THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR, AS CHOSEN BY THE BOOKSELLERS OF DUBRAY

Books are a guiding light. Every year we find ourselves diving deeper and further into the imagined lives and stories of new characters, leaving behind our world to spend an hour or two a day in the worlds given to us by authors and illustrators. Books are a solace; they invite us in and challenge us, they open us up to possibilities and experiences we might never have come across otherwise. Books are, have always been, and will always be, our greatest lifeline in times of unease. And as booksellers it is our job to guide you in the right direction, leading you to the authors and titles we have loved and revered the most throughout the last twelve months. So, after much consideration and reading, here are our bookseller’s favourite reads of 2021. In here you’ll find titles old and new, with enough recommendations to keep you going well into the new year.

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Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan (chosen by Danielle in Support Office, Emma in Cork, Tanya in Support Office, Sean in Liffey Valley, Adam in Stillorgan, Karen in Grafton Street, Nicola in Bray and Aoife in Grafton Street)

Still Life eBook by Sarah Winman - 9780008283377 | Rakuten Kobo Ireland

Still Life by Sarah Winman (chosen by Martin in Rathmines and Aileen in Liffey Valley)

Cup of Tea's Best Books of 2021: Mystery and Thrillers – cup of tea with  that book, please

56 Days by Catherine Ryan Howard (chosen by Adrienne in Support Office, Jennifer in Support Office and Roisin in Support Office)

Shuggie Bain: Winner of the Booker Prize 2020: Amazon.co.uk: Stuart,  Douglas: 9781529019278: Books

Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart (chosen by Neasa in Dundrum and Mairead in Support Office)

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A Ghost in the Throat by Doireann Ní Ghríofa (chosen by Leanne in Rathmines and Caoimhe in Cork)

Detransition, Baby: Longlisted for the Women's Prize 2021 and Top Ten The  Times Bestseller : Peters, Torrey: Amazon.co.uk: Books

Detransition Baby by Torrey Peters (chosen by Emily in Cork)

Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead Princeton University Press ebook  | Weltbild.de

Everyone in This Room Will Someday be Dead by Emily Austin (chosen by Eoin in Rathmines)

The Magician | Book by Colm Toibin | Official Publisher Page | Simon &  Schuster

The Magician by Colm Toibin (chosen by Natalie in Support Office)

Skein Press » Unsettled

Unsettled by Rosaleen McDonagh (chosen by Alison in Liffey Valley and Margot in Stillorgan)

Mordew: Amazon.co.uk: Alex Pheby: 9781913111021: Books

Mordew by Alex Pheby (chosen by Sarah in Grafton Street)

The Four Winds: Amazon.co.uk: Hannah, Kristin: 9781529054569: Books

The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah (chosen by Manuela in Cork)

Aldrin Adams and the Cheese Nightmares (Aldrin Adams Adventure, 1): Amazon.co.uk:  Howard, Paul: 9780241441671: Books

Aldrin Adams and Cheese Nightmares (chosen by Vivienne in Rathmines)

The Glass Hotel: Emily St. John Mandel: Amazon.co.uk: Mandel, Emily St.  John: 9781509882809: Books

The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel (chosen by Imogen in Dundrum)

Dune by Frank Herbert, Paperback, 9780340960196 | Buy online at The Nile

Dune by Frank Herbert (chosen by Eadaoin in Rathmines and Shane in Bray)

Cloud Cuckoo Land | Book by Anthony Doerr | Official Publisher Page | Simon  & Schuster

Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr (chosen by Reiltin in Galway)

I Want To Know That I Will Be Okay – Bridge Street Books

I Want to Know That I Will be Okay by Deirdre Sullivan (chosen by Karina in Dundrum)

Monsters: Amazon.co.uk: Windsor-Smith, Barry: 9781787333413: Books

Monsters by Barry Windsor Smith (chosen by Leon in Galway)

All the Young Men: How One Woman Risked It All To Care For The Dying: Amazon.co.uk:  Burks, Ruth Coker: 9781409189107: Books

All The Young Men by Ruth Coker Brooks & Kevin Carr O’Leary (chosen by Mary in Dun Laoghaire)

Godspeed: Amazon.co.uk: Butler, Nickolas: 9780571362967: Books

Godspeed by Nickolas Butler (chosen by Donal in Dun Laoghaire)

Barbara Throws a Wobbler

Barbara Throws a Wobbler by Nadia Shireen (chosen by Maria in Support Office)

Foe | Book by Iain Reid | Official Publisher Page | Simon & Schuster AU

Foe by Iain Reid (chosen by Shane in Rathmines)

History of the Rain: A Novel: Williams, Niall: 9781620407707: Amazon.com:  Books

History of the Rain by Niall Williams (chosen by Ciara in Cork)

