Browns Best New Books for June 2026
1st June 2026
Every month we carefully select our favourites from the fabulous new titles on offer. June is here! Evenings are longer, the sun is shining (hopefully!) and for many the summer holidays are just around the corner. For some, June will be a month of exams with teachers and students focused on getting the very best results – if you are currently working through exams or supporting those who are, we wish you the very best of luck. June is a packed month – this year we have the FIFA World Cup which kicks off on June 11th and is jointly hosted by the USA, Canada and Mexico; this year 48 teams will compete (up from the previous 32) and 104 matches will be played. June also sees Pride Month, a chance to celebrate LGBTQ+ communities and the positive impact they have around the world as well as raising awareness of issues that affect them. Here at Browns we are eagerly awaiting the announcing of the winners of the Carnegie Medals for Writing and Illustration which takes place on June 23rd this year. As if June didn’t have lots to look forward to already, there are some really great (and highly anticipated) books out this month – read on for a selection of our favourites.
Check back next month for our picks of the new books July has to offer.
Adult Non-Fiction
This Way Up
Map Men
Paperback / softback
Maps are useful, interesting and can be beautiful. We use maps all the time, frequently on our phones, and they fascinate us for all sorts of reasons including navigation, curiosity, history, seeing data displayed in a visual way or just spotting your house or school. But maps are often at their most interesting when they are wrong…
The book is authored by self-confessed cartographical nerds The Map Men, who have a hugely popular YouTube miniseries that blends comedy and geography. This book, now in paperback, is a fantastically entertaining look at maps and in particular maps which feature wrong, misleading or confusing information. From the IKEA map that deleted a whole country to a fictional map that became real and why regions of the UK and where they begin and end can be mind-boggling, this is a hugely fun and very informative read. Perfect for geography fans, those curious to find out more about maps and their history or anyone looking for unique tales of adventures and mishaps, this is a great book with eye-opening information. The authors love of their subject really shines through and this is a smart and funny book with plenty of maps and illustrations to refer to – educational and entertaining!
More DetailsAdult Fiction
Land
O'Farrell, Maggie
Hardback
It is 1885 and on a windswept piece of land on the Atlantic coast, Tomas and his 10-year-old son Liam are working for the great Ordnance Survey project to map the whole of Ireland. It is not an easy task and one made harder as the country was recently ravaged by the Great Hunger, but Tomas is determined to complete the job and record the disaster that changed his country. An unexpected and life-altering experience at a well believed to be inhabited by ancient spirits leaves Tomas and Liam forever changed and will touch the lives of their family and loved ones in many important ways.
Maggie O’Farrell’s new novel is one of the most hotly anticipated fiction books of 2026. Land is an epic tale of family relationships, folklore, overlapping lives, decisions made and their repercussions and so much more. Maggie O’Farrell’s gift for creating wonderful characters that the reader feels deeply invested in is once again used to great effect in her new book, as is her beautiful and lyrical writing. A look at the land and history of Ireland that feels hugely personal (the story is inspired by O’Farrell’s great-great grandfather) and a truly epic tale, dotted with elements of magical realism and above all Maggie O’Farrell’s beautiful writing. A book that will enchant and captivate the many fans of this astonishing writer.
More DetailsChildren’s Non-Fiction
Europe, Exciting Europe
Lerwill, Ben
Paperback / softback
Europe is an amazing continent! From the freezing Arctic Ocean to the sunny Mediterranean Sea, there is no end to the fascinating facts about Europe. Travel to every country and learn about customs, local food favourites, natural wonders and intriguing history.
The Adventures Around The World series, including Africa, Amazing Africa, India, Incredible India and Celebrate Latin America and the Caribbean guides readers through different areas of the world and introduces them to fascinating facts about each. This new book in the series is another real treat with each European country featured and lots of interesting information, fun facts and more in-depth discoveries. With fantastic, vibrant illustrations this is a book to revisit and get lost in and a wonderful way to learn about this fascinating and diverse continent. A great addition to Primary School libraries.
More DetailsChildren’s Fiction
Six Weeks
Goodfellow, Matt
Paperback / softback
Ever since Alfie Piper’s mum died a year ago, things haven’t been good. His life has come undone and the resentment he feels towards his stepdad has grown and grown. But now Alfie has six weeks of summer to fill, six weeks when his dad and stepmum are busy looking after his baby sister and Alfie doesn’t have plans. So Alfie takes off to explore on his bike and finds himself outside his old home, the place where his stepdad - who he hasn’t seen since his mum’s funeral - still lives…
Matt Goodfellow’s wonderful verse novel The Final Year and its follow-up The First Year have deservedly been huge hits with readers. This new book is a brilliant and beautiful look at grief and life after loss. The manner in which Alfie and those around him experience the loss of his mum and the ways in which friends and family treat him differently after such a tragedy feel powerfully authentic and the characters are complex and empathetic. A hugely moving story that deals with grief, loneliness, hope, acceptance and love; Matt Goodfellow’s beautiful free verse reaches readers in a way that is touching and powerful. An incredible new book from a truly special writer. Highly recommended.
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