Ask a Bookseller: Chrissy from BookBar

What book brings you joy lately? – Xander

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans is a beautiful book about a life well lived that brought me a lot of joy. It follows a woman over ten years as she writes letters to loved ones, her favourite authors, and the teenage son of a former colleague. Funny, warm, tender, at times sad, but so life-affirming.

Any non-fiction recommendations that read like fiction? – Tabetha

Patrick Radden-Keefe's London Falling reads like a thriller, but is a harrowing and shocking true story about a 19-year-old who tragically falls from a luxury block of flats into the Thames. What unravels in Radden-Keefe's investigation takes us to the heart of corruption and criminality under the surface of the city's elite.

I am doing the 'reading a book from every country in the world' challenge. What are your favourite translated books? – Olivia

There are so many! Anything that's on the Booker International Prize longlist is a great place to start.

I adored Still Born by Guadalupe Nettel, translated by Rosalind Harvey, which is a beautiful story about motherhood and friendship set in Mexico City. I also loved Vincenzo Latronico's incisive story of millennial digital nomads in Berlin, Perfection, translated by Sophie Hughes. Finally the On The Calculation of Volume septology by Solve Balle (Norwegian) is a profound and existential exploration of time and what gives life meaning that I have been devouring with each installment.

For something truly brilliant, dark, funny, and raw, I recommend Reservoir Bitches by Dahlia de la Cerda (Mexico), translated by Julia Sanches and Heather Cleary.

What is your favourite book you have read so far in 2026? – Shaunna

2026 is a brilliant year for new books so there are so many I want to recommend! Douglas Stuart's new novel John of John is his best novel yet, I think. As a bookseller, I'm lucky to get to read ahead and the new novel by Louise Kennedy, Stations, is absolutely brilliant. I Want You To Be Happy by Jem Calder is a fantastic debut novel that is the perfect book to take on your holidays.

I would like to start reading historical romance, but I don't want to start with something too heavy. I'd like some with an element of mystery. I would be grateful if you could recommend some titles or authors. – Alison

Sarah Waters is a brilliant place to start. She writes Queer historical mysteries with amazing twists. My favourite is Fingersmith, but The Paying Guests is also excellent. Another historical mystery I loved recently is The Art of the Lie by Laura Shepherd-Robinson. For historical romance, try William Boyd's truly beautiful Love is Blind or Alice Winn's brilliant In Memoriam.