Good Girl | Aria Aber | $32 99 | Bloomsbury
Nila lives in Gropiusstadt, Berlin The child of Afghan refugees, she spends her weekends partying, meeting a man twice her age claiming that unemployment is a form of radical resistance against capitalism Navigating her shame and identity in a racist, post-9/11 world, Nila thinks that cheerfulness indicates a lack of dignity, and is hellbent on running herself into the ground to escape her loneliness and heritage. She is trying to discover what it means to be a good girl, both in her family and in society You’ll grit your teeth at Nila’s mistakes, but Aber, who crafts breathtaking sentences, will also have you rooting for her – Lexie
I am Nannertgarrook | Tasma Walton | $34 99 | Simon & Schuster
The experiences of Tasma Walton’s ancestor forms the moving celebration of maternal love that endures amidst great suffering in I am Nannertgarrook Abducted from an idyllic life in Nerrm, Nannertagarrook is separated from her family, country and culture, gives birth to a son and raises him with the children of her fellow captives Faced with this cruel reality, Walton elevates and, at times, transcends Nannertgarrook’s suffering through beautiful prose, allowing us to consider the unwavering resilience and spirit of First Nations peoples within colonial history. – Arabella
The Terrakeet | Jo van der Borgh | $25 99 | Walker Books | 3+
The Finlocks family live a quiet, tranquil life in Finlock Bay
They are content to lounge and fish for fronds until one day, there are no fronds to be found The youngest of the Finlocks decides to solve the mystery of where the fronds have gone, and collect any other delectables along the way But he should beware: there's something stirring in the jungle A classic story of discovering the true nature of others and making unexpected friends! This debut offering is an electric collaboration between the author and illustrator, both locals Think The Cat in the Hat meets The Gruffalo – Robert
The Australian Ingredients Kitchen | Elder Bruno Dann and Tahlia Mandie | $39 99 | Murdoch
Nyul Nyul Elder Bruno Dann and Tahlia Mandie of Kakadu Plum Co have combined their considerable food knowledge to create this gorgeous guide to using bushfoods at home, any day of the week Along with useful descriptions of ingredients, they share 60 easy, mouth-watering recipes from their family kitchens, and tell their individual stories Elder Bruno and Tahlia have a strong belief that a broader use of bushfoods can aid reconciliation – food is, after all, a beautiful and inclusive way of bringing people together I personally can’t wait to try (and share!) the Wattleseed pikelets with strawberry gum and berry topping yummo! – Sylvia
I
Ate the Whole World to Find
You | Rachel Ang | $39 99 | Scribe Publications
This powerful graphic novel follows Jenny as she navigates adulthood Ang captures Jenny’s personal struggles, joys and inner thoughts in raw, speculative and surreal ways From Jenny sleeping with a coworker with a fetish to taking a train ride that goes off the rails, this novel left me uncomfortable, yet wanting more. – Steph
Gifted & Talented | Olivie Blake | $34 99 | Pan Macmillan
Olivie Blake is new to me and this book absolutely blew me away Gripping, original and emotional, it’s set in a semi-fantastical, semirealistic world that blends magic and technology Three highly talented (and dysfunctional) children of the late Thayer Wren, CEO of Wrenfare Magitech, vie for inheritance of his technological business empire Loved it! – Lewis
Universality | Natasha Brown | $29 99 | Faber
This review should just say ‘ wow ’ fifty times Beginning as a piece of investigative journalism, Universality goes on to detail the fallout across those involved Brown paints a sympathetic picture of the morally grey characters, and bases the story on a crime caused by climate change The pure definition of small and mighty – Lexie
Forest of Noise | Mosab Abu Toha | $24 99 | Harper Collins
Mosab Abu Toha offers a painstaking and reflective suite of poems about life in Gaza amid the ongoing assault on Palestinians Though full of longing, it is corrugated with expansive imagery of sea and soil, stories of those who tend them, and humour that inherits its sweet acid from his grandfather’s orange tree – Leona
