The Booksellers Association of the United Kingdom & Ireland Limited

Indie Book of the Month

Indie Book of the Month logo - Orange illustration of four upright books with stars above, next to the text “Indie Book of the Month” on a white background.
Indie Book of the Month launched as 'Independent Booksellers Children’s Book of the Season' in Autumn 2017. The initiative proved so popular that it became a monthly campaign in January 2019, and a year later rebranded as ‘Indie Book of the Month’, with a stunning new logo designed by children’s author and illustrator, Sophy Henn. In March 2020, an adult fiction title was introduced to the campaign, to run alongside the children’s title.

Indie Book of the Month is designed to showcase independent bookshops’ power to drive sales as a sector. It aims to demonstrate the impact independent booksellers can make by working together to build readerships for the books they love.

The titles for each month are chosen by a panel of independent booksellers from publisher submissions. The panel read and rate each title, their votes are collated, and the titles with the highest number of votes are then discussed by the panel and the Booksellers Association. After this, selections for the Indie Book of the Month are confirmed.

If you are interested in being a member of the bookseller panels for the Indie Book of the Month (these change every quarter) then please email k[email protected] stating whether you would like to be on the Fiction or the Children’s panel.

 

Indie Book of the Month: October 2025 

JN033_OCT_2025_PAIR_FBCover_851x315_v01.png

Fiction Book of the Month: All of Us Murderers by KJ Charles
Children's Book of the Month: A Year of Black Joy by Jamia Wilson, illustrated by June Orlando

Independent bookshops across the UK and Ireland will be promoting All of Us Murderers and A Year of Black Joy  throughout October both in-store and across social media. The Booksellers Association will also support the Indie Books of the Month campaign with dedicated Books Are My Bag branded social media activity and promotional material.

The lush Gothic drama of Crimson Peak meets the murderous intrigue of Knives Out with an LGBTQIA+ love story to die for, from award-winning author KJ Charles. All of Us Murderers delivers a thrilling, high-stakes blend of Gothic fiction and mystery horror, expanding the genre with its unapologetically queer narrative. A fresh and exciting take on the classics, this is a must-read for fans of whodunit’s and grounded, realistic romance books.

KJ Charles, author of All of Us Murderers , commented: “I had a lot of fun with All Of Us Murderers and I’m honoured and delighted by its selection as the Books are My Bag Indie Fiction Book of the Month. Some of my happiest hours have been spent in independent bookshops, finding the reads I didn't realise I needed. I’m thrilled to support the Books are my Bag campaign, and to have the weight of indie booksellers behind All Of Us Murderers!"

An uplifting and empowering anthology of joyful contributions from 52 contemporary Black voices including chef Andi Oliver, author Patrice Lawrence, space scientist Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock and climate activist Vanessa Nakate. A donation to BLAM UK will be made for every copy sold. BLAM UK is committed to ensuring that the BlackBritish community is recognised, represented and appreciated
 
Jamia Wilson, author of  A Year of Black Joy, commented: "“Independent bookshops are vital spaces where stories illuminate our minds and open hearts. They help us stir empathy, inspire action, take our imaginations to borderless places, and understand lives beyond our own. By celebrating the richness of voices across the world, they remind us that we are all connected, and that honoring our shared humanity and the expansiveness of our differences makes us stronger and wiser. They transform communities and offer hope, connection, care, and delight.”
 
The Indie Book of the Month titles are selected by panels of independent booksellers from publisher submissions.
 
  • Fiction panel: Inkspot and Silverleaf, Maldon Books, Ottie and the Bea.
  • Children's panel: Sevenoaks Bookshop, The Buckingham Bookshop, Seven Stories Bookshop, Bag of Books, The Orcadian Bookshop.

Previous Indie Book of the Month titles 
- Fiction Book of the Month
- Children's Book of the Month

Join in with the Indie Book of the Month campaign on social media:

Instagram
X
Facebook
#IndieBookoftheMonth

Resources
- 2025 Monthly Social Media Assets
- Logo
- Poster A3
- Poster A4