Translations | Jumaana Abdu | $34.99 | Penguin Random House
Retreated to rural NSW, Aliyah and her daughter, Sakina, reckon with personal and natural disasters, and devotions to those around them in this tender debut. A growing romance with her farmhand but also a commitment to her rediscovered friend in the midst of climate phenomena combine to equally thrill the reader but also prompt soulful reflection. Transcendent of the context it is written in, Translations is a truly powerful story of love, tragedy and devotion that combine in creating a touching, expressive story.
- Angus
The Temperature | Katerina Gibson | $32.99 | Simon & Schuster
What brings six very different people together?
When a tweet goes viral, it sends their lives ricocheting off each other. The Temperature describes our fragmented society as it tries to absorb the significance of climate change, social media, shifting boundaries in gender and sexuality, and deepening gaps between generations.
Dirrayawadha | Anita Heiss | $32.99 | Simon & Schuster
Heiss breathes new life into the historical epic. Dirrayawadha (Rise Up) shows the resistance leader Windradyne as the remarkable figure he was and surrounds him with fascinating figures otherwise lost to history. With irresistible imagination and a deep desire for truth telling, Heiss’s novels are repeopling our past.
Vortex | Rodney Hall | $34.99 | Pan MacMillan
It is 1954, but not the same way the history books would have it. Events and characters swirl in a vortex of fragments and chance connections. Brisbane celebrates the young Queen Elizabeth II’s arrival on her first royal tour of the commonwealth. Meanwhile the future is being shaped behind closed doors. A magisterial novel resonant with contemporary concerns.
The Honeyeater | Jessie Tu | $32.99 | Allen & Unwin
Working as a translator at a Sydney university, Fay is wrangling the world of academia, dealing with her mother, an overbearing boss, and an annoying ex-boyfriend. While this description makes it sound like a ‘sad girl novel’, this is instead the antithesis of Tu’s previous novel and tackles abuses of power and the layers of language. This book has stayed with me for months after I read it and I loved it (x50)! - Lexie
Woo Woo | Ella Baxter | $32.99 | Allen & Unwin
Sabine’s new exhibition, is opening soon but it’s not the only thing causing Sabine to melt down. She is being stalked. Darkly funny, intense and unsettling, this is an astonishing and unflinching dissection of creativity and obsession, love and passion, vengeance and rage.
The Echoes | Evie Wyld | $34.99 | Penguin Random House
Max didn’t believe in an afterlife. Until he died. Now, as a reluctant ghost trying to work out why he remains, he watches his girlfriend Hannah lost in grief. In the weeks and months before Max’s death, Hannah is haunted by the secrets she left Australia to escape. Both a celebration and an autopsy of a relationship, spanning multiple generations, The Echoes is a novel about love and grief, stories and who has the right to tell them.
Here
One Moment | Liane Moriarty | $34.99 | Macmillan
Moriarty’s novels have always gripped me right from the opening, and this one was no exception! Here, we open on a plane journey from Hobart to Sydney. Immediately claustrophobic in setting, the novel zooms out beyond the cabin and tells the story of those on board as one passenger predicts how they are all going to die. An original and mysterious take on a classic trope, I recommend picking up a Moriarty novel when you’re in your next reading slump. - Steph
The Fists of the Father | Daniel Tamone | $32.99 | Allen & Unwin
Ted Taylor has replaced his estranged father as the darling of Aussie boxing. But he is failing to live up to the expectations that have always weighed upon him, and generational trauma and guilt are not Ted’s only inheritance. In the heart of western Sydney, three generations of men are trapped in a cycle of violence.
Highway 13 | Fiona McFarlane | $32.99 | Allen & Unwin
An ambitious, gripping collection of short stories connected by one Australian man’s crimes in 1998. He remains a looming omnipresent figure in the lives of those his murders touched. E ach story builds to create a mosaic view not just of the murders but also of its ripple effects across time and place. - Carolina
Outrider | Mark Wales | $32.99 | Macmillan
In the wake of a global conflict, foreign forces occupy part of Australia. Jack Dunne is an Outrider, one of the last elite special ops soldiers in the Resistance. As the enemy prepare to eliminate the freedom fighters once and for all, he will do anything to save his son and secure their road to freedom.
Together We Fall Apart | Sophie Matthiesson | $32.99 | Bloomsbury
For seven years, Clare has been living in London. She works for a judge on child protection cases. Her partner, Miriam, is devoted to raising their young son. When Clare returns to Melbourne to visit her ailing father, another family crisis looms - her brother’s long-term drug addiction. A deeply affecting portrait of a dysfunctional family.
Big Time | Jordan Prosser | $34.99 | UQP
In a not-too-distant future Australia, the eastern states have become the world’s newest autocracy - a place where pop music is propaganda, science is the enemy and moral indecency is punishable by indefinite detention. An anti-fascist ode to the power of pop music, wrapped up in an unforgettable, psychedelic road trip.