We Could Be Rats | Emily Austin | $32 99 | Simon & Schuster
I’m not usually one for realistic fiction, but I found this book refreshingly humorous despite the dark content The structure is disarming but clever, and it made me emotional in the deep achy way writing does when it feels a bit too real Wholesome, heartfelt and hurtful, it tells of two sisters and their attempt to reconnect with each other – Ruby
Lost Souls Meet Under a Full Moon | Mizuki Tsujimura | $34 99 | Random House
This collection of interlinked short stories is the perfect work of magical realism Each protagonist meets with a ‘Go-Between’ so they can speak to someone who has passed away Tsujimura brings us a clever, heartwarming book about grief, loss and coming to terms with the unique role we play in each other’s lives – Steph
The Prince of Sorrow | Maithree Wijesekara | $32 99 | Harper Collins
Prince Ashoka is considered an outcast for opposing his father Emperor Adil Maurya’s brutal destruction of the Mayakari witches Shakti vows retribution for the murder of her aunt and annihilation of her village at the hands of the emperor, even though she is bound by the Mayakari’s pacifist code Do Ashoka and Shakti take power for themselves, or do they risk losing everything? Drawing on inspiration from the Mauryan Empire of Ancient India, debut author Wijesekara plunges readers into the first amazing book of the Obsidian Throne trilogy
The Sex Lives of Married Women | Saman Shad | $34 99 | Penguin
A sexy, funny, surprising tale of sex, marriage and female friendship When their paths collide, Meena, Sophie and Rani, all from different backgrounds and living in Sydney, form an unlikely alliance Over coffee, cocktails and confessions, they share the hilarious and messy truths about marriage, motherhood and what they really want Raw, funny and relatable, this is an unflinching exploration of the secret lives we all lead and the friendships that keep us going
Luminous | Silvia Park | $32 99 | Bloomsbury
In a fictional near-future Korea, robots have integrated seamlessly into society They are housekeepers, policemen, teachers, lovers, even children Siblings Jun and Morgan haven’t spoken to each other in years The children of a celebrated robot designer, both are still grieving the loss of their brother Yoyo, the earliest prototype of a humanoid robot When a strange disappearance thrusts the siblings back together, their investigation will force them to confront their family’s past – and bring them back to Yoyo himself A thrilling page-turner and a heartfelt story of the ties between siblings, Luminous is an unforgettable literary debut
Stop Me if You’ve Heard This One | Kristen Arnett | $32 99 | Hachette Cherry Hendricks might be down on her luck, but she knows what makes things funny: she's a professional clown and she's always hustling Things start looking up when she meets Margot the Magnificent, a magician who seems to have worked out the lines between art, business and life It's not long before Cherry must decide how much she's willing to risk for Margot and for her own explosive new act – and what kind of clown she wants to be Equal parts bravado, tenderness and humour, and bursting with misfits, magicians and mimes, this is a masterpiece of comedic fiction that asks big questions about art, performance, friendship, community and the importance of timing
Lyrebird | Jane Caro | $34 99 | Allen & Unwin
Lyrebirds are brilliant mimics So if they mimic a woman screaming in terror, have they witnessed a crime? And how does Jessica, a young ornithology student, and Megan, an inexperienced detective, convince anyone that a native bird can be a reliable witness to a murder, especially when there is no body and no missing person? Twenty years later, a body is unearthed, and Jessica and Megan reunite to find the killer What they don’t realise that by doing so, they’re putting their lives at risk
I Leave It Up to You | Jinwoo
Chong | $35 00 | Scribe Publications
Jack Jr wakes from a coma feeling he’s missed something big Like, global-pandemic big Reluctantly taking a kitchen job back home, he finds himself dependent on his dysfunctional Asian American family Can Jack Jr navigate the family chaos, rebuild his life and maybe even find love in a world that's moved on without him?
