Rejection | Tony Tulathimutte | $36 99 | HarperCollins
There's a certain level of bravery in committing to creating repulsive characters Tony Tulathimutte showcases the very worst traits of society, ranging from incels to kink shame to the death spirals that happen in a group chat after you ' ve made a fool of yourself These interconnected short stories are biting, graphic and filled with disdain, and while nobody escapes Tulathimutte's ire, the real victims are the tech-bros who are chronically online While it would be easy to dismiss Rejection as scathing and critical, it is a bit of all of us and touches on the perils of vulnerability This is the quintessential American work of fiction and essential for anyone who has ever been online – Lexie
Melaleuca | Angie Faye Martin | $34 99 | HarperCollins Aboriginal policewoman Renee Taylor is back in her hometown When there’s a murder down by the creek, she leads the investigation and discovers connections to disappearances that happened thirty years ago Renee is a total badass, expressing the vital determination of a woman in a male-dominated field, only strengthened by what she’s had to put up with to get there Flashbacks to the earlier cases help to create an emotional link to the current one and the characters I grew up in a rural town and I found this story really encapsulated that experience Melaleuca recognises racial injustice, Indigenous history and intergenerational trauma while being gritty and atmospheric – Ruby
The Great Phoenix of London | Lindsay Galvin | $21 99 | Scholastic | 9+
In 1664, nine-year-old Gilbert and his family witness a comet streaking through the skies above London Is it a sign? Or an ill-omen? Over the next two years, tragedies befall Gilbert and his family, culminating in 1666, when London is set ablaze This story is so fast paced and exciting that I was frantic to get to the next page and discover the next exhilarating episode You will find yourself racing alongside Gilbert, thrilling with each new discovery, twist and turn Lindsay Galvin has gifted us a story of historical facts wonderfully woven together with a cast of genuinely likable heroes and hiss-worthy villains Brilliant – Robert
The Spanish Pantry | José Pizarro | $55 00 | Hardie Grant
I’ve had a long love affair with Spanish food, so when I saw this gorgeous new book by award-winning chef and author José Pizarro, I was pretty excited Here, Pizarro focuses on twelve key ingredients of Spanish cooking, including tomatoes, onions, saffron, chickpeas, chorizo and lemons – all with their own unique and enticing characteristics – and creates a selection of easy and delicious recipes for each Luckily for us, Pizarro puts flavour front and centre in both his Spanish classics and modern creations, and you’ll find options perfect for a simple weeknight dinner, as well as recipes to combine into a festive menu for a weekend or special-occasion feast I can’t wait to give these a try!
– Sylvia
The Emperor of Gladness | Ocean Vuong | $34 99 | Random House Hai is ready to jump off bridge Grazina, a widow succumbing to dementia, bullies him into climbing down What follows is a bruisetender story about dependency and kindness, realised with Vuong’s characteristic linguistic attentiveness and filled to the brim with intimacy, hope and a generosity towards ‘loserdom’ – Leona
King of Dirt | Holden Sheppard | $34 99 | Pantera Press
This is Sheppard’s adult-fiction debut and explores themes of queerness, masculinity and mental health in a no-holds-barred, gritty and utterly emotional way Jack, an Italian FIFO worker in WA, grapples with his identity, family, scandal and crappy Grindr experiences A powerful, witty and compelling novel – Steph
Sleeping Children | Anthony Passeron | $29 99 | Pan Macmillan
A fictionalisation of his family's history with AIDS, this book follows Passeron’s ‘dad’, Émile, and his closeted brother, Désiré Through alternating chapters, Passeron delivers the story of Aids research, the realisation of Désiré’s Aids diagnosis, and the devastating emotions that follow – Angus
