Our latest blog posts

Miles Franklin Literary Award 2024 Shortlist

The 2024 shortlist for the Miles Franklin Literary Award has been announced! The Miles Franklin Literary Award shines a light on some of Australia's most talented writers, by celebrating novels of the highest literary merit, that tell stories about Australian life.

The Miles Franklin Literary Award was established in the name of pioneering Australian writer Miles Franklin, best known for her novel My Brilliant Career. The award is given annually, with a prize of $60,000.

The 2024 winner of…

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Winners of the 2024 Hope Prize announced

The 2024 winners of The Hope Prize have been announced! Readings is proud to be involved in the selection of the prize winners, and supporting these great works of short form writing.

The Hope Prize is a literary award for short pieces of fiction and nonfiction, that speak to the themes of hope, courage and resilience. The prize focuses on creative, brave and compelling writing from around the world, that celebrates the human spirit. Simon & Schuster Australia will publish…

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The Teen Advisory Board interviews Ambelin Kwaymullina

The Readings Teen Advisory Board was fortunate enough to receive copies of Ambelin Kwaymullina's latest novel and our June YA Book of the Month, Liar's Test. They were invited to interview the author about her book and her writing process, which provided some fascinating insights. Here is their interview:

From Alicia

What motivates or inspires you to write and be an author?  

To be an Aboriginal person is to be surrounded by stories – of our Ancestors, our Countries…

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Our wrap of some of the titles we've loved so far this year

It has been a very exciting first half of the year in our industry and we have been privileged to read some amazing books. From unforgettable memoirs and insightful investigations to highly imaginative novels encompassing reinvention, history, crime, gastronomy, and more, we've highlighted a few of our favourites.

All Fours by Miranda July

A semi-famous artist announces her plan to drive cross-country from LA to NY. Thirty minutes after leaving her husband and child at home, she spontaneously exits the…

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What to read over the school holidays

by Alicia Vu

It’s been a long semester for all. Jam packed with school, exams and extracurricular activities, the school holidays couldn’t come any faster! With the June/July school holidays just around the corner, we finally have time to snuggle up with a good book and relax. Here’s the perfect guide of what to read during the holidays, no matter your genre of choice. Happy reading!

Fantasy/Sci-Fi/Dystopian

Renegades by Marissa Meyer

“Hope called themselves the Renegades.”

Renegades by Marissa Meyer is one of…

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What we're reading: Bullwinkel, Garden, Enriquez

Each week our wonderful staff share the books that they've been enjoying.

Justin is reading Headshot by Rita Bullwinkel

Headshot is a gripping, powerfully written account of eight young women fighting in the Daughters of America Cup, a fictional boxing tournament held over two days in a gym in Reno, Nevada. Each chapter takes us into successive bouts between two of the fighters. We go inside the ring with them (feeling every blow, every missed shot), but also into their…

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Books to read if you can't afford to travel to Japan

by Bella Mackey

It feels like everyone is jetsetting at the moment, making fun holiday plans to escape the Melbourne winter. But if you can't afford international flights, don't despair! A) because you're not alone, I'm stuck here too, and B) because you can still get a taste of travel with the right books.

Like many people, I've been fixated on the idea of travelling to Japan recently, and fortunately there's a wealth of books available about and from that very place! From…

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A beginner’s guide to Emily Henry

by Saskia de Leeuw Kyle

If you’ve ever been scrolling through a list of book recommendations online, or even stumbled upon a romance reader’s Bookstagram account, it’s highly likely that you would have seen the name Emily Henry before.

Personally, I like to call her the Queen of Romance, though others prefer the term ‘New York Times Bestselling Author’. With a wide range of titles such as Beach Read, You and Me on Vacation, and much more, it’s guaranteed that you will have…

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Vegan & vegetarian cookbooks

by Lucie Dess

Are you vegetarian or vegan? Or just want to cook some delicious plant-based dishes? Then this blog is for you! I've collated some new and exciting cookbooks to help you cook up a storm. From Turkish feasts to rustic country style recipes, there's something for everyone here. Be ready to add some exciting new meals to your weekly rotation!

For the fuss-free cook

So Vegan: EASY by Roxy Pope and Ben Pook

The brilliant creators of One Pot Vegan are…

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The June Crime review

These are the crime books which have been read and reviewed by our excellent booksellers this month - all in one place!

Smoke by Michael Brissenden

Reviewed by Chris Gordon, events and programming manager for Readings

Journalist Michael Brissenden has covered the impact huge fires have on communities in his work for the ABC. This knowledge is apparent in his latest novel; an atmospheric dive into how a fire-ravaged town deals with the trauma of losing homes, lives, and…

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