A debut YA novel written by a friend of someone I know. Interesting concept based around 2 school friends, Claire & Suzannah, who work in a cafe in Launceston, Tasmania. Claire meets Jerome who is immortal however he loses his memory whenever he falls asleep & therefore stays awake for days on end. He inevitably disappears one day leaving Claire. Suzannah heads to Melbourne and as subtitled the novel becomes a ‘love letter to two cities‘.

Easy read with a good storyline. Tempe gets called to Washington DC to help identify human remains from a house fire. The story has the usual twists and turns of a Kathy Reichs novel and doesn‘t disappoint. Her books are never boring.

Wow! Apparently I started this book in June 2021. It is now February 2025 and I‘ve finally finished reading all 1150 pages! It‘s taken me as long to read it as it took Rebecca West to write it! An amazing, epic read that I was happy to dip into, savour, leave and return to over 4 years. The author at one point says that her book is so long probably no one will ever read it. She was wrong. Completed in 1941 and still being reprinted says it all.

Thomas Keneally is one of those prolific Australian authors that rarely disappoints. His novels are often based on real historical events and people. This one is about one of the two sons of Charles Dickens who settled in Australia. Written beautifully and captures the characters and late 1860s Australia perfectly. And obviously lots of references about the life Charles Dickens and his works. Interesting and a good read

This was a bit of a step back in time for me. Things are slowly changing but the sexism and double standards portrayed in this book were very real to me 30 years ago. The frustrations of being mistreated, patronised and overlooked as a woman screams loud and clear from this book. Cleverly written. This book was a birthday gift from my son. I‘m very proud to have raised a son who is not like some of the men in this book.

Happy New Year! Well it‘s been a great start to 2025! I started this book yesterday(last year) and finished it today (this year)! Not the greatest book I‘ve ever read but it did the trick and kept me entertained. A child of a tv personality is taken from her daycare without her parents‘ knowledge. The investigation and ensuing media circus uncovers many secrets

My last book for 2024! Not sure what to say about this one. A classic situation where something born out of good intentions (Microfinance loans to the poor) gets twisted and manipulated into a profit making machine which seems to only benefit the rich. This is a simplistic overview of the author‘s contention. The lure of money will always attract vultures and the morally corrupt wherever you are in the world. Disappointing but true.

Another secondhand book purchase. You are always guaranteed something light and easy to read with a Jane Green book. I just didn‘t think this was one of her best.

This one was definitely a ‘pick‘ for me! Fascinating, and informative this book kept me riveted. I learnt so much that I had no idea about. For example ‘data labourers‘. The people who painstakingly go through images for AI and are paid a pittance. The author shows the impact of AI around the world. A great read that I got from the library but I feel like I need my own copy as I‘ll keep going back to it. It is a scary glimpse into our future.

This is a really important book that all parents and educators should read. It shows how the epidemic of mental illness stems directly from our shift from ‘play based‘ to ‘phone based‘ childhoods. The data and evidence in this book is truly mind blowing. I had not heard the term ‘sociogenic illnesses‘ before but it makes total sense to me and something I‘ve long suspected is happening. It‘s not all doom and gloom. There are solutions. Read it!

I bought this book in a second hand store months ago for $3. I bought it for my husband and only because the title reminded me of a late friend of his who used to say ‘It‘s too late to go home early now‘. I didn‘t expect to ever read it but I did and really enjoyed it! A very witty, funny and sometimes brutal account of being a music journalist in Australia and UK in the early 90s. Interesting stories for anyone around for Blur vs Oasis era.

This is a great YA/teen read! Someone recommended it to me about 10 years ago and I finally got around to reading it! I remember them saying it was one of the scariest books they‘d read. It is very creepy and scary. Kept my anxiety levels high but worth reading.

I liked this book. Amanda Montell‘s writing is always interesting and insightful. I will definitely read more of her books

YUM! This book covers all the basics of pasta making and much more. Includes simple Napoli sauce and Ragu recipes but lots of fancy recipes too. Lots of great tips. And an interesting story of how the restaurant ‘Tipo 00‘ came to be. Reading it has made me hungry!

I think I‘ve read too many books on menopause. A friend has told me to stop as they get me down! 😊 This one is helpful, if you live in the USA, as it refers to what tests and treatments are available through insurance. I thankfully live in a country with a decent tax payer funded/subsidised health care system and don‘t have to worry. Menopause is hard enough without having to worry about exorbitant costs associated with getting basic care.