Liquid | Mariam Rahmani | $34 99 | Random House
A book about the Iranian diaspora and academia might not sound light hearted, yet this book was so much FUN Giving up on tenure to marry rich, the protagonist dates 100 people to find Mr or Mrs Right Hilarity ensues Liquid is both the best romance book I've ever read and absolutely anti-romance Loved it – Lexie
A Leopard-Skin Hat | Anne Serre | $28 99 | Penguin
Reading Anne Serre is like reading through smoke – you only get fragments, yet the subtlety is what draws you in Serre excels at works that are microscopic in scale but expansive in ideas Her new book is a journey of two characters (and potentially an infinity of people) and an an ode to platonic love and toxic friendships – Lexie
I Got Abducted by Aliens and Now I'm Trapped in a Rom-Com | Kimberly Lemming | $27 99 | Penguin
Dory, animal enthusiast and disappointment to her mother, is abducted by aliens This isn’t your average abduction though; this one has aliens and romance AND dinosaurs Original, exciting, hilarious and sexy – this book was SO much fun! – Ruby
Our New Gods | Thomas Vowles | $34 99 | UQP Ash, recently arrived in Melbourne, has fallen in love with James After witnessing a disturbing altercation at a party, Ash suspects that James's boyfriend is hiding a sinister side Is he dangerous? Or is Ash's jealousy fuelling paranoid delusions? This compulsive novel offers no easy answers, and marks the debut of a major talent; its assuredness reflects Vowles's success as a screenwriter The atmosphere is taut, the plot twists are dizzying and the story will, no doubt, haunt readers
Murder at Mount Fuji | Shizuko Natsuki | $34 99 | Random House
American student Jane jumps at the chance to spend the holidays with her classmate Chiyo, who belongs to one of Japan's wealthiest families The festivities at the Wada mansion are in full swing until Chiyo bursts into the room screaming that she’s stabbed her grandfather The family closes ranks, but Jane has questions: Could her friend really be capable of such violence? Or could the real murderer still be in their midst? A classic mystery from Japan's queen of crime
Rise and Shine | Kimberly Allsopp | $34 99 | HarperCollins
This is a story about marriage It is also a story about life, love, happiness, the absence of happiness and what we need to do to find it again It's a story about hope, baking, making music, lemon trees, painting, love, divorce, dogs, the families we create for ourselves, and the heat of the Brisbane sun It's a story about August and Noah It begins at the end Rise and Shine is an utterly surprising delight, a break-up tale that is also a love story; endearing, astringent, talky, wry, wise, uplifting and so original
The Counting Game | Sinéad Nolan | $32 99 | HarperCollins 1995, Ireland Teenager Saoirse goes missing in the nearby forest – and she’s not the first to do so When it’s revealed she was playing the Counting Game at the time, old superstitions send the community into turmoil Nineyear-old Jack saw what happened, but won’t tell the Gardai Freya, an English psychotherapist, is brought in to help the investigators break his silence As the race to find Saoirse alive accelerates, can Freya make Jack talk? Why is he keeping the forest’s secrets? And who is hell-bent on driving Freya out of town before the truth is discovered?
Happiness Forever | Adelaide Faith | $32 99 | HarperCollins
Sylvie is in love with her therapist She’s aware she has an obsession, but isn’t sure if it’s a case of extreme ‘erotic transference’ or a lost person ’ s need to connect Beyond therapy, Sylvie has a small life: a job as a veterinary nurse, her dog, and new friend Cloe When the therapist delivers some devastating news, Sylvie has to imagine new and lasting ways of coping Is she ready to inch beyond the fear that has confined her?