The Norseman’s Song | Joel Deane | $27.95 | NewSouth Books
Deane marries lyrical prose, Australian slang and American noir in this grimmy and gothic story. The novel could be said to be a three act study on human nature and how easily one could descend into cruelty and violence as each of the three central characters unfolds their biographies in this nonlinear chronicle. - Robert
The Death of Dora Blake | Lainie Anderson | $32.99 | Hachette
Summer, Adelaide, 1917. The impeccably dressed Miss Kate Cocks might look more like a schoolmistress than a policewoman, but don’t let that fool you. A charming, uplifting cosy murder mystery inspired by the true story of Australia’s pioneering policewoman, following the disappearance of a shop assistant.
Girl Falling | Hayley Scrivenor | $34.99 | Macmillan
Finn and Daphne have grown up together in the Blue Mountains, bonded by both having lost a younger sister to suicide. Now in their twenties, their lives have finally started to diverge, until one fateful rock climbing accident. Girl Falling forces us to confront the stories we tell ourselves about the people we love.
The Life Impossible | Matt Haig | $32.99 | Allen & Unwin
When retired Maths teacher Grace Winters is left a run-down house on a Mediterranean island by a long-lost friend, curiosity gets the better of her. She arrives in Ibiza with a one-way ticket, no guidebook and no plan. There, she searches for answers about her friend’s passing, and her own past. A life-affirming new adventure!
Entitlement | Rumaan Alam | $32.99 | Bloomsbury
Set in the dizzyingly seductive, upper echelons of the world’s true wealthy, this is a tale of need versus want, of privilege, worth, race and obsession. Brooke is young, Black and ready to make her mark on the world. Manoeuvring herself into the confidences of an ageing white billionaire, this novel questions who is entitled to these riches. - Robert
The Horse | Willy Vlautin | $32.99 | Allen & Unwin
Al Ward is living on old mining land in Nevada, broken by alcoholism and anxiety. One morning, a horse arrives outside his home. Intercut with Al’s horse dilemma are episodes from his past life as a touring musician. A homage to the uncelebrated musicians who can make our lives more joyful.
Fruit of the Dead | Rachel Lyon | $34.99 | Simon & Schuster
Alternating between two women’s perspectives, Fruit of the Dead reimagines the story of Persephone and Demeter. The result is a tale that explores love, control, obliteration, and America’s late-capitalist mythos. Lyon’s reinvention of makes for a haunting, electric novel that readers will not soon forget.
Spontaneous Acts | Yoko Tawada | $29.99 | Hachette
Patrik is a literary researcher living in Berlin, a city just coming back to life after lockdown. As Patrik attempts to find a connection in a world that constantly overwhelms him, he meets a mysterious stranger. This novel unfolds like a lucid dream about the solace of friends, reading, conversation and music.
There are Rivers in the Sky | Elif Shafak | $34.99 | Random House
Shafak’s latest novel is epic in every way, spanning centuries, continents and cultures; from ancient Mesopotamia to 21st century London. Against this enormous backdrop, Shafak lets us into the lives of her characters Zaleekhah, Narim and Arthur, laying bare their inner turmoils and struggles with her usual skill and poignancy. Shafak is a powerhouse of modern literature. - Lewis
How to Make a Bomb | Rupert Thomson | $32.99 | Bloomsbury
Philip Notman, a celebrated scientist turned historian, attends a conference and finds himself irrevocably changed; overcome with a deep revulsion for the consumerism, powerlessness and emptiness of modern technological civilization. Spiralling further into despair, he takes action - with near disastrous consequences.
Tiananmen Square | Lai Wen | $34.99 | Allen & Unwin
A remarkable novel about coming to see the world as it is, this is the story of one girl’s life growing up in the China of the 1970s and 80s, as well as the story of the events in 1989 that give the novel its name: the hope and idealism of a generation of young students, their heroism and courage, and the price that some of them paid.
The Full Moon Coffee Shop | Mai Mochizuki | $32.99 | Hachette
Mizuki Serikawa made it big in her twenties writing for television,but now in her forties, things have changed drastically. When she receives directions to The Full Moon Coffee Shop, a mysterious café that only appears on the full moon and is run by giant cats, things may be about to change! A wholesome story. - Ruby
Spirit Level | Richy Craven
| $24.99 | Allen & Unwin
Danny is a directionless twenty-something fresh out of therapy. When a drink-driving accident leaves his best friend Nudge dead, he begins to be visited by his ghostbut only when he’s drunk. Can Danny negotiate family life, therapy and a ghost that refuses to fade into the background before time runs out?
Mina’s Matchbox | Yoko Ogawa | $34.99 | Random House
Mina is an asthmatic girl who loves reading and rides a Pygmy hippo (we share 2/3 qualities). However, her main claim to fame is being incredible at lighting matches. Mina’s Matchbox s often difficult to execute that is almost hypnotic in rhythm and compelling in the storyline as 12-year-old Tomoko is sent to live with cousin Mina. - Lexie
All the World Beside | Garrard Conley | $32.99 | Murdoch Books
Reverend Whitfield and his family stand as godly pillars of their small-town community in Puritan New England. One disciple, Dr Lyman, discovers in the minister’s words a love so captivating it transcends language.As the bond between the two men grows more and more passionate, their families must contend with a tangled web of secrets. A powerful look at the very human lives just beneath the surface of dogmatic belief.
