We’re thrilled to bring you the first of our book recommendations of this year, handpicked by our booksellers.

This month’s highlights include The Time of the Child by Niall Williams, a heartwarming tale set in the small Irish town of Faha at Christmas, followed by Fire, the next instalment in John Boyne’s Elements Quartet. Dive into a hilarious novel of mindfulness and organised crime in Murder Mindfully by Karsten Dusse, now a Netflix show, or explore human connection with Sigrid Nunez’s The Vulnerables. The Caretaker by Ron Rash offers love and intrigue during the Korean War. Lastly, fans of Korean literature will love The Rainfall Market by Yong-gwang Yu, a magical escape where anything is possible.