Stinkbug | Sinéad Stubbins | $34 99 | Affirm Press
When Edith and her workmates are sent to an elite work retreat, it’s an opportunity to impress her bosses and avoid a restructure But trapped together, phones confiscated and with extreme tasks, cracks begin to widen Edith is faced with conforming or accepting ‘stinkbug’ status to find out what's really going on
Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil | V E Schwab | $34 99 | Picador
Three young women, centuries apart, their bodies planted in the same soil, their stories tangling like roots One grows high, one grows deep and one grows wild and all of them grow teeth This is a story about hunger, love and rage It is a story about life – how it ends, and how it starts
The Lady, the Tiger and the Girl Who Loved Death | Helen Marshall | $27 99 | NewSouth Books
As Sara Sidorova lays dying, she is given a glimpse of the future. Years later, she agrees to teach her grand-daughter how to tame death But it won't be easy Rich with glamour, brutality, deceit and the dark magic of the circus, this is a haunting, chilling fable
Salvage | Jennifer Mills | $34 99 | Pan Macmillan
Jude tries to stay free from attachments and obligations She won't talk about her past, or the sister she lost to a failed space station When an escape pod falls from the sky, Jude’s anonymous existence can't continue As the fragile peace of her community is put at risk, she must re-examine the terms of her survival – and her exile
Honour’s Mimic | Charmian Clift | $34 99 | NewSouth Books
Charmian Clift broke the rules with her representation of a relationship between a middleclass Australian woman and a outcast Greek sponge diver Both are trapped in loveless marriages and overcome by a sense of nameless dread But when these twin souls fall in love in the ruins of an ancient citadel on a remote and poverty-stricken Greek island, honour becomes mimic, and is cast aside, together with fear
Relic Light | Brennen Wysong | $32 99 | NewSouth Books
Beatrice’s reality is upended when she loses her sight As she wanders through her house, she allows her mind to drift into unexpected and painful places There are guideposts for her –remembered paintings and novels; memories of her family and friendships – but her thoughts carry her in many directions Blindness has isolated Beatrice, removed her from what she can verify with her own eyes, but it also may offer her a gateway into 're-visioning' her world
Docile | Hyeseung Song | $34 99 | HarperCollins
Hyeseung spent her early years caught between her father's schemes and her mother’s scepticism of Western idealism, and learnt more Korean words for hatred than love Internalising Western expectations of the ‘model’ AsianAmerican, a trip to Korea saw her face a greater crisis of self, psychiatric care and a suicide attempt Marriage seemed to offer refuge – until it didn’t Lyrical and unflinching, Docile is one woman ’ s story of subverting the model-minority myth, contending with mental illness and finding her self-worth by looking within
Spent: A Comic Novel | Alison Bechdel | $45 00 | Random House
From her pygmy-goat farm in Vermont, award-winning cartoonist Alison Bechdel wonders whether she can pull humanity out of its death spiral by writing a scathing memoir about her own greed and privilege But how is she supposed to write a book when the world hangs on a thread? In this hilarious and political work of autofiction, Bechdel vividly expresses her existential irritation with a climate-challenged world and a country on the brink of civil war
Joss: A History | Grace Yee | $27 00 | Giramondo/NewSouth Books
In the White Hills Cemetery in Bendigo, more than a thousand 'chinamen' are interred – many from China’s Canton region, many in unmarked graves Joss: A History is inspired by the lived experiences of these early settlers, and their compatriots and descendants across Victoria, NSW and Aotearoa/New Zealand The poems and archival extracts respond to longstanding colonialist prejudices that have exoticised and diminished Chinese communities in white settler nations around the Pacific Rim since the gold rushes of the nineteenth century Refracted through a twenty-first century lens, Joss pays tribute to the poet's ancestors, illuminating how they survived and thrived amid 'life's implacably white horizons' It is grounded in the conviction that the past is not past, that historical events reverberate insistently in the present
Open Play: The Case for Feminist Sport | Sheree Bekker & Stephen Mumford | $29 99 |
NewSouth Books
Bekker and Mumford argue that the category of ' women ' s sport' is not the feminist win some believe it is Instead, this segregation is just one of the many ways in which women are told to expect less from society Women had to fight to be included in sport, and are now included under less favourable terms than men The authors possit that ending gender segregation would encourage a more equitable distribution of resources, increase women ' s participation in sport and challenge outdated, sexist myths about women and their bodies
Clever Men | Martin Thomas | $36 99 |
