en-US Thu, 03 Jul 2025 01:36:26 -0700 60 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg 228109232 ‘a gloriously distinctive brava, brava!’— Michelle de Kretser, Miles Franklin award-winning author of The Life to Come and Theory & Practice

‘Cure lures you in with mesmeric prose then startles with profound insights on pain, faith, motherhood and, above all, love.’—Diana Reid, bestselling author of Love & Virtue and Signs of Damage

‘An utterly joyful reading experience. I inhaled it.’—Jessie Tu, bestelling author of A Lonely Girl is a Dangerous Thing and The Honeyeater

Her body hurts her all the time now. It is separate, a thing apart. In her mind it has become a person or an object that is not quite her, that she doesn’t know.

Vera and Thea are mother and daughter. Vera writes for the she constructs identities and scenarios for brands to cater to the ideal consumer. Yet she also consumes the offerings of the online world the addictive pursuit of a cure, the narratives she craves in which mother and daughter find a way out of the shared experience of chronic illness. She becomes preoccupied with a blog written by a woman named Claudia, a mother whose daughter also has a chronic illness.

While on holiday in Italy, Thea writes in her journal. She is also constructing a an image of herself as she grapples with having the same illness as her mother, Vera. But gradually another person emerges in her journal, through her imaginings of her mother in the same house, the same city, at the same age. They have come to Italy to see where Vera’s family originates, but also to chase a promised cure in the form of a man said to be able to heal Thea’s illness.

As they both grapple with their own narratives about their bodies and their wellness, all may not be as it seems.Perhaps a story does not necessarily need to be true for us to believe in it?

PRAISE FOR CURE:

‘Brabon’s elegant, poetic prose is transporting; she probes our human vulnerabilities with deep insight, empathy, and restraint. Cure is timely and entirely compelling.’—Sarah Holland-Batt, Stella Prize-winning author of The Jaguar

‘an eerie dream of a book.’—Madeleine Watts, author of The Inland Sea and Elegy, Southwest

‘A tender, delicately woven story that explores the boundaries between a mother and daughter who both live with chronic illness. Sharply intelligent and deeply felt, Cure has much to say about the unreliability of the body, the alienating nature of pain, and the cacophony of voices – scientific, religious, online – offering comfort, promising relief. An intimate and imaginative novel about family, faith, and the healing power of human connection.’—Kylie Needham, author of Girl in a Pink Dress

‘Accomplished, gentle and illuminating.’—Alice Bishop, author of A Constant Hum

‘Cure is a timely look at our preoccupation with wellness. Brabon's poetics around the body and female constructions of self and identity and myth are breathtaking.]]> Katherine Brabon 1761151819 Suz 0 3.50
author: Katherine Brabon
name: Suz
average rating: 3.50
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/07/03
shelves: currently-reading, 2025, aussie-author, aww, owned, sent-from-publisher, ultimo-press
review:

]]> 220160814 From #1 New York Times bestselling author Lisa Jewell, three women are connected by one man in this kaleidoscopic thriller.

He’s the perfect man. It’s a perfect lie.

Nina Swann is intrigued when she received a condolence card from Nick Radcliffe, an old friend of her late husband, who is looking to connect after her husband’s unexpected death. Nick is a man of substance and good taste. He has a smile that could melt the coldest heart and a knack for putting others at ease. But to Nina’s adult daughter, Ash, Nick seems too slick, too polished, too good to be true. Without telling her mother, Ash begins digging into Nick’s past. What she finds is more than unsettling…

Martha is a florist living in a neighboring town with her infant daughter and her devoted husband, Alistair. But lately, Alistair has been traveling more and more frequently for work, disappearing for days at a time. When Martha questions him about his frequent absences, he always has a legitimate explanation, but Martha can’t share the feeling that something isn’t right.

Nina, Martha, and Ash are on a collision course with a shocking truth that is far darker than anyone could have imagined. And all three are about to wish they had heeded the same warning: Don’t let him in. But the past won’t stay buried forever.]]> 368 Lisa Jewell 1668033879 Suz 0 3.80 2025
author: Lisa Jewell
name: Suz
average rating: 3.80
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/07/02
shelves: 2025, publisher-newsletter, to-read
review:

]]> 228401297
A hidden treasure. A hotel heist. Only THE MAID can solve the mystery…

*THE SPARKLING NEW MYSTERY FROM THE NO.1 BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE MAID*

–⿒�⿒�⿒�⿒�

Molly the maid is no stranger to secrets…

She sees everything behind closed doors at the Regency Grand wiping away the dust and grime of guests passing through.

But one secret lies much closer to home.

An old trinket – a faux Fabergé egg – is revealed to be a precious antique during an appraisal at the hotel, making Molly a rags-to-riches sensation. But no sooner has the egg shown its value than it’s vanishing without a trace.

Determined to crack the case of the missing Fabergé, Molly begins dusting for clues – uncovering a mystery that stretches deep into the past.

For in the pages of a long-forgotten diary, written by her late gran, lie the secrets that could unlock all others – and only Molly holds the key…

–⿒�⿒�⿒�⿒�

Nita Prose's book 'The Maid' was a Sunday Times bestseller w/c 2023-05-01.]]> Nita Prose Suz 4 borrowbox
I listened to this via the Borrowbox app and my public library.
]]> 3.89 2025
author: Nita Prose
name: Suz
average rating: 3.89
book published: 2025
rating: 4
read at: 2025/07/02
date added: 2025/07/02
shelves: borrowbox
review:
I oscillated on this one! Starting out quite slow, it felt a little cliched, contrived. I wasn’t completely vibing to start with. Building up, I became more invested as we learned about Molly’s grandmother’s past, the way she was brought up, the gluttony and meanness of her family of origin. She had heart from the beginning, once she learned to grapple with the love/hate feelings of her first and one and only love. The mystery in these ones are the cosy vibes I suppose, the parts that make this series lighthearted and unrealistic, but I did have fun with it. Molly has a deep love for her grandmother, and it’s nice to witness Molly learn about her beloved Gran via a diary left behind, with the origins of this diary and the folk in the earlier years of Gran’s life all well drawn and brought to life with a genuineness. This has been a nice series, number one being my favourite and I do have to admit Molly is sweet. This is a feel good all the way, a series not to be taken too seriously!

I listened to this via the Borrowbox app and my public library.

]]> 224824985
When Serenity books a young war widow to appear as a guest, the episode quickly unravels, stirring up a troubling controversy. And as she tries to undo the damage – to both her reputation and her show – Serenity finds that pride comes at a high price.]]> Jodi Picoult Suz 5 Leaving Time which 카지노싸이트 tells me I only rated two stars. This didn’t affect anything, and my book memory being what it is, I don’t recall that one at all. Serenity is a gifted psychic - the real deal, and her abilities have now translated to fame and fortune - she’s a household name with a television show, a bodyguard and everything she could ever want. Her latest TV guest and the discovery of the death of a soldier leads to unwanted drama, the hook Jodi Picoult leaves us with is awesome, it may just lead me to rereading Leaving time. I listened to this via the Borrowbox app and my public library. I highly recommend this one for a bit of a lightning read!]]> 3.90 2014
author: Jodi Picoult
name: Suz
average rating: 3.90
book published: 2014
rating: 5
read at: 2025/07/02
date added: 2025/07/02
shelves: library-penrith, overdrive-browser, borrowbox, library-at-the-hub, novella
review:
I flew through this one finishing it in one morning before work. A short story and prequel to Leaving Time which 카지노싸이트 tells me I only rated two stars. This didn’t affect anything, and my book memory being what it is, I don’t recall that one at all. Serenity is a gifted psychic - the real deal, and her abilities have now translated to fame and fortune - she’s a household name with a television show, a bodyguard and everything she could ever want. Her latest TV guest and the discovery of the death of a soldier leads to unwanted drama, the hook Jodi Picoult leaves us with is awesome, it may just lead me to rereading Leaving time. I listened to this via the Borrowbox app and my public library. I highly recommend this one for a bit of a lightning read!
]]> 223006706
It’s 1921 in Widow’s Peak, a gloomy fishing village on the south coast of New South Wales. Nineteen-year-old Missy Green fills her days helping her fisherman father on his trawler, and spending time with her grandfather, the town’s
reclusive lighthouse keeper. It’s a dreary existence.

Everything in her sea salt-soaked life is upended, though, when she glimpses something in the water – a mermaid ominously staring at her.

When Missy discovers the dead body of a woman washed up on shore, her disturbing hallucinations of the mermaid
gather steam.

Missy must navigate the treacherous waters of her secret-filled town while attempting not to drown in the recesses of her mind, and the eyes of a handsome detective…]]> 238 Camille Booker 1923105361 Suz 0 4.43
author: Camille Booker
name: Suz
average rating: 4.43
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/07/02
shelves: 2025, aussie-author, aww, have-met-the-author, z, currently-reading
review:

]]> 229295901 As she rolled his ear lobe between her teeth, giving it a gentle tug, he gripped the bar's edge to stop himself from toppling off the stool. In true Mrs Robinson style, she purred, ‘And yes, I am flirting with you – that’s how it’s done.’ Let the tango begin.

Golden boy Joshua Bodekker died the day he let the darkness overpower him. Emerging as a man set on making amends, he nevertheless struggles to control the beast that resides within – and takes a job in New York to build a new life far from the shadows of his past.

Here, in the city where the light never sleeps, he becomes mesmerised by a silver-eyed sensation of a woman weaving her way through his life. Saoirse Mahoney. As the heat rises between them, a passionate and perilous dance begins, and every step raises the stakes, uncovering the secrets that threaten to tear them apart.

With the weight of his actions bearing down on him, Josh begins to confront what lurks deep inside. But Saoirse is threatened by something much more real and sinister from her past, and her life soon hangs precariously on a knife edge. Now, the question is no longer if theirs is a love worth saving, but will there be a future to save?

The second in the Love Connection series, A.M. Jaxon turns up the heat in Joshua’s story, weaving a tale of danger, desire and redemption that will keep you turning the pages long into the night. You’ve never read romantic suspense like this.]]> 334 A.M. Jaxon 1764005767 Suz 4
With thanks to the author and publisher for my electronic copy to read and review]]> 4.75
author: A.M. Jaxon
name: Suz
average rating: 4.75
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/06/30
date added: 2025/07/01
shelves: 2025, aussie-author, aww, speechify, z
review:
A.M. Jaxon has a way, the queen of the one liner and raunchy scenes. I don’t read a lot of romantic suspense, and this is what she delivers in a unique way. Additionally to this edgy, racy and a bit of a spunky style, is the ‘Love Actually format’ (is this a thing? It is now) in which many characters come together intertwining their experience and relationships. If you have the tendency to lose track, the handy cast of characters list gives you the upper hand, a great inclusion. The only issue with combining a cast of characters’ stories is that you become a little greedy, wanting more from certain players, but this is part of the appeal. A cool addition is a curated playlist, which will add to the vibe - QR code included - no work required. If you enjoy local Aussie references, lively dialogue, down to earth colloquialisms and a fun, cheeky and a little bit of a naughty style, you’ll be at home with this series. This is an author who has fun with her writing, which is what resonated with me. If you’re looking for a refresh experience, you’ve landed in the right place.

With thanks to the author and publisher for my electronic copy to read and review
]]> 223412013 An enthralling quest to solve the mystery of depersonalisation, one of the least understood but increasingly diagnosed mental illnesses.

Journalist Nathan Dunne was living the life of his dreams in London until, one evening, he jumped into a lake for a swim. When he emerged, his identity was simply gone. He felt completely lost and in acute, inexplicable pain. He knew who he was supposed to be but had no connection to the person named Nathan. His memories were distant and separate, not his. Everything was unfamiliar. All he felt was terror.

This was the beginning of his experience with depersonalisation, a little-understood and on-the-rise mystery mental illness that causes a person to dissociate from their body and thoughts. It can be chronic and severe but it can also be more everyday and symptoms include feeling overwhelmed, withdrawing from family and friends, experiencing negative thoughts, being unable to concentrate or perform routine tasks, or feeling outside of yourself.

When Nothing Feels Real is Nathan's quest to find his way through to the other side from the terrifying onset of his illness, the years of misdiagnosis and his long search for an answer and a cure. In the vein of Lost Connections and The Woman Who Changed Her Brain, he expertly weaves in neuroscience, patient experiences and interviews with leading doctors in the field, using himself as a guide to courageously explore the personal, medical, psychological and philosophical issues raised by depersonalisation.

A compelling, deeply personal account, When Nothing Feels Real shines a light on this growing mental illness, helping other sufferers feel more informed and less alone.

'This book broke my heart but also gave me hope. There is so much yearning here, so much longing to live and to love and to be whole again. This is a brave and beautiful book.'
Mira Bartok, author of The Memory A Memoir

'This book is a vital and timely exploration of a poorly understood and devastating mental illness, and a powerful meditation on the fragility and resilience of selfhood. It will resonate profoundly with all those who question what it means to be ourselves, and what it is to be human.'
Elinor Cleghorn, author of Unwell Women

'When Nothing Feels Real took a lot of courage to write. It captures the pain and mystery of depersonalisation as well as its art and science.'
Professor Anthony David, Neuropsychiatrist and Director of the UCL Institute of Mental Health

'Nathan Dunne is a writer of such touching sympathies and affinities and generosity and pure gifts of language and mastery of both echoes internal and in the air.'
Cynthia Ozick, author of The Puttermesser Papers and Antiquities

'Dunne's writing is extraordinary, original and rewarding.'
Robert Cottrell, BBC Culture

'Jeepers! That's some illness.'
Peter Goldsworthy]]> 253 Nathan Dunne 1761506404 Suz 0 4.12
author: Nathan Dunne
name: Suz
average rating: 4.12
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/06/30
shelves: currently-reading, 2025, aussie-author, mental-health, non-fiction, owned, sent-from-publisher, memoir, have-met-the-author, signed-copy
review:

]]> 228167051 Part memoir, part manifesto, the inspiring story of a Louisiana librarian advocating for inclusivity on the front lines of our vicious culture wars. One of the things small town librarian Amanda Jones values most about books is how they can affirm a young person's sense of self. So in 2022, when she caught wind of a local public hearing that would discuss “book content,” she knew what was at stake. Schools and libraries nationwide have been bombarded by demands for books with LGTBQ+ references, discussions of racism, and more to be purged from the shelves. Amanda would be damned if her community were to ban stories representing minority groups. She spoke out that night at the meeting. Days later, she woke up to a nightmare that is still ongoing. Amanda Jones has been called a groomer, a pedo, and a porn-pusher; she has faced death threats and attacks from strangers and friends alike. Her decision to support a collection of books with diverse perspectives made her a target for extremists using book banning campaigns-funded by dark money organizations and advanced by hard right politicians-in a crusade to make America more white, straight, and Christian. But Amanda Jones wouldn't give up without a she sued her harassers for defamation and urged others to join her in the resistance. Mapping the book banning crisis occurring all across the nation, That Librarian draws the battle lines in the war against equity and inclusion, calling book lovers everywhere to rise in defense of our readers.]]> 10 Amanda Jones 1639733558 Suz 3
The particular group of conservatives and the way they propose to be christian folk, their behaviour and attitudes were horrible. This is where I tune out and become disappointed with the human race. It’s ick, unappealing and all awful.

The author states she finds it hard to not hold a grudge, and she points out the wrong doings of her ‘haters’ which were hard to read as well - such as marital affairs etc, this I suppose made me uncomfortable.

Voting for Trump was mentioned, and I don’t often talk about politics, this raised my eyebrows as well. The author is passionate which at times led to lots of rehashing, and I believe firmer editing may have helped. This was an interesting but troubling book given the zealousness and hate that people so easily place on others who they don’t agree with.

I listened to this via the Libby app and my public library. ]]> 3.48 2024
author: Amanda Jones
name: Suz
average rating: 3.48
book published: 2024
rating: 3
read at: 2025/06/27
date added: 2025/06/30
shelves: audio-libby, library-yarra-plenty
review:
I started off strong with this one, stating to library colleagues it should be recommended reading for all library and information science degrees, but I began to get bogged down and a little stressed with the repetitious nature of the author’s reaction to the unacceptable online vitriol she faced. Standing up against book banning at her public library (and the skewed views of these people who did not understand the process and/or used it to suit their own weird agendas) this turned into a serious situation of online abuse and hatred. The author was rightly appalled, but having stated many times she was taking the high road, I didn’t see this was the case. What was apparent is the job she loved and excelled at (telling us all the accolades) was turned upside down and her status of everyday librarian in an everyday town was ripped apart brutally.

The particular group of conservatives and the way they propose to be christian folk, their behaviour and attitudes were horrible. This is where I tune out and become disappointed with the human race. It’s ick, unappealing and all awful.

The author states she finds it hard to not hold a grudge, and she points out the wrong doings of her ‘haters’ which were hard to read as well - such as marital affairs etc, this I suppose made me uncomfortable.

Voting for Trump was mentioned, and I don’t often talk about politics, this raised my eyebrows as well. The author is passionate which at times led to lots of rehashing, and I believe firmer editing may have helped. This was an interesting but troubling book given the zealousness and hate that people so easily place on others who they don’t agree with.

I listened to this via the Libby app and my public library.
]]> 231805143 256 Phoebe Rogers 1763800903 Suz 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️<br /> 5.00
author: Phoebe Rogers
name: Suz
average rating: 5.00
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2025/06/30
date added: 2025/06/30
shelves: 2025, aussie-author, aww, help-yourself, memoir, non-fiction, owned, reviewing-by-request, written-by-gr-friend, written-by-insta-friend, have-met-the-author, provided-by-author
review:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

]]> 10757393 One unlucky-lucky day, Raphael finds something very special and very mysterious. So mysterious that he decides to keep it, even when the city police offer a handsome reward for its return. That decision brings with it terrifying consequences, and soon the dumpsite boys must use all of their cunning and courage to stay ahead of their pursuers. It's up to Raphael, Gardo, and Rat--boys who have no education, no parents, no homes, and no money--to solve the mystery and right a terrible wrong.
Andy Mulligan has written a powerful story about unthinkable poverty--and the kind of hope and determination that can transcend it. With twists and turns, unrelenting action, and deep, raw emotion, "Trash "is a heart-pounding, breath-holding novel. "From the Hardcover edition."]]> 216 Andy Mulligan 1849920567 Suz 0 wish-list 3.37 2010
author: Andy Mulligan
name: Suz
average rating: 3.37
book published: 2010
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/06/29
shelves: wish-list
review:

]]> 222637395 June views the world differently from others. A keen horticulturist, she can name every flower species in the alphabet, yet when it comes to people and relationships she's still learning.

After her mother's sudden death, June must vacate her home. But when the social worker urges her to move into a flat with no garden, she resists. With no other options, she embarks on her first solo trip in search of a father she’s seen only in a single old photograph.

When June unexpectedly shows up at her father’s door, he panics and turns her away, unwilling to jeopardize his idyllic life and new family. On her way out, she spies an unruly backyard, and with nowhere else to go, she quietly moves into her father’s garden shed. Once again she can spend her days surrounded by flowers. But when her father’s twelve-year-old son discovers June, she must choose between being seen for the first time or running away.]]> 372 Eleanor Wilde 1923059246 Suz 5
June is rendered motherless, she is an object of routine and a quite specific subset of could it be OCD, could it be neurodiversity, but mostly what I know it was for our fictional June was an intangible, unspoken and unrealised grief. The story of June from early childhood to the present of now in her early twenties was peppered throughout by June’s memories, her narrative of her dear mum, and her mum’s addiction but this is not to be overshadowed by her love for June.

June has specific requirements. Lunch at 12 midday without fail, a cheese sandwich without crust, and real butter. This is one of the easier needs. June works to a set schedule, and one can easily see how she gets herself into strife at work when forced to work on the shop floor. Most literal, she will be honest and say exactly how it is, honesty is the best policy. One of June’s literal decisions bought about a months long stay in her ‘biological family’s’ shed. If only she had allowed one crucial message to be passed along. Have I captured your curiosity? You will have to read June’s story to see.

Not only I fell in love with June, the close circle she ever so slowly built on, captured my heart, too. These were very well written and perfect for this lovely rendering.

Much as Grace Vandenburg in Toni Jordan's Addition loves numbers, our beautiful June loves flowers, the placement, the care, the seasons. I think June has inserted herself into my heart for more than a season. This is a beautiful book.

With my greatest appreciation to Text Publishing and the author for my review copy, accompanied by some lovely seeds. I will plant these at the right time. June’s gardening almanac would guide me right, of that I am sure.]]> 4.00 2025
author: Eleanor Wilde
name: Suz
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2025
rating: 5
read at: 2025/06/25
date added: 2025/06/27
shelves: 2025, owned, sent-from-publisher, reviewing-by-request, text, z
review:
June is beautiful. As is her plight, her plants, and her unique brain and way of being. I love to love the underdog. My empathy was screaming out at every twist and turn. June’s literalness, her routine and her traits. I see a little bit of June wherever I go, I see it at work, and I see it at home. Increasingly there are questions in my household, and this fictional story answered some of them, in a way.

June is rendered motherless, she is an object of routine and a quite specific subset of could it be OCD, could it be neurodiversity, but mostly what I know it was for our fictional June was an intangible, unspoken and unrealised grief. The story of June from early childhood to the present of now in her early twenties was peppered throughout by June’s memories, her narrative of her dear mum, and her mum’s addiction but this is not to be overshadowed by her love for June.

June has specific requirements. Lunch at 12 midday without fail, a cheese sandwich without crust, and real butter. This is one of the easier needs. June works to a set schedule, and one can easily see how she gets herself into strife at work when forced to work on the shop floor. Most literal, she will be honest and say exactly how it is, honesty is the best policy. One of June’s literal decisions bought about a months long stay in her ‘biological family’s’ shed. If only she had allowed one crucial message to be passed along. Have I captured your curiosity? You will have to read June’s story to see.

Not only I fell in love with June, the close circle she ever so slowly built on, captured my heart, too. These were very well written and perfect for this lovely rendering.

Much as Grace Vandenburg in Toni Jordan's Addition loves numbers, our beautiful June loves flowers, the placement, the care, the seasons. I think June has inserted herself into my heart for more than a season. This is a beautiful book.

With my greatest appreciation to Text Publishing and the author for my review copy, accompanied by some lovely seeds. I will plant these at the right time. June’s gardening almanac would guide me right, of that I am sure.
]]> 226103221 Was she taken … or did she run?

The pulse-pounding new psychological thriller from the bestselling author of You Don’t Know Me

Rose was torn away from her daughter. Now she may be the only one who can save her.

Former London police officer Rose Campbell has been estranged from her daughter, Lou, for almost a decade. But when Lou disappears from a remote beach in Western Australia—and the police suspect her of kidnapping the two young children in her care—Rose is asked to help bring Lou home.

This is the final case in DSS Mal Blackwood’s illustrious career—and there’s a lot riding on it. The missing children are heirs to the Fisher property empire, and while their multimillionaire grandfather is breathing down Blackwood’s neck, the media storm is intensifying. Faced with a deluge of evidence and accusations, Blackwood doesn’t know who he can trust.

Rose arrives in Australia intent on proving her daughter’s innocence, but how can she be sure of that when she’s no longer part of Lou’s life? Meanwhile, as Blackwood begins to expose the Fishers’ secrets, the investigation takes a dark turn. Shadows of the past gather around the Fishers—and Rose—and soon it’s clear that every hour is critical. What has happened to Lou and the children? And can Rose and Blackwood find them in time?

PLEASE When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.]]> Sara Foster Suz 4
This led to the estrangement from her beloved daughter, and the ex having much to do with this. This dreadful man, claims to be too busy caring for his newborn twins with his new family, cannot commit to looking for Lou, imparting the information begrudgingly with attitude his ex wife needs to know in looking for their daughter.

Lou is a great nanny, caring for children whose own parents couldn’t care less, drinking by the pool with friends, self absorbed in their own worlds. Rose is her mother, scrambling from another continent to be the one liaising with police, and the seasoned detective Mal Blackwood with an interesting backstory of his own.

Rose’s experience in domestic violence allows her to use her skills in finding her daughter, and I enjoyed seeing her feisty attitude in overcoming the estrangement the more desperate the situation becomes. It was clear Lou did not take the children which was alluded to in the blurb, I did enjoy this book, my first of this author. Recommended.

I listened to this book via the BorrowBox app and my public library.
]]> 3.64
author: Sara Foster
name: Suz
average rating: 3.64
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/06/19
date added: 2025/06/26
shelves: aussie-author, aww, borrowbox, library-at-the-hub
review:
Another book I didn’t review straight away, always leaves my mind reaching for the finer details. Nanny and her charges go missing, her mother happens to be an ex British police officer suffering from her own trauma caused by a job gone wrong. Her husband was awful, unsupportive after a terrible on the job incident.

This led to the estrangement from her beloved daughter, and the ex having much to do with this. This dreadful man, claims to be too busy caring for his newborn twins with his new family, cannot commit to looking for Lou, imparting the information begrudgingly with attitude his ex wife needs to know in looking for their daughter.

Lou is a great nanny, caring for children whose own parents couldn’t care less, drinking by the pool with friends, self absorbed in their own worlds. Rose is her mother, scrambling from another continent to be the one liaising with police, and the seasoned detective Mal Blackwood with an interesting backstory of his own.

Rose’s experience in domestic violence allows her to use her skills in finding her daughter, and I enjoyed seeing her feisty attitude in overcoming the estrangement the more desperate the situation becomes. It was clear Lou did not take the children which was alluded to in the blurb, I did enjoy this book, my first of this author. Recommended.

I listened to this book via the BorrowBox app and my public library.

]]> 229910322 Breathing Lessons covers the events of a day in the life of Maggie Moran, nearing fifty, married to Ira and with two children. Her eternal optimism and her inexhaustible passion for sorting out other people's lives and willing them to fall in love is severely tested one hot summer day.

Maggie and Ira drive from Baltimore to Deer Lick to attend the funeral of the husband of Serena, Maggie's childhood friend. During the course of the journey, with its several unexpected detours - into the lives of old friends and grown children - Anne Tyler shows us all there is to know about a The expectations; the disappointments; the way children can create storms in a family; the way that wife and husband can fall in love all over again; the way that everything - and nothing - changes.

A classic novel from one of America's greatest living novelists, now available as an audiobook.]]> Anne Tyler Suz 0 0.0 1988
author: Anne Tyler
name: Suz
average rating: 0.0
book published: 1988
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/06/24
shelves: to-read, library-at-the-hub, audio-indyreads-bcc
review:

]]> 226898280
Moving back to her hometown in country NSW, single, jobless, pregnant was never Poppy's plan.

With her best friend living hundreds of kilometres away and an ex who refuses to pick up the phone, she doesn't know who to turn to for help.

There's definitely no point asking her midwife, James, because he's the worst. Sure, he held her hand through the birth, but that's only because it was his job.

