The Booksellers Association has announced The Readers’ Room by Antoine Laurain as its Fiction Book of the Month for October and The Night Bus Hero by Onjali Q. Raúf as its Children’s Book of the Month for October.
 
From the bestselling author of The Red Notebook and The President’s Hat, The Reader’s Room follows Violaine Lepage, a Parisian editor who publishes a hit crime novel sent to her by the mysterious debut author Camille Desencres. As Camille stops answering emails, and the police begin investigating a series of murders reminiscent of those in the novel, Violaine sets out to find answers, although recent memory loss makes her wonder what role she may have played in the story. The Reader’s Room is published by Gallic Books and is available in bookshops now.
 
Author Antoine Laurain commented on the book’s selection, “In the space of a few lines, I’d like to pay tribute to the work of independent booksellers. Since I began writing novels, I’ve travelled a lot to promote them around France and in the UK, the USA, Germany, Italy, South Korea... I remember each and every bookseller I’ve met. I remember their names and faces. I remember book signing evenings with readers and our dinners afterwards. Often, I would fly off the next morning to another town, another independent bookshop. All the indie booksellers I’ve met have been fantastic people who do a huge amount for books. They have such belief, such a love of literature and shared experience – the same sense of energy which drives us writers to finish our books. Writers and independent booksellers are a team. We walk hand in hand. I hold a special place in my heart for all the booksellers I’ve crossed paths with, and for those I’m yet to meet. Thank you, my friends! Let’s continue on this journey together – it’s a good one. " 

Amy Vale, bookseller at Book-ish said, “Intriguing, charming and very bookish, The Reader's Room is perfect for fans of cosy mysteries.”

From the winner of the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize for The Boy at The Back of The Class, The Night Bus Hero follows a young boy who everyone has written off as a bully, but is determined to prove he can be a hero. The Night Bus Hero is published by Orion and is available in bookshops now.
 
Author Onjali Q. Raúf commented, “Every Indie bookshop is a visible axis around which infinite worlds, imaginings and hopes rotate, gifting tales old and new to souls in search of a word-home. Such has been my experience of the Indie book world since childhood. So it makes me so very deeply happy that The Night Bus Hero - a tale centring on homelessness - has found its very first word-home in the open arms of the magic-makers that are our Indie booksellers. To have it be their Children's Book of the Month is simply beyond a dream.”

Gill Edwards, bookseller at The Little Ripon Bookshop said, “Onjali Q. Rauf is a skilful writer who addresses serious, topical issues with humour and compassion. She encourages her readers to question a character’s actions and motives, promoting empathy and championing kindness. Most importantly though, she tells a cracking story that children want to read with characters they recognise. The Night Bus Hero is a tremendous Children’s Book of The Month for Indies.”
 
Independent bookshops around the UK and Ireland will be promoting The Reader's Room and The Night Bus Hero throughout October, both in-store and on social media. The Booksellers Association will be supporting the promotion of the Children’s Book of the Month through social media and promotional material.

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