Test Kitchen | Neil Stewart | $34.99 | Hachette
Test Kitchen is set during a single evening’s service at the Michelin-starred restaurant everyone’s talking about, Midgard. A violent event leaves Marley frozen as she strains to recall what might have happened and can only witness the tragedy that is about to unfurl. A gripping, funny and often macabre story.
Behind You is the Sea | Susan Muaddi Darraj | $32.99 | Allen & Unwin
With humour and poignancy, we delve into the intimate lives of three primary Palestinian immigrant families in America -the Baladis, the Salamehs, and the Ammars- whose destinies and struggles electrify the community dynamics, occasionally sparking tension and turmoil.
The Instrumentalist | Harriet Constable | $32.99 | Bloomsbury
Anna Maria may have no name, no fortune, no family. But she has her ambition, and her talent. Her best hope lies in her teacher, Antonio Vivaldi. Soon she is his star pupil. But as Anna Maria’s star rises, not everyone is happy. Because Anna Maria’s shining light is threatening to eclipse that of her mentor - She will leave her mark, whatever it takes. And her story will be heard. A fascinating story of music, ambition, and womanhood in 18thcentury Venice
Little Rot | Akwaeke Emezi | $32.99 | Allen & Unwin
Emezi has a real gift for producing rich literary worlds that it’s impossible not to be utterly drawn in by, and Little Rot is another such electric offering. The novel takes place over one whirlwind weekend in New Lagos, where five off-balance characters with abstract links to one another are pulled into a powerful underground world, one late-night party at a time. Emezi’s writing is taut, launching characters at breakneck speed into yearnings, romantic, sexual, or otherwise, that they can’t hope to understand. I could not look away, and this book consumed me in a matter of hours. - Leona
Winter of the Wolf | Amanda Willimott | $34.99 | Random House France, 1572. The country is starving, at war, in the grip of religious and political turmoil and clouded by superstition. Witch and werewolf hunters roam the countryside, seeking to stamp out the influence of the Devil. The message is just as applicable to modern times as it is to werewolf hunts. Folklore, history, and a queer romance, I loved it! - Ruby
Jumpnauts | Hao Jiongfang | $34.99 | Bloomsbury
2080, the world is divided, dominated by two antagonistic factions. Tensions are high and the smallest disturbance in the status quo could set the world on fire. The deep-space discovery of three young scientists will change everything- our past, present and future.
How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying | Django Wexler | $24.99 | Hachette
After living hundreds of lives trying to defend the Kingdom from the Dark Lord and failing miserably, Davi decides she should just become the Dark Lord herself. This was a hilariously funny and delightfully bloody fantasy romp that I definitely recommend. - Ruby
Navola | Paolo Bacigalupi | $34.99 | Bloomsbury
In Navola, a bustling city-state dominated by a handful of influential families, business is power, and power is everything.
The di Regulai family has their fate dependent on an eldritch dragon relic and on what lies buried in the heart of an adopted sister whose own family was destroyed by Nalova’s twisted politics. With echoes of Renaissance Italy, The Godfather and Game of Thrones, Navola is a stunning feat of world-building and a mesmerizing depiction of drive and will.
The Bright Sword | Lev Grossman | $34.99 | Penguin Random House
The first Arthurian epic of the new millennium, fr om the bestselling author of the Magicians trilogy, The Bright Sword is a story about imperfect men and women, full of strength and pain, who are looking for a way to reforge a broken land in spite of being broken themselves.
Echo of Worlds | M R Carey | $34.99 | Hachette
Two mighty empires are at war - and both will lose, with thousands of planets falling to the extinction event called the Scour. At least that’s what the artificial intelligence known as Rupshe believes, and assembles a ragtag team of heroes to put a stop to it before the Pandominion’s doomsday machines are unleashed.
The Book of Elsewhere | Keanu Reeves & China Mieville | $34.99 | Penguin Random House
There have always been whispers. Legends. The warrior who cannot be killed... And he wants to be able to die. In the present day, a U.S. blackops group has promised him they can help with that. And all he needs to do is help them in return. In a collaboration that combines Mieville’s singular style and creativity with Reeves’s haunting narrative, these two inimitable artists have created something truly unique.
The adventures of Bucky, an anthropomorphic deer journalist who finds himself caught in the headlights (haha) in a world of conspiracy, murder and secrets in his town. This noir graphic novel features striking images and hard-boiled dialogue as our antler clad protagonist searches for the truth. As a crime and mystery enjoyer, I loved the interesting spin this graphic novel put on the genre. Gritty, poignant, and intriguing. - Ruby
Death at the Sign of the Rook | Kate Atkinson | $34.99 | Penguin Random House
Jackson Brodie has been summoned to the home of a deceased romantic novelist to find a missing painting and also the mother’s carer, who conveniently is also missing. A country-house showdown like no other.
We Used to Live Here | Marcus Kliewer | $34.99 | Random House
Capgras syndrome - I recommend you look up what this condition is. I’m not going to give too much away here, but this is a contemporary masterclass in crafting the most paranoid kind of horror imaginable. There’s nothing scarier than doubting everything you can see and touch - I don’t care what Descartes said. - Connor
Storm Child | Michael Robotham | $32.99 | Hachette
The most painful of Evie’s memories have been locked away, ever since she was held prisoner as a child. But today, on a British beach, seventeen bodies wash up in front of her, another missing piece of this complex and haunting puzzle.