However, as Poppy and James keep crossing paths in the small country town, Poppy begins to realise she may have misjudged her midwife. And that complicates things.

As Poppy stumbles from crisis to crisis in a town that feels unrecognisable, she learns that to build a future, sometimes you need to let go of the past. And often, the strongest relationships are those you forge when you're at rock bottom.]]> Leesa Ronald Suz 5 Poppy - perfect character name - is single, and ok with it (for the most part). She doesn’t get rattled and she’s capable. Until she literally bumps into midwife James, who is all level broody, capable and sometimes plain right maddening.
Moving back from Sydney Poppy lands back in her old town, running into some old friends, and one in particular causes her mum to keep a close eye on her. I sensed Poppy was really capable, so I didn’t completely get her reluctance to ‘disclose’ her single status to the women at Mother’s Group, but I still rated this 5.
I really look forward to what comes next for this author!

I listened to this via the Libby app and my public library.
]]> 4.33
author: Leesa Ronald
name: Suz
average rating: 4.33
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2025/06/22
date added: 2025/06/24
shelves: 2025, aussie-author, aww, audio-libby, library-rockhampton, written-by-insta-friend
review:
Special delivery was just the book I needed, at just the time I needed it. Not only was it refreshing to read about Orange (I love when I can picture local places!) this was sweet, romantic and real life refreshing. I don’t read a lot of romance (for no reason other than I own so much nonfiction, and thrillers seem to scream ‘me’ ‘me’), so this was a really sweet ride.
Poppy - perfect character name - is single, and ok with it (for the most part). She doesn’t get rattled and she’s capable. Until she literally bumps into midwife James, who is all level broody, capable and sometimes plain right maddening.
Moving back from Sydney Poppy lands back in her old town, running into some old friends, and one in particular causes her mum to keep a close eye on her. I sensed Poppy was really capable, so I didn’t completely get her reluctance to ‘disclose’ her single status to the women at Mother’s Group, but I still rated this 5.
I really look forward to what comes next for this author!

I listened to this via the Libby app and my public library.

]]> 237059344
Just days after Raynor learns that Moth, her husband of 32 years, is terminally ill, their home and livelihood is taken away. With nothing left and little time, they make the brave and impulsive decision to walk the 630 miles of the sea-swept South West Coast Path, from Somerset to Dorset, via Devon and Cornwall.

They have almost no money for food or shelter and must carry only the essentials for survival on their backs as they live wild in the ancient, weathered landscape of cliffs, sea and sky. Yet through every step, every encounter, and every test along the way, their walk becomes a remarkable journey.

The Salt Path is an honest and life-affirming true story of coming to terms with grief and the healing power of the natural world. Ultimately, it is a portrayal of home, and how it can be lost, rebuilt, and rediscovered in the most unexpected ways.]]> 10 Raynor Winn Suz 5
I saw the trailer for this at the cinema when I watched Small Things Like These and I was hooked. Placing my hold at the library, and devouring it within days. It was a beautiful book.

Not only did the author set out to do something fiercely challenging and spontaneous, she wrote it with grace and an unexpected quality (I don’t know what I was expecting..but I was blown away). Raynor also narrated this beautifully, seamlessly, I felt I was there in the wind, the sun, and everything in between. She has a unique voice to listen to, and to tell her story.

This strong duo, an endlessly loving and supportive couple faced a tremendous financial loss of their home, the place where their family was born and nurtured, along with their livelihood, their flocks, their animals. Having lost all this through a friend, and the hardship that ensued, I never felt a horrible tone of regret or anger, feelings which I am sure I’d struggle with. They were my age, and nothing was going to stop them.

Raynor tells the journey of her husband’s terminal diagnosis days after losing their home, becoming instantly homeless and trekking a 630 mile coastal path. This loss is contrasted with a joyous spirit of love and a courageous battle to live in the wild, and to simply put one foot in front of the other. Remarkable.

I don’t want to Google to see any further news as this was first published in 2018, I’m basking in their amazing story for now.

I listened to this via the Libby app and my public library. I didn't want it to end.]]> 5.00 2018
author: Raynor Winn
name: Suz
average rating: 5.00
book published: 2018
rating: 5
read at: 2025/06/20
date added: 2025/06/24
shelves: audio-libby, memoir, non-fiction, library-ipswich
review:
Beautiful beautiful beautiful.

I saw the trailer for this at the cinema when I watched Small Things Like These and I was hooked. Placing my hold at the library, and devouring it within days. It was a beautiful book.

Not only did the author set out to do something fiercely challenging and spontaneous, she wrote it with grace and an unexpected quality (I don’t know what I was expecting..but I was blown away). Raynor also narrated this beautifully, seamlessly, I felt I was there in the wind, the sun, and everything in between. She has a unique voice to listen to, and to tell her story.

This strong duo, an endlessly loving and supportive couple faced a tremendous financial loss of their home, the place where their family was born and nurtured, along with their livelihood, their flocks, their animals. Having lost all this through a friend, and the hardship that ensued, I never felt a horrible tone of regret or anger, feelings which I am sure I’d struggle with. They were my age, and nothing was going to stop them.

Raynor tells the journey of her husband’s terminal diagnosis days after losing their home, becoming instantly homeless and trekking a 630 mile coastal path. This loss is contrasted with a joyous spirit of love and a courageous battle to live in the wild, and to simply put one foot in front of the other. Remarkable.

I don’t want to Google to see any further news as this was first published in 2018, I’m basking in their amazing story for now.

I listened to this via the Libby app and my public library. I didn't want it to end.
]]> 232876015 'Deeply empathetic and profoundly unsettling, this is contemporary crime fiction at its finest' - Dinuka McKenzie

Corinne Gray is a woman whose life is falling apart. When probationary detective Kyle Nazarian unexpectedly knocks on her door on a rainy morning, she knows why. He wants to talk about her son, Ben. This is her chance to finally explain how her sweet-natured child – who loved history and dreamed of swimming for Olympic Gold – grew up to do the unthinkable. What really happened to Ben? And could anyone have prevented it?

Desperate for justice, Corinne has poured herself into uncovering the sinister figures behind her son's actions and the shadowy online communities that prey on vulnerable young people. Kyle, meanwhile, is grappling with his own personal crisis both at home and at work. Torn between his duties and a growing sympathy for Corinne, Kyle must decide how far he's willing to go to help her.

We Need to Talk About Kevin meets None of This Is True in this shattering and provocative psychological thriller that dives into the darkest corners of the internet and the powerful bonds between parents and children, from the bestselling author of Dark Mode.]]> Ashley Kalagian Blunt Suz 0 3.90
author: Ashley Kalagian Blunt
name: Suz
average rating: 3.90
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/06/18
shelves: to-read, 2025, aussie-author, aww, short-stories
review:

]]> 58939030
Andy Barber has been an assistant district attorney in his suburban Massachusetts county for more than twenty years. He is respected in his community, tenacious in the courtroom, and happy at home with his wife, Laurie, and son, Jacob. But when a shocking crime shatters their New England town, Andy is blindsided by what happens next: His fourteen-year-old son is charged with the murder of a fellow student.]]> William Landay 1407499459 Suz 0 3.75 2012
author: William Landay
name: Suz
average rating: 3.75
book published: 2012
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/06/18
shelves: to-read, audio-libby, library-boroondara, next-to-read-audio
review:

]]> 22318477
Texas-born and Harvard-educated, Dr. Perry Baird was a rising medical star in the late 1920s and 1930s. Early in his career, ahead of his time, he grew fascinated with identifying the biochemical root of manic depression, just as he began to suffer from it himself. By the time the results of his groundbreaking experiments were published, Dr. Baird had been institutionalized multiple times, his medical license revoked, and his wife and daughters estranged. He later received a lobotomy and died from a consequent seizure, his research incomplete, his achievements unrecognized.

Mimi Baird grew up never fully knowing this story, as her family went silent about the father who had been absent for most of her childhood. Decades later, a string of extraordinary coincidences led to the recovery of a manuscript which Dr. Baird had worked on throughout his brutal institutionalization, confinement, and escape. This remarkable document, reflecting periods of both manic exhilaration and clear-headed health, presents a startling portrait of a man who was a uniquely astute observer of his own condition, struggling with a disease for which there was no cure, racing against time to unlock the key to treatment before his illness became impossible to manage.

Fifty years after being told her father would forever be “ill” and “away,” Mimi Baird set off on a quest to piece together the memoir and the man. In time her fingers became stained with the lead of the pencil he had used to write his manuscript, as she devoted herself to understanding who he was, why he disappeared, and what legacy she had inherited. The result of his extraordinary record and her journey to bring his name to light is He Wanted the Moon, an unforgettable testament to the reaches of the mind and the redeeming power of a determined heart.

Soon to be a major motion picture, from Brad Pitt and Tony Kushner]]> 272 Mimi Baird 0804137471 Suz 0 to-read, publisher-newsletter 3.84 2015
author: Mimi Baird
name: Suz
average rating: 3.84
book published: 2015
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/06/17
shelves: to-read, publisher-newsletter
review:

]]> 4756429
New York Times bestselling author Sandra Brown returns with a tale of corruption and betrayal, revenge and reversal - where friends become foes, and heroes become criminals in the ultimate abuse of power.

When newswoman Britt Shelley wakes up to find herself in bed with Jay Burgess, a rising star detective in the Charleston PD, she remembers nothing of how she got there...or of how Jay wound up dead.

Handsome and hard-partying, Jay was a hero of the disastrous fire that five years earlier had destroyed Charleston's police headquarters. The blaze left seven people dead, but the death toll would have been much higher if not for the bravery of Jay and three other city officials who risked their lives to lead others to safety.

Firefighter Raley Gannon, Jay's lifelong friend, was off-duty that day. Though he might not have been a front-line hero, he was assigned to lead the investigation into the cause of the fire. It was an investigation he never got to complete. Because on one calamitous night, Raley's world was shattered.

Scandalized, wronged by the people he trusted most, Raley was forced to surrender the woman he loved and the work to which he'd dedicated his life. For five years his resentment against the men who exploited their hero status to further their careers -- and ruin his -- had festered, but he was helpless to set things right.

That changes when he learns of Jay Burgess's shocking death and Britt Shelley's claim that she has no memory of her night with him. As the investigation into Jay's death intensifies, and suspicion against Britt Shelley mounts, Raley realizes that the newswoman, Jay's last sexual conquest, might be his only chance to get personal vindication -- and justice for the seven victims of the police station fire.

But there are powerful men who don't want to address unanswered questions about the fire and who will go to any lengths to protect their reputations. As Raley and Britt discover more about what happened that fateful day, the more perilous their situation becomes, until they're not only chasing after the truth but running for their lives.

Friends are exposed as foes, heroes take on the taint of criminals, and no one can be trusted completely. A tale about audacious corruption -- and those with the courage to expose it -- Smoke Screen is Sandra Brown's most searing and intense novel yet.]]> 14 Sandra Brown 1436123356 Suz 0 3.51 2008
author: Sandra Brown
name: Suz
average rating: 3.51
book published: 2008
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/06/17
shelves: to-read, library-at-the-hub, audio-libby
review:

]]> 30373
After leaving her disastrous marriage behind, Shelley Browning goes back to college to get her degree and comes face to face with an unforgettable man from her past. Ten years ago, when she was Grant Chapman's student, they shared a single, scorching, unplanned kiss that still haunts Shelley's dreams. Now, as irresistible as ever, Grant has just returned to teaching after a stint as a congressional aide in Washington . . . and sees no impropriety in asking Shelley out. Isn't this what she secretly longs for? Still, Shelly isn't sure what she really wants. But a stunning accusation is about to change all that -- and she must choose to take some dangerous risks or spend the rest of her life filled with regret.]]> 224 Sandra Brown 0446612618 Suz 0 3.47 1983
author: Sandra Brown
name: Suz
average rating: 3.47
book published: 1983
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/06/17
shelves: to-read, audio-libby, library-frankston-city
review:

]]> 22603713
From number one New York Times best-selling author Sandra Brown comes a heart-pounding story of survival, that takes the age-old question, "Does the end justify the means?" and turns it on its head.

Dr. Emory Charbonneau, a pediatrician and marathon runner, disappears on a mountain road in North Carolina. By the time her husband Jeff, miffed over a recent argument, reports her missing, the trail has grown cold. Literally. Fog and ice encapsulate the mountainous wilderness and paralyze the search for her.

While police suspect Jeff of "instant divorce," Emory, suffering from an unexplained head injury, regains consciousness and finds herself the captive of a man whose violent past is so dark that he won't even tell her his name. She's determined to escape him, and willing to take any risks necessary to survive.

Unexpectedly, however, the two have a dangerous encounter with people who adhere to a code of justice all their own. At the center of the dispute is a desperate young woman whom Emory can't turn her back on, even if it means breaking the law. Wrong becomes right at the hands of the man who strikes fear, but also sparks passion.

As her husband's deception is revealed, and the FBI closes in on her captor, Emory begins to wonder if the man with no name is, in fact, her rescuer from those who wish her dead - and from heartbreak.

Combining the nail-biting suspense and potent storytelling that has made Sandra Brown one of the world's best loved authors, Mean Streak is a wildly compelling novel about love, deceit, and the choices we must make in order to survive.]]> 12 Sandra Brown Suz 5 Sandra Brown does this so well! How good is this:

Sorry, Doc.
For what?
Keeping you awake.
I haven’t complained.
So, you want me to stop?
No.
Don’t stop this?
No. God no. Don’t…don’t stop.
You’ll have to be the one who says you’ve had enough.
I’m not there yet.
Good because I can’t stop.

Given my newness to this racy romance thriller thing, I noticed in a flash that it was following the same vein as Lethal, bad but oh so ‘good’ guy taking a lovely woman seemingly against her will as we watch a delicious build up. I wonder if this is a common way to go with this genre. I loved the sexy bits that Emory thought back upon for us to savour like the above quote, short and hot.

My reading experience with this one was pure escapism, hey, all of my books probably do this in some way or another, but this one really took me away. I think it’s the wanting to know what is happening in the thriller side of things, but it’s also the wanting more of the bad guy too. Who doesn't love a bad boy?! Read this one, it’s stormy, dark and a little frantic. Wait these seem to be traits of mine... Look out! Loved it.]]> 3.85 2014
author: Sandra Brown
name: Suz
average rating: 3.85
book published: 2014
rating: 5
read at: 2025/06/17
date added: 2025/06/17
shelves: owned, favourites, want-to-read-again, re-read, z
review:
Hayes. Emory. These are intriguing and perfect character names to take us on a thrilling romantic ride. I’m new to this genre, but Sandra Brown does this so well! How good is this:

Sorry, Doc.
For what?
Keeping you awake.
I haven’t complained.
So, you want me to stop?
No.
Don’t stop this?
No. God no. Don’t…don’t stop.
You’ll have to be the one who says you’ve had enough.
I’m not there yet.
Good because I can’t stop.

Given my newness to this racy romance thriller thing, I noticed in a flash that it was following the same vein as Lethal, bad but oh so ‘good’ guy taking a lovely woman seemingly against her will as we watch a delicious build up. I wonder if this is a common way to go with this genre. I loved the sexy bits that Emory thought back upon for us to savour like the above quote, short and hot.

My reading experience with this one was pure escapism, hey, all of my books probably do this in some way or another, but this one really took me away. I think it’s the wanting to know what is happening in the thriller side of things, but it’s also the wanting more of the bad guy too. Who doesn't love a bad boy?! Read this one, it’s stormy, dark and a little frantic. Wait these seem to be traits of mine... Look out! Loved it.
]]> 60320227
Before It Ends with Us, it started with Atlas. Colleen Hoover tells fan favorite Atlas’s side of the story and shares what comes next in this long-anticipated sequel to the “glorious and touching” (USA TODAY) #1 New York Times bestseller It Ends with Us.

Lily and her ex-husband, Ryle, have just settled into a civil coparenting rhythm when she suddenly bumps into her first love, Atlas, again. After nearly two years separated, she is elated that for once, time is on their side, and she immediately says yes when Atlas asks her on a date.

But her excitement is quickly hampered by the knowledge that, though they are no longer married, Ryle is still very much a part of her life—and Atlas Corrigan is the one man he will hate being in his ex-wife and daughter’s life.

Switching between the perspectives of Lily and Atlas, It Starts with Us picks up right where the epilogue for the “gripping, pulse-pounding” (Sarah Pekkanen, author of Perfect Neighbors) bestselling phenomenon It Ends with UsNew York Times bestselling author).]]> Colleen Hoover 1797145088 Suz 4 It Ends With Us, so I've loved it, but not quite as much.

Ryle is insipid and will not let go of his abusive ways, and Atlas is perfect. It was awful watching him turn up unannounced at Lily's apartment and using his house key without permission (I think this happened?). His demeanor and disregard for everything as awful as always.

I recall the ending being neat, but not being a complete Colleen Hoover fan, I do like this series which for me says a lot. The wholesome, humble and successful Atlas flourished against his bad upbringing, and here we see further fleshing out of this with the appearance of his family who were only mentioned briefly previously.

I'm glad I've read this series, even though my first of this author wasn't great, and I professed that I was 'too old for all this.'

I listened to this via the Libby app and my public library. ]]> 3.54 2022
author: Colleen Hoover
name: Suz
average rating: 3.54
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/29
date added: 2025/06/16
shelves: audio-libby, library-yarra-plenty
review:
I've left it two months without reviewing, and I'm afraid my book and perimenopausal brain simply cannot cope with that. I rated it 4, as compared to 5 for It Ends With Us, so I've loved it, but not quite as much.

Ryle is insipid and will not let go of his abusive ways, and Atlas is perfect. It was awful watching him turn up unannounced at Lily's apartment and using his house key without permission (I think this happened?). His demeanor and disregard for everything as awful as always.

I recall the ending being neat, but not being a complete Colleen Hoover fan, I do like this series which for me says a lot. The wholesome, humble and successful Atlas flourished against his bad upbringing, and here we see further fleshing out of this with the appearance of his family who were only mentioned briefly previously.

I'm glad I've read this series, even though my first of this author wasn't great, and I professed that I was 'too old for all this.'

I listened to this via the Libby app and my public library.
]]> 219520677 From the author of Oprah's Book Club pick and New York Times best seller Nightcrawling, here is an astonishing new novel about the joys and entanglements of a fierce group of teenage mothers in a small town on the Florida panhandle.

Adela Woods is sixteen years old and pregnant. Her parents banish her from her comfortable upbringing in Indiana to her grandmother’s home in the small town of Padua Beach, Florida. When she arrives, Adela meets Emory, who brings her newborn to high school, determined to graduate despite the odds; Simone, mother of four-year-old twins, weighs her options when she finds herself pregnant again; and the rest of the Girls, a group of outcast young moms who raise their growing brood in the back of Simone’s red truck.

The town thinks the Girls have lost their way, but really they are finding it: looking for love, making and breaking friendships, and navigating the miracle of motherhood and the paradox of girlhood.

Full of heart and life and hope, set against the shifting sands of these friends’ secrets and betrayals, The Girls Who Grew Big confirms Leila Mottley’s promise and offers an explosive new perspective on what it means to be a young woman.]]> 352 Leila Mottley 0593801121 Suz 0 4.21 2025
author: Leila Mottley
name: Suz
average rating: 4.21
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/06/16
shelves: to-read, 2025, literary-fiction, publisher-newsletter
review:

]]> 220422629 'the Queen of tech noir' – ​The Australian

When you can fake anything, how do you know what’s real?

Harlow Close has made a career as an influencer uncovering the secrets of Winnipeg, dubbed ‘North America's strangest city’. The region is renowned for its sub-zero temperatures, dropping to minus 40 degrees – sometimes for months at a time. Yet, it’s not just the frigid winters and geographic seclusion that render Winnipeg peculiar.   When Harlow’s father mysteriously disappears amid a brutal cold snap, suspicions of foul play arise. It’s not like Scott to miss phone calls – and he’s been even more cautious since that time he was catfished by a romance scammer. Unhappy with the pace of the police investigation, Harlow launches her own search, enlisting her sister Blaise’s reluctant help.
  As Harlow struggles to uncover what happened to her father, she’s forced to question everything and everyone around her – including herself. 

PRAISE FOR COLD TRUTH:

‘With Dark Mode, Ashley Kalagian Blunt announced her arrival on the thriller scene with a bang. In this follow-up, we would expect nothing less than a smart, twisty plot, set in an unforgettable place and populated by deeply human characters – but Cold Truth does even more than that. In bringing us into the depths of Canadian winter, Ashley takes us right into what makes us who we are. Blood ties and shady online dealings come to the fore in this enthralling novel. I adored this book – compelling crime fiction at its absolute best.’ – Hayley Scrivenor, author of Dirt Town and Girl Falling

‘Cold Truth is bone-chilling in every a missing father, a complicated relationship between sisters and a taut mystery in an icy Canadian winter. With twists that had me gasping, the story rocketed towards a gripping finale. I could not put it down! Another explosive thriller from the master of the cliff-hanger.’ – Petronella McGovern, author of The Liars and The Last Trace

‘Ashley Kalagian Blunt has done it again, delivering another propulsive psychological thriller that filled me with dread from the first page to its shocking conclusion. Set in the depths of the Canadian winter, Cold Truth was truly chilling; a relentless ride that had me guessing at every turn and reading into the early hours of the morning. Kalagian Blunt has established herself as the master of terrifying, addictive thrillers that will leave you questioning your own safety.’ – Shankari Chandran, author of Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens and Unfinished Business

‘Vivid, twisty, fast-paced and action-packed, I tore through Cold Truth in two days. It left me shivering – with both cold and the stark reminder that in this world where anything can be faked, truth is as stable as quicksand.’ – Pip Drysdale, author of The Next Girl and The Close-Up

‘Atmospheric, twisty and terrifying, Cold Truth is a taut and pulse-racing thriller that left me with an icy shiver. A story of sisterhood, loss, deceit and triumph – laced with the menace (and malice) of the dark web.]]> Ashley Kalagian Blunt 176115169X Suz 5
❄️ Strong female protagonist – utterly fearless, did not crumble or entertain any thoughts of giving up, even when almost frozen
❄️The trouble with evil tech – the ease in which your life can be ruined by greedy malicious intent. In essence the touch of a button
❄️Extreme conditions – weather and plot
❄️Evidently researched based with much fact included – so very interesting!

I’m excited to talk about all I loved, not to summarise. The story was propulsive and nail biting. The characters a hit, I love when I enjoy characters, getting to know them. The bad guys brilliant too. What I’m now thinking about is the country that is Canada, this ‘peculiar’ & ‘strange’ city ~ the phenomenon of Winnipeg. Ashley says this straight! I have a medical condition where I struggle with change in temp, so I became absorbed into this extreme place, the clothing and footwear required to not freeze to death, how everyday folk dealt with it. I COULD NOT! The pack sent to me (so grateful Andrea and Ultimo) made me chuckle – heat packs? I use them in ]]> 3.92
author: Ashley Kalagian Blunt
name: Suz
average rating: 3.92
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2025/02/04
date added: 2025/06/15
shelves: 2025, aussie-author, aww, ultimo-press, reviewing-by-request, owned, arc, hardcopyarc, have-met-the-author
review:
Lots of hype around this, rightfully so due the mad success of Dark Mode. So keen to see for myself! I have absolute faith that this book is going to smash all the goals. It was all the things I knew it would be.

❄️ Strong female protagonist – utterly fearless, did not crumble or entertain any thoughts of giving up, even when almost frozen
❄️The trouble with evil tech – the ease in which your life can be ruined by greedy malicious intent. In essence the touch of a button
❄️Extreme conditions – weather and plot
❄️Evidently researched based with much fact included – so very interesting!

I’m excited to talk about all I loved, not to summarise. The story was propulsive and nail biting. The characters a hit, I love when I enjoy characters, getting to know them. The bad guys brilliant too. What I’m now thinking about is the country that is Canada, this ‘peculiar’ & ‘strange’ city ~ the phenomenon of Winnipeg. Ashley says this straight! I have a medical condition where I struggle with change in temp, so I became absorbed into this extreme place, the clothing and footwear required to not freeze to death, how everyday folk dealt with it. I COULD NOT! The pack sent to me (so grateful Andrea and Ultimo) made me chuckle – heat packs? I use them in
]]> 5168 376 Billie Letts 0446672211 Suz 4 gave-away 4.04 1995
author: Billie Letts
name: Suz
average rating: 4.04
book published: 1995
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2025/06/15
shelves: gave-away
review:
Didn't review at the time of reading, unfortunately, but loved this story. Heartwarming and we saw the good side of human nature in the end.
]]> 714985
Rosie's lost without him. But on the eve of her departure to join Alex in Boston, Rosie gets news that will change her life forever - and keep her at home in Ireland.

Their magical connection sees them through the ups and downs of each others lives, but neither of them knows whether their friendship can survive the years and miles - or new relationships. And at the back of Rosie's mind is whether they were meant to be more than just good friends all along. Misunderstandings, circumstances and sheer bad luck have kept them apart, but when presented with the ultimate opportunity, will they gamble everything for true love?]]> 585 Cecelia Ahern 0007165013 Suz 4
I experienced the movie adaption first, this meant I was privy to all the goings on; and it dragged a little in the last two thirds. To me this could have been 100 or so pages shorter.

This is an author I have rarely read; I must change this as she is a fab writer. This particular one was breezy and light, not so believable in all aspects, but that is what fiction is all about. Loved all characters, especially our quirky Rosie.

In fact, I have just picked up the DVD from my public library, can't wait to see it again. Also love

Recommended.
]]> 3.95 2004
author: Cecelia Ahern
name: Suz
average rating: 3.95
book published: 2004
rating: 4
read at: 2018/09/15
date added: 2025/06/15
shelves: have-seen-the-movie, gave-away
review:
This was such a sweet little read. Written entirely in letter and email mode made for a refreshing change, I could dip in and out easily, which always suits me as a reader. I couldn't help but note all the writers of said emails/letters were most articulate and must have been proficient speed typists as well!

I experienced the movie adaption first, this meant I was privy to all the goings on; and it dragged a little in the last two thirds. To me this could have been 100 or so pages shorter.

This is an author I have rarely read; I must change this as she is a fab writer. This particular one was breezy and light, not so believable in all aspects, but that is what fiction is all about. Loved all characters, especially our quirky Rosie.

In fact, I have just picked up the DVD from my public library, can't wait to see it again. Also love

Recommended.

]]> 59045357 Burnt Out is the book we all need to read right now.' Mamamia

How do you start again when your life is a smoking ruin?

She lost everything in a bushfire and became the celebrity face of climate change. But is fame and living with a billionaire all it's cracked up to be? A warm and witty story for our times.


'Here's to rising from the ashes ...'

Calida Lyons is having a very bad week. She's long past deadline for her still unwritten second novel; her husband has just left her; and her Blue Mountains community is being threatened by bushfires. Just as she hits rock bottom, she's forced to shelter with neighbours while a fire incinerates everything she owns.