A Keeper: The Sunday Times Bestseller: Amazon.co.uk: Norton, Graham:  9781473664999: Books

A Keeper by Graham Norton (chosen by Naomi in Rathmines)

Conversations on Love: with Philippa Perry, Dolly Alderton, Roxane Gay,  Stephen Grosz, Esther Perel, and many more: Amazon.co.uk: Lunn, Natasha:  9780241448731: Books

Conversations on Love by Natasha Lunn (chosen by Bobbie in Stillorgan)

Bullet Train: THE INTERNATIONALLY BESTSELLING THRILLER: Amazon.co.uk:  Isaka, Kotaro, Malissa, Sam: 9781787302587: Books

Bullet Train by Kotaro Isaka (chosen by Olivia in Bray)

Supermodel Kaia Gerber's Secrets To Success | British Vogue

The Secret History by Donna Tartt (chosen by Robbie in Dun Laoghaire)

21st Century Renaissance | Publishing Ireland

Wolfstongue by Sam Thompson, ill. by Anna Tromop (chosen by Lisa in Grafton Street)

Billy Summers: The No. 1 Sunday Times Bestseller: Amazon.co.uk: King,  Stephen: 9781529365726: Books

Billy Summers by Stephen King (chosen by Ronan in Galway)

Ace of Spades : Faridah Abike-Iyimide: Amazon.co.uk: Books

Ace of Spades by Faridah Ábíké-Íyímídé (chosen by Laura in Galway)

The Ministry for the Future: Amazon.co.uk: Robinson, Kim Stanley:  9780356508832: Books

The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson (chosen by Shane in Dundrum)

Kitchen: Amazon.co.uk: Yoshimoto, Banana: 9780571342723: Books

Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto (chosen by Sarah in Rathmines)

By Ash, Oak and Thorn: the perfect cosy autumn read for children, from  Costa Award-shortlisted author Melissa Harrison: Amazon.co.uk: Harrison,  Melissa: 9781913322120: Books

By Ash, Oak and Thorn by Melissa Harrison (chosen by Jay in Galway)

Killers of the Flower Moon: Oil, Money, Murder and the Birth of the FBI :  Grann, David: Amazon.co.uk: Books

Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann (chosen by Ben in Grafton Street)

My Dark Vanessa: THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER AS SEEN ON TIKTOK:  Amazon.co.uk: Russell, Kate Elizabeth: 9780008342241: Books

My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell (chosen by Eimear in Dun Laoghaire)

Denis Johnson - Tree of Smoke / #awordfromJoJo #HistoricalFiction  #DenisJohnson

Tree of Smoke by Dennis Johnson (chosen by John in Grafton Street)

Department of Truth, Vol 1: The End Of The World (The Department of Truth):  Amazon.co.uk: Tynion IV, James, Simmonds, Martin: 9781534318335: Books

The Department of Truth by James Tynion, ill. by Martin Simmonds (chosen by Ruairi in Rathmines)

The Lincoln Highway: A New York Times Number One Bestseller: Amazon.co.uk:  Towles, Amor: 9781786332523: Books

The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles (chosen by Susan in Support Office)

Troy: Our Greatest Story Retold (Stephen Fry's Greek Myths) (Stephen Fry's  Greek Myths, 3): Amazon.co.uk: Stephen Fry: 9780241424582: Books

Troy by Stephen Fry (chosen by Megan in Rathmines)

Holding Her Breath: Amazon.co.uk: Ryan, Eimear: 9781844885466: Books

Holding Her Breath by Eimear Ryan (chosen by Caoilfhionn in Support Office)

Just One of Those Days (A Bear Family Book) : Murphy, Jill: Amazon.co.uk:  Books

Just One of Those Days by Jill Murphy (chosen by Una in Liffey Valley)

The Once and Future Witches: Amazon.co.uk: Harrow, Alix E: 9780316422048:  Books

The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow (chosen by Mona in Galway)

The Road Trip: The heart-warming new novel from the author of The Flatshare  and The Switch: Amazon.co.uk: O'Leary, Beth: 9781529409062: Books

The Road Trip by Beth O’Leary (chosen by Ciara in Bray)

Mythos: The Greek Myths Retold (Stephen Fry's Greek Myths, 1) (Stephen  Fry's Greek Myths, 1): Amazon.co.uk: Fry, Stephen: 9781405934138: Books

Mythos by Stephen Fry (chosen by Michelle in Stillorgan)

Panenka: Amazon.co.uk: Hession, Rónán: 9781910422670: Books

Panenka by Rónán Hession (chosen by Martha N. in Liffey Valley)