The Cracked Mirror | Chris Brookmyre | $34.99 | Hachette
Johnny Hawke, hard-bitten LAPD homicide detective, and Penny Coyne, little old lady who has solved multiple murders in her otherwise sleepy village, star in this clever cross-genre novel when their world’s collide as they solve a unique whodunnit.
A Town Called Treachery | Mitch Jennings | $34.99 | Harper Collins
A killer Aussie crime debut. On the one hand, it is a gritty and convoluted murder mystery which revels in the darkness and resentment of smalltown Australia. But its secret weapon is really its protagonist, 11-year-old Matty – an aspiring reporter who is heartbroken by the death of his favourite teacher and determined to find out who is responsible. - Connor
Guilty by Definition | Susie Dent | $34.99 | Allen & Unwin
An anonymous letter arrives at the offices of the Clarendon English Dictionary containing a challenge for the team of lexicographers working there - revealing a web of buried secrets, Agatha Christie meets Countdown in this debut mystery novel.
Death at the Sanatorium | Ragnar Jonasson | $34.99 | Random House
At a former sanatorium in the north of Iceland, now a hospital ward, an old nurse, Yrsa, is found murdered. Detective Hulda Hermannsdottir and her boss, Sverrir, are sent to investigate her death. A riveting new thriller spinoff set over 30 years.
Murder at the Castle | David Safier | $24.99 | Peribo
After a gruelling stint as the most powerful woman in the world, Angela can finally put her feet up. So when local aristo Baron von Baugenwitz is found poisoned and dressed in armour in a castle dungeon, new life stirs in Angela. Finally, a problem that needs solving!
Mafiopoli | Sanne de Boer | $34.99 | Hachette
An engrossing insight into a brutal criminal organization. As Sanne de Boer pieces together the mysterious events and violence marring her new home, she dives headfirst into figuring out who the ‘Ndrangheta are, and how they became such a dominant force.
JULY BOOK OF THE MONTH
A Language of Limbs | Dylin Hardcastle | $34.99 | Macmillan | Lilly’s Review
A Language of Limbs is a one of a kind novel set amidst the backdrop of Australia’s first Mardi Gras and the Aids pandemic. The story follows two young women: one who is coming to accept their queer identity and another that will stop at nothing to reject it. This is a story that will have you laughing and crying before you get to the bottom of the page, a testament to love and authentic storytelling at its finest.
JULY ILF BOOK OF THE MONTH
Refugia | Elfie Shiosaki | $27.99 | Magabala Books | Lexie’s Review
Anyone who knows me at all will not be shocked by me announcing that I cried while reading this book. This is the kind of writing that is so overwhelming beautiful while being a kick to the stomach that makes poetry so incredible, weaving the state of rivers to the state of the country. Framing indigenous rights and the country that we could have against archival footage of the British Invasion, Elfie (she made me cry so we’re on a first name basis) takes the opportunity to rewrite history, discover starlight, and made me wonder what could have been while staring at the footnotes.
AUGUST BOOK OF THE MONTH
Mark the Dawn | Jazz Money | $24.99 | UQP | Leona’s Review Wiradjuri poet Jazz Money rises to the moment, or is the moment created by their rising? mark the dawn, their second poetry collection, celebrates gathering, and community, and living in truth and beauty and terror. This suite of poems sets land, sea, and sky ablaze with life, thinking through and finding intense joy in living queer and Wiradjuri (his)stories. Money’s words are abundant and arresting with unrelenting momentum. A fierce work of Wiradjuri literature.
AUGUST ILF BOOK OF THE MONTH
When Cops are Criminals | Edited by Veronica Gorrie | $36.99 | Scribe Publications | Angus’ Review
A challenging collection of confronting stories and powerful essays, When Cops are Criminals is not exactly an easy read. But, that is a good thing. Gorrie and all their wonderful contributors intend to unsettle as to contribute to the slowly peeling veneer of police institutions as a mechanism of justice. It spotlights violence, abuse, injustice, exploitation and more uncomfortable experiences to further illuminate the dark, hidden underbelly of police culture. This incredible collection is a plea for transparency, accountability and a truly powerful read.
The Unicorn Woman | Gayl Jones | $32.99 | Hachette | Angus’ Review
A genre-bending post-WW2 historical fantasy, Gayl Jones offers something truly differen. Following Buddy, a Black soldier returned from WW2 after an honourable service, his reintegration and acceptance in a Jim Crow South explores abhorrent treatment of black veterans. But Jones’ story isn’t limited to this narrative, it expends magical energy in Buddy’s romantic vignettes, recalling love affairs with a whole range of mythical tropes and unique experiences. Jones offers a comforting credence to being different in these magical experiences.
SEPTEMBER BOOK OF THE MONTH
SEPTEMBER ILF BOOK OF THE MONTH
Always Was, Always Will Be | Thomas Mayo | $19.99 | Hardie Grant | Hugh’s Review
Following the defeat of the Voice to Parliament, many Australians were left disappointed and disillusioned. This is a sentiment to which Mayo speaks in this book. As one of the most prominent advocates for the Uluru Statement from the Heart, Mayo lays out the path to hope, rallying Australians devoted to Indigenous justice around the continued project to build a more equitable country. It’s a book which doesn’t shy away from our nation’s racist colonial past, but is focused above all on remedying the future. For all Australians, this is perhaps the most pertinent book of 2024.
