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Browse The Reading Agency booklists on bookshop.org to find a range of recommended titles for adults and children. Sales will support The Reading Agency’s work and independent bookshops.

Read on for our recommended reads. You can also search for any book you have read and leave a review, or search for a book to see what other readers thought.

Solenoid

Mircea Cartarescu, and, Sean Cotter

A Leopard-Skin Hat

Anne Serre

Perfection

Vincenzo Latronico, and, Sophie Hughes

Reservoir Bitches

Dahlia de la Cerda, Julia Sanches, and, Heather Cleary

The Book of Disappearance

Ibtisam Azem, and, Sinan Antoon

Eurotrash

Christian Kracht, and, Daniel Bowles

On A Woman's Madness

Astrid Roemer, and, Lucy Scott

On the Calculation of Volume I

Solvej Balle

There's a Monster Behind the Door

Gaëlle Bélem, Karen Fleetwood, and, Laëtitia Saint-Loubert

Small Boat

Vincent Delecroix, and, Helen Stevenson

Hunchback

Saou Ichikawa, and, Polly Barton

Under the Eye of the Big Bird

Hiromi Kawakami, and, Asa Yoneda

Heart Lamp

Banu Mushtaq, and, Deepa Bhasthi

A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage: Meet the couple everyone is talking about in the hottest thriller of 2025

Asia Mackay

Nesting

Roisin O'Donnell

The Favourites

Layne Fargo

Human, Animal

Seth Insua

Fundamentally

Nussaibah Younis

Who Wants to Live Forever

Hannah Thomas Uose

Themed booklists

We’ve collected together some of our previous booklists on a variety of themes and topics. Take a look to find your next read.

The Big Sporting Read

Chinaman

Shehan Karunatilaka

What I Talk About When I Talk About Running

Haruki Murakami

Fever Pitch

Nick Hornby

Gold

Chris Cleave

Jessica Ennis: Unbelievable - From My Childhood Dreams To Winning Olympic Gold: The life story of Team GB's Olympic Golden Girl

Jessica Ennis

Coming Up for Air: What I Learned from Sport, Fame and Fatherhood

Tom Daley

A Fan for All Seasons: A Journey Through Life and Sport

Jon Harvey

The Big Sporting Read is a collaboration between national charity The Reading Agency and BBC Arts, aiming to use the power of sport to inspire readers across the UK – highlighting the links between sporting excellence, reading, health and wellbeing. Browse the full booklist.

Books of the Year

Blessings

Chukwuebuka Ibeh

The Boy Who Painted The World

Tom McLaughlin

Intermezzo

Sally Rooney

FACTopia!: Follow the Trail of 400 Facts [Britannica]

Kate Hale, Andy Smith, and, Britannica Group

Bunny vs Monkey: The Great Big Glitch

Jamie Smart

At The Reading Agency, we have read a lot of brilliant books over the past year; books that have made us laugh, cry and left us with a lot to discuss. Our team have picked the books that have stood out for them in 2024. We hope you find some inspiration for your next read, or perhaps spot a few titles you have enjoyed yourself! Browse the full booklist

Spine-tinglers & Nail-biters

Promise Boys

Nick Brooks

How To Die Famous

Benjamin Dean, Nerissa Bradley, Chase Brown, Troy Glasgow, and, Julie Rogers

Are You a Sleepy Monster?: Volume 2

Guilherme Karsten

The Reappearance of Rachel Price

Holly Jackson

The Hoys

Kes Gray, and, Mark A. Chambers

As we enter the cold and dark months, we have created a booklist filled with our favourite spine-tinglers and nail-biters to captivate readers who enjoy suspense, mystery, and supernatural adventures (at different levels of scariness). Browse the full booklist.

Debuts

Steady For This: the laugh-out-loud and unforgettable teen novel!

Nathanael Lessore

Crossing the Line

Tia Fisher

Look Out! Hungry Snake (Look Out! Hungry Animals)

Paul Delaney

Flower Block

Lanisha Butterfield, and, Hoang Giang

My Friend Andy

Emma Chinnery

Holey Moley

Bethan Clarke, and, Anders Frang

The debut authors and/or illustrators’ booklist features an exciting array of new voices in publishing, spanning genres from humorous children’s stories to gripping adult thrillers. These fresh perspectives bring unique and compelling narratives to readers, making them a vital addition to the literary landscape. Browse the full booklist.

Escape with a Book

The Pet Potato

Josh Lacey, and, Momoko Abe

Journeys in Creative Writing: A Different Adventure Every Time!

Rudi Haig, and, Kim Hankinson

Little Gems – Budgie

Joseph Coelho, and, David Barrow

The Search for the Giant Arctic Jellyfish

Chloe Savage, and, Chloe Savage

Can You See the Stars Tonight?

Anna Terreros-Martin

Mayowa and the Sea of Words

Chibundu Onuzo

Summer is a time for adventures and immersive experiences, so we have created a booklist perfect for readers looking to escape into captivating stories. These sixteen books offer a variety of escapes, from adventurous expeditions and magical journeys to heartwarming romances and engaging puzzles, ensuring every reader finds their perfect summer getaway even if you cannot leave your house. Browse the full booklist

Nature and Conservation
Wonder Women
Turning the Page
Community and Celebration
A Race Against Time
Wonders of the World
Translated books
Books to Make You Laugh