This was a good read. Louise Candlish is great at creating morally corrupt characters. None of them are likeable and it makes for interesting reading!

I usually just pick up a Jo Nesbo whenever I feel like it. I haven‘t read every book in the Harry Hole series. But I‘ve read books 11 and 12 in the last couple weeks and I‘m so glad I did! Wow! What a ride this one was! Nesbo is so clever and writes the best murder mystery thrillers. His books always keep me enthralled

I really like this author but this one is not my favourite. I‘ve heard her described as a modern day Agatha Christie which is a good description. This one was a bit far fetched but ended neatly. A country manor mystery with occult leanings.

When all your library reservations come in at once! 👏😊 Happy days!

Wow!! This was a really great read! I didn‘t really enjoy Liane Moriarty‘s last 2 books but this one is definitely a winner! I couldn‘t put it down! Such an interesting and unique storyline. On an ordinary flight between Hobart and Sydney a woman stands up and walks through the cabin and one by one tells each passenger what age they‘ll die and cause of their deaths. The book then deals with the subsequent fall out of these predictions. Brilliant!

Another great read! I love the Harry Hole series. This one was really gritty and gruesome. I had to put it down for some of the really brutal bits but not for long as I was completely hooked. It kept me guessing until the very end. Very clever! I‘ve reserved the next one from the public library

This was a good read! Recommended to me by a teen who enjoyed it and I understand why. Set in the future in Melbourne, Australia this is a refreshing look at time travel. A good teen read that I didn‘t want to put down. The first in a trilogy that I will need to read as the book ends on an epic cliffhanger!!

I hardly ever give up on a book. I‘m one of those people who doggedly persists because I think every book has some good elements. Not this one. So poorly written. It‘s trying to be a teenage voice but it just doesn‘t work. I can‘t understand why there‘s a Neil Gaiman recommendation on the front cover. Did he even read it?? And there is even a sequel! Why?? Not for me. Can‘t recommend this one.

This took me a while to get into but once I did I liked it. A slow paced but interesting story set in an abbey of an order of nuns in rural Australia. The book looks at the nature of faith and women who choose to leave society and devote their lives to god. Forgiveness and grief in the midst of a mice plague makes this a haunting read.

This book made some interesting points but the first few chapters just struck me as ‘alarmist‘ journalism. Lots of generalisations and cherry picking data. I thought the anti therapy argument was a bit flawed. However, I totally agreed with the sentiment that helicopter parenting is doing children more harm than good. And somewhat agreed that not everything is a ‘trauma‘. It is sometimes just part of life. Teaching kids resilience is a good thing

I enjoyed reading the well read library copy of this book! Beautiful settings (Italy in the 1950s and Spain at the end of the civil war), great characters and interesting story. I don‘t know why her books are not more highly rated.

A great collection of short stories. Well worth reading

Another great read. This author definitely knows when to throw twists and turns in at the right moments! I don‘t always feel compelled to finish reading a series even if I enjoy it. But after the ending of this book I‘ll definitely be reading the next one when it‘s released!

I was not expecting to love this book as much as I did! I couldn‘t put it down! And then when I did go to sleep I dreamt about it! Fantastic book about a post pandemic world. It was quite eerie reading it and keeping in mind that it was written in 2014 ie pre our pandemic! Very clever concept, great characters that interweave in unexpected ways. Highly recommend this one!

This is the book that everyone is talking about and reading at the moment. Lots of action, fantasy, and romance. I really liked it and I‘ve reserved the 2nd book from my local library. Looking forward to reading it!

This one was really disappointing. I picked it up from the library as I enjoyed ‘Turn of the Key‘. This one was nowhere near as good. The cyber hacking concepts are interesting but the nonsensical decisions the protagonist made along the way just made this book annoying, ie if you want to confront someone don‘t knock on their door, instead throw yourself off their roof and swing onto their balcony using a sleeping bag and jacket as a rope swing 😂

What a great book! Beautifully written and very thought provoking. Set on an island where the Memory Police control everything. Everyday items are made to ‘disappear‘ overnight and the population adjusts by disposing of said items which are then erased from their memories. Anyone who retains their memories are arrested and never seen again. Interesting concept that is conveyed really well in this novel. Well worth reading

Elin Hildebrand has definitely become one of my favourite ‘holiday reads‘ authors. Light, easy to read. Full of good characters, interesting plot lines, romance, and sun filled days. She‘s obviously a ‘foodie‘ too as all the meals and restaurants she mentions sound great! Apparently they are based on real life restaurants in Nantucket.