Strange Bodies | Tom de Freston | $34.99 | Allen & Unwin
A moving love letter from an artist, Tom de Freston, to his novelist wife Kiran Millwood Hargrave as they struggle with the loss of multiple pregnancies, exploring how powerful bonds transform as lovers become family.
Fallen | Mick Conefrey | $34.99 | Murdoch Books
Agreat exploration of the real story of George Mallory – a British mountain climber. After he and his partner vanished on Everest in 1924, never to be seen again, he was lionized in the public imagination as a fearless, charismatic figure. As usual, the truth was more complicated – Mallory was also a compulsive risk-taker who ultimately took more lives than just his own. A superb piece of revisionist biography. - Connor
Yield: The Journal of an Artist | Anne Truitt | $30.95 | Wiley
In Yield, Truitt’s unflinching honesty is on display as she contemplates her place in the world and comes to terms with the issues that an artist faces when reconciling her art with her life, even as that life approaches its end.
Young Hawke | David A Day | $49.99 | Harper Collins
The Afterlife Confessional | Bill Edgar | $36.99 | Penguin Rising to international fame as the ‘Coffin Confessor’ - the man who crashes funerals on behalf of the deceased, giving voice to their last wishes - Bill dismantles many of the assumptions we hold about truth, dignity and the business of dying.
More | Molly Roden Winter | $36.99 | Penguin
More is an electric debut that offers both steamy fun and poignant reflections on motherhood, daughterhood, marriage, and self-fulfillment through the story on an evolving open marriage and becoming your authentic self.
This gripping biography is a must-read for anyone interested in the first fifty years of Bob Hawke, our last truly colourful political leader who was known for his overwhelming self-confidence and charm.
After the Worst Has Happened | Richard Gosling | $34.99 | Affirm Press
In an era of celebrity biographies and played out memoirs, Sydney funeral director Gosling offers an endearing and humorous assortment of memories and stories from his profession, foreign to most. After the Worst Has Happened is an at times sad yet ultimately hopeful book, casting light and even offering thoughtful advice on an experience with which we must all grapple. An original memoir, unlike any other in recent memory. - Hugh
All That Glitters | Orlando Whitfield | $39.99 | Allen & Unwin
The most successful art dealer of his generation disappears, accused of a fraud so gigantic and audacious it rocks the art world to its core. Through the story of a friendship, All That Glitters will take you to the heart of the contemporary art world.
The Bravest Scout at Gallipoli | Ryan Butta | $34.99 | Affirm Press
The amazing true story of Harry Freame, who was raised as a samurai in Japan before becoming an Anzac and saving many lives as a scout at Gallipoli, only to be overlooked and mistreated by his nation after the war.
Angel of the Mountains | Paul Maunder | $34.99 | Hachette Maunder seeks to uncover the truth about Charly Gaul, his psychology and the circumstances of his withdrawal from society. In rediscovering Gaul’s enigmatic life, we find an unlikely hero and a larger truth about sporting success.
The Natural History of Crime | Patricia Wiltshire | $36.99 | Allen & Unwin
Wiltishire is a forensic ecologistsomeone who uses her incredible knowledge of unusual pollen and other plant matter to assist the police in solving some of the most heinous and brutal crimes. Here, she brings to life the invisible world of microbes and spores that helped solve some of the UKs biggest cases. - Lewis
Paris ‘44 | Patrick Bishop | $36.99 | Penguin
This is the story of the liberation of Paris in WWII; of the the shame as well as the glory which accompanies it. This gripping war-time narrative will enthral anyone who has a place for Paris in their hearts.
We Are Not Able to Live in the Sky | Mara KardasNelson | $37.99 | Scribe Did microfinance take a wrong turn, or was it flawed from the beginning? An exploration of the unintended consequences, blind optimism, and the decades-long ramifications of these policy choices.
The Garden Against Time | Olivia Liang | $44.99 | MacMillan
In 2020, Laing began to restore a walled garden in Suffolk, an overgrown Eden of unusual plants. This is a beautiful and exacting account of the abundant pleasures and possibilities of gardens, as a site of encounter and discovery, beeloud and pollen-laden.
Patrimonies | George Kouvaros | $29.99 | Upswell Publishing
Patrimonies is an excellent collection of essays for those of us who enjoy pondering, from the critical lense of one of our best cultural critics George Kouvarous. In combining cultural history and memoir does Kouvarous dissect the past and whether this is something we inherit or create. Fans of Aciman’s Homo Irrealis will love this one! - Lilly
The Lasting Harm | Lucia Osbourne Crowley | $34.99 | Allen & Unwin
I know I’m not the only one who had their minds broken by the implications of the Epstein saga. Osborne Crowley’s latest work is a necessary reminder that there is a human face and cost behind the monstrous crimes committed. A sensitive, nuanced, and harrowing look at the criminal justice system too. - Connor
The Odd Couple | Allan Behm | $29.99 | Upswell Behm suggests ways that America and Australia can transcend military glitz to strengthen well-being and human security worldwide. America needs a friend, not a flunkey, and Australia may become its best ally.