Devastated and emotional in front of news cameras, Cali delivers a blistering, unfiltered rebuke to the nation's rich to do something.

Her rant goes viral, and she quickly becomes the latest celebrity face of the climate movement. Soon she's offered a harbourside refuge by handsome tech billionaire Arlo Richard, her publisher is delighted with the new novel she's writing, and she's the darling of high society.

But things aren't as they seem. It's all built on lies, and Cali's pretty sure that the precarious house of cards she's built is about to come tumbling down.

'The story zings along with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, great characters and page-turning tension. It also has a huge heaping of heart and wisdom thrown into the mix, making this a wonderful read.' The Australian

'romance with an activist twist.' Sydney Morning Herald

'... a neat statement on our nation's climate inaction, wrapped up in a fun read with intriguing characters … a warm and witty read worth seeking out.' - Canberra Times

' Clever, funny, thought-provoking, and timely' - Mindful Puzzles

'A true-blue Aussie summer read' Woman's Day

'A sharp debut' Australian Women's Weekly

'Satisfying, surprising, funny and full of observations about the ineffective blame-game that passes for action on Australia's climate emergency. The fact it's also a page-turner is down to Victoria Brookman's quick wit. Read it if you want a rom-com with bite.' Holly Wainwright, author of I Give My Marriage A Year

'Blisteringly wise and funny, Burnt Out makes you want to hide from the world until you've turned the last page, then compels you to get up and 'Do Something' ... Searingly smart, heart-warming, and perfect for the world we have now.' Tori Haschka, author of Grace Under Pressure

'Has everything you want in a summer read: a page-turning plot, intriguing characters with wonky moral compasses, and enough political heart to make you feel like you've done something good for the world just by reading it' Jessica Dettmann, author of This Has Been Absolutely Lovely

'A page-turner with a big heart' Rose Hartley, author of Maggie's Going Nowhere]]> 352 Victoria ✌️ 1460760328 Suz 4
I had the pleasure of leading a panelled conversation with at a university event last night, and I can say that seeing a protagonist such as Cali, really does come from the mind of a vibrant woman. I see from where this spirit arose.

Cali loses her home in a bushfire, her marriage and her ‘novel’ in one day. She also forms friendships on this day, and just as quickly as all is lost, in comes a lifeline to move into a proper beach house free of charge with the services of a maid, instant designer wardrobe. All at no cost. No alarm bells just yet?

I forgive Cali for this. She is under the pump from her awful publisher, the novel is a lie, there really was none. She is falling for her benefactor, he’s showering her with everything; his superhero.

The suburbs are my suburbs, the shopping centre my shopping centre. This is a down to earth story, with a down to earth Cali who is open and honest in her desires, and very well written in this regard.

Cali wants us to “FUCKING DO SOMETHING” about climate change, the wankers in parliament don’t deserve our respect, nor do the rich idiots that can throw their money about but little else.

This story tells us about female friendship, climate issues – 48.6 degrees Celsius Penrith on 4th January 2020. BLACK SUMMER. The hottest day on earth. It’s true. I watched my son play cricket on this day, slap bang in the middle of where this book was set.

It also shows the greed and gluttony of those who assume they are on top. Will their power last, or will Cali’s voice reign supreme?

This was a unique debut novel, I like different things and this doesn’t neatly fit into a box. It was an easy read, Cali drove me mad a lot of the time, but endearing in the end, she grew on me.

This book will suit romance lovers, those interested in climate politics and more broad issues such as female friendship. My takeaway is refreshing and quirky, and fun as well because Cali is such a hoot.]]> 3.57
author: Victoria ✌️
name: Suz
average rating: 3.57
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2023/12/05
date added: 2025/06/15
shelves: 2022, aussie-author, aww, written-by-gr-friend, have-met-the-author, gave-away
review:
Burnt Out is a very refreshing novel. Reflecting very loosely on an incident in an area that is around the corner from where I live. The author has been unafraid to tell her story without fear of bringing a quirky, unusual, and interesting woman to the page. This is a debut work, and I can see the personality of the author quite easily shine through.

I had the pleasure of leading a panelled conversation with at a university event last night, and I can say that seeing a protagonist such as Cali, really does come from the mind of a vibrant woman. I see from where this spirit arose.

Cali loses her home in a bushfire, her marriage and her ‘novel’ in one day. She also forms friendships on this day, and just as quickly as all is lost, in comes a lifeline to move into a proper beach house free of charge with the services of a maid, instant designer wardrobe. All at no cost. No alarm bells just yet?

I forgive Cali for this. She is under the pump from her awful publisher, the novel is a lie, there really was none. She is falling for her benefactor, he’s showering her with everything; his superhero.

The suburbs are my suburbs, the shopping centre my shopping centre. This is a down to earth story, with a down to earth Cali who is open and honest in her desires, and very well written in this regard.

Cali wants us to “FUCKING DO SOMETHING” about climate change, the wankers in parliament don’t deserve our respect, nor do the rich idiots that can throw their money about but little else.

This story tells us about female friendship, climate issues – 48.6 degrees Celsius Penrith on 4th January 2020. BLACK SUMMER. The hottest day on earth. It’s true. I watched my son play cricket on this day, slap bang in the middle of where this book was set.

It also shows the greed and gluttony of those who assume they are on top. Will their power last, or will Cali’s voice reign supreme?

This was a unique debut novel, I like different things and this doesn’t neatly fit into a box. It was an easy read, Cali drove me mad a lot of the time, but endearing in the end, she grew on me.

This book will suit romance lovers, those interested in climate politics and more broad issues such as female friendship. My takeaway is refreshing and quirky, and fun as well because Cali is such a hoot.
]]> 219917514
On the battlefields of the Donbas, Simon may have a chance to locate the assassin but larger forces are at work and he finds himself sucked into a terrifying shadow conflict between Russia and the West.

Can a lone spy at war make a difference to the course of a conflict?

From the rubble strewn streets of Bakhmut to the meeting rooms of Whitehall, from dirty bombs to dirty politics, A Spy at War takes the reader behind the scenes of the war in Ukraine and the war for the hearts and minds of the international community.

Praise for A Spy Alone 'Five stars. One of the best books I've read in a very, very long time' James O'Brien, LBC

'This is first class' The Times** | *'Excellent' *Spectator

'A highly accomplished novel from a new writer of great promise' Financial Times

'Everything a John le Carré fan could ever wish for' Private Eye #1615

'A cracker of a debut novel which really does make clear what's been going on' Bill Nighy via The Rake

‘A marvellously confident debut, sharply observed and exceptionally well written’ Charles Cumming, author of Box 88

'Beaumont is at the forefront of the espionage genre, capturing the changing nature of soft influence and business deals are overtaking stolen secrets; long-term insinuation is replacing Cold-War tradecraft. Brilliant' I. S. Berry, author of The Peacock and the Sparrow

'The best spy novel I’ve read for years... An astonishing debut... and a brilliant portrait of how Britain allowed Russia to game our recent politics, including with Brexit' Luke Harding, author of Russia's Bloody War and Ukraine's Fight for Survival

'A post-Brexit take on the classic British spy novel, combining a cynical ex-spy protagonist and a major role for Bellingcat-OSINT types' Shashank Joshi, Defence Editor, The Economist

'Beaumont ... catches the zeitgeist of (le Carré) .... He conveys all the world of espionage with relish, in its murky motives and surveillance techniques and the book races along and makes for a stunning debut' Maxim Jakubowski, Crime Time

'A clever, thrilling spy story that brings the feel of Eric Ambler's shadowy political intrigues right into today's world' Jeremy Duns, author of Free Agent

‘Tense, compelling and remarkably timely... Shades of some of the greats of spy fiction – it might even be better than Charles Cumming’ Dominick Donald, author of Breathe]]> 388 Charles Beaumont 1804364819 Suz 4
Spy and espionage readers will love this! It was clever, well written with an interesting plot. The author has amazing knowledge, so this adds an excellent layer - fans will definitely be impressed. The author is a former British intelligence officer who I haven't read till now so jumping in at number two was fine, but probably more worthwhile to start at the beginning.

Simon is a spy set on revenge, I loved his take on the British pen pushers who were all bravado and show, no substance. There was a scene reminiscent of Notting Hill when one of the useless bureaucrats opened with door with bed head, and his 'bloody hell' remark of course being translated into a meme, thus swiftly ending his career.

This book covers all things Ukraine, corruption, and Western hypocrisy, and the building tension between fiction and reality is palpable. I admit a lot of it was lost on me, but I will say it's an excellent book - passing it on to my father who will appreciate it much more than I.

Thank you to Ultimo Press for my review copy.]]> 4.24
author: Charles Beaumont
name: Suz
average rating: 4.24
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/05/11
date added: 2025/06/14
shelves: library-wollongong, owned, u-library-audio, 2025, ultimo-press, lent
review:
3.5 stars.

Spy and espionage readers will love this! It was clever, well written with an interesting plot. The author has amazing knowledge, so this adds an excellent layer - fans will definitely be impressed. The author is a former British intelligence officer who I haven't read till now so jumping in at number two was fine, but probably more worthwhile to start at the beginning.

Simon is a spy set on revenge, I loved his take on the British pen pushers who were all bravado and show, no substance. There was a scene reminiscent of Notting Hill when one of the useless bureaucrats opened with door with bed head, and his 'bloody hell' remark of course being translated into a meme, thus swiftly ending his career.

This book covers all things Ukraine, corruption, and Western hypocrisy, and the building tension between fiction and reality is palpable. I admit a lot of it was lost on me, but I will say it's an excellent book - passing it on to my father who will appreciate it much more than I.

Thank you to Ultimo Press for my review copy.
]]> 222282662 Rise and Shine is a love story, yes, but it's a love story that happens ten years into a marriage, when somebody wants out.


This is a story about marriage. It is also a story about life and love and happiness and the absence of happiness and what we need to do to find it again.

It's a story about hope, baking, making music, lemon trees, painting, love, divorce, dogs, the families we create for ourselves, and the heat of the Brisbane sun.

It's a story about August and Noah.

It begins at the end.

Rise and Shine is an utterly surprising delight, a break-up tale that is also a love story; endearing, astringent, talky, wry, wise, uplifting and so original.]]> 294 Kimberley Allsopp 1460714350 Suz 3 Love and Other Puzzles . My problem is sometimes the current mood I am facing at the time of reading a book, and my personal experience sometimes creates a stumbling block, and this happened here. Which will not happen to other readers. This is a sweet book, perhaps just the wrong time for me.

With thanks to HarperCollins Australia for my copy to read and review.]]> 3.82 2025
author: Kimberley Allsopp
name: Suz
average rating: 3.82
book published: 2025
rating: 3
read at: 2025/06/10
date added: 2025/06/14
shelves: 2025, aussie-author, aww, harpercollins, owned, reviewing-by-request, sent-from-publisher, z
review:
August and Noah have been married for ten years and it’s getting shaky. This is the story of wanting to end a marriage without the absolute certainty of this big decision. I felt literary fiction vibes, and the up and down nature of this huge decision. Opening at this perilous ten year mark, in the heat and sweat of Brisbane, it was easy to fall into the angsty feelings of someone wanting out, the writing was strong to draw me in. The author definitely has a uniqueness, and I’ll be curious to read Love and Other Puzzles . My problem is sometimes the current mood I am facing at the time of reading a book, and my personal experience sometimes creates a stumbling block, and this happened here. Which will not happen to other readers. This is a sweet book, perhaps just the wrong time for me.

With thanks to HarperCollins Australia for my copy to read and review.
]]> 200137569 An all-consuming tale of psychological suspense with a spectacular twist, inspired by Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None

From Alice Feeney, the internationally bestselling author of His and Hers , soon to be a major TV series produced by Jessica Chastain.

'Clever, compelling, confounding and absolutely delicious' – Lisa Jewell, bestselling author of None of This is True

'I devoured this in record time because I had to know what happened next. Alice Feeney is one of my absolute favourites' – Samantha Downing, author of My Lovely Wife

Isolated on their private island in Cornwall, the Darker family have come together for the first time in over a decade. When the tide comes in, they'll be cut off from the rest of the world for eight hours. When the tide goes back out, nothing will ever be the same again. Nothing – because one of the family is a killer . . .

As the leaves of autumn fall, Daisy Darker arrives at her grandmother’s house for eightieth birthday celebrations. Seaglass, the Darker’s ancestral home, is a crumbling Cornish house perched upon its own tiny private island.

Every member of the family has their secrets. Nana, alone for so long. Daisy's absent father, Frank. Her cold-hearted mother, Nancy. Her siblings, Rose and Lily, and her niece, Trixie, full of questions and without a father of her own. Daisy has never had an easy relationship with her family, but some secrets are much darker than others. This will be a gathering that some of them won't remember.

'I was on the edge of my seat the whole time' – Taylor Jenkins Reid, author of Daisy Jones and the Six ]]> Alice Feeney Suz 3
This was an edgy read, another locked in type of vibe set off the coast of England where escape relies on the turning of the tide. As I listened to the audio it was easy to fly through as I was wanting it to move along more swiftly than it was.

The Darker (perfect name) family have come together for the first time in a long while to celebrate the eccentric and wealthy matriarch. Each child, in-law and grandchild have perceived character flaws and these end up being highlighted as the killing sequences begin.

Daisy is the most beloved, seemingly the only sane one, tells each back story of her insipid and flawed family. She’s unwell, never allowed to live with freedom after being born with a heart defect, but troubling is the issue that this being held back isn’t borne from love.

I liked this, with much belief suspended and a splash of eye rolling for good measure!

I listened to this via the Libby_anz app and my public library.

]]> 3.56 2022
author: Alice Feeney
name: Suz
average rating: 3.56
book published: 2022
rating: 3
read at: 2025/06/11
date added: 2025/06/11
shelves: 2022, audio-libby, library-boroondara
review:
I feel like I just read an ‘it’ book. I think I read this author a long while back, but it’s not coming to me just now which one it was.

This was an edgy read, another locked in type of vibe set off the coast of England where escape relies on the turning of the tide. As I listened to the audio it was easy to fly through as I was wanting it to move along more swiftly than it was.

The Darker (perfect name) family have come together for the first time in a long while to celebrate the eccentric and wealthy matriarch. Each child, in-law and grandchild have perceived character flaws and these end up being highlighted as the killing sequences begin.

Daisy is the most beloved, seemingly the only sane one, tells each back story of her insipid and flawed family. She’s unwell, never allowed to live with freedom after being born with a heart defect, but troubling is the issue that this being held back isn’t borne from love.

I liked this, with much belief suspended and a splash of eye rolling for good measure!

I listened to this via the Libby_anz app and my public library.


]]> 18465985 For fans of Jodi Picoult, Kim Edwards, and William Landay, The Deepest Secret is part intimate family drama, part gripping page-turner, exploring the profound power of the truths we’re scared to face . . . about our marriages, our children, and ourselves.
 
Eve Lattimore’s family is like every other on their suburban street, with one exception. Her son Tyler has a rare medical condition that makes him fatally sensitive to light, which means heavy curtains and deadlocked doors protect him during the day and he can never leave the house except at night. For Eve, only constant vigilance stands between an increasingly restless teenage son and the dangers of the outside world.
 
Until the night the unthinkable happens. When tragedy strikes, it becomes clear that this family is not the only one on the quiet cul-de-sac that is more complicated than it appears. And as Eve is forced to shield her family from harm, there are some crises she cannot control—and some secrets that not even love can conceal.
 
Deeply moving and stunningly suspenseful, The Deepest Secret is a novel of rare power—a story about hope and forgiveness, about the terrifying ways our lives can spin out of control and the unexpected sacrifices that may save us.]]> Carla Buckley 0804192022 Suz 0 2.50 2013
author: Carla Buckley
name: Suz
average rating: 2.50
book published: 2013
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/06/10
shelves: to-read, audio-libby, library-goldfields-audio
review:

]]> 218633039 Chameleon is about everything that matters, a book of memories that flow so freely they seem to happen as we read. Cartwheeling from story to story, Dessaix describes an identity in his beginnings as an adopted child named Thomas Robert Jones, his youthful interest in religious thinking, his obsession with all things Russian, his marriage to Lisa and divorce, his discovery of travel. In North Africa he finds different ways of feeling and being, and in Australia he begins his abiding relationship with his partner Peter Timms. At every point he muses on pleasure, art, sex, literature, infatuation, happiness, music, life, death and all the rest. Chameleon is a virtuoso performance of self-revelation, as Dessaix explores how the restless mind takes constant detours to search for what makes life good, a place of wisdom and love.

Robert Dessaix is a writer, translator and broadcaster whose best-known books are the autobiography A Mother’s Disgrace, the novels Night Letters and Corfu, and the travel memoirs Twilight of Love and Arabesques. From 1985 to 1995 he presented the weekly ‘Books and Writing’ program on ABC Radio National. His books have been published in a number of languages. His most recent publications are his memoirs What Days Are For (a meditation on what makes for a good life in the face of death) and The Time of Our Lives (which focuses on ageing well), along with Abracadabra, a collection of his recent writings. He lives in Hobart, Tasmania.]]> 265 Robert Dessaix 1923059203 Suz 3
With my thanks to the publisher for my copy to read and review. My reviews are a little slow to appear!]]> 3.43
author: Robert Dessaix
name: Suz
average rating: 3.43
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2025/06/07
date added: 2025/06/10
shelves: 2025, aussie-author, owned, non-fiction, memoir, reviewing-by-request, sent-from-publisher, text, z
review:
Having never crossed paths with this author, I found this to be an interesting and unexpected story of one man’s life in all forms. Robert Dessaix flows from one thought to another, covering all aspects of his life, nothing is off limits. Love, obsession, desire. What makes the heart really BEAT. That which matters to him and all parts of his memory and desire. Strangely, reading a paragraph including the suburb of Merrylands, very close to where I live, I couldn’t have been more surprised! I think having known more about the man, I would definitely have been more switched on, but in saying that the descriptive prose and quality writing made for an eye opening read.

With my thanks to the publisher for my copy to read and review. My reviews are a little slow to appear!
]]> 50092773 From the beloved film star and best-selling author of Then Again: a heartfelt memoir about her relationship with her younger brother, and a poignant exploration of the divergent paths siblings' lives can take.

When they were children in the suburbs of Los Angeles in the 1950s, Diane Keaton and her younger brother, Randy, were best friends and companions: they shared stories at night in their bunk beds; they swam, laughed, dressed up for Halloween. Their mother captured their American-dream childhoods in her diaries, and on camera. But as they grew up, Randy became troubled, then reclusive. By the time he reached adulthood, he was divorced, an alcoholic, a man who couldn't hold on to full-time work--his life a world away from his sister's, and from the rest of their family.

Now Diane is delving into the nuances of their shared, and separate, pasts to confront the difficult question of why and how Randy ended up living his life on "the other side of normal." In beautiful and fearless prose that's intertwined with photographs, journal entries, letters, and poetry--many of them Randy's own writing and art--this insightful memoir contemplates the inner workings of a family, the ties that hold it together, and the special bond between siblings even when they are pulled far apart. Here is a story about love and responsibility: about how, when we choose to reach out to the people we feel closest to--in moments of difficulty and loss--surprising things can happen. A story with universal echoes, Brother & Sister will speak across generations to families whose lives have been touched by the fragility and "otherness" of loved ones--and to brothers and sisters everywhere.]]> 176 Diane Keaton 0451494504 Suz 0 to-read, memoir, non-fiction 3.45 2020
author: Diane Keaton
name: Suz
average rating: 3.45
book published: 2020
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/06/09
shelves: to-read, memoir, non-fiction
review:

]]> 44574697
When she ends the relationship Stephanie switches back on her journalistic nous and uncovers a story of mind-boggling duplicity and manipulation. She also finds she is not alone; that the world is full of smart, sassy women who have suffered at the hands of liars, cheats, narcissists, fantasists and phonies, men who are enormously skilled at deception.

In this brilliantly acute and broad-ranging book, Wood, an award-winning writer and journalist, has written a riveting, important account of contemporary love, and the resilience of those who have witnessed its darkest sides.]]> 352 Stephanie Wood 0143792202 Suz 0 3.83 2019
author: Stephanie Wood
name: Suz
average rating: 3.83
book published: 2019
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/06/08
shelves: gave-away, to-read, non-fiction, gift-from-goodreads-friend
review:

]]> 62820205 An incisive and deeply candid account that explores autistic women in culture, myth, and society through the prism of the author’s own diagnosis.

Until the 1980s, autism was regarded as a condition found mostly in boys. Even in our time, autistic girls and women have largely remained invisible. When portrayed in popular culture, women on the spectrum often appear simply as copies of their male counterparts — talented and socially awkward.

Yet autistic women exist, and always have. They are varied in their interests and in their experiences. Autism may be relatively new as a term and a diagnosis, but not as a way of being and functioning in the world. It has always been part of the human condition. So who are these women, and what does it mean to see the world through their eyes?

In The Autists, Clara Törnvall reclaims the language to describe autism and explores the autistic experience in arts and culture throughout history. From popular culture, films, and photography to literature, opera, and ballet, she dares to ask what it might mean to re-read these works through an autistic lens — what we might discover if we allow perspectives beyond the neurotypical to take centre stage.]]> 224 Clara Törnvall 1922585890 Suz 5 We have never sought what you praise, nor shunned what you are used to loathing.
Erik Axel Karlfeldt (Swedish poet).

What an unexpectedly outstanding book. With many thanks to Marina @scribepub for my physical copy to read and review. I learned so much which is one of the most important reasons that I read. I’d have not stumbled across this otherwise, so I am grateful!

There is so much to learn about autistic women, about the folklore (so fascinating and, again, unexpected), the gains and the many many parts of the world that need improvement to help autistic people to thrive and prosper with respect and understanding.

The author did not know she was autistic until 42 years of age. Then so much made sense.
.. I had spent 42 years adapting and trying to function in a way that didn’t really work for me.. I’m very capable in certain areas, which constantly obscures my difficulties, and that I have spent a lifetime practicing adaption. This mimicking and performing is more than debilitating, referred to as masking, a common practice to get through life. ‘Learning’ to react as society expects. I had no sense of this pressure and way of living, the author explains so much of this with eloquence.

The more high-functioning you are, the easier it is to study expect behaviours, mask your autism.. And the better you are at ‘acting normal’ the less seriously you will be taken when explaining your difficulties. Something to ponder is this takes away one’s agency and so many women cannot live authentically.

The thing is, the assumption that neurotypical are the normal cohort, but this is from their point of view.

The author’s experience of being bright got in the way of receiving an earlier diagnosis, it doesn’t make sense that a smart person utterly fails at so many other things that are easier for others (in the authors words). This is what presents stumbling blocks and creates a divide and lack of understanding.

An interesting observation is that classrooms can adapt quite well for the noisy boys with ADHD for example, but girls with autism suffering from the effects of high noise levels do not receive the same attention/treatment/understanding. I’d never thought of this.

Girls with autism are often interpreted as ‘sweet’, shy and acquiescent. They don’t take up space in a group or stir up trouble. By adulthood, their masking can be so honed that they become good actresses and social chameleons who blend in seamlessly in any company. By then, the long term suppression of their own true self has often led to exhaustion and depression.

Given the seriousness of the topic I found the book to be an easy read. I’m easily sensory affected, so I hear the message completely. And the last line. I LOVE it. Highly recommended to curious women like me, or anyone really. Compelling, well written and a quality translation. I must not forget to mention the amazing bibliography, this will direct those interested to all the sources cited, this is a great thing for curious minds.

Clara Törnvall, I thank you for telling your story to an audience that needs it. This book was also nice to hold in my hands, the cover was textured and easy on the eye. I am so glad I read this book.]]> 4.04 2021
author: Clara Törnvall
name: Suz
average rating: 4.04
book published: 2021
rating: 5
read at: 2023/10/04
date added: 2025/06/08
shelves: scribe, won, memoir, non-fiction, mental-health, sent-from-publisher, translation, gave-away
review:
We have never sought what you praise, nor shunned what you are used to loathing.
Erik Axel Karlfeldt (Swedish poet).

What an unexpectedly outstanding book. With many thanks to Marina @scribepub for my physical copy to read and review. I learned so much which is one of the most important reasons that I read. I’d have not stumbled across this otherwise, so I am grateful!

There is so much to learn about autistic women, about the folklore (so fascinating and, again, unexpected), the gains and the many many parts of the world that need improvement to help autistic people to thrive and prosper with respect and understanding.

The author did not know she was autistic until 42 years of age. Then so much made sense.
.. I had spent 42 years adapting and trying to function in a way that didn’t really work for me.. I’m very capable in certain areas, which constantly obscures my difficulties, and that I have spent a lifetime practicing adaption. This mimicking and performing is more than debilitating, referred to as masking, a common practice to get through life. ‘Learning’ to react as society expects. I had no sense of this pressure and way of living, the author explains so much of this with eloquence.

The more high-functioning you are, the easier it is to study expect behaviours, mask your autism.. And the better you are at ‘acting normal’ the less seriously you will be taken when explaining your difficulties. Something to ponder is this takes away one’s agency and so many women cannot live authentically.

The thing is, the assumption that neurotypical are the normal cohort, but this is from their point of view.

The author’s experience of being bright got in the way of receiving an earlier diagnosis, it doesn’t make sense that a smart person utterly fails at so many other things that are easier for others (in the authors words). This is what presents stumbling blocks and creates a divide and lack of understanding.

An interesting observation is that classrooms can adapt quite well for the noisy boys with ADHD for example, but girls with autism suffering from the effects of high noise levels do not receive the same attention/treatment/understanding. I’d never thought of this.

Girls with autism are often interpreted as ‘sweet’, shy and acquiescent. They don’t take up space in a group or stir up trouble. By adulthood, their masking can be so honed that they become good actresses and social chameleons who blend in seamlessly in any company. By then, the long term suppression of their own true self has often led to exhaustion and depression.

Given the seriousness of the topic I found the book to be an easy read. I’m easily sensory affected, so I hear the message completely. And the last line. I LOVE it. Highly recommended to curious women like me, or anyone really. Compelling, well written and a quality translation. I must not forget to mention the amazing bibliography, this will direct those interested to all the sources cited, this is a great thing for curious minds.

Clara Törnvall, I thank you for telling your story to an audience that needs it. This book was also nice to hold in my hands, the cover was textured and easy on the eye. I am so glad I read this book.
]]> 59900552
Found not guilty of murder on the grounds of insanity and sentenced to detention at the ‘Governor’s Pleasure’, Willson spent the next seventeen years in prison and psychiatric hospitals, becoming the longest-serving woman prisoner in NSW.