Easy to read mystery with some humour thrown in

A good YA mystery that is being enjoyed by many teens at the moment. Fast paced but a little bit unrealistic. But as it‘s a book that is getting reluctant teens to read….it‘s a ‘pick‘ for me!

Great read for young people Jade Hameister was the youngest person to complete the Polar Hat Trick from the ages of 14 to 16. An amazing achievement. She obviously came from quite a financially privileged background which was a huge contributing factor in her being able to achieve this goal. It is still an incredible tale of endurance and resilience. The effects of climate change on our polar regions are well highlighted and quite frightening.

Another great book by Marian Keyes. These books are like a comfortable pair of old slippers, in a good way! Entertaining and easy to read this is the 7th book in the Walsh Sisters series. We revisit Anna‘s life this time. She has left New York and headed back to Ireland temporarily. Lots of relationships dilemmas along with laughs and tears.

Wow! I now know why everyone is talking about this book! Basically this book is about a family grappling with past events. But it‘s much more than that. It‘s hard to review as it‘s a huge tome with a lot going on. A bit unusual for a Booker prize nominee. Very readable apart from the Imelda chapters with no full stops. I‘m not sure what that was about or why authors do that. I might find out soon as I‘ll be seeing the author at a festival soon!

This book is part biography, part fiction and part memoir of the author. A strange combination and I wasn‘t sure what to make of it at first. I like George Orwell‘s work but this book looks at his wife Eileen and her role and influence on his work. And how she has been ignored by everyone including Orwell. It left me thinking that Orwell was a completely self absorbed a-hole!! The book had me questioning assumptions but rounded them out perfectly

This book has the most appropriate title. This is the story of Martha and all the highs and lows of her life. More lows than highs. I found parts of this book incredibly depressing but then it is also very funny and full of wit. Interesting read that I am glad I read. I think this one will stay with me for quite a while. Memorable read.

When I started reading this one, I didn‘t think I was going to like it. I was wrong. I ended up not being able to put it down! The story was a little bit predictable and too neatly wrapped up at times but I still enjoyed it. The domestic violence aspect was quite confronting. The language of flowers is interesting and the Australian settings were great to read about.

Another great read! Love this series!

I flew through this one! So good! As are all Sally Hepworth‘s books. The story is of three women who met in an awful foster care situation but who have bonded as sisters. Human remains are found underneath their former foster home and the police contact them. Very good enthralling read.

This book was ok but not great. The writing was a bit ‘all over the place‘ . It didn‘t flow properly. I felt like the author just threw things in after writing a first draft! Like it was really rushed. The plot was good but the writing is going to stop me from reading books 2 and 3. Teenagers are really loving this author at the moment, which is a good thing. But this is not for me.

This book was brilliant! So much going on! The casual and also blatant racism of which the protagonist is woefully blind says a lot about society today. Every page had something that made me either cringe or made me angry. The lies and deception will hook you in. Along with the fascinating look at the inside of the publishing industry. There is so much in this book!!. Would make a great book club read!

I really liked this one! I‘m not surprised teenagers are keen to read it. Lots of decoding and deciphering clues that will keep you guessing and interested. As a side note, I particularly liked one of the minor characters whose parents are strict about her use of bad language. Her unique way around this kept me chuckling.

This is my first Nicci French book. It kept me enthralled even though it got convoluted and a bit unbelievable towards the end. Good though. And I will read more of them. I didn‘t realise until I started that the author is a married couple writing together. I don‘t know how they do it but it seems to work!

I was lucky enough to hear this author speak at a Writers Festival. She was very engaging and I found the topic interesting. She looks at both the novel and movie of ‘Gone With The Wind‘ and how the mythology surrounding the Civil War, slavery and the south in general, is used and also mirrors the lies and deceit of Trumpism and most recently the January 6 insurrection. Very interesting reading.

I really enjoyed this book! Although I don‘t know how to review it! There isn‘t much of a plot. It is more a book about some characters that are loosely connected. Beautiful writing and wonderful descriptions of places and people. A friend recommended this author to me and I will definitely be reading more.

I really enjoyed this one! Completely different from ‘The Natural Way of Things‘ which is the only other book I‘ve read by this author. Three women who have been friends for decades, meet at Christmas, ‘not for a holiday‘ but to clean out a beach house of recently deceased friend. Brilliantly written and brutally honest. A look into growing older and how lifelong friendships develop, warts and all! Well worth reading!