Nothing beats the smell of a new book. Hot off the press and in our little hands. Or you’re more of a Kindle advocate (respect), which is fine too. The point is, with hundreds of books that come out each year, it may get a bit overwhelming when choosing one (or a few) to take home.
Whether you’ve just finished the iconic Crying In H Mart by Michelle Zauner and need another heartfelt memoir to fill the void, or you’ve caught up with Sally Rooney’s most recent novel, Beautiful World, Where Are You, it’s time to refresh your ‘to-read’ list for this year. And unlike a simple to-do list, this list *has* to be carefully curated to ensure you’re spending your precious moments on… well, a good read.
So, fret not, we’ve rounded up the best new Australian books that are coming to a bookstore (virtually or physically) near you that are actually worth taking up a spot on your ‘to-read’ list this year.
Let’s get stuck in, shall we?
The Islands by Emily Brugman
One of the most anticipated debut novels this year is The Islands by Emily Brugman. The novel draws on her family’s Finnish migrant experience and is warm and observant. In mid-1950s, a small group of Finnish migrants set up camp on a tiny island in an archipelago off the coast of Western Australia. The island is haunted with its past shipwrecks, yet it possesses an indefinable allure. We follow the Saari’s and their admirable search for ‘home’.
Released: February 1 2022
Order The Islands by Emily Brugman here.
The Cane by Maryrose Cuskelly
Maryrose Cuskelly dives into the world of fiction with The Cane. A fresh take on Australian rural noir, one missing girl—no suspects.
Barbara McClymont walks the cane fields searching for Janet, her 16 year-old daughter, who has been missing for weeks. The police have no leads and the people of Quala are divided by dread and distrust.
Atmospheric and unputdownable.
Released: February 2022
Order The Cane by Maryrose Cuskelly here.
10 Steps To Nanette by Hannah Gadsby
10 Steps To Nanette is a memoir by the multi-award-winning Australian comedian, Hannah Gadsby. Her stand-up show, Nanette, was sold out across Australia, UK and US. Its launch on Netflix and consequently her Emmy and Peabody wins took her message to the world.
Nanette was a viral success that left audiences captivated by her blistering honesty and her ability to create both tension and laughter in a single moment. But while her fame might have looked like an overnight sensation, her path from open mic to the global stage was anything but.
Release: March 29 2022
Pre-order 10 Steps To Nanette by Hannah Gadsby here.
Daughters Of Eve by Nina D. Campbell
Joining the crime fiction genre is Daughters Of Eve. A high-profile murder case is in the hands of Detective Emilia Hart, unlike her usual domestic violence cases, this isn’t a simple investigation.
One after another, bodies turn up. All men, all shot in the same way. Once a manifesto is published by a group calling themselves ‘Daughters of Eve’, Hart sees a link between the victims—they had all been perpetrators themselves, offended against women or children.
Panic runs through the streets as the serial killer remains on the loose.
Release: March 29 2022
Pre-order Daughters Of Eve by Nina D. Campbell here.
The Jane Austen Remedy by Ruth Wilson
At 70, Ruth Wilson re-read all six of Jane Austen’s novels. Now 89, Wilson has finished her PhD on Jane Austen. In The Jane Austen Remedy she reveals the power of books to foster hope, joy, and self-reflection, along with the timely reminder that it’s never too late to start a new path in life.
Release: March 29 2022
Pre-order The Jane Austen Remedy by Ruth Wilson here.
How To Lose Friends And Influence White People by Antoinette Lattouf
A powerful and personal guide through the balancing act of an activist, advocate and ally, remembering that just because others are learning you don’t need to be the teacher—from the co-founder of Media Diversity Australia, Antoinette Lattouf.
Whether it’s the racist relative across the dining room table, or the CEO blind to institutional barriers to people of colour in the workplace, Lattouf gives valuable insight and advice on what to do—no matter who you’re trying to influence.
Release: May 3 2022
Pre-order How To Lose Friends And Influence White People by Antoinette Lattouf here.
Your Best Skin: The Science Of Skincare by Hannah English
This is your essential skincare manual, backed by science. With a pharmaceutical background, Hannah English dives into everything you need to know about caring for your skin in an unbiased way. She also kindly asks us to stop blaming skin conditions on diet and hygiene.
If you’ve ever been confused with all the science jargon on skincare labels, this is the book for you. English guides you to ensure you’re never left guessing when you purchase your next skincare product.
Release: June 1 2022
Pre-order Your Best Skin by Hannah English here.
The Eulogy by Jackie Bailey
An autofiction that will undoubtedly stay with readers long after the last page. Jackie Bailey takes us on a journey of self-discovery and a grief filled with love, humour and life.
It’s winter in south-east Queensland, Kathy and her five surviving siblings (whom she hardly speaks to) gather to plan a funeral. Their sister Annie is finally, blessedly, inconceivably dead from the brain tumour she was diagnosed with 25 years ago.
In writing Annie’s eulogy, Kathy attempts to understand her tangled family story: from their mother’s childhood during the Japanese occupation of Singapore in World War II and their father’s experiences in the Malayan conflict and the Vietnam War, to Annie’s cancer and disability, and the events that have shaped the person that Kathy is today.
Release: June 1 2022
Pre-order The Eulogy by Jackie Bailey here.
My Sweet Guillotine by Jayne Tuttle
Following her stunning debut Paris or Die, Jayne Tuttle is set to release My Sweet Guillotine, a raw account of piecing oneself back together after a life-changing accident both physically and emotionally.
At 32, Jayne Tuttle leans over a bannister to call for her friends below. She falls and wakes up in a French hospital with a deepening grief of what she has lost.
Following this near-fatal night, Tuttle is brought back to Australia to recover. There, she relives the accident, while trying to restart her life in another foreign place. A budding friendship blossoms with a Melbourne musician, unexpectedly leading Tuttle back to Paris.
Release: July 6 2022
Pre-order My Sweet Guillotine by Jayne Tuttle here.
The Joy Of Better Cooking by Alice Zaslavsky
Better cooking is a lifelong journey. It’s flying hours and muscle memory, from childhood, through school and young-adult years, to bring-a-plates and dinner parties.
Australia’s favourite kitchen mistress, Alice Zaslavsky, presents a collection of 70 recipes in The Joy of Better Cooking. Filled with recipes that you’ll want to cook, with tips and tricks scribbled in the margins and explanations where need be.
Release: October 5 2022
Pre-order coming soon.
LEAD PHOTO: Touchstone Pictures / Mad Chance / Jaret Entertainment
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