The Sun Was Electric Light | Rachel Morton | $34 99 | UQP
Ruth returns to a lake town in Guatemala where she had happier times She becomes infatuated with volatile Carmen, pushing away the stability of calm Emilie Soon, the difference between being a visitor and belonging becomes all too clear to Ruth, and she must act A sublime novel about fitting in and creating a life that makes sense
Consider Yourself Kissed | Jessica Stanley | $34 99 | Text Publishing
Coralie meets charming Adam and his daughter and falls in love, but yearns for children of her own and to become a writer Ten years on, something essential is missing By considering what 'happily ever after' might truly mean, Jessica Stanley creates an honest, entertaining and intelligent portrait of a woman in love
Where the Axe is Buried | Ray Nayler | $34 99 | Hachette
All systems fail All societies crumble All worlds end In this cybernetic novel of political intrigue, the rise of AI, government surveillance, a malfunctioning world and the fight for freedom, Naylor combines the story of a nearimpossible revolutionary operation with a blistering indictment of the many forms of authoritarianism that suffocate human freedom
Killer Potential | Hannah Deitch | $32 99 | Hachette
Evie Gordon always thought she'd be someone
But after graduating, she finds herself working as a private tutor When Evie arrives at the Victor family's lavish mansion, she is confronted by bloody remains and a woman crying for help Evie and the woman become the heart of a nation-wide manhunt – making Evie finally someone Droll and insightful, this is a darkly funny critique of how the stories we ' re sold about our potential can shape the course of our lives
Deep Cuts | Holly Brickley | $32 99 | Harper Collins
The first time Joe plays Percy one of his songs, she realises she is watching a star in the making, that she can shape his music into something extraordinary, and that she will always be on the sidelines She swallows her jealousy and transforms Joe’s songs into indie hits with her blistering critiques But as Joe steps into the spotlight, can Percy bear to watch on in silence? Deep Cuts is an irresistible novel about passion and obsession, love and longing and, above all, our need to be heard
Unsettled | Kate Grenville | $36 99 | Black Inc
Kate Grenville is no stranger to the past Her success exploded when she published The Secret River in 2005, a bestseller based on the story of her convict ancestor, an early settler on the Hawkesbury River More than two decades on, Grenville is still grappling with what it means to descend from people who were party to colonisation Here she details her pilgrimage through the places of her family’s stories, putting the stories of First People back into the same frame, on the same country, and sharing her thoughts on the questions her journey raises
Nell: The Duchess of Manchester | Robert Wainwright | $34 99 | Allen & Unwin
When Nell Stead bumped into handsome Alexander 'Mandy' Drogo Montagu, son of the ninth Duke of Manchester, they fell in love and married Together, they set out to rescue the family's fortunes that had been crippled by taxes and financial mismanagement Nell’s life is a wild ride through England, America and Kenya as the House of Montagu crumbles over four generations She remains to this day the only Australian woman to ever join the British aristocracy as a duchess
The Nightmare Sequence | Omar Sakr & Safdar Ahmed | $29 99 | UQP Sakr’s poetry and Ahmed’s artwork is visceral, confronting and gut-wrenching This collection explores the vast inhumane human experiences of the Palestinian Genocide, with every two pages comprising a poem and a coinciding artwork. It further brings to the light the barbarity of experience and the unrelenting persecution of their homes, culture, livelihood, families, children and more There is no more important time to read this – Angus
Sakr and Ahmed have come together in this confrontation of Empire and complicity This book neatly dismantles the roundabout neoliberal language that is used to sidestep the vocabulary of colonial suppression. There’s real cleverness in the choice of the poem and the comic; something about these forms that rely on selection and brevity addresses directly the orientalised and barbarised materialities of Arab and Palestinian people, as well as making space for their steadfastness and their beauty – Leona
How to Chase Change | Alexis Fernandez-Preiksa | $29 99 | Simon & Schuster
If you want to change your life, but you don’t know where to start, know that you already possess your most powerful tool: your mind This 30-day program covers everything from turning aspirational goals into action, increasing selfconfidence and overcoming heartbreak, to eliminating negative self-talk and committing to small changes that will help you achieve big results Neuroscientist and podcaster Fernandez-Preiksa combines fascinating research, inspiring moments and personal insights to give you everything you need for creating lasting, positive change