Her memoir, largely written in prison and now published for the first time, describes the events leading up to the shooting, the day itself and the years of incarceration that followed. Raw, compelling, Between Me and Myself is a fascinating insight into life on the social margins of post-war Sydney, an indictment of the justice system’s treatment of gay women, and a tragic story of abuse, mental illness, desire and repression.]]> 368 Sandra Willson 1922330116 Suz 4 Brisbane Times, which lands in my inbox every Friday night for all things bookish. I looked into the editor as it was fascinating , I didn’t understand the term documentary midwife, this was edited by an academic whose research focuses on twentieth-century British and Australian lesbian history. This research led her to discover the author’s unpublished memoir and writings. This editor, Rebecca Jennings, has written many books on this topic which we hold in the catalogue at the library which is my workplace. Of course, these women never met, with Sandra passing away in 1999, these papers donated to her local church.

Sandra lived in a time where one was not able to live freely as a lesbian, repressing her feelings and living a life misrepresenting every feeling that she had. Having suffered sexual abuse in many forms, at the hands of many people from a young age. So many appalling things happened to her. She would have suffered much trauma, which was never appreciated at any stage in her life. As Sandra herself said, her parents were not role models and she only knew dysfunction. Her mother did not want her, and she was raised her maternal grandmother and never experiencing nurture. If any of this abuse was considered, and sexual preference not being treated as an abnormality, Sandra’s life’s trajectory would have been entirely different.

The author was the longest serving female prisoner whose release was only made by the intervention of Women Behind Bars after spending 18 years between mental institutions and jail. Sandra was very impulsive, all her actions reek of mental illness, and a couple of diagnosis come to mind easily to me, and had she been given appropriate treatment.. it’s just so sad. Taken to Parramatta girls home for living with another girl, she was 17 when she was first remanded.

Sandra could not regulate her emotions; she had no guidance. One of her relationships ended, she took a stand and killed a taxi driver, a stand to show society how wronged she had been. Sandra was fiercely emotive, her heart and soul laid bare in every word of this book. Sandra’s story is tragic. She shot a young taxi driver, with plans of killing herself.

The only choice left to me was to pick out a single member of society, as it was society itself that would bear the blame for the way it had taken away from me all that I had ever loved.

She reminisced of life in jail was another form of suicide, a state of living death, one maybe more terrible than ordinary life and death.

It’s a funny feeling, being in a mental hospital. When one is young, one rarely questions the wisdom of adults, and so it is very easy to convince oneself that one must be made to be there… I doubted that my homosexuality made me mad so I searched for other causes and reasons to justify my detention.

She was placed into solitary confinement where she was freezing, huddling under blankets with only a bible. How is one to get better this way? Her soul was icy and lonely. No sunlight, no people, no noise, and no distraction. With constant thoughts of suicide, and decent attempts, Sandra was constantly medicated for the sake of it, but it seemed the doctors never truly heard Sandra. A quirky woman, if she was borne of these times empathy and compassion bestowed upon her, self-compassion may have been possible.

Sandra had love hate relationships with jail staff, ‘screws’ and health care staff. What was always apparent to me was her extreme nature. She would become obsessed with many of these people, and thus a destructive cycle would begin again. Her IQ was high, she wanted to learn, she studied while in jail and loved music.

This was very sad. But my socialisation skills had been somewhat deformed, coming from the dysfunctional family that I had. And obviously my emotional development, self-control and self-esteem were virtually non-existent. And unfortunately, I was very conscious of the lack. The use of the word lack made me pause, and she was so understandably afraid of rejection. Sandra stated how much she hated noise, and this could be contributed to a high sensitivity and part of her emotional dysregulation. Daily life would have been so very hard.

Thankfully, some psychiatrists were starting to accept the research findings of the Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists that ‘homosexuals were no more neurotic than other people’, and that ‘homosexuality is a normal variant, like left-handedness.’ How nice of them! I could go on but this review is far too long already.

This made me feel all the emotions, her self reflection after release. ..I was, in reality, like a child. So much of my life had been lost, all age without comparable growth.

Sandra had freedom after 18 years, but she left to form a half-way house where she was a successful planner and administrator. She achieved so much. This ended after more than ten years where she really was burned out and needed rest. She did find happiness but the years of substandard food and the effects of suicide attempts did have an affect on her health.

Sandra was a trailblazer, this story is an interesting one, coming to fruition by the commitment of Rebecca Jennings.

As an after thought, it's my daughter's twenty first birthday on this day of writing my review, I am grateful she can live her life as she pleases, without judgement, and that all people young (and old) can now, too.

With my thanks to Claire @ Text Publishing for a physical copy to read and review, I appreciate it! This is a story that needed to be told.]]> 3.52
author: Sandra Willson
name: Suz
average rating: 3.52
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2022/09/19
date added: 2025/06/08
shelves: non-fiction, 2022, memoir, mental-health, aussie-author, aww, sent-from-publisher, text, gave-away
review:
I stumbled across this memoir by way of an interesting article by the Brisbane Times, which lands in my inbox every Friday night for all things bookish. I looked into the editor as it was fascinating , I didn’t understand the term documentary midwife, this was edited by an academic whose research focuses on twentieth-century British and Australian lesbian history. This research led her to discover the author’s unpublished memoir and writings. This editor, Rebecca Jennings, has written many books on this topic which we hold in the catalogue at the library which is my workplace. Of course, these women never met, with Sandra passing away in 1999, these papers donated to her local church.

Sandra lived in a time where one was not able to live freely as a lesbian, repressing her feelings and living a life misrepresenting every feeling that she had. Having suffered sexual abuse in many forms, at the hands of many people from a young age. So many appalling things happened to her. She would have suffered much trauma, which was never appreciated at any stage in her life. As Sandra herself said, her parents were not role models and she only knew dysfunction. Her mother did not want her, and she was raised her maternal grandmother and never experiencing nurture. If any of this abuse was considered, and sexual preference not being treated as an abnormality, Sandra’s life’s trajectory would have been entirely different.

The author was the longest serving female prisoner whose release was only made by the intervention of Women Behind Bars after spending 18 years between mental institutions and jail. Sandra was very impulsive, all her actions reek of mental illness, and a couple of diagnosis come to mind easily to me, and had she been given appropriate treatment.. it’s just so sad. Taken to Parramatta girls home for living with another girl, she was 17 when she was first remanded.

Sandra could not regulate her emotions; she had no guidance. One of her relationships ended, she took a stand and killed a taxi driver, a stand to show society how wronged she had been. Sandra was fiercely emotive, her heart and soul laid bare in every word of this book. Sandra’s story is tragic. She shot a young taxi driver, with plans of killing herself.

The only choice left to me was to pick out a single member of society, as it was society itself that would bear the blame for the way it had taken away from me all that I had ever loved.

She reminisced of life in jail was another form of suicide, a state of living death, one maybe more terrible than ordinary life and death.

It’s a funny feeling, being in a mental hospital. When one is young, one rarely questions the wisdom of adults, and so it is very easy to convince oneself that one must be made to be there… I doubted that my homosexuality made me mad so I searched for other causes and reasons to justify my detention.

She was placed into solitary confinement where she was freezing, huddling under blankets with only a bible. How is one to get better this way? Her soul was icy and lonely. No sunlight, no people, no noise, and no distraction. With constant thoughts of suicide, and decent attempts, Sandra was constantly medicated for the sake of it, but it seemed the doctors never truly heard Sandra. A quirky woman, if she was borne of these times empathy and compassion bestowed upon her, self-compassion may have been possible.

Sandra had love hate relationships with jail staff, ‘screws’ and health care staff. What was always apparent to me was her extreme nature. She would become obsessed with many of these people, and thus a destructive cycle would begin again. Her IQ was high, she wanted to learn, she studied while in jail and loved music.

This was very sad. But my socialisation skills had been somewhat deformed, coming from the dysfunctional family that I had. And obviously my emotional development, self-control and self-esteem were virtually non-existent. And unfortunately, I was very conscious of the lack. The use of the word lack made me pause, and she was so understandably afraid of rejection. Sandra stated how much she hated noise, and this could be contributed to a high sensitivity and part of her emotional dysregulation. Daily life would have been so very hard.

Thankfully, some psychiatrists were starting to accept the research findings of the Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists that ‘homosexuals were no more neurotic than other people’, and that ‘homosexuality is a normal variant, like left-handedness.’ How nice of them! I could go on but this review is far too long already.

This made me feel all the emotions, her self reflection after release. ..I was, in reality, like a child. So much of my life had been lost, all age without comparable growth.

Sandra had freedom after 18 years, but she left to form a half-way house where she was a successful planner and administrator. She achieved so much. This ended after more than ten years where she really was burned out and needed rest. She did find happiness but the years of substandard food and the effects of suicide attempts did have an affect on her health.

Sandra was a trailblazer, this story is an interesting one, coming to fruition by the commitment of Rebecca Jennings.

As an after thought, it's my daughter's twenty first birthday on this day of writing my review, I am grateful she can live her life as she pleases, without judgement, and that all people young (and old) can now, too.

With my thanks to Claire @ Text Publishing for a physical copy to read and review, I appreciate it! This is a story that needed to be told.
]]> 17906372
An exploration of memory, childhood, illicit love, and loss, Ghost Moth portrays ordinary experiences as portals to rich internal landscapes: a summer fair held by children in a backyard garden exposes the pangs and confusion of a first crush; a lonely tailor who is hired by an amateur theatre production of Bizet’s Carmen puts so much careful attention into the creation of a costume for his lover that it’s as if his desire for her can be seen sewn into the fabric. All the while, Northern Ireland moves to the brink of civil war. As Catholic Republicans and Protestant Loyalists clash during the “Troubles,” the lines between private anguish and public outrage disintegrate in this exceptional tale about a family—and country—seeking freedom from ghosts of the past.]]> 240 Michèle Forbes 0143189395 Suz 0 3.36 2013
author: Michèle Forbes
name: Suz
average rating: 3.36
book published: 2013
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/06/08
shelves: to-read, library-wsu, owned, withdrawn-library-book
review:

]]> 227019047 Longlisted for the 2025 Women’s Prize for Fiction

From an unforgettable new voice in Irish fiction, a heart-pounding, life-affirming story about one woman trying to leave her marriage and start over. For fans of Claire Keegan and Emma Donoghue.

‘Contains all the twists and turns of a classic thriller … Immersive and emotional’ New York Times
‘An escape story from Jodi Picoult territory, but with a lot more bite.’ The Age
‘Turns the idea of the domestic novel inside out … Not just riveting and deeply humane but – in an understated, ‘domestic’ way – radical, too.’ Observer

On a bright spring afternoon in Dublin, Ciara Fay makes a split-second decision that will change her life. Grabbing an armful of clothes from the washing line, Ciara straps her two young daughters into her car and drives away. Head spinning, all she knows for certain is that home is no longer safe.

It was meant to be an escape. But with dwindling savings, no job, and her family across the sea, Ciara finds herself adrift, facing a broken housing system and the voice of her own demons. As summer passes and winter closes in, she must navigate raising her children in a hotel room, searching for a new home and dealing with her husband Ryan's relentless campaign to get her to come back.

Because leaving is one thing, but staying away is another.

Tense, beautiful and gut-wrenching, Nesting is an unforgettable story of motherhood, underpinned by love, hope and resilience.]]> Roisín O’Donnell Suz 5 10/10 review to follow 4.33 2025
author: Roisín O’Donnell
name: Suz
average rating: 4.33
book published: 2025
rating: 5
read at: 2025/06/06
date added: 2025/06/06
shelves: 2025, audio-libby, library-sunshine-coast
review:
10/10 review to follow
]]> 222670151 Five went up. Only four came down . . .

In April 2006, fifteen-year-old Oliver went hiking to the lookout on Burning Mountain - and vanished without trace.

His schoolfriends – Bob, Bell, Phil and Paul – were the last ones to see him on the trek, yet the teenagers were never able to explain his disappearance.

Almost twenty years later, Detective Rebecca Giles is called to bushland on nearby Mount Wingen. There a skull has been dug up, reviving the mystery that has haunted the Upper Hunter area for years.

Giles is convinced that they have finally found the missing boy, and that his four friends – all now in their mid-thirties – have always known much more than they revealed. In particular, about the argument that caused Oliver to head down the mountain on his own.

But when she discusses the case with her father, retired Superintendent Benjamin Giles, another suspect is thrown into the mix. One that for Giles is uncomfortably close to home . . .

'Dark, wild and cracking with tension, Burning Mountain leaves other outback noir titles in the red dust.' Jack Heath, bestselling author of Kill Your Husbands]]> 360 Darcy Tindale 176104978X Suz 0 4.12
author: Darcy Tindale
name: Suz
average rating: 4.12
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/06/03
shelves: to-read, 2025, aussie-author, aww, better-reading-preview-copy, won, owned
review:

]]> 27191166 Alternate cover edition of ISBN 9781846276033

Yeong-hye and her husband are ordinary people. He is an office worker with moderate ambitions and mild manners; she is an uninspired but dutiful wife. The acceptable flatline of their marriage is interrupted when Yeong-hye, seeking a more 'plant-like' existence, decides to become a vegetarian, prompted by grotesque recurring nightmares. In South Korea, where vegetarianism is almost unheard-of and societal mores are strictly obeyed, Yeong-hye's decision is a shocking act of subversion. Her passive rebellion manifests in ever more bizarre and frightening forms, leading her bland husband to self-justified acts of sexual sadism. His cruelties drive her towards attempted suicide and hospitalisation. She unknowingly captivates her sister's husband, a video artist. She becomes the focus of his increasingly erotic and unhinged artworks, while spiralling further and further into her fantasies of abandoning her fleshly prison and becoming - impossibly, ecstatically - a tree.

Fraught, disturbing and beautiful, The Vegetarian is a novel about modern day South Korea, but also a novel about shame, desire and our faltering attempts to understand others, from one imprisoned body to another.]]> 216 Han Kang Suz 0 3.64 2007
author: Han Kang
name: Suz
average rating: 3.64
book published: 2007
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/06/02
shelves: to-read, literary-fiction, borrowbox, library-parramatta, gave-away
review:

]]> 25574212
All Ryan, Harley and Miles had in common was Isaac. They lived different lives, had different interests and kept different secrets. But they shared the same best friend. They were sidekicks. And now that Isaac's gone, what does that make them?

Will Kostakis, award-winning author of The First Third, perfectly depicts the pain and pleasure of this teenage world, piecing together three points of view with intricate splendour.]]> 256 Will Kostakis 014330903X Suz 0 3.85 2016
author: Will Kostakis
name: Suz
average rating: 3.85
book published: 2016
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/06/02
shelves: to-read, aussie-author, borrowbox, gave-away
review:

]]> 223790394 A collection of witty and heartfelt essays about love, loss and ambition, from journalist and proud Gamilaroi woman Brooke Boney.

Brooke Boney has been in the public eye for well over a decade, first as a recognisable voice on triple j, and then as a recognisable face on The Today Show.

All of It draws us into her world, as she writes with honesty, humour and empathy about everything from the downsides of having a public profile to the joys of owning dogs, from the various forms of love that make up a life - romantic, familial, platonic - to how that love has been sustained through generations of colonisation and violence, and from the concerns that are a part of your early thirties - fertility, ageing, career progression - to discovering what's actually worth fighting for.

As a journalist, Brooke knows how to write a story, and these are her most personal stories yet.

'Raw, funny, at times deeply emotional ... Just magnificent.' ALLISON LANGDON

'From journalist and television presenter to columnist and cultural leader, Brooke has carved out a career that not only amplifies Aboriginal voices but also creates space for meaningful change ... Her insight, vision and talent are nothing short of extraordinary.' NAKKIAH LUI

'This book is warm, thoughtful and curious - just like Brooke.' MIRANDA TAPSELL

'A stunningly written meditation on fame, womanhood, Indigenous identity and the intersection of all three. Boney is an outstanding writer—every sentence is imbued with warmth and searing honesty ... I can't recommend it highly enough.'
JESSIE STEPHENS

'All of It made me feel so proud to be Brooke's friend. Powerful and moving writing.' TONY ARMSTRONG

'Open, vulnerable, insightful, funny - All of It is truly all of it - and a brilliant read.' JENNIFER ROBINSON]]> BROOKE BONEY 1761505823 Suz 4
I'm loving her take on celebrity, the way she describes our obsession with it, and how this obsession feeds the beast. The buying of their products, the playing into treating them like gods, the assumption they are perfect. These celebs want everything, more money, more fame, bigger lips, bigger boobs. This concept feeds into our materialistic views of wanting their products (she bought Beyonce's hair products and owning the irony)/ She talks a lot about boobs, she's refreshing and funny. She's also very smart, self deprecating and upfront.

These essays also touch heavily on her culture, the way Australians are obsessed with sport, ageing, pets and racism. Fans of Brooke's and those who see her on TV will love this. She also enlightened me on the Paris filter (which I need way more than her, but don't know how to use). Again, the use of this contradicts her sentiment while fully owning playing her part in the perpetual use of a little fakeness.

I'd love to hear how Brooke's studies go, making it to Oxford is an impressive and interesting move. This book is content heavy, it's not light, so readers who are in the mood for a decent cultural study will appreciate this. There's honestly a bit of everything here.

Thanks to Allen & Unwin for my copy to read and review. ]]> 4.00
author: BROOKE BONEY
name: Suz
average rating: 4.00
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/05/01
date added: 2025/06/02
shelves: 2025, aww, aussie-author, allen-and-unwin, memoir, non-fiction, won, z, gave-away
review:
I really didn't know a lot about Brooke, other than she was the entertainment reporter for Today, and that she'd resigned (I don't watch tv). This was an unexpected read, a series of essays on many subjects, not really related but fitting together in an esoteric and eclectic way.

I'm loving her take on celebrity, the way she describes our obsession with it, and how this obsession feeds the beast. The buying of their products, the playing into treating them like gods, the assumption they are perfect. These celebs want everything, more money, more fame, bigger lips, bigger boobs. This concept feeds into our materialistic views of wanting their products (she bought Beyonce's hair products and owning the irony)/ She talks a lot about boobs, she's refreshing and funny. She's also very smart, self deprecating and upfront.

These essays also touch heavily on her culture, the way Australians are obsessed with sport, ageing, pets and racism. Fans of Brooke's and those who see her on TV will love this. She also enlightened me on the Paris filter (which I need way more than her, but don't know how to use). Again, the use of this contradicts her sentiment while fully owning playing her part in the perpetual use of a little fakeness.

I'd love to hear how Brooke's studies go, making it to Oxford is an impressive and interesting move. This book is content heavy, it's not light, so readers who are in the mood for a decent cultural study will appreciate this. There's honestly a bit of everything here.

Thanks to Allen & Unwin for my copy to read and review.
]]> 199236743 Tensions bubble to the surface in a family of four newly transplanted to L.A. when the oldest daughter wakes up bruised and battered from a night she can’t remember… and no one wants to talk about it.

Meet the Jansen family:

Since the weekend of the party – the one Liv can’t remember, the one that left her covered in bruises – there’s been a padlock on the door of her bedroom. Her parents said they found mold, and it needs to be decontaminated, but they’re behaving oddly. Her friend Leilani isn’t answering her texts, so maybe Liv did get a little out of control that night. Sharing a room with her younger brother Casper for a while isn’t the end of the world, as long as he doesn’t tell their parents that she’s started sleepwalking. They’re already acting strangely enough.

The guilt over that weekend is getting to her father Janus. He’s forever looking over his shoulder. Janus, a horror author, is on a deadline to adapt his book into a screenplay.  Now he’s now finding it hard to stomach the violence of his own stories. But Janus brought his whole family from Australia to LA to chase his dream, and he can’t let them down. Not again.

Kay wasn’t sure she wanted to be a mother when she got pregnant with Liv, but she gave up everything for her daughter and then her son, Casper. She’ll do whatever she has to do to take care of her kids. Her marriage, though, is a different story. And the neighbors – well, she’ll just have to be more careful.

Casper was away that weekend, but he knows something isn’t right. His parents don’t look each other in the eye anymore. His father’s hands tremble for no reason. And where does Liv keep disappearing to in the middle of the night? Casper decides to find out what no one will tell him about that weekend, and what lies behind the padlocked door.]]> 336 Anna Snoekstra 0593475720 Suz 3
Everyone felt suspicious, this family landing in LA from Australia while the father tries hard turning his novel into a screenplay. It doesn’t come naturally to him, his main job was in accounting and oddly they didn’t seem to have any finances. I also felt the vibe being more Australian than LA. This is probably just me ]]> 3.46 2025
author: Anna Snoekstra
name: Suz
average rating: 3.46
book published: 2025
rating: 3
read at: 2025/05/28
date added: 2025/06/02
shelves: 2025, aww, aussie-author, owned, sent-from-publisher, ultimo-press, reviewing-by-request
review:
Slow burn thriller fans will love this, unfortunately I couldn’t quite grasp onto it as fiercely as I’d hoped. The burn was a tad too slow for me, but the character focused slant worked for me. Each character drawn well, even though unlikeable, the reasons for this and their background drip fed by delving into each one worked well.

Everyone felt suspicious, this family landing in LA from Australia while the father tries hard turning his novel into a screenplay. It doesn’t come naturally to him, his main job was in accounting and oddly they didn’t seem to have any finances. I also felt the vibe being more Australian than LA. This is probably just me
]]> 220606833
When they move to Melbourne from a small town in Queensland things seem to be easy for Hilary, who is still in primary school, but Art struggles to fit in, and he’s become a target for school bully Jack. His dad is too busy to give him much attention, but Art has his stepmum, Sally, who is always ready to listen.

And there’s the paperbark tree. Art and Hilary climb into its branches and hold a secret meeting whenever they need to sort things out.

The only problem is Art’s not sure he still wants to be part of the paperbark tree committee. He’s getting older and he thinks he needs to solve his problems on his own.

The Paperbark Tree Committee is a heartfelt story about growing up and leaving childhood behind; it’s about family and being a good brother, fitting in and finding friends, and about making mistakes and learning from them.

Karys McEwen is a school librarian, bookseller, vice president of the Victorian branch of the Children’s Book Council of Australia, and education advisor for the Melbourne Writers Festival. She is passionate about the role libraries and books can play in the wellbeing of young people, and she writes the substack ‘I Read A Lot’.

‘McEwen honours the complexity of the tween experience, and infuses it with warmth and originality.’ Age on All the Little Tricky Things

‘A sublime coming-of-age story.’ Magpies on All the Little Tricky Things]]> 203 Karys McEwen 1922791768 Suz 4
Thank you to Tracey @carpe_librum1 and the publisher for hosting a giveaway on her blog ]]> 4.50 2025
author: Karys McEwen
name: Suz
average rating: 4.50
book published: 2025
rating: 4
read at: 2025/06/02
date added: 2025/06/02
shelves: 2025, aussie-author, aww, owned, won, text, z
review:
More than a coming of age story, this story is one of compassion and honesty. I enjoyed the glimpse into two young boys who were unafraid to be themselves. Art is 12, and his little brother Hilary is 10. This unisex name of course causes problems at school, and Art is quick to stick up for his sibling. Both are quirky and smart young fellas’. Their maturity and mutual respect was unexpected - though possibly a little far reaching - they loved each other a lot. Central themes of family, the non traditional and coming to terms with what we have, and finding our place in the world. Art faces a humiliating act from a bully, the fall out from this will eventually teach him a thing or two and as the story progresses, he learns many more important life lessons. Secondary characters are written beautifully, with kindness and forgiveness at every stage. Resonating with me is Art’s transition from year 6 to starting year 7, this is a hard road to travel, yet it seems Art is able and confident to seek opportunities to try new things - and when to acknowledge when traditions will come to a natural end. We are at this stage in my own family, so more than once I was comparing and contrasting. Always a sign of a good read. A well written and rich story, one of those which adults will be able to draw from as well.

Thank you to Tracey @carpe_librum1 and the publisher for hosting a giveaway on her blog
]]> 220199704 What do you want, when no one is watching?
What do you want, when the lights are off?
What do you want, when you are anonymous?

When we talk about sex, we talk about womanhood and motherhood, infidelity and exploitation, consent and respect, fairness and egalitarianism, love and hate, pleasure and pain. And yet for many reasons – some complicated, some not – so many of us don't talk about it. Our deepest, most intimate fears and fantasies remain locked away inside of us, until someone comes along with the key. Here's the key. In this generation-defining book, Gillian Anderson collects and introduces the anonymous letters of hundreds of women from around the world (along with her own anonymous letter). Want reveals how women feel about sex when they have the freedom to be totally anonymous.]]> 0 Anonymous Suz 0 3.17 2024
author: Anonymous
name: Suz
average rating: 3.17
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/06/02
shelves: 2024, gift, non-fiction, owned, audio-libby, library-boroondara, currently-reading
review:

]]> 226294189
Five families on an annual camping trip, a mothers' group of fourteen years, children starting to look like adults, a father with his own mysterious agenda . . .

He Would Never is a searing page-turner about the bonds we forge in the furnace of early motherhood, the trust we place in other adults, and the chaos that erupts when one man refuses to play by the rules.


Praise for He Would Never

'A compelling, suspenseful tale imbued with warmth, humour and heart' LIANE MORIARTY]]> Holly Wainwright Suz 4
This is a twisty, bumpy and bitey road. Privilege, loyalty, misplaced trust and the need to push on with tradition sees a group of new mum’s tread the oft walked path of continuing friendship past the allotted community group setting (I can’t remember how long the program went for).

I had a rich mum who used to throw the biggest parties, they didn’t stay married long. I had the quiet one, the new to Australia one, the working one and the stay at home one. And.. the one with the useless husband. This may be a digression, but it makes for such good reading when you know what it’s like for real. We also went away when disaster struck, the result of this best left unsaid.

The women all love each other, they see the differences and mostly accept them. They’re all messy and complicated which turns into turning a blind eye, blurring boundaries and at times misplaced loyalties. Complicitous when it comes to inappropriate men drew my ire, keeping an eye on the arrogant, entitled and Andrew Tate-esque dude made for an excellent and tense rhythm. Holly’s inclusion of a character and her alcohol use was spot on, too. This often isn’t done well at all in fiction.

Added to this lively bunch of families and the dynamics between them all was the local setting. This is a great book, Holly’s voice radiated, and what a lovely voice it is.

I listened to this via the Libby platform and my public library.
]]> 4.22
author: Holly Wainwright
name: Suz
average rating: 4.22
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/05/31
date added: 2025/06/01
shelves: 2025, aussie-author, aww, borrowbox, library-at-the-hub, written-by-insta-friend
review:
A book to relate to! I love when this happens. The same era (give or take) rushing off to mother’s group once a week, seeing some of the mum’s have it all together (pretending?), the tired ones, the scattered ones (me). Meeting once a week, taking turns to host. My nurse was brilliant, I do remember that.

This is a twisty, bumpy and bitey road. Privilege, loyalty, misplaced trust and the need to push on with tradition sees a group of new mum’s tread the oft walked path of continuing friendship past the allotted community group setting (I can’t remember how long the program went for).

I had a rich mum who used to throw the biggest parties, they didn’t stay married long. I had the quiet one, the new to Australia one, the working one and the stay at home one. And.. the one with the useless husband. This may be a digression, but it makes for such good reading when you know what it’s like for real. We also went away when disaster struck, the result of this best left unsaid.