Slutdom | Hilary Caldwell | $34.99 | UQP
Women are still burdened with the effects of slut shaming in everyday life. This book argues convincingly and passionately for women’s enjoyment of sex as a force to advance gender equality.
Night of Power | Robert Fisk | $45.00 | Harper Collins
Fully immersed in the Middle East and critical of the West’s ongoing interference, Fisk uncovers complex and uncomfortable truths that rarely featured on the traditional news agenda.
What Does Israel Fear From Palestine? | Raja Shehadeh | $19.99 | Allen & Unwin
A searing reflection on the failures of Israel to treat Palestine and Palestinians as equals, as partners on the road to peace instead of genocide. This is a fresh reflection on the conflict in a time of great need.
It doesn’t get much grimmer – or more enraging – than this. A decades-long tale of how fossil fuel companies buried the truth about climate change while co-opting Australian politicians to be their shills and propagandists, what’s truly extraordinary about Slick is the absolute nihilism, cynicism and greed of the perpetrators. - Connor
Critical Care | Geraldine Fela | $49.99 | NewSouth Here, Fela documents the care, compassion and solidarity shown by HIV and AIDS nurses, and unearths the important and unexamined history of nurses and unions as caregivers and political agents who helped shape our response to HIV and AIDS.
A Thousand Miles From Care | Steve Johnson | $34.99 | Harper Collins
We may see the 21st century as a time of acceptance, but that doesn’t mean we can forget (in fact, it is important that we do not), the vile tragedies and violence that the LGBTQI+ community has faced; there is still a long way to go. This is a poignant, heart wrenching, 30 year journey, through, hate, bigotry and violence, that is ultimately about love - as Steve uncovers the truth of his brother’s murder. - Robert
Lest | Mark Dapin | $34.99 | Simon & Schuster
Australia’s war tales could be said to be the closest thing we have to sacred stories... But did what we’re celebrating actually happen? Here, Dapin shows that often the reality was completely different from the myth – and that by celebrating the wrong people, we often forget about the real heroes. With deep research and a sharp wit, Lest reclaims the truth about our military history.
Mental State | Mark Cross | $35.99 | Harper Collins
From soaring costs to excruciatingly long wait times and overworked nurses to inhumane treatment conditions, we are failing people at all stages of their search for clearer, calmer minds. In this manifesto, Dr Cross takes a deep dive into mental ill health -- who suffers, why, how we treat them and what we need to do better.
Radio Birdman | Murray Engleheart | $36.99 | Allen & Unwin
Sydney’s legendary Radio Birdman were a stake through the satin and scarfed hearts of the mid 70s’ music scene. Regarded as one of the earliest punk bands, Birdman were feared and loathed by many, yet adored by fiercely loyal fans. Their their story has never been told in depth, until now.
Wetlands In A Dry Land | Emily O’Gorman | $40.00 | Penguin Random House
Emily O’Gorman is an ARC Future Fellow and leader in the field of Environmental Humanities. In this book she’s taken aim at how Australia has conceptualised the role and value of wetlands across its history, considering perspectives of Aboriginal custodians, farmers, and public policy. This is a prescient, rigorous, and highly readable analysis of the history of the Murray-Darling Basin. A mustread for those with an interest in the environment, water management, Aboriginal epistemologies, and the ways that people, places, and all living things are inextricably entwined. - Jimmy
Black Witness | Amy McQuire | $34.99 | UQP
From a leading Indigenous journalists comes a collection of fierce and powerful essays, and searing indictment of the media’s failures in reporting Indigenous affairs. McQuire shows us how Black journalism can pave the way for equality and justice, making the world a more equitable place.
Mediterra | Ben Tish | $54.99 | Bloomsbury
Across the Mediterranean, from Spain to Morocco, via Italy, Sicily, Greece and Lebanon, one delicious food influence gives way to the next. These recipes are full of passion, and will instantly transport you to the sun-soaked shores of your favourite holiday destinations.
Tipo 00 | Andreas Papadakis | $49.99 | Allen & Unwin
Pasta is, and always will be, the ultimate comfort food. Named for his successful restaurant in Melbourne, tipo 00 (itself named after the perfect pasta flour), Andreas Papadakis has given us a step by step introduction to the world of pasta, laced with his clear passion for the subject. - Lewis
Quality Meats | Luke Powell & David
Matthews | $55.00 | Allen & Unwin
From easy recipes for grilling and roasting your favourite cuts of meat, to small plates, sandwiches and smoked briskets, to more ambitious undertakings like homemade sausages and charcuterie, Luke has you covered. Featuring over 90 recipes with detailed instructions and photography.
Tarts Anon | Gareth Whitton & Catherine Way | $45.00 | Hardie Grant
Featuring 50 different recipes: from beloved classics such as Plain Old Lemon and Vanilla Custard to more out-of-the-box offerings, savoury crowd-pleaser and truly celebratory tarts, this book contains all the knowledge and inspiration you need to become a tart master.