Yoko | David Sheff | $49 99 | Simon & Schuster
Throughout her life, Yoko Ono has been considered a caricature, curiosity and a villain Her story has been hidden in the Beatles’ formidable shadow, further obscured by flagrant misogyny and racism In this definitive biography, Sheff delves into her life, groundbreaking art, music, feminism and activism, drawing from his interviews with her, her family and friends, and many others This book rehabilitates Yoko’s reputation and elevates it to iconic status
Six
Conversations We're Scared to Have | Deborah Frances-White | $34 99 | Hachette
We are scared to have difficult conversations right now But comedian and writer FrancesWhite is more scared of not having them Having grown up in a cult which shut down dissent, she sees similar tactics being used in our society Here she examines how the world has come to this, and what we can do about it
Ignorance and Bliss | Mark Lilla | $32 99 | NewSouth Books
Essayist and historian of ideas
Mark Lilla offers an intellectual travelogue of the human will not to know He ranges from the Book of Genesis and Plato's dialogues to Sufi parables and Sigmund Freud, revealing the paradoxes of hiding truth from ourselves Lilla also exposes the illusions that this impulse can lead us to entertain
Mythica | Emily Hauser | $36 99 | Penguin Random House Award-winning classicist and ancient historian Emily Hauser takes readers on an epic journey through the latest archaeological discoveries and DNA secrets of the Aegean Bronze Age She uncovers the astonishing true story of the real women behind ancient Greece's greatest legends – from Helen of Troy, Cassandra and Aphrodite to Circe, Athena, Calypso and more
The Mysterious Mr Nakamoto | Benjamin Wallace | $34 99 | Allen & Unwin
In 2008, Satoshi Nakamoto posted an outline of an electronic cash system called Bitcoin to an arcane Listserv No one knew him – and then he vanished So who was he? Wallace tracks Nakamoto across the globe, exploring Bitcoin's utopian origins along the way, and the world it eventually wrought
The Destruction of Palestine is the Destruction of the Earth | Andreas Malm | $22 99 | Bloomsbury
Israel’s pulverisation of Gaza is not only a humanitarian crisis, but an environmental catastrophe that ushers in a new phase in a long history of colonisation and extraction
Malm traces the development of Britain’s fossil empire and its first use of steam-power in war, which destroyed the Palestinian city of Akka, and shows how the commitment to fossil energy continues to drive Western support for the destruction of Palestine today
Carbon: The Book of Life | Paul Hawken | $34 99 | Text Publishing
Carbon animates the entirety of the living world Though it comprises only a tiny fraction of Earth's composition, our planet would be lifeless without it From intricate microscopic networks of fungi to the tallest forest trees to every cell in every animal, the very fabric of life on Earth is shaped by carbon. Paul Hawken illuminates the omnipresence of this life-giving element and the possibilities it provides for the future of human endeavour
Wild Fictions: Essays | Amitav Ghosh | $34 99 | Hachette
This broad collection of essays, musing on topics from literature to science to politics and the way these shape the landscape we inhabit, demonstrates Ghosh’s curiosity and passionate writing Ghosh urges us to take an empathetic, kind approach to the sensitive and dangerous themes that confront us today – Angus
On the Calculation of Volume I | Solvej Balle | $26 99 | Allen & Unwin
What would you do if the entire world was living the same day over and over again but you were the only one who knew? This is an utterly brilliant book, the first in a planned septology, and I can’t wait for the next installment; not to see if Tara manages to escapes her groundhog day, but to see if she continues to try – Lexie
Audition | Katie Kitamura | $34 99 | Penguin Random House
Audition consists of two parts that complement each other perfectly Exploring the experiences of two potential lives with only the slightest difference, there is an audition of sorts happening throughout its entirety; an audition of reality that doesn't hit you until the very end – Lexie
Room on the Sea | André Aciman | $26 99 | Allen & Unwin
It’s the height of summer in New York Paul awaits jury selection; Catherine sits next to him reading Wuthering Heights He introduces himself as Heathcliff What starts as a flirtation turns into something deep and compelling Aciman’s ability to organically lead you on a journey of personal discovery is one that I so admire in this beloved author – Robert
