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- Mali Waugh
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Eight new books, from cosy crime to poetic memoir
Our reviewers cast their eyes over eight recent fiction and non-fiction releases
- Cameron Woodhead and Fiona Capp
Her memoir was a literary sensation. It also sucked the joy out of her day job
After the success of Crying in H Mart, Michelle Zauner is back to making music as Japanese Breakfast.
- Robert Moran
This adaptation of The Electric State is a mawkish, sanitised crime
The Russo Brothers trade in the nuance and melancholy of Simon Stalenhag’s graphic novel for formulaic dialogue and excruciating mawkishness.
- Kylie Northover
Debra Oswald’s ambitious new novel tackles an entire century of change
Drawing inspiration from her mother’s life story, Oswald’s book is a sprawling whole-of-life tale.
- Kylie Northover
Snappy dialogue and unlucky-in-love protagonist? It must be chick lit
Amy Matthews’ new novel has all the right elements, but misses the mark somewhat.
- Cherie Gilmour
The intriguing tale of the ABC reporter and the aristocratic spy
This memoir-biography hybrid is a personal account of how two very different lives intersected.
- Mark McGinness
This woman pioneered crime fiction – while her son committed the crimes
Australian Mary Fortune has been credited as one of the first female writers of detective stories, but none of her readers knew who she was.
- Pat Sheil
Sarah Napthali sampled psychedelics for a year. I prefer reality
The insights in the new book from the bestselling author of Buddhism for Mothers would be more at home on TikTok, alongside other wellness influencers.
- Jenna Price
‘Why would you make us do it again?’: The secret to Toni Collette’s acting success
The Australian actor jumped at the chance to work with South Korean master Bong Joon-ho on new film Mickey 17.
- Stephanie Bunbury