The women all love each other, they see the differences and mostly accept them. They’re all messy and complicated which turns into turning a blind eye, blurring boundaries and at times misplaced loyalties. Complicitous when it comes to inappropriate men drew my ire, keeping an eye on the arrogant, entitled and Andrew Tate-esque dude made for an excellent and tense rhythm. Holly’s inclusion of a character and her alcohol use was spot on, too. This often isn’t done well at all in fiction.

Added to this lively bunch of families and the dynamics between them all was the local setting. This is a great book, Holly’s voice radiated, and what a lovely voice it is.

I listened to this via the Libby platform and my public library.

]]> 218671843 An unexpected road trip across America brings a family together, in this raucous and moving new novel from the bestselling author of Nothing to See Here.

Ever since her dad left them twenty years ago, it’s just been Madeline Hill and her mom on their farm in Coalfield, Tennessee. While she sometimes admits it’s a bit lonely and a less exciting life than she imagined for herself, it’s mostly OK. Mostly.

Then one day Reuben Hill pulls up in a PT Cruiser and informs Madeline that he believes she’s his half sister. Reuben—left behind by their dad thirty years ago—has hired a detective to track down their father and a string of other half siblings. And he wants Mad to leave her home and join him for the craziest kind of road trip imaginable to find them all.

As Mad and Rube—and eventually the others—share stories of their father, who behaved so differently in each life he created, they begin to question what he was looking for with each new incarnation. Who are they to one another? What kind of man will they find? And how will these new relationships change Mad’s previously solitary life on the farm?

Infused with deadpan wit, zany hijinks, and enormous heart, Run for the Hills is a sibling story like no other—a novel about a family forged under the most unlikely circumstances and united by hope in an unknown future.]]> 256 Kevin Wilson 0063317516 Suz 4 3.89 2025
author: Kevin Wilson
name: Suz
average rating: 3.89
book published: 2025
rating: 4
read at: 2025/05/30
date added: 2025/05/30
shelves: 2025, owned, reviewing-by-request, sent-from-publisher, text
review:

]]> 40852949
The Arsonist takes readers on the hunt for this man, and inside the strange puzzle of his mind. It is also the story of fire in this country, and of a community that owed its existence to that very element. The command of fire has defined and sustained us as a species – understanding its abuse will define our future.

A powerful real-life thriller written with Hooper’s trademark lyric detail and nuance, The Arsonist is a reminder that in an age of fire, all of us are gatekeepers.]]> 258 Chloe Hooper 0670078182 Suz 0 4.04 2018
author: Chloe Hooper
name: Suz
average rating: 4.04
book published: 2018
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/05/30
shelves: aussie-author, aww, non-fiction, owned, to-read, borrowbox, library-at-the-hub
review:

]]> 228519018 In a rare window into some of her life’s pivotal moments, Melinda French Gates draws from previously untold stories to offer a new perspective on encountering transitions.

This program is read by the author.

“You don’t get to be my age without navigating all kinds of transitions. Some you embraced and some you never expected. Some you hoped for and some you fought as hard as you could.”–Melinda French Gates

Transitions are moments in which we step out of our familiar surroundings and into a new landscape—a space that, for many people, is shadowed by confusion, fear, and indecision. The Next Day accompanies listeners as they cross that space, offering guidance on how to make the most of the time between an ending and a new beginning and how to move forward into the next day when the ground beneath you is shifting.

In this book, Melinda will reflect, for the first time in audio, on some of the most significant transitions in her own life, including becoming a parent, the death of a dear friend, and her departure from the Gates Foundation. The stories she tells illuminate universal lessons about loosening the bonds of perfectionism, helping friends navigate times of crisis, embracing uncertainty, and more.

Each one of us, no matter who we are or where we are in life, is headed toward transitions of our own. With her signature warmth and grace, Melinda candidly shares stories of times when she was in need of wisdom and shines a path through the open space stretching out before us all.

A Macmillan Audio production from Flatiron Books.]]> Melinda French Gates Suz 4 3.83
author: Melinda French Gates
name: Suz
average rating: 3.83
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/05/26
date added: 2025/05/27
shelves: audio-libby, help-yourself, library-boroondara, memoir, non-fiction
review:
3.5 rounded up. A small book narrated skillfully by the author, this is absolutely another talent to add to her very full list of achievements. An interesting memoir interspersing small stories of the author’s life covering all aspects from childhood to the present. Her family’s work ethic and respect for women is evident, she credits her parents for instilling the respect for herself and others and their hard work to provide her with an excellent education. Working relentlessly to achieve the enormous wealth and success has at times come at a cost, retrospectively she is giving advice to be not so rigid and unforgiving in setting goals and expecting so much from oneself. A brutally honest account of personal success and failures, her divorce and the loss of a dear friend, Melinda is a passionate advocate for many subjects while at the same time recognising her privilege. As expected included are small interviews with other philanthropic women, which admittedly I’d prefer to hear from the everyday person, conversely though these are the people she knows, having the voice to reach celebrities she chatted with with each of them pushing through a big life event.
]]> 211004089
Dominic Salt and his three children are caretakers of Shearwater, a tiny island not far from Antarctica. Home to the world’s largest seed bank, Shearwater was once full of researchers, but with sea levels rising, the Salts are now its final inhabitants. Until, during the worst storm the island has ever seen, a woman mysteriously washes ashore.

Isolation has taken its toll on the Salts, but as they nurse the woman, Rowan, back to strength, it begins to feel like she might just be what they need. Rowan, long accustomed to protecting herself, starts imagining a future where she could belong to someone again.

But Rowan isn’t telling the whole truth about why she set out for Shearwater. And when she discovers sabotaged radios and a freshly dug grave, she realizes Dominic is keeping his own secrets. As the storms on Shearwater gather force, they all must decide if they can trust each other enough to protect the precious seeds in their care before it’s too late―and if they can finally put the tragedies of the past behind them to create something new, together.

A novel of breathtaking twists, dizzying beauty, and ferocious love, Wild Dark Shore is about the impossible choices we make to protect the people we love, even as the world around us disappears.]]> 298 Charlotte McConaghy 1250827957 Suz 0 4.19 2025
author: Charlotte McConaghy
name: Suz
average rating: 4.19
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/05/26
shelves: 2025, aww, aussie-author, audio-libby, library-midcoast, to-read
review:

]]> 229271887
For Tim, now married and a pillar of the community, Emer's existence is a shock - but the chance to rekindle an old flame with her mother is tempting.

For Agnes, a lonely landowner, Maeve and Emer's arrival is an opportunity to make money - and maybe new friends.

For Malachi, a man of few words but deep emotions, it's ... complicated.

For Emer, it's about growing up and finding her voice.

For all five, the arrival of this beautiful, wild mother and her silent, observant daughter sparks a devastating chain of events none of them could have predicted.]]> 368 Lynda Marron 178658560X Suz 3 4.32
author: Lynda Marron
name: Suz
average rating: 4.32
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2025/05/23
date added: 2025/05/25
shelves: 2025, better-reading-preview-copy, owned, won, z
review:
A gentle story where I was shown lovely dialogue and imagery of a part of the world not seen before, phrases that caught my eye. This is an emotive journey, not only a love story, due to the terrific writing and the author’s enormous talent of building characters that have an innate sneaky way of almost watching over your shoulder, reading the story with you among their complicated lives. Thank you to the Better Reading preview campaign and Echo Publishing for my review copy.
]]> 224688527 Brought to you by Penguin.

The happily ever after is only part of the story… A funny, touching, hopeful gem about love, marriage and second chances

It’s the day before her daughter’s wedding and things are not going well for Gail Baines. First thing, she loses her job – or quits, depending who you ask. Then her ex-husband Max turns up at her door expecting to stay for the festivities. He doesn’t even have a suit. Instead, he’s brought memories, a shared sense of humour – and a cat looking for a new home.

Just as Gail is wondering what’s next, their daughter Debbie discovers her groom has been keeping a secret…

As the big day dawns, the exes just can’t agree on what’s best for Debbie. Gail is seriously worried, while Max seems more concerned with whether to opt for the salmon or prime rib at the reception, if they make it that far.

The day after the wedding, Gail and Max prepare to go their separate ways again. But all the questions about the future of the happy couple have stirred up the past for Gail. Because ‘happy’ takes many forms, and sometimes the younger generation has much to teach the older about secrets, acceptance and taking the rough with the smooth.

‘A joy to read in a single relaxing afternoon’ JACQUELINE WILSON

'Razor sharp on family, love and marriage' DAVID NICHOLLS

'Sublimely written and beautifully observed' - JOANNE FINNEY, GOOD HOUSEKEEPING

Anne Tyler 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025]]> Anne Tyler Suz 5
A wedding is upcoming, it is small, without fanfare and it’s told in this manner as well. The bride’s parents are divorced, the bride’s mother capable and unflappable, quite stoic and undemonstrative. She is an observer, the day spa outing arranged by the groom’s mother without an invite, nor were they able to contribute to the cost of the reception.

Existing alongside a feeling of otherness, shown very effectively through nuance, and the fact that Gail couldn’t care less about this is part of what I loved about her.

What she does care about is the day before this wedding is the fact her dismal boss has passed her over for an assumed promotion, bringing in an unnecessary replacement for a job for which she’d be perfect. Walking out and going home, her ex-husband lands at her front door, staying unexpectedly for the festivity duration.

Witnessing their interaction and discussion surrounding their daughter’s troubling news of her groom was like being privy to marriage itself. The dialogue real and effective. A beautiful short book, sparse on fanciness but full of wonderful realness. As I composed this review, I upped my rating from 4 to 5⭐]]> 3.81 2025
author: Anne Tyler
name: Suz
average rating: 3.81
book published: 2025
rating: 5
read at: 2025/05/21
date added: 2025/05/25
shelves: 2025, publisher-newsletter, borrowbox, library-at-the-hub, literary-fiction
review:
I love books like these. Safe, gentle, true to life, a little melancholy and whimsical. Anne Tyler writes with grace and style, her work to me is reminiscent of Elizabeth Strout. I am safe in the knowledge the read will be a rewarding and satisfying one. Flawed characters, just as we humans are all flawed. This novel shows a deeply sensitive glimpse into relationships and marriage, our fidelity and commitment and the desire to support our family; what we do to keep the peace and to hold the ones we love close.

A wedding is upcoming, it is small, without fanfare and it’s told in this manner as well. The bride’s parents are divorced, the bride’s mother capable and unflappable, quite stoic and undemonstrative. She is an observer, the day spa outing arranged by the groom’s mother without an invite, nor were they able to contribute to the cost of the reception.

Existing alongside a feeling of otherness, shown very effectively through nuance, and the fact that Gail couldn’t care less about this is part of what I loved about her.

What she does care about is the day before this wedding is the fact her dismal boss has passed her over for an assumed promotion, bringing in an unnecessary replacement for a job for which she’d be perfect. Walking out and going home, her ex-husband lands at her front door, staying unexpectedly for the festivity duration.

Witnessing their interaction and discussion surrounding their daughter’s troubling news of her groom was like being privy to marriage itself. The dialogue real and effective. A beautiful short book, sparse on fanciness but full of wonderful realness. As I composed this review, I upped my rating from 4 to 5⭐
]]> 40198426 A decorated former air force pilot. A pregnant flight attendant. A dedicated TSA agent. The fates of these three, and many others, converge in Danielle Steel's gripping new novel - a heart-stopping thriller that engages ordinary men and women in the fight of their lives during a flight from New York to San Francisco.

On a beautiful May morning at New York's John F. Kennedy airport, two planes have just departed for San Francisco - one a 757, another a smaller Airbus A321. At a security checkpoint, TSA agent Bernice Adams finds a postcard of the Golden Gate Bridge bearing an ambiguous - perhaps ominous - message. Her supervisor dismisses her concerns, but Bernice calls security, and soon Ben Waterman arrives. A senior Homeland Security agent still grappling with guilt after a disastrous operation in which hostages were killed, Ben too becomes suspicious. Who left the postcard behind, which flight is that person on, and what exactly does the message mean?

As Ben scans the passenger manifests, his focus turns to the A321, with Helen Smith as its senior pilot. Helen's military service and her tenure with the airline have been exemplary. But her husband's savage death in Iraq was more than anyone should bear, leaving her widowed with three children. A major film star is on board. So is an off-duty pilot who has just lost his 40 year career. So is a distraught father, traveling with the baby son he has abducted from his estranged wife. Sifting through data and relying on instinct, Ben becomes convinced that someone on Helen's plane is planning something terrible. And he's right. Passengers, crew, and experts on the ground become heroes out of necessity to try to avert tragedy at the 11th hour.

In her stunning novel Danielle Steel combines intense action with stories of emotionally rich, intertwined lives. As the jet bears down on its destination of San Francisco, strangers are united, desperate choices are made, and futures will be changed forever by a handful of accidental heroes.]]> 7 Danielle Steel Suz 3 Rounded up, exciting to rate a DS highly
Full review to follow]]> 3.75 2018
author: Danielle Steel
name: Suz
average rating: 3.75
book published: 2018
rating: 3
read at: 2025/05/24
date added: 2025/05/24
shelves: library-at-the-hub, audio-hoopla
review:
3.5⭐️
Rounded up, exciting to rate a DS highly
Full review to follow
]]> 10928772
On the eve of his thirty-eighth birthday and after shuffling through a series of unsatisfying jobs, Jonathan Dixon enrolled in the CIA (on a scholarship) to pursue his passion for cooking. In Beaten, Seared, and Sauced he tells hilarious and harrowing stories of life at the CIA as he and his classmates navigate the institution’s many rules and customs under the watchful and critical eyes of their instructors. Each part of the curriculum is covered, from knife skills and stock making to the high-pressure cooking tests and the daunting wine course (the undoing of many a student). Dixon also details his externship in the kitchen of Danny Meyer’s Tabla, giving readers a look into the inner workings of a celebrated New York City restaurant.

With the benefit of his age to give perspective to his experience, Dixon delivers a gripping day-to-day chronicle of his transformation from amateur to professional. From the daily tongue-lashings in class to learning the ropes—fast—at a top NYC kitchen, Beaten, Seared, and Sauced is a fascinating and intimate first-person view of one of America’s most famous culinary institutions and one of the world’s most coveted jobs.]]> 272 Jonathan Dixon 030758903X Suz 0 3.56 2011
author: Jonathan Dixon
name: Suz
average rating: 3.56
book published: 2011
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/05/24
shelves: to-read, america, non-fiction, publisher-newsletter
review:

]]> 9673436 534 Brian Selznick Suz 0 4.22 2007
author: Brian Selznick
name: Suz
average rating: 4.22
book published: 2007
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/05/22
shelves: hardcover, owned, currently-reading, indy
review:

]]> 29444528
With some 5,500 entries—over 500 more than the original edition—the second edition continues to feature clear and authoritative definitions that provide basic coverage from across 90 subdisciplines of psychology. Special emphasis is concentrated on the fields that are typically encountered in undergraduate studies, such as general, personality and social, lifespan developmental, abnormal, and cognitive psychology. Moreover, basic coverage of neuropsychology and of statistics and methodology have been enhanced for the second edition, and two helpful appendixes have been Abbreviations and Acronyms and Symbols.

The APA College Dictionary of Psychology, Second Edition is a reliable resource that answers the needs of both advanced placement high-school students and college undergraduates—whether they are taking psychology as part of a broader curriculum or making it their major field of study.]]> 518 Gary R. VandenBos 1433821583 Suz 0 4.75 2009
author: Gary R. VandenBos
name: Suz
average rating: 4.75
book published: 2009
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/05/22
shelves: to-read, owned, non-fiction, psychology, withdrawn-library-book
review:

]]> 25489025
Celebrated by critics around the world, The Vegetarian is a darkly allegorical, Kafka-esque tale of power, obsession, and one woman’s struggle to break free from the violence both without and within her.]]> 188 Han Kang 0553448188 Suz 0 gave-away, to-read 3.62 2007
author: Han Kang
name: Suz
average rating: 3.62
book published: 2007
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/05/21
shelves: gave-away, to-read
review:

]]> 208516656 If you knew your future, would you try to fight fate?

Aside from a delay, there will be no problems. The flight will be smooth, it will land safely. Everyone who gets on the plane will get off. But almost all of them will be forever changed.

Because on this ordinary, short, domestic flight, something extraordinary happens. People learn how and when they are going to die. For some, their death is far in the future—age 103!—and they laugh. But for six passengers, their predicted deaths are not far away at all.

How do they know this? There were ostensibly more interesting people on the flight (the bride and groom, the jittery, possibly famous woman, the giant Hemsworth-esque guy who looks like an off-duty superhero, the frazzled, gorgeous flight attendant) but none would become as famous as “The Death Lady.”

Not a single passenger or crew member will later recall noticing her board the plane. She wasn’t exceptionally old or young, rude or polite. She wasn’t drunk or nervous or pregnant. Her appearance and demeanor were unremarkable. But what she did on that flight was truly remarkable.

A few months later, one passenger dies exactly as she predicted. Then two more passengers die, again, as she said they would. Soon no one is thinking this is simply an entertaining story at a cocktail party.

If you were told you only had a certain amount of time left to live, would you do things differently? Would you try to dodge your destiny?

Liane Moriarty’s Here One Moment is a brilliantly constructed tale that looks at free will and destiny, grief and love, and the endless struggle to maintain certainty and control in an uncertain world. A modern-day Jane Austen who humorously skewers social mores while spinning a web of mystery, Moriarty asks profound questions in her newest I-can’t-wait-to-find-out-what-happens novel.]]> 512 Liane Moriarty 0593798600 Suz 0 gave-away 3.97 2024
author: Liane Moriarty
name: Suz
average rating: 3.97
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/05/21
shelves: gave-away
review:

]]> 218459596 Fleeing Melbourne for a village in the Yorkshire Dales had felt right. Sanctuary, I’d thought.

But nowhere is as straightforward as it first appears.

When Giselle escapes to the north Yorkshire village of Hollydale, she doesn’t give much thought to what she might find there. She's more concerned with what she's leaving behind – a toxic marriage, the loss of her beloved sister, Lina, and the cloud of suspicion over the circumstances of Lina's death.

But in this small community she makes new and fascinating friends, chief among them Margaret, a wealthy elderly local who lives in Chatswood Hall, the mansion perched on a hill above the village, and Tom, the local handyman. Giselle hopes to start life over, but the past cannot be outrun and her husband will not be cut loose, threatening to arrive in Hollydale at any moment.

When a bomb explodes on the one road that leads to her cottage, Giselle realises that her Hollydale life is larger and more complicated than she’d understood.

A story about intergenerational friendship between women, coercive relationships and power, and the endless possibilities new connections can bring.

PRAISE FOR AFTER THE FALL

‘Kirsten Alexander’s writing is delicate and finely tuned, catching the rhythms beneath the everyday. With a rich sense of place After the Fall delivers the most surprising of outcomes.’ – Kathryn Heyman, author of Fury

‘I loved everything about this novel. A proper page-turning, keep-you-up-at-night plot, combined with beautiful writing and wonderful characterisation, leading to a very satisfying finale. A joyous spirit of mischief runs alongside a darker vein, each enhancing the other.’ – Emily Hourican, author of The Glorious Guinness Girls

 ]]> Kirsten Alexander 1761153544 Suz 3
Interestingly, this book approached these themes in a different way. The interweaving of a mystical nature became the surprising element for me as the experience of these genres are outside of my general realm. This is a good thing, and it’s why I read and review broadly. It’s in my nature to allow the status quo at times, so the deviation added a different heft.

The story of renewal and escape is not new, women escaping in search of renewal and a new start, meeting communities that can help them to carry on. Giselle needs to flee Melbourne and is lucky to have sanctuary in an empty home in Yorkshire, where she quickly meets all manner of different people.

The impacts of her husband’s treatment are obvious, and the outcome surprising, if not a tad neat. I finished this read with a definite contrast to my initial expectation, I don’t want to delve into my experiences too much as it’s best to be surprised.

Thank you Ultimo Press for continuing to broaden my repertoire with my physical copy to read and review.]]> 3.10
author: Kirsten Alexander
name: Suz
average rating: 3.10
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2025/02/18
date added: 2025/05/21
shelves: 2025, aussie-author, aww, ultimo-press, sent-from-publisher, written-by-insta-friend, gave-away
review:
This affecting novel took me on an unexpected deviation to a story with a very common theme. The tome of blatant mistreatment, control and gendered manipulation and coercion is heavy, and as a reader it’s burdensome. I’m probably at that point right now.

Interestingly, this book approached these themes in a different way. The interweaving of a mystical nature became the surprising element for me as the experience of these genres are outside of my general realm. This is a good thing, and it’s why I read and review broadly. It’s in my nature to allow the status quo at times, so the deviation added a different heft.

The story of renewal and escape is not new, women escaping in search of renewal and a new start, meeting communities that can help them to carry on. Giselle needs to flee Melbourne and is lucky to have sanctuary in an empty home in Yorkshire, where she quickly meets all manner of different people.

The impacts of her husband’s treatment are obvious, and the outcome surprising, if not a tad neat. I finished this read with a definite contrast to my initial expectation, I don’t want to delve into my experiences too much as it’s best to be surprised.

Thank you Ultimo Press for continuing to broaden my repertoire with my physical copy to read and review.
]]> 210336447 The explosive, behind-the-scenes account of the criminal trial of Ghislaine Maxwell.

'Lucia Osborne-Crowley is a lighthouse of a steadfast, illuminating and patiently cutting through darkness and horror to lead us to safety.' - Benjamin Law

'Lucia Osborne-Crowley is a writer of depth, determination and uncommon insight.' - Julia Baird

'I understand – and sympathise with – the feeling you might have that you already know the Jeffrey Epstein story. But I am not here to tell you a story about Jeffrey Epstein, or even Ghislaine Maxwell. I am here to tell you the stories of ten women, many of whom have never spoken at length before, about the real impact of sexual trauma on their lives.'

In November 2021, Ghislaine Maxwell was convicted of five counts of sex-trafficking of minors, and now faces 20 years in prison for the role she played in Jeffrey Epstein's abuse of four girls. The trial was meticulously covered by journalist and legal reporter Lucia Osborne-Crowley, one of only four reporters allowed into the courtroom every day.

The Lasting Harm is her account of that trial, a gripping true crime drama and a blistering critique of a criminal justice system ill-equipped to deliver justice for abuse survivors, no matter the outcome.

Centring the stories of four women and their testimonies, and supplemented by extra material to which Osborne-Crowley has exclusive access, The Lasting Harm brings this incendiary trial to life, questions our age-old appetite for crime and punishment and offers a new blueprint for meaningful reparative justice.]]> 0 Lucia Osborne-Crowley 1761188569 Suz 0 4.37 2024
author: Lucia Osborne-Crowley
name: Suz
average rating: 4.37
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/05/21
shelves: aww, aussie-author, non-fiction, gave-away
review:

]]> 51876234 Marian Keyes Suz 4
She copes with this quite well, and retreats back home to Dublin, from London, taking baby Kate with her (left unamed for a while in the manner of Claire's bereftness). Claire's family is funny, flawed, a little cooky. But they look after her, welcome both girls and Claire has a room for her and Kate.

Marian Keyes has a way of writing about life's hard stuff well; she has her own addiction issues and the issues of her fictionalised characters are real in this way. Claire tries to find solace in the bottle, not while taking over the entire story, but we see her trying to deal with life in ways that aren't helping her.

Claire meets Adam, a man who treats her well and in the way she deserves, but she is so unsure of herself, her confidence has been shattered and she is constantly thinking she still loves James. No self esteem but a lot of funny jokes about herself, as the novel progresses one feels like she's making progress.

There are scenes where I wanted to strangle her, she allowed James to doubt herself completely, he was delusional and twisted the way their marriage played out and being simply terrible. So annihilated with self grandeur, this chipped away at her self belief quite alarmingly.

An easy read, lessons to be learned and a funny family supporting one of their own. This is old, but I'm looking forward to continuing this series. I almost rated it 5 stars, and have faith the newer ones may hit this mark.]]> 3.38 1995
author: Marian Keyes
name: Suz
average rating: 3.38
book published: 1995
rating: 4
read at: 2023/02/02
date added: 2025/05/21
shelves: audio-libby, library-newcastle, first-of-series, debut, gave-away
review:
This was a lovely light hearted and funny chick lit when it was needed most. I love easy listening, and this was, with added accents and lots of light hearted moments. Claire, almost 30, is left by her boring and awful husband James on the day she gives birth to their first child, for another woman. Of course.

She copes with this quite well, and retreats back home to Dublin, from London, taking baby Kate with her (left unamed for a while in the manner of Claire's bereftness). Claire's family is funny, flawed, a little cooky. But they look after her, welcome both girls and Claire has a room for her and Kate.

Marian Keyes has a way of writing about life's hard stuff well; she has her own addiction issues and the issues of her fictionalised characters are real in this way. Claire tries to find solace in the bottle, not while taking over the entire story, but we see her trying to deal with life in ways that aren't helping her.

Claire meets Adam, a man who treats her well and in the way she deserves, but she is so unsure of herself, her confidence has been shattered and she is constantly thinking she still loves James. No self esteem but a lot of funny jokes about herself, as the novel progresses one feels like she's making progress.

There are scenes where I wanted to strangle her, she allowed James to doubt herself completely, he was delusional and twisted the way their marriage played out and being simply terrible. So annihilated with self grandeur, this chipped away at her self belief quite alarmingly.

An easy read, lessons to be learned and a funny family supporting one of their own. This is old, but I'm looking forward to continuing this series. I almost rated it 5 stars, and have faith the newer ones may hit this mark.
]]> 199797331 “You know what we’re here for. Hand it over, and we’ll let her go.”

There’s no police training stronger than a cop’s instinct. Faith Mitchell’s mother isn’t answering her phone. Her front door is open. There’s a bloodstain above the knob. Her infant daughter is hidden in a shed behind the house. All that the Georgia Bureau of Investigations taught Faith Mitchell goes out the window when she charges into her mother’s house, gun drawn. She sees a man dead in the laundry room. She sees a hostage situation in the bedroom. What she doesn’t see is her mother. . . .

Faith is left with too many questions and not enough answers. To find her mother, she’ll need the help of her partner, Will Trent, and they’ll both need the help of trauma doctor Sara Linton. But Faith isn’t just a cop anymore—she’s a witness. She’s also a suspect.

The thin blue line hides police corruption, bribery, even murder. Faith will have to go up against the people she respects the most in order to find her mother and bring the truth to light—or bury it forever.]]> Karin Slaughter Suz 5
Sara Linton is now deeply involved in the cases he comes across, her presence is welcome as they are both fantastically written characters, moral and sensible when many around them are not. Faith Mitchell is an excellent ally, but here we find her in deep trouble. It was always curious the history with her mother, who Will just happened to investigate for corruption, this was alluded to - she did lose her job but retain her pension.