Bake with Benoit Blin | Benoit Blin | $49.99 | Hardie Grant
Develop your baking skills, understand the building blocks to baking brilliantly and learn core techniques to use in Benoit’s foolproof recipes. Each recipe is one of three levels, so you can start with the basics and work your way up from novice to making show-stopping creations.
Milk | Matthew Evans | $34.99 | Murdoch Books
Evan’s latest book Milk is here to prove that real milk is in fact sexy, delicious and actually really good for us. So next time an oat milk drinker snarls at you as you go about ordering your morning coffee - know that in your hands is the most noble liquid of them all… - Lilly
Balkan Kitchen | Irina Janakievska | $55.00 | Hardie Grant
Explore this diverse and expansive region of cuisine through lots of delicious recipes, stunning photography and evocative essays With cultural anecdotes, history and personal stories, The Balkan Kitchen will be a book that inspires cooks around the world for years to come.
Mushroom Gastronomy | Krista Towns | $55.00 | Hardie Grant
Whether you forage for mushrooms in the woods or shop for them at the grocery store or farmers market, Mushroom Gastronomy will help you prepare delicious dishes with almost every kind of edible mushroom now available. There is also information for selecting, storing, and preserving.
Van Gogh Activity Book | Grace Holmer | $29.99 | Hardie Grant
The Van Gogh Activity Book is an entertaining and accessible introduction to one of the most famous artists in history. Readers will discover the key features and themes that define Van Gogh as an artist, as well as mastering mark making, experimenting with complementary colours, practising perspective and much more with 14 fun, arty exercises.
Charles & Barbara Blackman | Christabel Blackman | $59.99 | Thames & Hudson
Set against the burgeoning cultural art scene of 1950s Melbourne, Christabel weaves the story of Charles and Barbara and the influence they had on each other, and on the Australian art world. Sketches and letters accentuate this intimate and immersive account.
Globetrotting | Duncan Minshull | $39.99 | Penguin Random House Minshull brings together the work of more than fifty walker-writers who have travelled the world’s seven continents by foot. From the 1500s to the present day comes a memorable band of explorers and adventurers, scientists and missionaries, pleasure-seekers and literary drifters recalling their experiences.
Colourful | Iris Apfel | $100.00 | Penguin Random House
I can honestly think of no better subject for a coffee table book than Iris Apfel - who penned this book for her 102 birthday last summer. Part memoir, part manifesto, part luxe photos of early travels in North Africa while searching for treasure (accessories and fabrics), Colourful does exactly what it says on the cover- provide an explosion of colour in some of the most lush photos I’ve ever seen.
Harold Cazneaux | National Library of Australia | $34.99 | NewSouth Books
Harold Cazneaux is one of the great Australian photographers of the early 20th century in portraiture, architectural and industrial photography. The Cazneaux collection at the National Library is featured in these pages, curated and introduced by Max Dupain.
Against Erasure | Teresa Aranguren & Sandra Barrilaro | $69.99 | NewSouth Books
I was one of those kids who obsessed over old black and white photo books of old Sydney, fascinated by what had changed and what had stayed the same. And as an adult who is vehemently engaged with Palestinian histories, cultures and futures due to my own heritage, I was immediately drawn to this visually stunning and culturally rich photography collection. Aranguren and Barrilaro share photos of Palestinian villages and people before the Nakba, and caption them in both English and Arabic, as a powerful act - as the title suggestsagainst the erasure of these peoples and places. - Steph
- Lexie
Glenn Murcutt: Unbuilt Works | Nick Sissons | $120.00 | Thames & Hudson
Working in close collaboration with Murcutt, architect Nick Sissons, Murcutt’s former student and assistant, presents a selection of never-before-seen projects documenting the journey between some of the esteemed architect’s most notable works.
The Duck Who Didn’t Like Water | Steve Small | $16.99 | Simon & Schuster | 1+
Duck is not like other ducks. Duck doesn’t like water and is perfectly fine alone, thank you very much. But will he find friendship? This endearing, gorgeously illustrated tale is now available in a board book edition!
Arabella | Carmel Bird | $25.00 | Peribo | 4+
The beautiful whimsy of Rogers’ ink and brush illustrations work so joyously with Bird’s prose as they guide the reader on tip-toe following the words like stepping stones as we watch the timid and shy Arabella awaken to something new with the arrival of the bodacious and charming George. - Robert
Pepper and Me | Beatrice Alemagna | $29.99 | Thames & Hudson | 3+
When a little girl falls on the street, scraping her knee, her father tells her not to worry, that “a beautiful scab will form.” But she does worry! With an unerring understanding of a child’s emotional life and a dash of absurdist wit, this picture book is an this utterly enchanting and unexpected tale.
Ella and the Amazing Frog Orchestra | Cassy Polimeni and Hykie Breeze | $15.99 | UWAP | 5+
Eight-year-old Ella hates her new house... until she discovers a secret pond in her neighbours’ backyard with an orchestra of frogs! Then she finds out that the neighbours’ secret pond is under threat, and Ella and her friend Mai must try to save it.
Spiro | Anna McGregor | $24.99 | Penguin Random House | 3+
Spiro’s formula for spidery success- 11% hunger to succeed (or actual hunger), 34% trying again and again ... and again! 53% giving it another shot. And 2% spider silk. A hilarious tale of one spider’s determined search for a decent meal from award winning author and illustrator Anna McGregor.
