boarding school genre. More please!' - Padraig Kenny, author of Tin

"Mr. Button’s annual Prodigy Ball aboard his luxury yacht is world famous. However, this year the guests are unaware that he will be dead before they dock, turning everyone into a suspect. Left behind are his five prodigies, each possessing a unique talent and a dark secret. As the night's events are unfurled, their lies unravel, changing their lives forever. A thrillingly addictive murder mystery full of tension, twists and turns."

Reading Age 14+

Recommended by Una, Dubray Blackrock

'Every plot twist left me reeling and hunting for the next clue!' - Felicity Epps, author of A Grave Inheritance