Karin Slaughter weaves together her characters, their backgrounds and personality clashes very well. Angie is a queen manipulator, and here we learn more about her childhood, and the inexcusable behaviours toward Will. Sara does seem to run into her at the most inopportune times; the one liners excellent - Angie's vindictiveness on show, and Sara's self control top notch. The twisted dance that is Will and Angie is addictively troublesome.

This is why Will and Sara blend seamlessly. Amanda Wagner shows her teeth, she packs so much into her tiny stilettos, never missing a beat. One scene with Will took my breath away - her callousness v. his strength of conviction. LOVE HIM.

Another excellent chapter in this powerful series, I love this author's work, she can do no wrong in my eyes. Love it all.

I listened to to this via the Libby app and my public library. Propulsive, gripping. I am riveted at every moment of these books.]]> 5.00 2011
author: Karin Slaughter
name: Suz
average rating: 5.00
book published: 2011
rating: 5
read at: 2024/12/22
date added: 2025/05/21
shelves: library-at-the-hub, audio-libby, owned
review:
Will Trent is such a GOOD MAN. He is purely good in his professional life, and woefully unlucky in his personal life. His terrible childhood have left scars both emotionally and physically, these have serious ramifications in his life. While this is evident and always on the surface, he has always been able to do his job well, and manage the hard parts while dealing with cases that require a lot of care.

Sara Linton is now deeply involved in the cases he comes across, her presence is welcome as they are both fantastically written characters, moral and sensible when many around them are not. Faith Mitchell is an excellent ally, but here we find her in deep trouble. It was always curious the history with her mother, who Will just happened to investigate for corruption, this was alluded to - she did lose her job but retain her pension.

Karin Slaughter weaves together her characters, their backgrounds and personality clashes very well. Angie is a queen manipulator, and here we learn more about her childhood, and the inexcusable behaviours toward Will. Sara does seem to run into her at the most inopportune times; the one liners excellent - Angie's vindictiveness on show, and Sara's self control top notch. The twisted dance that is Will and Angie is addictively troublesome.

This is why Will and Sara blend seamlessly. Amanda Wagner shows her teeth, she packs so much into her tiny stilettos, never missing a beat. One scene with Will took my breath away - her callousness v. his strength of conviction. LOVE HIM.

Another excellent chapter in this powerful series, I love this author's work, she can do no wrong in my eyes. Love it all.

I listened to to this via the Libby app and my public library. Propulsive, gripping. I am riveted at every moment of these books.
]]> 56663329 336 Lee Child 1984818503 Suz 0 gift, to-read, gave-away 3.62 2021
author: Lee Child
name: Suz
average rating: 3.62
book published: 2021
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/05/21
shelves: gift, to-read, gave-away
review:

]]> 200130695
Most of us could probably be doing more to take care of our mental health, whether by learning to manage stress and sadness or just by reconnecting with ourselves. But finding the time and money for professional therapy isn’t always possible – and this interactive guide provides an invaluable first step. While not a substitute for therapy, this book will give you the tools you need to make positive changes in your life and improve your mental wellbeing.

In Paperback Therapy, certified practising counsellor Tammi Miller takes you on a journey of self-discovery and healing. You’ll learn over 25 therapist-approved tools for everything from how to boost your self-esteem and live by your values to techniques for overcoming unhealthy habits and managing anxiety. With prompts and exercises proven to benefit your mental health and wellbeing, Paperback Therapy will help you discover a happier, healthier you.]]> 352 Tammi Miller 1761422014 Suz 4
Paperback Therapy is excellent as not everyone can afford therapy, it's the reason the book came to be. This issue is highlighted, it's a comprehensive guide in looking after yourself, and for those wanting to be there for others. Last night I took a photo of an example of boundaries in the workplace which resonated with me. Whether you really need to attend certain meetings, or if you can just get the notes so you can protect your time.

It's clear the author has lived experience, and that she is a therapist herself. Written in plain language, making the book a helpful tool and excellent reference guide. Containing fields to be used as a workbook in a simplistic way, this is a straightforward and measurable way to help yourself.

Small case studies in the size of a paragraph show examples of real life struggles which will be helpful to readers, and a list of common therapy terms is a thoughtful idea also. I think this is a thoughtful resource, the author has even had the foresight to draft a template in how to word a message to a therapist for an initial communication. In times of great stress one can't always think clearly or succinctly.

This book doesn't cross the lines of being authoritative, it's a helpful guide, and I think the author's empathy shows brightly. Recommended to those struggling, or people wanting to help, and to those in the front lines of any client focused area. It's ok to ask people if they are ok, Paperback Therapy guides you on how to do this along with so much more.]]> 4.03
author: Tammi Miller
name: Suz
average rating: 4.03
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/03/25
date added: 2025/05/21
shelves: 2024, aussie-author, aww, help-yourself, non-fiction, bookstagram, owned, instagram, mental-health, won, z, lent
review:
Firstly, big thanks to @booxies.au and @bare_therapy for hosting a giveaway in which I was the recipient! I then purchased a gift box for a friend recovering from back surgery, and the experience was fabulous, personalised and curated. I recommend them.

Paperback Therapy is excellent as not everyone can afford therapy, it's the reason the book came to be. This issue is highlighted, it's a comprehensive guide in looking after yourself, and for those wanting to be there for others. Last night I took a photo of an example of boundaries in the workplace which resonated with me. Whether you really need to attend certain meetings, or if you can just get the notes so you can protect your time.

It's clear the author has lived experience, and that she is a therapist herself. Written in plain language, making the book a helpful tool and excellent reference guide. Containing fields to be used as a workbook in a simplistic way, this is a straightforward and measurable way to help yourself.

Small case studies in the size of a paragraph show examples of real life struggles which will be helpful to readers, and a list of common therapy terms is a thoughtful idea also. I think this is a thoughtful resource, the author has even had the foresight to draft a template in how to word a message to a therapist for an initial communication. In times of great stress one can't always think clearly or succinctly.

This book doesn't cross the lines of being authoritative, it's a helpful guide, and I think the author's empathy shows brightly. Recommended to those struggling, or people wanting to help, and to those in the front lines of any client focused area. It's ok to ask people if they are ok, Paperback Therapy guides you on how to do this along with so much more.
]]> 226431105 Brought to you by Penguin.

'I was at a time in my life where I got to thinking more about people's choices – how everything would be different if just the slightest decision changed...'

It is late September in 2001 and the walls of New York are papered over with photos of the missing. Cora Brady’s father is there, the poster she made taped to columns and bridges. Her mother died long ago and now, orphaned on the cusp of adulthood, Cora is adrift and alone. Soon, a letter will arrive with the offer of a new far out on the ragged edge of Ireland, in the town where her parents were young, an estranged aunt can provide a home and fulfil a long-forgotten promise. There the story of Cora's family is hidden, and in her presence will begin to unspool…

An essential, immersive debut from an astonishing new voice, Confessions traces the arc of three generations of women as they experience in their own time the irresistible gravity of the its love and tragedy, its mystery and redemption, and, in all things intended and accidental, the beauty and terrible shade of the things we do.

‘A remarkable debut. A complex and compulsive read that unravels the intricate twists and revelations among three generations of women with elegance and urgency.’ Miranda Cowley Heller, bestselling author of THE PAPER PALACE
'CONFESSIONS is a beating heart of a novel, intricate both in its weaving and its unspooling. An irresistible read.' Yael van der Wouden, Booker-shortlisted author of THE SAFEKEEP


]]> Catherine Airey Suz 5
Flawed characters discovering their shared pasts containing secrets and mysticism, each of the stories were intricate and deep. The overall tying together was fabulous, with the back and forth between the 1970’s to current time seamless, though obviously different. The topography of New York told through the eyes of a young girl walking all of the bridges of NY with her father was beautiful.

This book deserves deep commitment, so my listening during a heavy work task may have not been the best idea, but this also showed me I was enraptured. I will purchase this book, which is something I rarely do after listening, one of the last times I did this was for the beautiful ]]> 3.55 2025
author: Catherine Airey
name: Suz
average rating: 3.55
book published: 2025
rating: 5
read at: 2025/05/06
date added: 2025/05/21
shelves: 2025, new-york, publisher-newsletter, penguin, audio-libby, library-centralhighlands, owned
review:
This book is a dream. I adore stories on 9/11, and I love New York. I asked for a review copy which didn’t end up eventuating, but I quickly jumped onto the audio version with a full cast of narrators. This version was sublime, the accents beautiful and all the emotions transported to my ears creating beautiful imagery. The storyline to this debut is remarkable. Not only does it recount the heady days of the awful day of September 11, it interweaves magically three generations affected by this, and many other magical elements of art, relationship, love, longing, madness and belonging.

Flawed characters discovering their shared pasts containing secrets and mysticism, each of the stories were intricate and deep. The overall tying together was fabulous, with the back and forth between the 1970’s to current time seamless, though obviously different. The topography of New York told through the eyes of a young girl walking all of the bridges of NY with her father was beautiful.

This book deserves deep commitment, so my listening during a heavy work task may have not been the best idea, but this also showed me I was enraptured. I will purchase this book, which is something I rarely do after listening, one of the last times I did this was for the beautiful
]]> 212689363 477 Sarah Barrie 1867274574 Suz 0 4.35
author: Sarah Barrie
name: Suz
average rating: 4.35
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/05/21
shelves: to-read, 2024, aussie-author, aww, gift, gave-away
review:

]]> 220281019 One ordinary extraordinary woman living through a century of massive change, from the bestselling author of The Family Doctor.

Meet storyteller, feminist, eternally curious and phenomenally old. On the eve of her hundredth birthday party, Betty tells us her story.

Born into poverty in pre-war London, and growing up fast during the Blitz, Betty grabs the chance at a bigger life by migrating to Australia. On board the SS Asturias she meets three people who will influence the course of her life—Pearl, a good-hearted party girl; Athena, a Greek woman on her way to marry a man she has never met; and Leo, a German Jew who lost his family in the war.

In Sydney, Betty is making ends meet as a waitress at the famous Trocadero dance hall when she stumbles into a rushed courtship with Donald, a wealthy businessman, and dedicates herself to being the ideal 1950s suburban housewife. But life has other plans for Betty, and soon she must find a way to do more than survive.

Set against a century of world events and social upheavals, Betty takes us to the frontlines of the anti-war protests and the women's liberation movement of the 1970s, to the AIDS crisis during the 1980s, to Mexico and eventually becomes a TV screenwriter. Even in her nineties, Betty is still passionately engaged with the world, still surprising us.

From the creator of Offspring and bestselling author of The Family Doctor, One Hundred Years of Betty is the saga of a strong, intelligent woman born too early in time to make the most of her talents without having to fight for everything. It's about the defining force of motherhood, the family we make, and how the determination to live to the hilt, with all the joy and sorrow that entails, can lead to a life beyond one's wildest imaginings.

'Sweeping us across the decades with intellect and wit, Betty is the heroine women have been waiting for.' Gabbie Stroud, author of Teacher and The Things That Matter Most

'Oswald writes older women with the panache, wit and steeliness that many of us will recognise in our mothers, grandmothers and aunts who traversed a century that was never quite ready for them.' Melanie Joosten, author of Like Fire-Hearted Suns

'Debra Oswald fulfils a novelist's highest purpose in One Hundred Years of Betty. In a marathon exercise of imaginative empathy, she creates a life in full—all its aching sorrows, all its transcendent joys—unfolding amidst the convulsions of our tumultuous century. A rich feast of a novel, a perfect balance of sweet and sour. You won't want it to end.' Geraldine Brooks, bestselling author of Horse

Praise for The Family Doctor:

'Oswald has a way with words that immediately draws you into the story and keeps you there until the very last line. Highly recommended!' – Mamamia

'A compelling page-turner.' – The Age

'In crystal-clear prose, Debra Oswald unveils an all-too-believable world of love and loyalty stretched to the limit, with agonising consequences when the best people are forced to do the worst things. The moment you finish this novel you will want to find someone else who has read it and talk all night about the vital questions it raises.]]> Debra Oswald 1761505718 Suz 5
Debra Oswald’s background is in screenwriting which is evident here, threading part of this industry and experience skillfully into Betty’s own experience which was clever and authentic, I completely trusted the way this was presented keeping in mind Nina Proudman and the awesome characters she'd developed for screen.

A clearly strong woman, who we follow all around the world as she meets an interesting and varied cast of characters, romantic and otherwise. Each of these characters are given their own very important slice of the story, and we witness special friendships and relationships. These are hard to say goodbye to as Betty loses many of these connections by countless deaths, which she struggles greatly as one of the many lessons in this story. I adored the way in which Betty would regard each dear one as ‘our’ Athena, Penny, Rose, Mac, Leo, Rex.. this list of beloved is endless.

The womanhood, feminism, indigenous rights, the matriarchy and countless other fascinating observations on life, family, home and what it means to be alive have each their own intricate part in this book. The dialogue is witty, bitey and seamless, I believe the author is extremely talented in crafting this which was a complete pleasure to read.

My most high recommendation, I felt connected to and protective of this fabulous character, the story is unique and natural. I loved it.

Thank you to the publisher for my copy, which is beautiful inside and out. Much like our Betty.
]]> 4.20 2025
author: Debra Oswald
name: Suz
average rating: 4.20
book published: 2025
rating: 5
read at: 2025/05/19
date added: 2025/05/20
shelves: 2025, allen-and-unwin, sent-from-publisher, reviewing-by-request, audio-libby, library-midcoast, gave-away
review:
This was a delightful reading experience, a beautiful book. The story of Betty, told to her readers directly from her voice which was witty, deprecating, candid and most of all lacking pretense. A force to be reckoned with, as one of ten children born into struggle literally bouncing off the kitchen table onto the floor, if family legend is to be believed. The multitude of life events taught this reader so much beginning at an early age in 1920’s England where she survives the Blitz, losing most of her siblings, up to the near distant future when this glorious character turns 100.

Debra Oswald’s background is in screenwriting which is evident here, threading part of this industry and experience skillfully into Betty’s own experience which was clever and authentic, I completely trusted the way this was presented keeping in mind Nina Proudman and the awesome characters she'd developed for screen.

A clearly strong woman, who we follow all around the world as she meets an interesting and varied cast of characters, romantic and otherwise. Each of these characters are given their own very important slice of the story, and we witness special friendships and relationships. These are hard to say goodbye to as Betty loses many of these connections by countless deaths, which she struggles greatly as one of the many lessons in this story. I adored the way in which Betty would regard each dear one as ‘our’ Athena, Penny, Rose, Mac, Leo, Rex.. this list of beloved is endless.

The womanhood, feminism, indigenous rights, the matriarchy and countless other fascinating observations on life, family, home and what it means to be alive have each their own intricate part in this book. The dialogue is witty, bitey and seamless, I believe the author is extremely talented in crafting this which was a complete pleasure to read.

My most high recommendation, I felt connected to and protective of this fabulous character, the story is unique and natural. I loved it.

Thank you to the publisher for my copy, which is beautiful inside and out. Much like our Betty.

]]> 202105141
Anna has a life to envy. An apartment in New York. A well-meaning (too well-meaning?) partner. And a high-flying job in beauty PR. Who wouldn't want all that? Anna—it turns out.

Turning a minor mid-life crisis into a major life event she packs it in, heads back to Ireland, and gets a PR job for a super-high-end coastal retreat.

Tougher than it sounds. Newsflash: the locals hate it. So much so, there have been threats—and violence.

Anna, however, worked in the beauty industry. There's no ugliness she hasn't seen. No wrinkle she can't smooth over. Anna's got this.

Until she discovers that leaving New York doesn't mean escaping her mistakes.

Once upon a time she'd had a best friend. Once upon a time she'd loved a man. Now she has neither. And now she has to face them.

We all make mistakes.
But when do we stop making the same one over and over again?]]> 599 Marian Keyes 1405945443 Suz 5
Another smashing read from an author which I have realised may be my favourite author. I love Marian Keyes life experience, her knowledge on all the things she writes about, the lightness in which she delivers this as much of it is heavy, although hidden at times. Intricately full of humour which most readers may consider chic lit. I believe her content is much more than this.

I have mostly read this series, The Walsh Family which I love, and there are a handful standalones I am yet to read. How exciting!

Anna, one of the witty Walsh sisters, is returning from New York after her high-flying job in the beauty industry found its holistic end, just as her long-term relationship also ended. Her family thinks she’s mad, her mum telling her in no other terms to STAY AWAY! She’s made her mind up, and back she flies, falling into a job which suits her perfectly. These Walsh gals have the knack of cleaning up messes, all the while realising their own inadequacies and failures as they go along. Inner dialogue is always engaging and funny, as is the banter between the entire Walsh clan, their extended families, friends, and acquaintances.

MK has the innate gift of showing the worst of life, and the best. Community is always important, eventually having positive effects on her characters when they need it. Never smooth sailing, never instant gratification, but eventual lessons learned, worked hard for always. As the title suggests, there is always a lesson from the Walsh girls, this is the author's depth of story telling, delivered to the reader almost without them knowing.

Ensemble characters are always well drawn and justified, each of these given a rich personality. The balance of such a varied group of these five sisters in continual play, volleying back and forth providing continual humour and converse seriousness always in play.

I love the relationships formed, between different generations, young/old, romantic/platonic, the strength of compassionate characters helping those who are dabbling in crossing the line.
This author tells a relevant and entertaining story each time, and as I relate to many of these women, devouring each one. Anna is precisely my age, we are going through the EXACT life stages; she was in my head. This meant I had compassion and a complete knowing of her quirks and eccentricities. I also may be Rachel with her problems as well, in Again Rachel.

MK, how did you write Anna so well, her troubles, fears and successes? May this series keep flourishing, such a gift.

I listened to this via the BorrowBox app and my public library. Narrated by the author – audiobook lovers know how much this adds to the experience. All the extra nuances for free.]]> 3.91 2024
author: Marian Keyes
name: Suz
average rating: 3.91
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2024/06/20
date added: 2025/05/20
shelves: 2024, borrowbox, library-at-the-hub
review:
Bless!

Another smashing read from an author which I have realised may be my favourite author. I love Marian Keyes life experience, her knowledge on all the things she writes about, the lightness in which she delivers this as much of it is heavy, although hidden at times. Intricately full of humour which most readers may consider chic lit. I believe her content is much more than this.

I have mostly read this series, The Walsh Family which I love, and there are a handful standalones I am yet to read. How exciting!

Anna, one of the witty Walsh sisters, is returning from New York after her high-flying job in the beauty industry found its holistic end, just as her long-term relationship also ended. Her family thinks she’s mad, her mum telling her in no other terms to STAY AWAY! She’s made her mind up, and back she flies, falling into a job which suits her perfectly. These Walsh gals have the knack of cleaning up messes, all the while realising their own inadequacies and failures as they go along. Inner dialogue is always engaging and funny, as is the banter between the entire Walsh clan, their extended families, friends, and acquaintances.

MK has the innate gift of showing the worst of life, and the best. Community is always important, eventually having positive effects on her characters when they need it. Never smooth sailing, never instant gratification, but eventual lessons learned, worked hard for always. As the title suggests, there is always a lesson from the Walsh girls, this is the author's depth of story telling, delivered to the reader almost without them knowing.

Ensemble characters are always well drawn and justified, each of these given a rich personality. The balance of such a varied group of these five sisters in continual play, volleying back and forth providing continual humour and converse seriousness always in play.

I love the relationships formed, between different generations, young/old, romantic/platonic, the strength of compassionate characters helping those who are dabbling in crossing the line.
This author tells a relevant and entertaining story each time, and as I relate to many of these women, devouring each one. Anna is precisely my age, we are going through the EXACT life stages; she was in my head. This meant I had compassion and a complete knowing of her quirks and eccentricities. I also may be Rachel with her problems as well, in Again Rachel.

MK, how did you write Anna so well, her troubles, fears and successes? May this series keep flourishing, such a gift.

I listened to this via the BorrowBox app and my public library. Narrated by the author – audiobook lovers know how much this adds to the experience. All the extra nuances for free.
]]> 59511666
Already an international bestseller, Small Things Like These is a deeply affecting story of hope, quiet heroism, and empathy from one of our most critically lauded and iconic writers.]]> Claire Keegan Suz 5
Having no knowledge at all of the Magdalene Laundries in Ireland, I was saddened to learn of the things that transpired. Added to this that the supposed Godly people, charged with helping, caring and being there for the disadvantaged are the ones to carry out the evil. No one was willing to act. No one seemed to care enough.

The nuns had the community under their thumbs, the girls of the well to do in their school next door lest their families speak up, and the audacity to treat young girls with cruelty.

Bill, in 1985, knows a thing or two about single mothers. Now a successful businessman (though still times are tough for everyone), he will have some spare change for those in need, a kind word and a honest and selfless business practice.

He is the man to stand up, and this was the best part. His wife wasn't as nice, she didn't understand his desire to help. Together they've raised their girls well, so when Bill sees the blatant treatment of a young unwed mother being locked up, unfed and overworked, this is his time.

My first experience with this author, I will now look for more of her work.

I listened to this audiobook via the BorrowBox platform and my local library. I highly recommend this short book.
]]> 3.93 2021
author: Claire Keegan
name: Suz
average rating: 3.93
book published: 2021
rating: 5
read at: 2025/05/20
date added: 2025/05/20
shelves: borrowbox, library-parramatta, audio-libby, library-boroondara, re-read
review:
I loved this book, a short one, and historical fiction too. This genre I often shy away from, but for some reason I stumbled across this and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Having no knowledge at all of the Magdalene Laundries in Ireland, I was saddened to learn of the things that transpired. Added to this that the supposed Godly people, charged with helping, caring and being there for the disadvantaged are the ones to carry out the evil. No one was willing to act. No one seemed to care enough.

The nuns had the community under their thumbs, the girls of the well to do in their school next door lest their families speak up, and the audacity to treat young girls with cruelty.

Bill, in 1985, knows a thing or two about single mothers. Now a successful businessman (though still times are tough for everyone), he will have some spare change for those in need, a kind word and a honest and selfless business practice.

He is the man to stand up, and this was the best part. His wife wasn't as nice, she didn't understand his desire to help. Together they've raised their girls well, so when Bill sees the blatant treatment of a young unwed mother being locked up, unfed and overworked, this is his time.

My first experience with this author, I will now look for more of her work.

I listened to this audiobook via the BorrowBox platform and my local library. I highly recommend this short book.

]]> 13555803


"This is the story of a little girl who lived, and breathed, and loved, and was loved. She was part of me. She grew within my body and when she died, part of me died, and nothing will ever alter that fact. This is her story, and mine." – Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton



"Page after page demolishes the myth and fables that have been spun around a nation's obsession with the baby's disappearance." – The Sydney Morning Herald



"What first struck me on meeting Lindy was her sense of humour and surprising lack of bitterness. Here is a woman who has been under such macabre and intense public scrutiny and yet through all the tabloid hysteria they haven't managed to capture the real Lindy at all. There are so many myths about Lindy and the Chamberlain case that have still not been dispelled and to read this book is to get closer to the truth behind the story that has continued to fascinate Australia for the past 24 years." –Miranda Otto, Actress, Lord of the Rings Trilogy



Previously published as Through My Eyes in 2004.]]> Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton Suz 0 3.69 2012
author: Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton
name: Suz
average rating: 3.69
book published: 2012
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/05/19
shelves: to-read, ibook, owned, kindle-app
review:

]]> 45160134 Tiffy and Leon share a flat
Tiffy and Leon share a bed
Tiffy and Leon have never met…

Tiffy Moore needs a cheap flat, and fast. Leon Twomey works nights and needs cash. Their friends think they’re crazy, but it’s the perfect solution: Leon occupies the one-bed flat while Tiffy’s at work in the day, and she has the run of the place the rest of the time.

But with obsessive ex-boyfriends, demanding clients at work, wrongly imprisoned brothers and, of course, the fact that they still haven’t met yet, they’re about to discover that if you want the perfect home you need to throw the rulebook out the window…]]> 394 Beth O'Leary 1787474429 Suz 5
I love quirky characters in my reading, and that, Tiffy was. I also love when the names chosen in books are lovely names. Her name really suited her. Tiffy is a lovely young woman, but she has not met a nice man. A topical subject which I read about often, is gas lighting. It disturbs me that dating and relationship happenings have so many terms these days, does it mean our world is becoming transactional? I think so. There are terms for liking someone a little, but hanging on until something better comes along, and liking someone enough to have sex with, but not enough to be faithful. Scary stuff!

Tiffy is a clever girl, she has gotten away from her obsessive ex-boyfriend, this has been very hard. At every chance he could get he would be breaking up with her, requesting a reconciliation and suggesting it was her idea in the first place. He would subtly communicate she was not allowed out with girlfriends, but so cunningly this was not obvious at the time. He would trick her into thinking she’d forgotten things when they did not exist in the first place. He was a nasty piece of work.

Working as an editorial assistant on a pitiful wage, Tiffy needs some new accommodations now that she has finally made the decision to rid of this nasty man. Ending up in a funny but workable situation with a shift working nurse, Tiffy has the flat at night, and Leon during the day. Thus begins an adorable post it note scenario of letter writing; they end up all over the flat. Tiffy has a wardrobe with personality, and Leon can’t quite work out who the woman is behind the post it notes, but conjures an image of an older and not so attractive woman!

Tiffy’s best mates are adorable, and Leon’s family situation and career very interesting and full of equally likable characters. This is a serious book and a lovely light hearted one all at once, if that is possible.

Here is a link to an article I came across this weekend.

I hope you love the book as much as I did.]]> 4.16 2019
author: Beth O'Leary
name: Suz
average rating: 4.16
book published: 2019
rating: 5
read at: 2019/06/01
date added: 2025/05/19
shelves: library-at-the-hub, publisher-newsletter, lent, gave-away
review:
Just a few hours ago, I returned this book to my public library. I did not want to return it! It was a lovely book. If I did not own more than 500 books I would buy it so I could have it on my shelf.

I love quirky characters in my reading, and that, Tiffy was. I also love when the names chosen in books are lovely names. Her name really suited her. Tiffy is a lovely young woman, but she has not met a nice man. A topical subject which I read about often, is gas lighting. It disturbs me that dating and relationship happenings have so many terms these days, does it mean our world is becoming transactional? I think so. There are terms for liking someone a little, but hanging on until something better comes along, and liking someone enough to have sex with, but not enough to be faithful. Scary stuff!

Tiffy is a clever girl, she has gotten away from her obsessive ex-boyfriend, this has been very hard. At every chance he could get he would be breaking up with her, requesting a reconciliation and suggesting it was her idea in the first place. He would subtly communicate she was not allowed out with girlfriends, but so cunningly this was not obvious at the time. He would trick her into thinking she’d forgotten things when they did not exist in the first place. He was a nasty piece of work.