Allen & Unwin
What really happened when Charles Mountford led a team of Australian and American scientists to explore traditional Aboriginal life in Arnhem Land in 1948? Historian Thomas tells how the trip turned toxic, and uncovers secrets and scandals He also reveals how Indigenous communities, (the elders known as 'clever men'), dealt with the intrusion of these foreign 'experts' A poignant portrayal of colliding worlds
Murderland | Caroline Fraser | $34 99 | Hachette
Fraser grew up in the shadow of notorious murderer Ted Bundy, one perpetrator amid an astonishing many in the region Also there at the time were some of the world’s most poisonous smelters Here, Fraser shares evidence that the smelters not only blighted millions of lives, but also warped young minds, spawning a generation of serial killers
The Brownout Murders | Luke C Jackson & Kelly Jackson | Illust by Maya Graham | $35 00 | Scribe Melbourne, 1942, WWII A brownout dims the city Three sisters investigate a series of grisly murders committed during a brownout Inspired by true events, this graphic novel tells a story of fear, fortitude and social change –and how the independence of women is too often set against the violence of one man
Memories of a Catholic Girlhood | Mary McCarthy | $32 99 | Allen & Unwin
McCarthy, a leading American intellectual of the 20th Century, skewers her strict Catholic upbringing in this compelling and witty memoir, at the same time as honouring the people who fired her devastating sense of the sublime and ridiculous A piercingly insightful major work
The Buried City | Gabriel Zuchtriegel | $34 99 | Hachette Ancient history is much closer to us than we think Zuchtriegel describes the catastrophe that destroyed Pompeii, and shares a behind-the-scenes tour of the city as it was before – who lived there, what mattered to them, and what happened in their final hours – offering the reader a vivid sense of Pompeii's continuing relevance
Terraglossia | Debra Dank | $22 99 | Echo/ Allen & Unwin 'Terraglossia', coined by academic Dr Dank, is a response to the first Europeans' description of Australia as 'terra nullius'. With this phrase, the First Peoples became 'other', spoken for and about in another language, unable to participate in the advent of a truly Australian dialogue Dank recognises the depth of this linguistic colonisation, and calls for First Nations’ multiple living communicative practices and expressions, and deep intellectual traditions, to be included, acknowledged and heard
I Cut My Tongue on a Broken Country | Kyo Lee | $29.99 | NewSouth Books
Lee's intimate debut poetry collection is a vulnerable confession and a micro-study of macro topics including lineage, family, war and hope It explores the Asian American diaspora, queerness, girlhood and the relationships between and within them, pushing and pulling on the boundaries of identity and language It is a search for love, a eulogy for forsaken things, and an ode to tenderness
Mr Luke’s Magic Library: Ocean Adventure | Mr Luke (Luke Springer) | Illustrated by Chris Kennett | $19 99 | Scholastic
Mr Luke’s class open a magic book from Mr Luke’s magical library and find themselves under the sea! They marvel at the underwater wonders, but when a sad mermaid approaches them, they want to come to her aid Can Mr Luke’s class help the mermaid find her magical pearls?
Detective Galileo | Peter Helliar | $15 99 | HarperCollins
Galileo's dream of being a police horse is shattered when he realises he's just a ride for the 'real' human detectives When Galileo witnesses a crime, he takes matters into his own hands Although he has a lot to learn, Galileo is sure that each case he solves will get him closer to becoming a real detective
Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody: The Hat of Great Importance | Patrick Ness | Illustrated by Tim Miller | $16 99 | Walker Books
Daniel arrives at the bus stop in a hat and Zeke is shocked only birds wear hats! Then the school’s new student is a fish! Zeke’s friends ditch him, and even his nemesis leaves him alone When somebody melts his house, Zeke wants to find out who is sabotaging his life – and why
Sidney of Sydney | Sue Whiting |
Illustated by Liz Anelli |$24 99 | Walker Books
Sydney is a big city with a busy harbour Sidney is a young penguin with a lot of curiousity One day Sidney’s curiosity takes him all over Sydney on a grand adventure, leading him into trouble! Based on a true story, this is a charming tale of a little penguin lost in a big city, written by an award-winning author
R I P Nanny Tobbins | Lucie Stevens | $18 99 | HarperCollins
When Nanny Tobbins falls off a horse and breaks her neck, nine-year-old Albertine is told she’ll never see her beloved governess again But every night when the clock strikes twelve, Nanny’s ghost returns Nanny quickly causes chaos -- and the timing couldn't be more inconvenient Worse still, the grown-ups don't believe in ghosts, leaving Albertine to take the blame for Nanny's unruly antics How will Albertine restore peace to her home before the unthinkable occurs?
