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The Most Anticipated Books of 2024
It’s that time of year again which I approach with equal parts excitement and dread – when I sit down under the weight of a too-close deadline to a blank page plus an overwhelming number of forthcoming titles kindly furnished by our friends in publishing, and try to find a way to cram a year’s worth of output into a jaunty piece of – let’s call it – creative nonfiction (overreach? more likely creative summary?) that doesn’t feel too much…
Our books of the month, March 2024
Explore our books of the month for March; each of the below titles has been read and recommended by our booksellers before being selected as our book of the month for its category.
FICTION BOOK OF THE MONTH
Thanks for Having Me by Emma Darragh
Reviewed by Annie Condon from Readings Hawthorn
'This novel is for readers who enjoy writers who make the personal enjoyably political.'Thanks for Having Me is a novel told in interlinked stories, and even though…
New YA from your favourite authors
We are only two months into 2024 and we have already been gifted with some incredible new titles from some of our favourite young adult authors! Here's a list of just some of them!
From The author of House of Hollow and Our Chemical Hearts.
The Invocations by Kyrstal Sutherland
Zara Jones won't accept her murdered sister is gone forever and will do whatever it takes to claw her sister back from the grave – even trading in the…
CBCA Notable Books of 2024
The Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) has announced its Notable Books for 2024. Congratulations to all the authors, illustrators and publishers! The CBCA presents annual awards to books of literary merit, for outstanding contribution to Australian children’s literature. The CBCA Awards were first presented in 1946 and are the longest-running book awards in Australia.
See below the links to the notable collections for each category.
Book of the Year: Older Readers
Entries in this category may be fiction, drama…
YA fairytale retellings
It's Tell A Fairytale Day! And to celebrate, I've created a list of young adult fairytale retellings. From feminist to queer retellings, you'll be reading long after the day is done.
Wish of the Wicked by Danielle Paige
A mash-up of Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty with added inspiration from the Salem Witch Trials.
For centuries, the enchanted members of the Entente used their magic to keep the Thirteen Queendoms in harmony. Until the day that Queen Magrit outlawed magic, executed…
Why you should read Orbital by Samantha Harvey
Samantha Harvey's lastest novel Orbital, about six astronauts in their spacecraft contemplating the world below, has been lauded since its release in the UK late last year. Our booksellers are beyond excited that it has finally been released locally and want you to know why you should rush out and purchase a copy – NOW!
This is quite honestly one of the best things I've read – perhaps ever – and is so, so good and special that I…
Debut fiction to read this month
Greta and Valdin by Rebecca K Reilly
Siblings Greta and Valdin have, perhaps, too much in common. They're flatmates, beholden to the same near-unpronounceable surname, and both make questionable choices when it comes to love.
Valdin is in love with his ex-boyfriend Xabi, who left the country because he thought he was making Valdin sad. Greta is in love with fellow English tutor Holly, who appears to be using her for admin support. But perhaps all is not lost. Valdin…
Announcing The Readings Foundation’s 2024 grant recipients
We are delighted to announce the 10 not-for-profit organisations and programs that will be receiving $131,439 in funding from The Readings Foundation this year. The Foundation is passionate about supporting literacy, community integration, and the arts in Victoria. Funds are contributed from a percentage of all Readings Bookshop profits, as well as generous donations from Readings customers. The following organisations are all doing amazing work in their communities to support the most disadvantaged and vulnerable people within society. Readings is…
The inaugural Women's Prize for Non-Fiction longlist 2024
In its inaugural year, the Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction provides a platform for non-fiction written by women that has been previously overlooked and underestimated.
From gripping memoirs and polemic narratives, to groundbreaking investigative journalism and revisionist history, these 16 titles below will change the way you view the non-fiction section of the bookshop.
Whether you are a seasoned non-fiction reader or considering trying for the first time, with this list you have at your fingertips a breadth of titles that…
Recent Crime reads
The start to the year has seen an excellent array of Crime novels grace our shelves. From talented locals, the first English translation of an award-winning Korean writer, to a book whose authorship sparked a wave of speculation worldwide, there's something to appeal to all tastes. We've chosen some highlights below.
The Fury by Alex Michaelides
This is a tale of murder. Or maybe that's not quite true. At its heart, it's a love story, isn't it?
One spring morning…
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