Working as an editorial assistant on a pitiful wage, Tiffy needs some new accommodations now that she has finally made the decision to rid of this nasty man. Ending up in a funny but workable situation with a shift working nurse, Tiffy has the flat at night, and Leon during the day. Thus begins an adorable post it note scenario of letter writing; they end up all over the flat. Tiffy has a wardrobe with personality, and Leon can’t quite work out who the woman is behind the post it notes, but conjures an image of an older and not so attractive woman!

Tiffy’s best mates are adorable, and Leon’s family situation and career very interesting and full of equally likable characters. This is a serious book and a lovely light hearted one all at once, if that is possible.

Here is a link to an article I came across this weekend.

I hope you love the book as much as I did.
]]> 29028
This compilation of a diverse group of real women's voices and wisdom illuminates how women understand the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous and offers inspiring stories of how they have traveled through the Steps and discovered what works for them. The book can be used alone or as a companion to The Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous .

By drawing attention to how recovery raises special issues for women - from questions about sexuality and relationships to essential topics such as powerlessness, spirituality, and trauma - A Woman's Way empowers women to take ownership of their recovery and to grow and flourish in sobriety.

Also available in Spanish.]]> 264 Stephanie S. Covington 0894869930 Suz 0 4.43 1994
author: Stephanie S. Covington
name: Suz
average rating: 4.43
book published: 1994
rating: 0
read at: 2020/09/06
date added: 2025/05/19
shelves: alcohol, mental-health, non-fiction, to-read, gave-away
review:

]]> 60723633
This uplifting collection celebrates inspiring bookish women the world over and their thoughts on life, love, politics, education and beyond.

From writers, thinkers, leaders, activists and change-makers, each of these quotes demonstrates the power of words and positive thinking in our everyday lives.]]> 96 Harper by Design 146076062X Suz 4
It is very short but pretty, a nice book to look at. I have kept it standing up next to a set of yoga cards, so it is a keepsake of sorts. It probably took less than ten minutes to read.

One liners from women such as Reese Witherspoon, Maya Angelou, Julia Gillard, Serena Williams, Penny Wong, Hilary Clinton, Jecinda Ardern, and Leigh Sales, so very much a mixed bag.

From Aussie journo and author, Leigh Sales: I’ve come to believe that amongst all the good human qualities, there is none greater than kindness.

From the feisty Mandy Kaling: If someone really wants to see you, they always find a way. Always.

And from our first female Australian Prime Minister: I know reform is never easy. But I know reform is right.

Inspiring but very brief, this book encourages us to be our best selves, to work hard and learn and love and above all be kind to ourselves and others. I wish this book was longer and had larger stories, but it was my misunderstanding. It looks nice on my shelf!]]> 4.11 2022
author: Harper by Design
name: Suz
average rating: 4.11
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2022/06/26
date added: 2025/05/19
shelves: 2022, hardcover, non-fiction, gave-away
review:
I purchased this book on a whim, thinking it was larger and more substantial than it was; it hadn't been added to GR when I was looking at it, and I had it added.

It is very short but pretty, a nice book to look at. I have kept it standing up next to a set of yoga cards, so it is a keepsake of sorts. It probably took less than ten minutes to read.

One liners from women such as Reese Witherspoon, Maya Angelou, Julia Gillard, Serena Williams, Penny Wong, Hilary Clinton, Jecinda Ardern, and Leigh Sales, so very much a mixed bag.

From Aussie journo and author, Leigh Sales: I’ve come to believe that amongst all the good human qualities, there is none greater than kindness.

From the feisty Mandy Kaling: If someone really wants to see you, they always find a way. Always.

And from our first female Australian Prime Minister: I know reform is never easy. But I know reform is right.

Inspiring but very brief, this book encourages us to be our best selves, to work hard and learn and love and above all be kind to ourselves and others. I wish this book was longer and had larger stories, but it was my misunderstanding. It looks nice on my shelf!
]]> 62979490

Born on the island of Tasmania, Heather Rose falls in love with nature, but a family tragedy at age twelve sets her on a course to explore life and all its mysteries.

Here is a wild barefoot girl keen for adventure, a seeker of truth initiated in ancient rituals, a fledgling writer who becomes one of Australia's most acclaimed authors, a fierce mother whose body may falter at any moment.

Nothing Bad Ever Happens Here is a luminous, compelling and utterly surprising memoir by the bestselling author of Stella Prize-winner The Museum of Modern Love and Bruny. Heartbreaking and beautiful, this is a love story brimming with courage and joy against all odds, one that will bring wonder, light and comfort to all who read it.]]> 256 Heather Rose 1761066323 Suz 4 Eat Pray Love, and I really did not like that book so I had a little dip. Although I do not lead a spiritual life as the author does, I did enjoy hearing about her journey, and that of her family. Given my thoughts of a book I did not enjoy, I was aware that there were swings and roundabouts in this reading experience.

There was much tragedy that the author suffered, a lot of death and loss, but this woman shows us her capability and tenacity throughout. She is a doer, a strong woman that does not shy away from anything. She punched a man in the face, twice (for very good reason), on her travels, shocking her travelling companion into quickly realising she was not meek and mild as assumed.

She has many health problems, but this really did not get much air play. The author listed the many therapies she has tried and tells us how people have called her a drug addict. She needs drugs for chronic pain, and she has many ailments. But again, this is not complained about, only discussed. The author wants to be heard, not pitied, treated with respect, not offered advice from others who have not suffered sickness.

Recently I had faced some strange health situations. I did not handle myself with grace like Heather has, so I do take pause and have great respect for this attitude. She has a great rheumatologist (the same area I had problems), I am very pleased that she has a great doctor who has committed the condition Heather has to become one of her life projects and researching it for women sufferers.

I loved hearing about Tasmania, and her worldly travels. I have never considered hours upon hours of daily meditation or participated in sweat lodges – the author lists 53 therapies over 40 years. On the other hand, she tells us of her life’s work, travels, mothering, hiking, lobbying, running a successful business and being a writer all the while without the notion of any of these problems!

Her imagined tombstone would be I made the most of every moment. I think I would add to this the words with humour and grace.

I decided upon a four star rating as this woman has overcome much, has an amazing story, and is gifted in the telling. I over came my comparison to Eat Pray Love – this isn’t fair, and I take my hat off to Heather. Another little spark of goodness that came from this experience, and encouraged me to read this book was that my spirited 19 year old daughter was in Bruny the day I requested this book from the publisher. (A novel of that name is one of the aforementioned books I need to read).

May I say, as a definite extra bonus with this book, as I alternated between hard copy and audio - this was one instance where the autor excelled in narrating her own story, I don't think this should always be carried out, but Heather delivered remarkably here. I think narrator should be added to her already huge repertoire!

With my thanks and gratitude from Allen & Unwin for my uncorrected proof copy to read and review. I love the books on offer from this publishing house.]]> 3.90 2022
author: Heather Rose
name: Suz
average rating: 3.90
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2022/11/22
date added: 2025/05/19
shelves: 2022, allen-and-unwin, aussie-author, aww, hardcopyarc, arc, won, library-merri-bek, memoir, non-fiction, gave-away
review:
This is a serious contemplation of an interesting and complex woman’s life story. I have not read any of her books; I will remedy this when the opportunity arises. As I read this book, my mind was wandering into the territory of Eat Pray Love, and I really did not like that book so I had a little dip. Although I do not lead a spiritual life as the author does, I did enjoy hearing about her journey, and that of her family. Given my thoughts of a book I did not enjoy, I was aware that there were swings and roundabouts in this reading experience.

There was much tragedy that the author suffered, a lot of death and loss, but this woman shows us her capability and tenacity throughout. She is a doer, a strong woman that does not shy away from anything. She punched a man in the face, twice (for very good reason), on her travels, shocking her travelling companion into quickly realising she was not meek and mild as assumed.

She has many health problems, but this really did not get much air play. The author listed the many therapies she has tried and tells us how people have called her a drug addict. She needs drugs for chronic pain, and she has many ailments. But again, this is not complained about, only discussed. The author wants to be heard, not pitied, treated with respect, not offered advice from others who have not suffered sickness.

Recently I had faced some strange health situations. I did not handle myself with grace like Heather has, so I do take pause and have great respect for this attitude. She has a great rheumatologist (the same area I had problems), I am very pleased that she has a great doctor who has committed the condition Heather has to become one of her life projects and researching it for women sufferers.

I loved hearing about Tasmania, and her worldly travels. I have never considered hours upon hours of daily meditation or participated in sweat lodges – the author lists 53 therapies over 40 years. On the other hand, she tells us of her life’s work, travels, mothering, hiking, lobbying, running a successful business and being a writer all the while without the notion of any of these problems!

Her imagined tombstone would be I made the most of every moment. I think I would add to this the words with humour and grace.

I decided upon a four star rating as this woman has overcome much, has an amazing story, and is gifted in the telling. I over came my comparison to Eat Pray Love – this isn’t fair, and I take my hat off to Heather. Another little spark of goodness that came from this experience, and encouraged me to read this book was that my spirited 19 year old daughter was in Bruny the day I requested this book from the publisher. (A novel of that name is one of the aforementioned books I need to read).

May I say, as a definite extra bonus with this book, as I alternated between hard copy and audio - this was one instance where the autor excelled in narrating her own story, I don't think this should always be carried out, but Heather delivered remarkably here. I think narrator should be added to her already huge repertoire!

With my thanks and gratitude from Allen & Unwin for my uncorrected proof copy to read and review. I love the books on offer from this publishing house.
]]> 63323996
Brothers Ernst and Joe Montague are on the run from the law. They land in Lacey's town and commit desperate crimes to avoid capture. Lacey vows retribution and galvanises those in the town to hunt them down. But not everyone is blind to Lacey's evil, and a reckoning is approaching.

A visceral, powerful dissection of dispossession, colonisation and the crimes committed in their name, The Death of John Lacey is also a moving and tender account of the love between brothers and a meditation on the true meaning of mercy and justice.]]> 338 Ben Hobson 1761186019 Suz 5 Ben Hobson has shown us a fictious event which reads as real, which is troubling and effective at the same time. I found this author much later than a lot of Australian readers, and I will make up for this.

Brothers Ernst and Joe, share the same father. The stories of their differing mothers tragic, both losing them at a too young an age. Ernst is the elder, they are side by side in everything they do. Life has shown them cruelty from a young age and self sufficiency has created a strength for survival that comes naturally.

This place was founded in opposition to buggers like us.

The goldrush Ballarat is not an easy time for anyone, and right from the start we meet cruel, greedy, gluttonous, power-hungry John Lacey. He deems himself the leader, able to rid the town of those who do not fit in, he has no qualms saying this to the preacher either, the quietly spoken but respectful Gilbert, having pushed his predecessor out of town. At every stage in this man’s life, he acted to receive; giving is unknown to him. Calculating to the core, offering scraps to build a supposed empire. Twisting the bible to suit his purpose.

These brothers have not a clean reputation, they have done wrongs, but they will not allow Lacey to ride rough shot over a community. Having dealings with him years ago, there seems to be a tension that will not dissipate.

The book is as harsh as its setting, the characters brutal and unforgiving. But this does not, for me, weigh too heavily as I embraced those who had goodness in their spirit as well, even if it took them a while to reconcile with this. I also enjoyed the general tone of storytelling. Whose story is it to tell? One can truly not walk a mile, until it is walked in another’s shoes.

One act of terror that Lacey carried out, and his reflections on this straight afterward gave me pause, but with all the complexities this book covers turned this into an excellent story. The love of family, the internal grappling of one’s moral compass and the disrespect of other cultures made for confronting and gripping reading.

The audio version (I used both) did not include the author’s acknowledgements, but it did include the shift from the terrible attitudes and behaviours from then, till now, in contemporary times.

My thanks go to Allen & Unwin for my physical uncorrected proof copy to read and review, as always, their books open genres and reading experiences I would normally not have.]]> 3.61 2023
author: Ben Hobson
name: Suz
average rating: 3.61
book published: 2023
rating: 5
read at: 2023/02/07
date added: 2025/05/19
shelves: 2023, allen-and-unwin, aussie-author, sent-from-publisher, won, uncorrected-proof, audio-libby, gave-away
review:
I loved this book, which is surprisingly pleasing as I don’t always embrace the historical fiction genre. Ben Hobson has shown us a fictious event which reads as real, which is troubling and effective at the same time. I found this author much later than a lot of Australian readers, and I will make up for this.

Brothers Ernst and Joe, share the same father. The stories of their differing mothers tragic, both losing them at a too young an age. Ernst is the elder, they are side by side in everything they do. Life has shown them cruelty from a young age and self sufficiency has created a strength for survival that comes naturally.

This place was founded in opposition to buggers like us.

The goldrush Ballarat is not an easy time for anyone, and right from the start we meet cruel, greedy, gluttonous, power-hungry John Lacey. He deems himself the leader, able to rid the town of those who do not fit in, he has no qualms saying this to the preacher either, the quietly spoken but respectful Gilbert, having pushed his predecessor out of town. At every stage in this man’s life, he acted to receive; giving is unknown to him. Calculating to the core, offering scraps to build a supposed empire. Twisting the bible to suit his purpose.

These brothers have not a clean reputation, they have done wrongs, but they will not allow Lacey to ride rough shot over a community. Having dealings with him years ago, there seems to be a tension that will not dissipate.

The book is as harsh as its setting, the characters brutal and unforgiving. But this does not, for me, weigh too heavily as I embraced those who had goodness in their spirit as well, even if it took them a while to reconcile with this. I also enjoyed the general tone of storytelling. Whose story is it to tell? One can truly not walk a mile, until it is walked in another’s shoes.

One act of terror that Lacey carried out, and his reflections on this straight afterward gave me pause, but with all the complexities this book covers turned this into an excellent story. The love of family, the internal grappling of one’s moral compass and the disrespect of other cultures made for confronting and gripping reading.

The audio version (I used both) did not include the author’s acknowledgements, but it did include the shift from the terrible attitudes and behaviours from then, till now, in contemporary times.

My thanks go to Allen & Unwin for my physical uncorrected proof copy to read and review, as always, their books open genres and reading experiences I would normally not have.
]]> 162298988
A new edition of this heart-warming story for bookworms that shows it’s never too late to turn the page and start a new chapter.]]> 304 Marlish Glorie 1760992496 Suz 2
Helen's marriage is crumbling, her husband is a hoarder and she's had enough. The story moves along to the neighbouring couple, who themselves have their own domestic problems, Astrid is her friend so invites her to live with them.

Helen stumbles into making an underhanded deal to buy a crumbling store, her sons have returned to the fold at the same time. One helps her in the store, and the other helps his father attempt to lessen the junk pile at home.

There are many lies and many points of dysfunction, to the point the reader finds it all a little unbelievable. I'm a reader who prefers to like the protagonist, and I didn't like Helen. She judged people's reading habits; she judged people. Although as the story went on she tried to change this.

Sadly though, his choice of science fiction seemed characteristic of his generation and type. Helen determined that the young man needed re-educating.

Fornicating no doubt, breeding more children of a romantic persuasion. Was there no shame? She sneered at the cheap paperbacks, a shabby lot which remained shy beneath her judgemental eye.

The harshness of Helen made the tone a harsh one to the book in general. This isn't a soft book, the characters are flawed and marriages all breaking, the folk quite unhappy. The characters did not seem real to me, perhaps written in a voice older for their age.

Other readers may enjoy this more than I, this is a contemporary read, leaving me feeling quite sad for all of the characters. A good point to note here is that the protagonist isn't young and beautiful, she is a more mature age which is always refreshing!

With my thanks to @freemantlepress for a physical copy of this very pretty book.]]> 3.67 2009
author: Marlish Glorie
name: Suz
average rating: 3.67
book published: 2009
rating: 2
read at: 2023/11/13
date added: 2025/05/19
shelves: 2023, aussie-author, aww, fremantle-press, sent-from-publisher, debut, gave-away
review:
This edition is a rerelease of the author's debut novel, originally published 2009, with a gorgeous cover more fitting 2023. The story itself though lacks a modern feel. A different type of book about a bookshop, there are MANY threads popped into this story which makes it quite busy, and a little crowded.

Helen's marriage is crumbling, her husband is a hoarder and she's had enough. The story moves along to the neighbouring couple, who themselves have their own domestic problems, Astrid is her friend so invites her to live with them.

Helen stumbles into making an underhanded deal to buy a crumbling store, her sons have returned to the fold at the same time. One helps her in the store, and the other helps his father attempt to lessen the junk pile at home.

There are many lies and many points of dysfunction, to the point the reader finds it all a little unbelievable. I'm a reader who prefers to like the protagonist, and I didn't like Helen. She judged people's reading habits; she judged people. Although as the story went on she tried to change this.

Sadly though, his choice of science fiction seemed characteristic of his generation and type. Helen determined that the young man needed re-educating.

Fornicating no doubt, breeding more children of a romantic persuasion. Was there no shame? She sneered at the cheap paperbacks, a shabby lot which remained shy beneath her judgemental eye.

The harshness of Helen made the tone a harsh one to the book in general. This isn't a soft book, the characters are flawed and marriages all breaking, the folk quite unhappy. The characters did not seem real to me, perhaps written in a voice older for their age.

Other readers may enjoy this more than I, this is a contemporary read, leaving me feeling quite sad for all of the characters. A good point to note here is that the protagonist isn't young and beautiful, she is a more mature age which is always refreshing!

With my thanks to @freemantlepress for a physical copy of this very pretty book.
]]> 207840808
Dumped by her husband of twenty-five years, Jo Peck-smart, successful and sixty-is totally floored. There's the complete bombshell of the news, the cliche of a younger woman-a much younger woman-there's the disappointment of cancelled retirement travel plans, and there's the foundation-rocking loss of her sense of identity-if she's no longer Rex's wife, who the hell is she? She's lost and angry and hurt and confused. But not for long! There's the comfort and support of excellent friends and newly forged connections with extended family, there's therapy. And there's internet dating.

This inspiring, witty and at times hilarious memoir tells the story of the road from shock and despair to an unexpected new life, of friendship, romance and racy sex-proof that being suddenly single at sixty is not the end, it's an opportunity for a fabulous new beginning]]> 272 Jo Peck 1923058061 Suz 4
I am continually surprised at the calibre of writing that I am encountering when reading about relationships ending at this stage of life. Having just read Loving My Lying, Dying, Cheating Husband which shows similarities, the ability to not only pick oneself up from a hard event, but to then translate this to the page with quality and readability is commendable.

The author tells her story of a tumultuous relationship, your typical push pull angsty and twisty from the get-go. This was his second marriage, and the way we see him smash it to bits after 25 years was awful. Clearly seeing this man as some kind of sociopath (perhaps I’m judging too harshly) but as the story unfurls, we see his actions from day dot, and the way Jo begins to realise this circumspectly, we rejoice with her as she accepts this man is a complete dud.

Her friends knew this was the case, controlling her in a quiet way which I think was not always obvious, uninterested in the deeper parts of Jo the person, the stories she told about his complete disinterest were very sad. Jo was the main bread winner, he had not surprisingly retired early while she kept working in a wonderful business she built from the ground up. What did he do here? He went for all he could get their final scene together as galling as always.

Jo is upfront, funny, and quite self-effacing, the dating stories humorous and realistic, and her quest to find a new partner equally as candid and real. This book is extremely relatable as I age; this relatability need not be for women who are cast aside by uncaring spouses, it relates to all parts of women’s self-esteem, relationship issues, ageing, and finding your feet. This was a refreshing read.

With many thanks to Text Publishing for my physical copy to read and review.]]> 3.60
author: Jo Peck
name: Suz
average rating: 3.60
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2024/06/14
date added: 2025/05/19
shelves: 2024, aussie-author, aww, debut, library-noosa, memoir, non-fiction, text, gave-away
review:
I am always excited to read the adventures of protagonists to women who are closer to my age. These are real life gritty stories, and as we grow older and wiser, they seem to be told with a rare and complete up your bum, this is how it is vibe. I find this to be so refreshing, relatable and solid. A ‘real’ story, yes a memoir but it is more. Jo seems to be able to cut through the bulls!$t and just says it. My observation is we understand ourselves more, what we witness from others to be unacceptable is more astute, and our treatment of these people even more so.

I am continually surprised at the calibre of writing that I am encountering when reading about relationships ending at this stage of life. Having just read Loving My Lying, Dying, Cheating Husband which shows similarities, the ability to not only pick oneself up from a hard event, but to then translate this to the page with quality and readability is commendable.

The author tells her story of a tumultuous relationship, your typical push pull angsty and twisty from the get-go. This was his second marriage, and the way we see him smash it to bits after 25 years was awful. Clearly seeing this man as some kind of sociopath (perhaps I’m judging too harshly) but as the story unfurls, we see his actions from day dot, and the way Jo begins to realise this circumspectly, we rejoice with her as she accepts this man is a complete dud.

Her friends knew this was the case, controlling her in a quiet way which I think was not always obvious, uninterested in the deeper parts of Jo the person, the stories she told about his complete disinterest were very sad. Jo was the main bread winner, he had not surprisingly retired early while she kept working in a wonderful business she built from the ground up. What did he do here? He went for all he could get their final scene together as galling as always.

Jo is upfront, funny, and quite self-effacing, the dating stories humorous and realistic, and her quest to find a new partner equally as candid and real. This book is extremely relatable as I age; this relatability need not be for women who are cast aside by uncaring spouses, it relates to all parts of women’s self-esteem, relationship issues, ageing, and finding your feet. This was a refreshing read.

With many thanks to Text Publishing for my physical copy to read and review.
]]> 214273049

She’s a passionate Western Bulldogs fan (with an imperfect grasp of the rules) who loves the epic theatre of AFL football. But her devotion to the under-16s offers her something else. This is her chance to connect with her youngest grandchild, to be close to him before he rushes headlong into manhood. To witness his triumphs and defeats, to fear for his safety in battle, to gasp and to cheer for his team as it fights for a place in the finals.


With her sharp eye, her generous wit and her warm humour, Garner documents this pivotal moment, both as part of the story and as silent witness. The Season is an unexpected and exuberant a celebration of the nobility, grace and grit of team spirit, a reflection on the nature of masculinity, and a tribute to the game’s power to thrill us.]]> 176 Helen Garner 1922791814 Suz 5 Helen Garner’s quest to connect with her grandson, turning from boy to man, across the season of AFL. The training, the games, the team, and their camaraderie. The OBSERVATION of this. Who better to bear witness than this author, I think I’m quite enamoured by HG. Not at all a worry to be the furthest thing from a footy fan.

Asking questions, uncaring if they are simple, inane or something that any fan would already know. I love this about her, it’s what I do. Question, question, question. "Why does mullet equal footy?' Is this not the best?!

Being a neighbour to her kin, this family is lovely to observe. The honesty appealing and welcomed, entirely clear their love is strong and real. Her grandson WANTS to be with her. So often they hang out.

I feel old and deaf and awed, in the back seat with the dog.

I sense her awareness of ageing, stating, not emoting. I was fully absorbed in the sparseness of writing. A little rush of desolation. It doesn't matter if I'm not there. No one needs me. I'm not essential after all. I'm only a witness. It's one of the sporadic bursts of reality that grandparents have to bear. You're making a serious mistake if you start to think you're near the centre. You're on the periphery. You're a servant. A hanger-on. And soon you'll be dead.

Fully committed to transporting Amby, soaking in the pre training excitement, a fabulous time to ask questions of her boy.

Where am I going to put myself, with my brand-new notebook hidden in the back pocket of my overalls? Vowing to remain unseen, Amby did comment offhandedly that he didn’t ever notice her presence. A little stab to my heart!

Helen is funny, deprecating. I loved it to bits. ..despite his absurd little moustache (they're all growing them-it's a thing in the AFL and even on the streets, for God's sake)..

Little tid bits, and the free-flowing convo between these two. What? They pinch you? Isn't pinching sort of girly? Is it allowed?

the women runners with their whirling ponytails and cold-beamed little head-torches. Some of them are wiry and feet, with the smooth, economical movements of marathon runners; others are plump, with big hips, bellies and breasts.. Is this not the Helen we all love?

Remarking on her lack of understanding the game, uncaring. I walk around the house thinking ignorantly about it, shouting, singing, talking to myself. All the time. Does this mean something about me? Something psycho, or scary?

The voyeuristic style transported me to the cold nights, not being a fan of the cold, I felt her chill each time she forgot her coat, or when it was too thin. Each nugget of observation was necessary, adding many layers to the narrative. The book is small, the content not at all. The Season highlights that possibly HG has self-doubt like the rest of us, but what a delight it was to see her enjoy her grandson and take pleasure in these few months. To reflect on his changes since carrying him around so heavy on the hip, and revel in the joy of it all. Present for her grandson, regardless of being seen or not, the value of her company and spiritedness was priceless.

Thank you @text_publishing for my review copy, I cheered for all of this.]]> 4.09 2024
author: Helen Garner
name: Suz
average rating: 4.09
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2024/10/28
date added: 2025/05/19
shelves: 2024, aussie-author, aww, memoir, non-fiction, sent-from-publisher, text, gave-away
review:
I was enthralled with Helen Garner’s quest to connect with her grandson, turning from boy to man, across the season of AFL. The training, the games, the team, and their camaraderie. The OBSERVATION of this. Who better to bear witness than this author, I think I’m quite enamoured by HG. Not at all a worry to be the furthest thing from a footy fan.

Asking questions, uncaring if they are simple, inane or something that any fan would already know. I love this about her, it’s what I do. Question, question, question. "Why does mullet equal footy?' Is this not the best?!

Being a neighbour to her kin, this family is lovely to observe. The honesty appealing and welcomed, entirely clear their love is strong and real. Her grandson WANTS to be with her. So often they hang out.

I feel old and deaf and awed, in the back seat with the dog.

I sense her awareness of ageing, stating, not emoting. I was fully absorbed in the sparseness of writing. A little rush of desolation. It doesn't matter if I'm not there. No one needs me. I'm not essential after all. I'm only a witness. It's one of the sporadic bursts of reality that grandparents have to bear. You're making a serious mistake if you start to think you're near the centre. You're on the periphery. You're a servant. A hanger-on. And soon you'll be dead.

Fully committed to transporting Amby, soaking in the pre training excitement, a fabulous time to ask questions of her boy.

Where am I going to put myself, with my brand-new notebook hidden in the back pocket of my overalls? Vowing to remain unseen, Amby did comment offhandedly that he didn’t ever notice her presence. A little stab to my heart!

Helen is funny, deprecating. I loved it to bits. ..despite his absurd little moustache (they're all growing them-it's a thing in the AFL and even on the streets, for God's sake)..

Little tid bits, and the free-flowing convo between these two. What? They pinch you? Isn't pinching sort of girly? Is it allowed?

the women runners with their whirling ponytails and cold-beamed little head-torches. Some of them are wiry and feet, with the smooth, economical movements of marathon runners; others are plump, with big hips, bellies and breasts.. Is this not the Helen we all love?

Remarking on her lack of understanding the game, uncaring. I walk around the house thinking ignorantly about it, shouting, singing, talking to myself. All the time. Does this mean something about me? Something psycho, or scary?