A Passage North: Shortlisted for the Booker Prize 2021: Amazon.co.uk: Anuk  Arudpragasam: 9781783786947: Books

A Passage North by Anuk Arudpragasam (chosen by Mary-Louise in Galway)

When We Cease to Understand the World: SHORTLISTED FOR THE INTERNATIONAL  BOOKER PRIZE 2021: Benjamin Labatut: Amazon.co.uk: Benjamín Labatut, Benjamín  Labatut: 9781782276142: Books

When We Cease to Understand the World by Benjamín Labatut (chosen by Garrett in Grafton Street)

Hyperion: A Novel: Simmons, Dan: 9780385263481: Amazon.com: Books

Hyperion by Dan Simmons (chosen by Ryan in Cork)

The Gilded Ones : Namina Forna: Amazon.co.uk: Books

The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna (chosen by Samantha in Dundrum)

Wonder: R. J. Palacio : Palacio, R J, Palacio, R J: Amazon.co.uk: Books

Wonder by R. J. Palacio (chosen by Gráinne in Stillorgan)

The Glass Onion Beatles Journal: Paul McCartney to publish "Lyrics" books -  updated with preview video

The Lyrics, 1956 – Present by Paul McCartney (chosen by David in Bray)

Amazon.com: The Tokyo Zodiac Murders (Pushkin Vertigo): 9781782271383:  Shimada, Soji, Mackenzie, Ross, Mackenzie, Shika: Books

The Tokyo Zodiac Murders by Soji Shimada (chosen by Ailbhe in Galway)

Project Hail Mary: From the bestselling author of The Martian: Amazon.co.uk:  Weir, Andy: 9781529100617: Books

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir (chosen by Aisling in Dun Laoghaire)

The Book of Form and Emptiness: Amazon.co.uk: Ozeki, Ruth: 9781838855239:  Books

The Book of Form and Emptiness by Ruth Ozeki (chosen by Erica in Liffey Valley)

Amazon.com: The Eye Of The World: Book 1 of the Wheel of Time (Soon to be a  major TV series): 9780356517001: Jordan, Robert: Books

The Eye of World (The Wheel of Time Book 1) by Robert Jordan (chosen by Emma in Bray)

Mudlarking (ebook), Lara Maiklem | 9781408889206 | Boeken | bol.com

Mudlarking by Lara Maiklem (chosen by Sara in Cork)

The Life and Loves of a He Devil: A Memoir- Buy Online in Bermuda at  Desertcart - 118998276.

The Life and Loves of a He Devil by Graham Norton (chosen by Daniel in Cork)

Persepolis: Buy Persepolis by Satrapi at Low Price in India | Flipkart.com

Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi (chosen by Shauna in Dundrum)

The Housekeeper and the Professor

The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa (chosen by Ben in Dundrum)

A Hundred Million Years and a Day: Amazon.co.uk: Andrea, Jean-Baptiste,  Taylor, Sam: 9781910477830: Books

A Hundred Million Years and a Day by Jean-Baptiste Andrea, trans. by Sam Taylor (chosen by Brian in Liffey Valley)

Are You Somebody? eBook by Nuala O'Faolain - 9781848406865 | Rakuten Kobo  United Kingdom

Are You Somebody by Nuala O’Faolain (chosen by Martha F. in Liffey Valley)

The Poppy War: A Novel: Amazon.co.uk: Kuang, R. F: 9780062662569: Books

The Poppy War by R. F. Kuang (chosen by Gabbie in Dun Laoghaire)

Women's Prize For Fiction: Revealing The 2021 Longlist | Grazia

Exciting Times by Naoise Dolan (chosen by Breno in Dun Laoghaire)

Libra: Don DeLillo: Amazon.co.uk: DeLillo, Don: 9780141041995: Books

Libra by Don DeLillo (chosen by Aoife in Stillorgan)

Born to Run: Amazon.co.uk: Springsteen, Bruce: 9781501141515: Books

Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen (chosen by Sam in Stillorgan)

The Very Dangerous Sisters of Indigo McCloud - Little Island

The Very Dangerous Sisters of Indigo McCloud by John Hearne (chosen by Oisin in Bray)

The God Is Not Willing (Witness, 1): Erikson, Steven: 9780765323590: Amazon.com:  Books

The God is Not Willing by Steven Erikson (chosen by Keith in Grafton Street)

The Dark Stuff (Faber Greatest Hits): Amazon.co.uk: Kent, Nick:  9780571349647: Books

The Dark Stuff by Nick Kent (chosen by Abby in Grafton Street)

Eoin is a 24 year old senior bookseller who splits his time between reading books about haunted houses and wishing he lived in a haunted house. He can usually be found recommending books to anyone who will listen. He can be found on twitter @eoinpsm.

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