There is no denying it. Triple J's Hottest 100 is an Australian institution. We all know it, many of us love it and generations of Australian's associate it not just with music but a kind of kinship and community. For me, personally, which songs make up Triple J's Hottest 100 each year has more importance than the highest selling singles of that year. Shoulda Been Higher details the history of the Hottest 100 and is a definitive account of sorts of what is, essentially, the most important music countdown in Australia. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one from cover to cover. Tom W Clarke giv ..read more

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The second graphic novel in the reimagined Sweet Valley Twins series takes its focus from goody-goody twin Elizabeth to the devilish and fundamentally flawed Jessica. This time around, we see a vulnerable side to the younger Wakefield twin. After all, it's not so easy having such a perfect sister. Especially when this is the one occasion when Jessica deserves the spotlight. The twins are taking ballet lessons. Jessica loves ballet and works harder than anyone else in the class. Coupled with a natural flair for ballet, she should be living the dream, right? Nope. It is her sister Elizabeth wh ..read more

By far, the best thing about Brutal Prince is that it doesn't take itself too seriously. From the cute cover, to the cheeky illustrations to a plot filled with an enemies-to-lovers romance and scores of mafia types (complete with shoot outs,) this book is filled with melodrama and trash and it doesn't waste my time pretending to be anything else. Aida is the youngest and wildest member of the wealthy Gallo family, big player in the local Italian mafia scene. They've been enemies with the Griffins, an equally wealthy family who are a part of the local Irish mafia. One evening, Aida decides to ..read more

It is not often that I get the chance to read a book set in Bulgaria, so when I found a copy of Time Shelter for sale in Dymocks, I was immediately intrigued. The winner of the International Booker Prize in 2023, the novel boasts an interesting plot. The main character is a collector of things from the past, and soon finds himself employed by the mysterious Gaustine who wants to open a 'clinic of the past' which offers treatments for dementia patients. However, things take a twist when the clinic starts to become too successful and perfectly healthy people begin to spend time and check in to ..read more

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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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