Lily is shy, bookish and completely fed up with the very extroverted members of her family who keep trying to set her up on a date. Fortunately, she has a secret. She has an email correspondence (and, one might say friendship,) with her favourite author. Then he ghosts her. Then her family put pressure on her to have a date for her sister's wedding. Then, Nick, her very cute neighbour offers to help. Then, the reader learns that Nick has a secret. He is Lily's favourite author and he's falling in love with her ... This was an entertaining romantic comedy. I found some of the characters a litt ..read more

The Beauties is most definitely my favourite novel by Australian author Lauren Chater. And that is no insult to her previous work, historical fictions that are always well written with interesting characters. The Beauties has those things as well. As well as offering a glimpse into the lives of women in an interest time in history, it offers a glimpse into the art world. And I think we all know that I'm a sucker for a good book about art.  Set in the seventeenth century we meet Emilia Lennox, a woman who has lost everything due to her brother in law, and the politics of the day. She has ..read more

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Who would want to murder a group of seven girls who had formed a baby-sitting business? Well, someone does and it certainly isn't one of their charges or clients. Baby-Sitters Beware is one of the most chilling instalments in the entire BSC series. Branded a Super Mystery, this one is longer than the normal mystery books in the series and like all of the Super Specials chapters are told from the perspective of various characters. The premise is this. Nasty, creepy things are happening to the members of the BSC. Stacey is almost run down by a car. Claudia's kitchen catches fire. Someone throw ..read more

Through Dress Rehearsals Madison Godfrey explores notions of femininity and performing womanhood. It is an interesting concept, told through prose poetry and by an author who is non binary. The collection is divided into three sections--part one tells of the author's younger days, of the teenage fangirl wanting to 'appear sexy' and being treated badly by men and accepting it. As one poem documents Mysogyny takes centre stage and no one walks out, not even me (page 19). In part two there is a greater awareness of self and a longing to be like another woman, while part three is interested in ge ..read more

Is there a word for re-reading an absolutely loving a book that you disliked the first time around? If so, this most definitely sums up my experience of re-reading Boy Swallows Universe. Published in 2018 to widespread acclaim, and winning multiple awards, Boy Swallows Universe is a semi-fictional account of author Trent Dalton's childhood with a dash of magical realism thrown in. We meet Eli Bell, an ordinary kid growing up in Brisbane in the 1980s, whose Mum is a recovering heroin addict. His older brother Gus hasn't spoken a word since their parents split up. Then there is his stepdad, Lyl ..read more

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Well, it had to happen. Bluey, the phenomenally popular (and exceptionally well made) Australian children's television show, has branched out with a new line of merchandise. And it's such a good idea. Behold, Trains, the first Bluey chapter book. At eighty pages it is just the right size for readers who are moving past picture books and wanting to read chapter books on their own. (Plus there are still some cool illustrations.) The plot, of course, is based on the Bluey TV episode of the same name. In this one, we see some of the series trademark imaginary play, with Bingo taking on the part o ..read more

My Salinger Year offers a wonderful insight into the letters that people write beloved author JD Saligner (who famously never responds to any correspondence,) and the life of a twenty-three year old university graduate who finds herself working for Salinger's old-fashioned literary agent in 1996. It is a world where computers and technology are beginning to make their mark ... and Joanna Rakoff finds herself replying to some of the letters that readers are sending JD Salinger. This was an interesting read and insight into an unusual part of the literary world. Some of the anecdotes are startl ..read more

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