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Writer's pictureAllen & Unwin

Summer is here and we’ve got your holidays sorted 

After the best books this holiday season? We've got you!

Stack of books for the holiday season

 

The mince pies are in the supermarket; the decorations are starting to go up; and the cicadas are singing their evening songs. Yep, Christmas is almost here! More importantly, summer is just around the corner which means long, lazy days to read!  

 

We’ve put together a list of all the books you should pop on your list. They also make great gifts for those bookish loved ones in your life too 😊 



 

 

The Valley by Chris Hammer

Detectives Nell and Ivan face a complex murder case involving family ties, hidden histories, and shady figures in a remote valley, where buried secrets are unearthed in a suspenseful, twist-filled thriller. 

 

You’ll love this if… 

  • You’re a Chris Hammer fan… he just gets better and better 

  • You’re looking for a page-turner to take on your camping trip 

  • You love reading Jane Harper and Dervla McTiernan  


 

The waiting by Michael Connelly

Detective Renee Ballard teams up with Harry Bosch and his daughter to solve a cold case, facing legal obstacles, personal threats, and hidden motives in a high-stakes pursuit of justice. 

 

You’ll love this if… 

  • You love Harry Bosch (and kickass female detectives) 

  • You want to read a book that’s like watching a really great crime TV series 

  • You like to read a few books on holidays… because you’ll eat this one up in two sittings! 


 

Leave the Girls Behind by Jacqueline Bublitz

Haunted by her friend’s murder, Ruth suspects a deceased killer had an accomplice and sets out to uncover hidden truths, risking her safety as she draws close to potential suspects. 

 

You’ll love this if… 

  • You loved The Housemaid 

  • Before You Knew My Name blew your mind 

  • You like thrillers that are out-of-the-box and twisty  

 




Murdle Australia by G.T. Karber

The Murdle puzzle phenomenon comes to Australia as Detective Logico delivers 50 new mysteries that challenge you to find whodunit, where and why! 

 

You’ll love this if… 

  • You’re a Wordle addict 

  • You have the New York Times puzzle page bookmarked on your browser 

  • You’re looking for a pastime that gets you off your phone 

 

 



Rapture by Emily Maguire

In ninth-century Europe, Agnes, disguised as a man, rises as a revered scholar within the Church, navigating secrecy, love, and deadly intrigue to pursue the education denied to her as a woman. 

 

You’ll love this if… 

  • You love a feminist retelling of history 

  • You want a juicy read for your book club 

  • You love a bit of spice in your books 

 




Shortlisted for this year's Booker Prize, this meditative novel from bestselling Australian author Charlotte Wood tells the story of a woman's retreat to a remote religious community in an effort to confront her past, grief and the question of what it means to be good. 

 

You’ll love this if… 

  • You love beautifully crafted writing

  • You've been feeling adrift and need a little consoling 

  • You love reading award-winning books




Landovel by Emily Rodda

Derry, a captive and poison taster, uncovers secrets of his past and destiny through a magical notebook, sparking a thrilling journey in Emily Rodda's new captivating fantasy trilogy, released all at once so you don’t have to wait!  

 

You’ll love this if… 

  • You love Deltora Quest and The Wings of Fire series 

  • You worship Emily Rodda for the Queen that she is 

  • You need to keep kids occupied for 6 LONG WEEKS over the holidays.  


Runt by Craig Silvey

Annie and her dog Runt, who only obeys her in private, must win a major dog show to save their farm in this heartwarming story of friendship, courage, and self-belief. 

 

You’ll love this if… 

  • You watched the movie and want even more feels 

  • You want to make core reading memories with the little person in your life 

  • You think dogs are better than cats 




 

Intermezzo by Sally Rooney

Following their father’s death, two estranged brothers—Dublin lawyer Peter and introverted chess player Ivan—navigate grief, relationships, and self-discovery, confronting love and family bonds that could either heal or break them. 

 

You’ll love this if… 

  • You love Sally Rooney 

  • You want something you can read slowly and take your time with 

  • You love a bit of family drama 



Brainstorm by Richard Scolyer with Gary Maddoz


The incredible story of co-Australian of the Year Richard Scolyer as he uses his own groundbreaking research in his fight against a diagnosis of 'incurable' brain cancer.  

 

You’ll love this if… 

  • You want to read about an inspiring life  

  • You need a reminder that humans are amazing 

  • You want to celebrate an amazing Australian hero 





By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult

Jodi Picoult brings to life the woman many believe was the real playwright behind the work of William Shakespeare alongside a contemporary story of a New York author suffering the same fate of being silenced. 

 

You’ll love this if… 

  • You want to know who really wrote Shakespeare’s plays 

  • You love it when the women are the heroes 

  • You like books that you can’t stop reading AND that make you feel smart 

 

 


The Life Impossible by Matt Haig

When retired Maths teacher Grace Winters is left a run-down house on Ibiza by a long-lost friend, she has no idea that it will change the course of her life forever, in the strangest and most delightful way.   You’ll love this if…  

  • You loved The Midnight Library and Before the Coffee Gets Cold 

  • You love magical realism, the stranger the better 

  • You’re looking for a book that will fill you with joy and wonder 

 

 



Things Will Calm Down Soon by Zoe Foster Blake

When Kit decides to invent a new hair product, she has no idea what she’s in for. Suddenly she’s the founder of a very successful company juggling spreadsheets, influencers, a parade of potential investors well as single parenting, needy family members, and a charismatic but unreliable romantic partner. Things will calm down soon, right?  

 

You’ll love this if… 

  • You love Zoë Foster Blake 

  • You want to know what it’s like to be a founder 

  • You’re thinking of starting a business 


 

Comes the Night by Isobelle Carmody

Living in a future domed Canberra, Will discovers his dreams hold cryptic clues that lead him into a shadowy alternate dimension. There he must grapple with dark forces that operate in both worlds, with the help of his best friend, her brilliant but difficult twin sister, and a mysterious gift from his uncle. 

 

You’ll love this if…  

  • You love Isobelle's The Obernewtyn Chronicles and The Gathering.

  • You wish you could escape into your dreams. 

  • You love future-world tech and psychological intrigue.


 

You can find all these amazing titles at your favourite book stores right now!

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