Puppet | David Almond | $24.99 | Walker Books | 8+
Silvester is a celebrated puppet master, who in his twilight years, sad and alone, decides to make one last puppet; but Puppet is very different, when Silvester speaks to him Puppet speaks back. What follows is the most heartwarming, soul stirring retelling of a Pinocchio story I have ever read, filled with poetry and compassion. - Robert
How to Be a Genius Kid | Waldo Pancake (a.k.a Jim Smith) | $22.99 | Allen & Unwin | 6+
Zany and laugh out loud bonkers, this graphic novel of large and small facts, is The Best, and that’s official! You’ll want to quote from it, repeat the gags, and reread it again and again. Plus Waldo Pancake shows you how to draw stuff!
Ingenious Insects | Sarah Allen | $22.99 | Affirm Press | 4+
Step through the seasons with some of Australia’s most interesting insects. Say hello to chirping cicadas, flashing fireflies, sneaky stick insects and burrowing bees in this adorable introduction to our unique and charming bug life. Filled with stunning illustrations and small sections of text.
I Am Wolf | Alastair Chisholm | $16.99 | Allen & Unwin | Reviewed by Jack S. age 11
I really liked this book. I Am Wolf is a great read for anyone who enjoys fantasy and adventure stories. One of my favourite scenes happens at the start of the book when the two huge Contructs, Wolf and Hyena, fight each other. It was really exciting. My favourite character is Coll. He is brave and tough and resilient.
Plain Jane and the Mermaid | Vera Brosgol | $26.99 | Macmillan | 10+
Jane is incredibly plain. She prepares to propose to the princely Peter, who might just say yes to get away from his father. It’s a good plan! Or it would’ve been, if he wasn’t kidnapped by a mermaid. An instant classic graphic novel that flips every fairy-tale you know on its head, and shows one girl’s crusade for the only thing that matters—her own independence.
Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody | Patrick Ness | $16.99 | Walker Books | 9+
Bird Boy | Catherine Bruton | $16.99 | Nosy Crow | 9+ | Reviewed by
Harvey R. age
13
When tragedy strikes and Will is taken away to his uncle who lives in the country, he must learn to adapt to a world away from the city. But when a chick falls from her nest and breaks her wing, a connection is found. This book was heartfelt and beautifully written, and I enjoyed reading every word of it.
I’ll Take Everything You Have | James Klise | $22.99 | Hachette | 12+
This historical noir novel follows the life-changing summer of sixteenyear-old Joe Garbe as he discovers queer community in 1930s Chicago and gets caught up in the city’s crooked underbelly. Joe’s exposure to the surface of criminal Chicago pulls him into something darker than he could have imagined. But before he can figure out where to go, he has to decide who he wants to be.
Life is a bit tough for Zeke. He’s just been made hall monitor, Pelicarnassus has it out for him, and due to an unfortunate family instance a century or two ago…. France is located on his knee. He must save the school from being destroyed and stop other animals from calling each other mean names. This is a wonderfully illustrated, funny, and had me googling different types of hawks- Miel is definitely the standout character. I absolutely loved it, and hope that there is a sequel to find out what happens next. - Lexie
The Skin I’m In | Steph Tisdell | $26.99 | Macmillan | 14+
Layla is in her final year of school. It’s the last year to make sure that the next major phase of her life begins correctly because she’s got big plans. But when her troubled cousin Marley comes to stay, he challenges everything she thought she was. Humour, depth and authenticity shine through in this extraordinary debut novel by Yidinji woman Steph Tisdell.
How to Free a Jinn | Raidah Shah
Idil | $17.99 | Allen & Unwin | 10+ |
Reviewed by Maxine S. age 7
I found this book very mysterious and exciting. It is about a 12-yearold girl named Insyirah who lives in Sydney and moves back to Malaysia where she was born. In Malaysia, there are spirits everywhere called ‘jinn’ and some are good and some are evil. Insyirah’s new school is built on a World War II graveyard and is haunted by an evil jinn. When I read this book, I was actually able to picture the story as it happened in my mind. I would recommend it to anyone who likes fantasy books about bravery, family and friendship.
What Do You Call Your Dad? | Ashleigh Barton & Martina Heiduczek
|
$24.99 | Harper Collins
A heartwarming, inclusive book about the diversity of fatherhood and the ways in which it’s celebrated globally. Spanning across cultures and languages such Spanish, Samoan, Irish, Hungarian and Slovak, and brimming with touching illustrations, What Do You Call Your Dad? is a brilliant Father’s Day pick or just a great addition for your kid’s book collection. - Vevie
There Are Dads Way Worse Than You | Glenn Boozan | $24.99 | Hachette
I reckon my Dad is pretty great - especially when you compare him to the likes of Darth Vader, Thanos, Doctor Frankenstin, Jack from The Shining and Walter White from Breaking Bad... This book is a great Father’s Day gift for pop-culture loving Dads like mine and is a super cute and funny way to remind your Dad of what a great job he’s doing (not that the bench is super high compared to the ones featured in this book). In a simple picture book style, get your Dad this book in place of a Hallmark card! - Steph
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