Double Barrel Bluff | Lou Berney | $32 99 | Harper Collins
Berney has become one of my favourite crime writers on the strength of his recent work He can do it all – great characterization, deadpan wit, and a pervasive air of menace Double Barrel Bluff sees the celebrated return of Berney’s character Shake Bouchon, and is a pitch-perfect Berney novel, equal parts irreverent caper and hard-boiled grit – Connor
Mother Tongue | Naima Brown| $34 99 | Pan Macmillan
When language shifts, does identity twist? Brynn discovers a sudden fluency in French after waking from a coma, propelling her life into uncharted territory
Her journey examines the many expectations of women and the way language can instil impulse, creating a narrative about escape and the confrontation of the self – Francesca
Bat Eater | Kylie Lee Baker | $34 99 | Hachette
Cora Zeng is a crime scene cleaner But that doesn’t bother her, not when she's witnessed her sister being pushed in front of a train Cora is still haunted by the killer’s last words: bat eater These days, nobody can reach her: not her aunt to prepare for the Hungry Ghost Festival, not her weird colleagues, and especially not the slack-jawed shadow lurking around her doorframe After a series of unexplained killings in Chinatown, Cora believes that someone might be targeting East Asian women, and targeting her Soon, she’ll learn you can't ignore hungry ghosts
Strange Pictures | Uketsu | $32 99 | Allen & Unwin
This Japanese bestseller from YouTube sensation Uketsu revolves around a series of creepy drawings in which the reader is the detective: sketches made by a young woman before her death; a child's disturbing picture of his home; and a desperate image made by a murder victim in his final moments Each contains a chilling warning, each reveals a terrible secret hidden in plain sight Uketsu's eerie mysteries have captivated millions of readers Can you find the clues in these strange pictures and uncover the sinister truth that connects them all?
Don't Go To
Sleep in the Dark
| Celia Fremlin | $24 99 | Allen & Unwin
In the high flats, up near the clouds, Hilda and her baby twins reach a fateful end A teenage girl's evening home alone is ruined by a mysterious unexpected visitor A little boy's obsession with angels leads to a dramatic metamorphosis Celia Fremlin's classic Gothic story collection is a masterpiece of psychological horror, mining the darkest elements of marriage, childhood and ageing; probing paranoia, grief and toxic relationships; inviting the ghosts of the past into our present; and exploring the nightmarish secret impulses and supernatural forces lurking beneath suburban Britain
Hungerstone | Kat Dunn | $32 99 | Allen & Unwin
Lenore is the wife of steel magnate Henry, whose ambitions take them to the remote, imposing estate where he plans to host a hunting party – one their future depends on But a shocking accident brings the mysterious Carmilla into Lenore's life Carmilla stirs something deep within Lenore and she begins to unravel Torn between regaining her husband's affection and the cravings Carmilla has awakened, Lenore will uncover a darkness in her household that will place her at terrible risk Hungerstone is a compulsive sapphic reworking of Carmilla, the book that inspired Dracula, and a captivating story of appetite and desire
Incidents Around the House | Josh Malerman
| $22 99 | Pan Macmillan
To eight-year-old Bela, her family is her world There’s Mommy, Daddy and Grandma Ruth. But there is also Other Mommy, a malevolent entity who asks her every day: ‘Can I go inside your heart?’ When horrifying incidents around the house signal that Other Mommy is growing tired of asking the same question over and over, Bela understands that unless she says yes, her family will soon pay Other Mommy is getting restless, stronger, bolder Only the bonds of family can keep Bela safe, but other incidents show cracks in her parents’ marriage; it seems as though the safety Bela relies on is about to unravel But Other Mommy needs an answer and doesn’t like being kept waiting
Another Book About The Easter Bunny | Laura & Phillip Bunting | $19 99 | Scholastic Australia
The Easter Bunny doesn’t have time to do everything She isn’t magic * She can’t deliver eggs all around the world and perform in all of these fancy Easter books
The Easter Bunny is eggasperated She’s hopping mad And she quits! Now you’ll have to find a new Easter hero to read about *May or may not be magic No bunny knows
Escape from Marigold Manor | Rachel Jackson | $17.99 | Simon & Schuster
Who has trapped you in the Manor and why? You’ll need to solve the mystery in order to escape, but every decision you make leads you through the manor ’ s twisty corridors With thirty-two unique endings, plus puzzles, brainteasers, secret messages and hidden clues to help you, can you solve them all?