Teach the Torches to Burn: A Romeo & Juliet
Remix | Caleb Roehrig | $29 99 | Macmillan
Verona, Italy: young artist Romeo dreams of a quiet life with someone who loves him But as the heir to the Montague family, he is expected to give up his art, uphold tradition, marry a well-bred girl and produce heirs – but Romeo likes boys One night, he and his cousin sneak into a Capulet party and Romeo meets Valentine So begins a tender romance that the boys must hide, yearning for a world where they can be together without fear
The Day the Crayons Made
Friends | Drew Daywalt | Illustrated by Oliver Jeffers | $24 99 | HarperCollins Duncan’s colourful crew are back! After adventuring all the way outside of their crayon box and bravely befriending some new objects in Duncan’s playroom, they report some seriously funny stories This picture book is a blast! – Francesca
Gozzle | Julia Donaldson | Illustrated by Sara Ogilvie | $26 99 | Macmillan
Seeing a yummy egg, bear thinks he’s in for a tasty breakfast But then it hatches into a baby goose! Little Goose is CONVINCED that Bear is his dad, so Bear reluctantly adopts Goose and takes care of him in their fun, but dangerous, world An endearing, heartwarming and funny tale – Angus
My Name is Jemima | Olivia
Muscat | Illustrated by Allison Colpoys | $24 99 | Scribe
Written by blind disability activist and guide-dog user Muscat, this book teaches young ones how to respectfully interact with guide dogs It’s also super packed with vibrant illustrations that evoke mega-cuteness overload Readers will be beaming from all the doggy awesomeness! – Adina
Learning Country | Ryhia Dank | $24 99 | HarperCollins
Learn the traditional place names of familiar places in this bright, vibrant picture book from Gudanji/Wakaja artist Ryhia
Dank. Journey with Dank across Country with First Nations words, English story and stunning images, symbols and adorable animals This is a picture book for all ages – Steph
Bunny and Clyde | Megan
McDonald | Illustrated by Scott Nash | $14 99 | Walker Books
Bunny and Clyde are tired of playing by the rules; everyone knows that baddies have the most fun! But can they really master the art of bad deeds? The tongue-incheek banter and hilarious illustrations make this a perfect introduction to chapter books for young readers – Carolina
Best of All Worlds | Kenneth Oppel | $19 99 | Hardie Grant
Xavier Oaks isn’t thrilled about a week in the woods with his dad and stepmom, but things take a turn for the bizarre when their cabin suddenly isn’t where it’s supposed to be Trapped inside with no way out, survival becomes their new reality This is a wild YA sci-fi ride that gets you hooked from the start – Vevie
Things in Nature Merely Grow |
Yiyun Li | $32 99 | Harper Collins
This book contains possibly every trigger ever However, Li manages to write about the suicide of her two sons in the most elegant, eloquent and lyrical way that miraculously avoids trauma dumping and instead provides a stunning musing on philosophy, music, relationships and radical acceptance – Lexie
Kāwai | Monty Soutar | $39 95 | Bateman Books/John Reed
Set on New Zealand’s Te Ika-aMaui pre-colonisation, this story dives into Māori culture, and follows Kai, trained to avenge his family, tribe and honour Based on Soutar’s own whakapapa’s oral histories, Kāwai shows that loyalty, family, and preserving history and way of life have always been at the heart of Māori culture – Robert
King of Ashes | S A Cosby | $34 99 | Hachette
Here, Cosby has stepped into noir territory How far would you go to protect someone you love? For Roman Carruthers, as far as it takes He’s suddenly yanked from his comfortable existence when tragedy strikes, but he hasn’t forgotten what he learnt on the mean streets of Virginia A modern epic of poverty, corruption and violence – Connor
The Ladie Upstairs | Jessie Elland | $34 99 | Hachette
Following a chance encounter, Ann’s dream opportunity to become Lady Charlotte’s personal maid turns into something more sinister than Ann could ever have conceived With a dreamlike plot perverted by ambition and desire this Sapphic addition to gore horror fiction is a disgustingly beautiful read – Arabella
Saraswati | Gurnaik Johal | $34 99 | Serpent’s Tail/Allen & Unwin
