Reading and writing in Melbourne.
'Jeannie wonders why people throw casserole at grief like they think the casserole will smother it. Watches plate after plate of casserole pass by her untouched. The overcooked noodles and the greyish mince and peas. The unpalatable sympathy of strangers.' Grief, like many other emotions, has been a widely-explored topic of fiction and nonfiction. Death,... Continue Reading →
Hello again! It should go without saying (but I’ll say it anyway), if you haven’t yet read Hive, this review of its sequel Rogue, will contain spoilers for the first book. Similarly, I have done my best to conceal any spoilers for Rogue but may have had some clues slip by me accidentally. There is... Continue Reading →
Hello! Normally I don’t really open with an introduction, but normally I don’t feel like I give away that much. I’ve tried to avoid spoilers as best I can, but read this as fair warning that while I don’t straight up tell you what happens, there are a few hints that I couldn’t get around... Continue Reading →
I came to this book on a whim. I saw it on Facebook and thought ‘why not?’ It didn’t sound exactly like what I wanted to read, but I picked it up anyway. I’m so glad I did! There is almost nothing I can criticise about this book. Nothing felt out of place or off-beat.... Continue Reading →
In case you haven’t heard the hype swirling around this book, Aurora Rising is the latest novel from Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff and a brilliantly strong start to their new sci-fi trilogy, The Aurora Cycle. As you’d expect from an Amie and Jay novel (Aay? Jamie? Surely we’ve got a technical term for their... Continue Reading →
In a world bombarded with duologies, trilogies and series, it is refreshing to read a stand-alone book. It is one of the reasons why I loved Four Dead Queens. While I love returning to beloved characters, sometimes a series is too much to commit to when there are so many wonderful new books coming out... Continue Reading →
The Haven follows the story of Ollie Turner as he stumbles across one of the biggest secrets in London. This book had a super interesting concept at its heart – a secret organisation run by kids and teens that adopts other kids and teens, giving them a home and an education. What an absolutely amazing... Continue Reading →
Authentic is the word that springs to mind as I flip the final page of Pink Mountain on Locust Island. Everything about this book felt authentic, from the teenage character and her voice to the world that Jamie builds around her. A worthy candidate on the Stella Prize shortlist for sure! Pink Mountain was a... Continue Reading →
A Winter’s Promise is Jane Eyre meets Stardust meets The Night Circus. This book jumped off the shelf and into my arms because of its beautiful cover. The illustration is so detailed and atmospheric that it instantly sets the tone of the book. Dabos’ world is exceptional. The details and lore have been carefully conjured... Continue Reading →
The Very Hungry Thesaurus 