Oh, Carrots! | Mariajo Ilustrajo | $24 99 | Allen & Unwin
Mr Rabbit lives alone He enjoys reading, drinking tea and gardening In spring, he plants his favourite – carrots! Soon, they begin to grow But one day, Mr Rabbit pulls out a walking, talking carrot! Carrot's mischievous antics leave Mr Rabbit feeling a bit irritated, but not for long Maybe now is the time to make a friend? This is perfect for young children navigating their first friendships
Bunnies on the Bus | Phillip Ardagh | $16 99 | Walker Books
Watch out! Hold onto your tails! The bunnies have taken over the bus and they're not stopping for anyone! They pass the bus stop, swerve around corners and zoom over crossings Eventually, they come to a stop at the train station, where they spot a train Uh-oh here they go again! A hilarious romp of a book, with fantastic read-aloud rhyming text and spectacular illustrations
The Magnificent Book of Endangered Animals | Genevieve Morgan | $35 00 | Simon & Schuster
Travel the world to discover incredible endangered animals! Each double-page spread showcases an animal with a stunning illustration and a fact file that informs curious readers about the animal‘s habitat, diet, conservation status and more Learn how hippos make their own goggles, which mammal can nearly climb Everest, and which fish is the size of a small car
Gregor the Overlander | Suzanne Collins | $19.99 | Scholastic Australia
When Gregor falls through a grate in the laundry room, he hurtles into the dark Underland, where spiders, rats and cockroaches co-exist uneasily with humans
This world is on the brink of war A prophecy foretells that Gregor has a role to play in the land’s uncertain future – and playing it (reluctantly) is the only way he’ll solve his father’s disappearance Gregor embarks on a dangerous adventure that will change both him and the Underland forever
The Bunny Who Came to Breakfast | Rachel Davis | $19 99 | Scholastic Australia
A hilarious picture book about a family’s visit from a jolly bunny rabbit With its fun, vibrant illustrations and rhyming story telling, The Bunny Who Came to Breakfast is perfect for those who are just starting to read, and is a great Easter gift to boot! – Caro
How to Sail To Somewhere | Ashleigh Barton | $16.99 | Hachette
Bea Glass must find her missing uncle As she and a new friend embark on a scavenger hunt of clues, they uncover a connection that may hold the answers to their futures Friendship, family, the power of the ocean, hope and adventure combine to make this the perfect blend of mystery and heart for young readers – Vevie
Grandmother from the East, Grandmother from the West | Jacinta Liu | $24 99 | Hachette
This wonderful book explores the unique quirks of grandparents and their cultural roots, and is ideal for helping littlies understand identity Every page is sincere and expressive, making it a perfect heartwarming bedtime story as well as a reminder of how extraordinary all of us really are – Adina
Tabkha: Recipes from Under the Rubble | Mona Zahad | $50 00 | Slingshot
Mona, a chef living in Gaza, wrote this in a tent erected among the rubble of her home With illustrations as well as recipes, Mona hopes this book will educate people about her home and keep Palestinian culture alive All the proceeds from this beautiful book go to support Mona and her community – Meabh
Something Terrible: Tim Tie-YourShoelaces | Sally Barton | $15 99 | Walker Books
Tim REFUSES to tie his shoelaces!
But are his parents telling the truth?
Can not tying your shoes really make something terrible happen?! This hilarious adventure will have you rolling with laughter – so make sure you don’t trip on your shoelaces! Perfect for fans of the 13-Story Treehouse series – Hugh
West Hollywood Monster Squad | Sina Grace | $24 99 | Penguin Random House | 13+
This is hilarious, spectacular and thoroughly un-put-down-able A group of teens get much, much more than they bargained for when the drag show they are attending is attacked by monsters. The group must deal with the threat of a supernatural apocalypse – and each other Sublimely delicious fun – Robert
David Stavanger in-conversation with Omar Sakr, Toby Fitch and Jennifer Wong
Thursday 3rd April at 6.30pm
Upstairs at Better Read Than Dead
Kelly Gardiner and Sharmini Kumar in-conversation with Pamela Hart
Monday 7th April at 6.30pm
Upstairs at Better Read Than Dead
Madeleine Watts in-conversation with Amy Lovat
Thursday 17th April at 6 30pm
Upstairs at Better Read Than Dead
For more information, to find out what else is on this month and to RSVP, head to www.betterreadevents.com