The Readings New Australian Fiction Prize shortlist 2023
The Readings New Australian Fiction Prize is presented to the best new contribution to Australian fiction from an emerging author.
Our staff judges for the 2023 prize are Nicki Levy (chair of judges, Readings Carlton), Angie Tsimaras (Readings Doncaster), Ruth McHugh-Dillon (Readings Emporium) and Rosalind McClintock (head of marketing). We're excited to announce this year's six shortlist titles below.
You can also view our recently announced Children's Prize and Young Adult Prize shortlists.
All That's Left Unsaid by Tracey Lien
When Ky Tran’s brother is brutally murdered inside a restaurant in 1996, it seems impossible that no-one in the crowd saw anything. Yet the police are at a dead end when none of the witnesses will speak. Ky decides to take matters into her own hands and investigate in this complex exploration of racial identity and the intricate bonds between friends and family.
A sister’s grief drives this raw and gripping thriller, set in 1990s Cabramatta, as she hunts for answers over her brother’s murder – and rages at her community’s silence. — Ruth McHugh-Dillon
Search History by Amy Taylor
Ana flees to Melbourne for a new job and meets Evan: kind, financially responsible, and not her usual type. But when she investigates his past online, she discovers his last girlfriend died just over a year ago. When he won’t talk about it, she continues to trawl online in an increasingly obsessive manner. A hilarious, relatable, well-written debut.
An insightful and funny story with broad appeal – a hugely enjoyable novel on modern dating and the pitfalls of finding out too much. We could not put it down! — Nicki Levy
Hydra by Adriane Howell
Anja, an ambitious antiquarian, is adrift after the breakdown of her marriage and the death of her mother. She retreats to a house on an isolated strip of coastline, using the last of her mother’s inheritance to buy it from the nearby naval base. But there is something watching her and she’s not sure if it is human or otherwise. This is a mysterious, disturbing, and brilliant debut.
A compelling novel with gothic overtures that explores myths and social graces, and expertly strips back its protagonist to their base elements, all while maintaining a darkly funny outlook. — Rosalind McClintock
Time and Tide in Sarajevo by Bronwyn Birdsall
Teaching English to high schoolers in Sarajevo, Evelyn feels more at home than she did in Australia. But when a teenager is murdered and the city boils over into political unrest, the city changes around her. Evelyn discovers evidence that could ignite the volatile situation and dash the ambitions of her students, creating a dreadful moral dilemma. This is a fascinating look at contemporary politics and how they impact ordinary lives.
A fascinating perspective of life and culture in post-war Sarajevo, along with a compelling touch of political intrigue. A warm yet gripping read from a new voice in Australian fiction. — Nicki Levy
Funny Ethnics by Shirley Le
Sylvia Nguyen is an only child of Vietnamese refugee parents living in Western Sydney. She’s an unexceptional student, an exceptional self-doubter, and burdened by her parents expectations of a successful career. Jumping through moments throughout Sylvia’s childhood and early adulthood, this novel is a millennial coming of age, a hilarious suburban comedy, and a moving family story.
Sydney’s western suburbs sprawl and shimmer in this hilarious coming-of-age story about a Vietnamese-Australian girl working out what she’s bad at, what she’s good at, and how to tell her parents she wants to be an artist. — Ruth McHugh-Dillon
A Country of Eternal Light by Paul Dalgarno
Margaret Bryce has been having a hard time since dying in 2014. She spends time mostly with her family, but she’s also tiring of the seemingly random events to which she repeatedly bears witness. Spanning more than 75 years, from 1945 to 2021, the story follows Margaret as she flits from wartime Germany to Thatcher’s Britain to modern-day Scotland, Australia and Spain.
Mesmerising, stimulating, and life affirming: Dalgarno delivers something immensely original and astute, without sparing entertainment. Following a deceased woman’s journey through lives lived and, along the way, discovering a question to be answered: 'What’s our purpose?' — Angie Tsimaras
For a limited time, we are delighted to offer a special price of $25 each on the six titles shortlisted for The Readings New Australian Fiction Prize 2023. We are also pleased to be offering all six books on the 2023 shortlist in a specially priced pack! You can buy this pack in-store or online for the special price of $150 (was $193.94).