This debut novel is an epic, yet intimate and beautiful, tale Johal expertly connects each thread of this sprawling, often disparate, story into a satisfying ending Enjoyable and thought-provoking, this is a must-read for those who love to immerse themselves in superb storytelling – Hugh
Let Me Go Mad in My Own Way | Elaine Feeney | $34 99 | Penguin
Claire moves home to Ireland after the loss of her mother and a bad break-up Soon, she is forced to face her demons Feeney, a beautiful storyteller, passes this family’s tales down through its strong women, and the West of Ireland shines as character, too Bualabh bos, Elaine! – Meabh
Uneven: Nine Lives that Redefined Bisexuality | Sam Mills | $36 99 | Murdoch
In this beautifully written cultural history, Sam Mills reclaims bisexuality as its own identity, interweaving her own experiences with portraits of bisexual artists, writers and musicians, including Colette, Bessie Smith, Marlene Dietrich, Anaïs Nin, JeanMichel Basquiat and Madonna Celebrating the resilience, diversity and spirit of the bisexual communitys, Uneven explores how each of these trailblazing figures have been misunderstood; how social attitudes affected their sexuality, their relationships and their work; how LGBTQ+ identities have been portrayed from the Victorian era to the present day; and how attitudes have progressed
Candida Royalle and the Sexual Revolution | Jane Kamensky | $36 95 | John Wiley & Sons Australia
In front of the camera and behind it, Candice Vadala understood herself as an artist and an entrepreneur As Candida Royalle – underground actress, porn star, producer of adult movies, and staunch feminist – she made a business of pleasure She helped crystallise the broader hedonistic turn in American life in the second half of the twentieth century Here, Jane Kamensky traces the rise of an improbable heroine who broke the mould and was herself broken in turn
Paper Doll: Notes From A Late Bloomer | Dylan Mulvaney | $34 99 | Hachette
This is a wild, raw and hilarious memoir that charts Dylan's first year of transitioning – extensively documented through her viral TikTok series 'Days of Girlhood' – and the chaos that ensued Written in a combination of journal-style entries and essays, this book tackles mental health struggles, feminism, religion, internet trolls and more It's 100% honest and 100% Dylan In her own words, ‘As a trans human sharing my vulnerabilities, I have to be very sure that I am ready to disclose sensitive topics [In] this book [I] share the personal and scary truth of my life as a trans influencer with the right crowd '
Gay Witchcraft | Christopher Penczak | $39 99 | NewSouth Books
When Christopher Penczak was introduced to Witchcraft, he found a spiritual path through which he could honour and embrace his homosexuality Here, he has combined his clearheaded theory and practice to create a classic book of Witchcraft focused on the perspective of the gay community Penczak's willingness to share his own personal journey allows readers to find their own ways of practice He explores the history of Paganism and offers a compendium of spells, meditations, ceremonies and affirmations that will enrich both the novice and the experienced practitioner seeking out new views of myth, ritual and healing
100 Queer Films Since Stonewall | Chelsea McCracken & Matt Connolly | $39 99 | Bloomsbury Academic
This comprehensive book highlights hidden queer film gems alongside well known classics It focuses on films released after the Stonewall uprising in 1969, a turning point for queer politics and representation that generated an explosion of queer creativity Here, significant formal elements of each film are described and connected to their interrelated contexts The chronological order of the films introduces a contemporary history of queer film and provides an overview of major developments in LGBTQ communities, cultures and politics
King of Dirt: Holden Sheppard in-conversation with Gary Lonesborough
Thursday 5 June at 6.30pm th Wildflower, Marrickville
Wait Here: Lucy Nelson in-conversation with Farz Edraki
Wednesday 11th June at 6.30pm
Upstairs at Better Read Than Dead
Rise and Shine: Kimberley Allsopp in-conversation with Lexie Eatock
Thursday 19th June 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