The voyeuristic style transported me to the cold nights, not being a fan of the cold, I felt her chill each time she forgot her coat, or when it was too thin. Each nugget of observation was necessary, adding many layers to the narrative. The book is small, the content not at all. The Season highlights that possibly HG has self-doubt like the rest of us, but what a delight it was to see her enjoy her grandson and take pleasure in these few months. To reflect on his changes since carrying him around so heavy on the hip, and revel in the joy of it all. Present for her grandson, regardless of being seen or not, the value of her company and spiritedness was priceless.

Thank you @text_publishing for my review copy, I cheered for all of this.
]]> 95585302 336 Lucia Osborne-Crowley 0008591199 Suz 5 Lucia.. 4.26 2024
author: Lucia Osborne-Crowley
name: Suz
average rating: 4.26
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2025/01/10
date added: 2025/05/19
shelves: america, non-fiction, gave-away
review:
Lucia..
]]> 179844473 When I’ve been overtaken, I have stood and watched the water in my porridge simmer away into the air, and then the oats turn black and crackle with dryness, and my ears fill with the smoke alarm’s shriek.
When Adele Dumont is diagnosed with trichotillomania — compulsive hair-pulling — it makes sense of much of her life to date. The seemingly harmless quirk of her late teens, which rapidly developed into almost uncontrollable urges and then into trance-like episodes, is a hallmark of the disease, as is the secrecy with which she guarded her condition from her family, friends, and the world at large.
The diagnosis also opens up a rich line of inquiry. Where might the origins of this condition be found? How can we distinguish between a nervous habit and a compulsion? And how do we balance the relief of being ‘seen’ by others with our experience of shame?
Reminiscent of the writing of Leslie Jamison and Fiona Wright, The Pulling is a fascinating exploration of the inner workings of a mind. In perfectly judged prose, both probing and affecting, Dumont illuminates how easily ritual can slide into obsession, and how close beneath the surface horror and darkness can lie.]]> 288 Adele Dumont 1922585912 Suz 4
I felt so much familiarity in relation to the part of Sydney what were discussed, where the author went to school and the place of her childhood, even the local shops. There were other eerie similarities such as the many references to other authors who I immediately recognised not only by the titles of their book, a couple of them share my workplace. I have a keen interest in addiction stories, so the names caused instant light bulb moments.

There are many issues this author unpacked in telling her story, and these relate directly to much of her childhood, causing me to reflect on my own and the way I parent. The author struggles so much with the why and how, and my impression is that she will never really know why she pulls her hair, and the myriad of ways this turns into an all consuming part of her life. It is all consuming, she's told her story with immense honesty opening her life to intense scrutiny in doing so. The rhythms she follows, the internal grief and shame is almost overwhelming to fathom at times.

I did find the book to be quite long, and the reliance of all the quotes by other author's quite intense, but they did hold a firm place in explaining others' addictions. I didn't agree with a comment on alcoholism which she made in comparing the two addictions, but there is so much to this story I am impressed with the strength possessed to release her memoir. Serious yet compelling reading.

With thanks to Scribe publishing for my review copy.]]> 4.29 2024
author: Adele Dumont
name: Suz
average rating: 4.29
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2025/03/18
date added: 2025/05/19
shelves: 2024, aww, aussie-author, non-fiction, memoir, scribe, won, sent-from-publisher, mental-health, z, gave-away
review:
I am very impressed with this memoir, this is a complex and harrowing ordeal which has become this young author's life. The story was long but does go hand in hand with the complexity of what this woman faces at most points of her life. This book talks about an unfathomable phenomenon and a complete way of constantly being on guard, planning every movement and thought, spinning at all times.

I felt so much familiarity in relation to the part of Sydney what were discussed, where the author went to school and the place of her childhood, even the local shops. There were other eerie similarities such as the many references to other authors who I immediately recognised not only by the titles of their book, a couple of them share my workplace. I have a keen interest in addiction stories, so the names caused instant light bulb moments.

There are many issues this author unpacked in telling her story, and these relate directly to much of her childhood, causing me to reflect on my own and the way I parent. The author struggles so much with the why and how, and my impression is that she will never really know why she pulls her hair, and the myriad of ways this turns into an all consuming part of her life. It is all consuming, she's told her story with immense honesty opening her life to intense scrutiny in doing so. The rhythms she follows, the internal grief and shame is almost overwhelming to fathom at times.

I did find the book to be quite long, and the reliance of all the quotes by other author's quite intense, but they did hold a firm place in explaining others' addictions. I didn't agree with a comment on alcoholism which she made in comparing the two addictions, but there is so much to this story I am impressed with the strength possessed to release her memoir. Serious yet compelling reading.

With thanks to Scribe publishing for my review copy.
]]> 30349231 We are watching. If you contact the authorities, you will never see your daughter again. There will be no second chance. With no one to trust, and mired in a deepening quicksand of deception and deadly secrets, Marc clings to one unwavering vow: bring home his daughter, at any cost.]]> 391 Harlan Coben Suz 0 to-read, owned 3.84 2003
author: Harlan Coben
name: Suz
average rating: 3.84
book published: 2003
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/05/16
shelves: to-read, owned
review:

]]> 18384135 276 Simon Chapman 1743320310 Suz 0 3.86 2013
author: Simon Chapman
name: Suz
average rating: 3.86
book published: 2013
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/05/16
shelves: to-read, library-wsu, non-fiction, owned, withdrawn-library-book
review:

]]> 219270258 From the Australian star of The Phantom of the Opera and Les Misérables.

My book includes many of the lessons, learnings and wisdoms I found while trying to work out who I really am. Some I formulated, others I stumbled across while reading numerous philosophical, spiritual and self-help books over the years. Others are from the various coaches, teachers, gurus, guides, mentors, therapists and philosophers who have helped me grow through the ups and downs of life and self-discovery. Some have come through my podcast, Behind the Mask. My intention is not only to give you a backstage VIP tour of my musical theatre world, but also to provide you with some useful tools to help navigate life, find deeper meaning, explore a growth mindset, and ensure it's all done with a touch of humour.

Ultimately, I would like to help you step out from behind the masks you wear, the persona you have created. I want to give you the strategies and the confidence to understand and accept who you really are - because until you ditch the distractions and learn to love yourself as 'nobody', you will never truly love yourself as 'somebody'. You need to understand who you always were before you can realise who you might become.]]> 189 Josh Piterman 1760689742 Suz 3 4.22
author: Josh Piterman
name: Suz
average rating: 4.22
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2025/05/14
date added: 2025/05/14
shelves: 2025, aussie-author, echo-publishing, non-fiction, memoir, owned
review:

]]> 222039241 Four friends. One secret. And the cult that could burn them all.

High school friends Lani, Tinker, Maya and Stig were inseparable until an unthinkable act shook the group. Now in their thirties, three of the friends are still close while Stig has disappeared completely, unable to face what happened in high school. With Lani’s wedding fast approaching, she is determined to bring the group back together. This leads them to a spiritual retreat where Stig has been living off-the-grid, and to Stig’s enigmatic partner – or leader – Acharya.

Is it too late to save Stig from himself? And will bringing him back into the fold threaten the silence that has been keeping them safe all these years?

PRAISE FOR WE’RE NOT US WITHOUT YOU
‘A darkly compelling and addictive drama about the ties of friendship and the dangers of blind belief.’ – Christine Gregory, author of The Community]]> Christine Keighery 1761153528 Suz 3
The strong feelings I had for the cult leader was the best part, my feelings building, the indignation and seeing the easy way the weak followers fell under her spell. It’s always clear the greed and power is what gets these people off, and this particular leader had revenge and payback on her radar for some poor people in her past. I did find it hard to push through at times, but the venom and malice component balanced this.

With my thanks to the all at Ultimo for my review copy.]]> 3.27
author: Christine Keighery
name: Suz
average rating: 3.27
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2025/05/13
date added: 2025/05/13
shelves: 2025, aussie-author, aww, owned, sent-from-publisher, ultimo-press, z
review:
Cults always fascinate me. I’ve read many fictional stories on this theme, as well as an excellent nonfiction title. The leader in this one, turn coat Acharya was all things creepy, venomous and simply evil. I found the book to be quite slow burn for the first half, finding myself wanting it to really pick up, but did feel more satisfied in the second half.

The strong feelings I had for the cult leader was the best part, my feelings building, the indignation and seeing the easy way the weak followers fell under her spell. It’s always clear the greed and power is what gets these people off, and this particular leader had revenge and payback on her radar for some poor people in her past. I did find it hard to push through at times, but the venom and malice component balanced this.

With my thanks to the all at Ultimo for my review copy.
]]> 75100441
When Kirsty Fox goes on the run to escape a crash-and-burn at work, she finds a family she didn't know she needed... A witty and warm rural romance perfect for readers of Rachael Johns and Alissa Callen.


They say change is as good as a holiday. Joey Miles is hoping so after leaving the city behind, his stockbroking career in flames, to embrace a brand-new challenge: farming. But while returning to his hometown somehow feels right, he's got a long way to go to get back on his feet financially and the last thing he needs is the townsfolk meddling in his love life (or lack thereof).

To the townsfolk of Clarence, Joey has always been the ultimate tragic romantic hero - and it's time this hero had a happy ever after...

But Kirsty Fox is only in Clarence to dig up information about a World War II figure from her family's past - she has no intention of sticking around and finding out if Joey is as adorable as he seems. Kirsty doesn't stick around. Ever.

But when the locals of Clarence spy the chemistry between these two, a secret item gets added to the agenda of the next town committee meeting: matchmaking. This warm-hearted community will pull every trick in the book to show Joey and Kristy everything they've unwittingly been searching for is right under their noses... What could possibly go wrong?

Chicken wrangling, an adorable kid niece, a secret in a cow shed and a big-hearted town full of meddlesome wannabe poets... This new romance from Australian author Stella Quinn is a knockout.]]> 13 Stella Quinn Suz 3
Kirsty Fox is a young firecracker of a woman, a pilot working for a medical transportation service, she is capable, hardworking, and stubborn. After a landing incident that rocks her confidence, and sparks issues from a past childhood trauma, she contemplates running away like she always has; after all, her mother has always spoken of the ‘Fox curse’ that has plagued her small family. Her mother has a gambling addiction, and as an older lady, this did not always come across as authentic to me. Although she was always outrunning the owed rent and bad men their entire livers, her and Kirsty were pretty much on their own, and built up a dependence and good ability to avoid problems and run if needed.

Kirsty was working when she received a call saying her mother was breaking into her house, through a window, mind you! What trouble had she gotten herself into? Fast forward a little and we see the senior Ms Fox knitting tea cozies. It was nice to see her find a good hobby, one that did not involve pouring her money into a pokie machine.

Kirsty ends up on a mission after receiving a suitcase and inheritance from an unknown grandmother – this little bump in the road takes her to other parts of the country and into the path of lovely Joey, who is setting up a farm stay property after problems in his stockbroking career, and returns him home where he had been avoiding for good measure; the entire town was gossipy and wanting to set him up with all and sundry. When Kirsty agrees to free board in return for labour, the town is rather excited.

Of course, the country folk love Kirsty and this feel good story doesn’t fail to deliver. Not a hefty amount of substance, but a happy easy read which is not heavy on any accounts. Romance readers will enjoy this.]]> 3.50
author: Stella Quinn
name: Suz
average rating: 3.50
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2022/12/25
date added: 2025/05/13
shelves: aussie-author, aww, gift-from-goodreads-friend, library-at-the-hub, 2022, borrowbox, gave-away
review:
A sweet simple love story that takes us from Lismore to Sydney to Port Augusta ending in Clarence, NSW. The author’s acknowledgements mention the connection to places and people and her choices for the settings, which is always a nice plus. She holds significant importance to these areas and people, and her sixth-grade teacher, which was lovely.

Kirsty Fox is a young firecracker of a woman, a pilot working for a medical transportation service, she is capable, hardworking, and stubborn. After a landing incident that rocks her confidence, and sparks issues from a past childhood trauma, she contemplates running away like she always has; after all, her mother has always spoken of the ‘Fox curse’ that has plagued her small family. Her mother has a gambling addiction, and as an older lady, this did not always come across as authentic to me. Although she was always outrunning the owed rent and bad men their entire livers, her and Kirsty were pretty much on their own, and built up a dependence and good ability to avoid problems and run if needed.

Kirsty was working when she received a call saying her mother was breaking into her house, through a window, mind you! What trouble had she gotten herself into? Fast forward a little and we see the senior Ms Fox knitting tea cozies. It was nice to see her find a good hobby, one that did not involve pouring her money into a pokie machine.

Kirsty ends up on a mission after receiving a suitcase and inheritance from an unknown grandmother – this little bump in the road takes her to other parts of the country and into the path of lovely Joey, who is setting up a farm stay property after problems in his stockbroking career, and returns him home where he had been avoiding for good measure; the entire town was gossipy and wanting to set him up with all and sundry. When Kirsty agrees to free board in return for labour, the town is rather excited.

Of course, the country folk love Kirsty and this feel good story doesn’t fail to deliver. Not a hefty amount of substance, but a happy easy read which is not heavy on any accounts. Romance readers will enjoy this.
]]> 44646576
Five years after it began, a handful of scattered survivors remains, including Malorie and her two young children. Living in an abandoned house near the river, she has dreamed of fleeing to a place where they might be safe. Now that the boy and girl are four, it's time to go, but the journey ahead will be terrifying: twenty miles downriver in a rowboat—blindfolded—with nothing to rely on but her wits and the children's trained ears. One wrong choice and they will die. Something is following them all the while, but is it man, animal, or monster?

Interweaving past and present, Bird Box is a snapshot of a world unraveled that will have you racing to the final page.]]> 272 Josh Malerman 0062259652 Suz 0 to-read, have-seen-the-movie 4.06 2014
author: Josh Malerman
name: Suz
average rating: 4.06
book published: 2014
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/05/13
shelves: to-read, have-seen-the-movie
review:

]]> 211145843 21 Rules for Not Catching Feelings, she knows better than most about the perils of falling in love.

On arrival at the island wedding destination, Fred is delighted to discover that the groom’s hot muso son Leo is just as set against the wedding as she is. Together, they come up with ‘Operation Break-Up’ to prevent their parents from making what they believe will be a catastrophic mistake.

But as Fred and Leo get to know each other better, their unexpected feelings for each other create further complications, and Fred is forced to rethink her own rigid rules about romance and family. Maybe not every relationship has to play by the book, and could Fred become the star in a romcom of her own?

A heart-warming friends-to-lovers romance about the magic and mayhem of weddings – and what happens when everything you thought you knew about love is turned upside down.]]> 382 Rachael Johns 1761341758 Suz 0 3.95 2025
author: Rachael Johns
name: Suz
average rating: 3.95
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/05/12
shelves: 2025, aww, aussie-author, have-met-the-author, owned, signed-copy, written-by-gr-friend, written-by-insta-friend, to-read
review:

]]> 33384031 Take a hilarious road trip into the Australian outback in this witty romantic comedy, with an enticing family mystery thrown in!When Amber Jones wakes up in her sister Sage's speeding car, with no idea how she got there (though the hangover is a clue), all she wants to do is go home. But Sage is convinced a road trip to Alice Springs will finally answer the burning who is Amber’s father? Because nine months before Amber’s birth, her late mother Goldie made the same trip . . . Armed with just a name and Goldie’s diaries, Amber agrees to search for a man she’s never met in one of the world’s biggest deserts.And that means spending two weeks in a convoy of four-wheel-driving tourists and camping in freezing desert nights. To make matters worse, her fellow travellers hate her and the handsome tour leader Tom thinks she’s an alcoholic.But slowly the desert starts to reveal its secrets - and Amber must decide which horizon to follow . . .]]> 352 Janette Paul 0143783092 Suz 0 4.01
author: Janette Paul
name: Suz
average rating: 4.01
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/05/12
shelves: to-read, aww, aussie-author, have-met-the-author, signed-copy, written-by-gr-friend, lost
review:

]]> 61226735
Each story is anchored, at its heart, in what it means to be human: grief, loss, pain and love. A young woman is faced with a difficult choice about her pregnancy in a community ravaged by doubt. An engineer working on a solar shield protecting the Earth shares memories of their lover with an AI companion. Two archivists must decide what is worth saving when the world is flooded by rising sea levels. In a heavily policed state that preferences the human and punishes the different, a mother gives herself up to save her transgenic child.

These transformative stories are both epic and granular, and forever astonishing in their imaginative detail, sense of revelation and emotional connection. They herald the arrival of a stunning new voice.]]> 264 Else Fitzgerald 1761065696 Suz 4
Such a unique reading experience for this reader where I feel I encountered a speculative dystopian short story compilation centering on the mess Australia has made of climate control. I don't know how to better describe!

AI characters, human individuals requiring permits to breed, no water to launder clothing, birthing children a risk to everyone involved - how does one live in a world where there is no food or water - and in some instances, only for the rich. This divide between rich and poor; prosper or die is confronting. This is startling reading, but very clever and original writing.

In the audio format each chapter alternated between a male and female narrator, a couple of the stories were narrated by the voice of an artificial voice, an AI being typing, where the keystrokes form the background of the robotic voice. My nit picky observations prevailed - I touch type loudly and the sound effects were not en pointe, but no biggie.

One AI voice was trying to read the human's emotion, while using emotive language comparing the botanists heart (who was making notes on a tree's physical condiiton), from flailing to dying. Struggle to death. She was trying to capture the man's heart's feelings whilst describing an avacado seed to descrbe his central organ inside of his body.

The world is no longer fertile, it is barren. The overarching message to this unique piece of work is that yes, reallyeverything feels like the end of the world.

I found this not likeable, but compelling, and yet very good writing. I'd say young readers will embrace this, and relate to the mess the world is in. Not ten year olds, but kids that are smart and can see what's happening to the planet. Not everyone will like this but it is important, distinctive and affecting.

This is hectic, unusual, serious and troubling in a very small package that I pondered quite deeply upon, moreso than enjoyed. There was nothing light about it.

With my sincere thanks as always to Allen & Unwin Australia for my uncorrected proof copy.]]> 3.66 2022
author: Else Fitzgerald
name: Suz
average rating: 3.66
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2022/10/25
date added: 2025/05/11
shelves: 2022, arc, aussie-author, aww, hardcopyarc, sent-from-publisher, won, library-merri-bek, audio-overdrive, allen-and-unwin, gave-away, uncorrected-proof, wish-list
review:
3.5 stars.

Such a unique reading experience for this reader where I feel I encountered a speculative dystopian short story compilation centering on the mess Australia has made of climate control. I don't know how to better describe!

AI characters, human individuals requiring permits to breed, no water to launder clothing, birthing children a risk to everyone involved - how does one live in a world where there is no food or water - and in some instances, only for the rich. This divide between rich and poor; prosper or die is confronting. This is startling reading, but very clever and original writing.

In the audio format each chapter alternated between a male and female narrator, a couple of the stories were narrated by the voice of an artificial voice, an AI being typing, where the keystrokes form the background of the robotic voice. My nit picky observations prevailed - I touch type loudly and the sound effects were not en pointe, but no biggie.

One AI voice was trying to read the human's emotion, while using emotive language comparing the botanists heart (who was making notes on a tree's physical condiiton), from flailing to dying. Struggle to death. She was trying to capture the man's heart's feelings whilst describing an avacado seed to descrbe his central organ inside of his body.

The world is no longer fertile, it is barren. The overarching message to this unique piece of work is that yes, reallyeverything feels like the end of the world.

I found this not likeable, but compelling, and yet very good writing. I'd say young readers will embrace this, and relate to the mess the world is in. Not ten year olds, but kids that are smart and can see what's happening to the planet. Not everyone will like this but it is important, distinctive and affecting.

This is hectic, unusual, serious and troubling in a very small package that I pondered quite deeply upon, moreso than enjoyed. There was nothing light about it.

With my sincere thanks as always to Allen & Unwin Australia for my uncorrected proof copy.
]]> 6766161 400 Susan Duncan 1863256482 Suz 0 3.72 2008
author: Susan Duncan
name: Suz
average rating: 3.72
book published: 2008
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/05/11
shelves: to-read, aussie-author, aww, memoir, non-fiction, library-ipswich, gave-away, have-met-the-author
review:

]]> 451964 254 Bronwyn Donaghy 0207191840 Suz 0 3.52 1996
author: Bronwyn Donaghy
name: Suz
average rating: 3.52
book published: 1996
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/05/11
shelves: to-read, aww, aussie-author, non-fiction, withdrawn-library-book, gave-away
review:

]]> 59697105
When Frances meets Leo, a boat-loving immigrant from Italy, she falls in love. Local attitudes and something more sinister tear them apart. To what lengths will Frances go to find her brother and the man she loves?

The woman code-named Funnel Web bears little resemblance to innocent Frances Davies.

Home beckons… and those who betrayed her true love should pay attention.

A page-turning epic historical adventure that starts in Australia and travels the world through the eyes of Frances, code named Funnel Web.]]> 250 Camille Booker 064508445X Suz 0 to-read 4.47 2021
author: Camille Booker
name: Suz
average rating: 4.47
book published: 2021
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/05/09
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 201294595 Part memoir, part explosive window into the mind of a catfisher, a thrilling personal account of three women coming face-to-face with an internet predator and teaming up to expose them

In 2011 three successful and highly educated women fell head over heels for the brilliant and charming Ethan Schuman. Unbeknownst to the others, each exchanged countless messages with Ethan, staying up late into the evenings to deepen their connections with this fascinating man. His detailed excuses about broken webcams and complicated international calling plans seemed believable, as did last-minute trip cancellations. After all, why would he lie? Ethan wasn't after money—he never convinced his marks to shell out thousands of dollars for some imagined crisis. Rather, he ensnared these women in a web of intense emotional intimacy.

After the trio independently began to question inconsistencies in their new flame's stories, they managed to find one another and uncover a greater deception than they could have ever imagined. As Anna Akbari and the women untangled their catfish’s web, they found other victims and realized that without a proper crime, there was no legal reason for “Ethan” to ever stop.

There is No Ethan catalogues Akbari's experience as both victim and observer. By looking at the bigger picture—a world where technology mediates our relationships; where words and images are easily manipulated; and where truth, reality, and identity have become slippery terms—Akbari provides an explanation for why these stories matter.]]> 304 Anna Akbari 1538742195 Suz 0 3.55 2024
author: Anna Akbari
name: Suz
average rating: 3.55
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/05/07
shelves: to-read, 2024, america, non-fiction, memoir, audio-libby, library-can-ban
review:

]]> 221544394 The first thrilling mystery in the new North Falls series from Karin Slaughter, New York Times bestselling author of Pretty Girls and the Will Trent series.

Welcome to North Falls—a small town where everyone knows everyone. Or so they think.

Until the night of the fireworks. When two teenage girls vanish, and the town ignites.

For Officer Emmy Clifton, it’s personal. She turned away when her best friend's daughter needed help—and now she must bring her home.

But as Emmy combs through the puzzle the girls left behind, she realizes she never really knew them. Nobody did.

Every teenage girl has secrets. But who would kill for them? And what else is the town hiding?]]> 448 Karin Slaughter 0063336774 Suz 0 to-read, 2025 4.37 2025
author: Karin Slaughter
name: Suz
average rating: 4.37
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/05/06
shelves: to-read, 2025
review:

]]> 217163697 "The world is full of miracles, but none greater than how far a young person can be carried by someone else's belief in them."

Most people don’t even notice them—three tiny figures sitting at the end of a long pier in the corner of one of the most famous paintings in the world. Most people think it’s just a depiction of a wide expanse of sea. But Louisa, soon to be eighteen years old and an aspiring artist herself, knows otherwise. She is determined to find out the story behind these three enigmatic figures.

More than two decades before, in a distant seaside town, a group of teenagers find refuge from their bruising home lives by spending long summer days on an abandoned pier telling silly jokes, sharing secrets, and committing small acts of rebellion. These lost souls find in each other a reason to get up every morning, a reason to dream, a reason to love.

Out of that summer emerges a transcendent work of art, a painting that, after a chance encounter in an alleyway, will unexpectedly be placed into Louisa’s care. She embarks on a surprise-filled cross-country journey to discover how the painting came to be and to decide what to do with it. The closer she gets to the painting’s birthplace, the more anxious she becomes about what she'll find. Louisa's complicated life is proof that happy endings are sometimes possible, but they don't always take the form we expect them to.

Fredrik Backman's signature charm, humor, and attention to the poignant details of everyday life are on full display in this funny, moving novel. His most heartfelt and personal tale yet, My Friends is a stunning testament to the transformative, timeless power of art and friendship.]]> 436 Fredrik Backman 1982112824 Suz 0 2025, to-read 4.48 2025
author: Fredrik Backman
name: Suz
average rating: 4.48
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/05/05
shelves: 2025, to-read
review:

]]> 3240804 256 Stephanie Alexander 0670886637 Suz 0 3.97 2000
author: Stephanie Alexander
name: Suz
average rating: 3.97
book published: 2000
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/05/05
shelves: aussie-author, aww, hardcover, owned, non-fiction, currently-reading
review:

]]> 36204320
"By turns painful and funny... A searingly candid memoir." -- Kirkus

"Far from your cookie-cutter story of addiction . . . [ I'm Just Happy to Be Here ] describes Hanchett's journey to recovery and sobriety in imperfect and unconventional ways." -- Bustle

In this unflinching and wickedly funny memoir, Janelle Hanchett tells the story of finding her way home. And then, actually staying there. Drawing us into the wild, heartbreaking mind of the addict, Hanchett carries us from motherhood at 21 with a man she'd known three months to cubicles and whiskey-laden domesticity, from judging meth addicts in rehab to therapists who "seem to pull diagnoses out of large, expensive hats." With warmth, wit, and searing B.S. detectors turned mostly toward herself, Hanchett invites us to laugh when we probably shouldn't and to rejoice at the unconventional redemption she finds in desperation and in a misfit mentor who forces her to see the truth of herself.

A story of ego and forced humility, of fierce honesty and jagged love, of the kind of failure that forces us to re-create our lives, Hanchett writes with rare candor, scorching the "sanctity of motherhood," and leaving beauty in the ashes.]]> 320 Janelle Hanchett 0316503770 Suz 0 4.07 2018
author: Janelle Hanchett
name: Suz
average rating: 4.07
book published: 2018
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/05/04
shelves: to-read, audio-libby, library-central-highlands, memoir, non-fiction, alcohol
review:

]]> 29626641
Lily hasn't always had it easy, but that's never stopped her from working hard for the life she wants. She's come a long way from the small town in Maine where she grew up - she graduated from college, moved to Boston, and started her own business. So when she feels a spark with a gorgeous neurosurgeon named Ryle Kincaid, everything in Lily's life suddenly seems almost too good to be true.

Ryle is assertive, stubborn, and maybe even a little arrogant. He's also sensitive, brilliant, and has a total soft spot for Lily, but Ryle's complete aversion to relationships is disturbing.

As questions about her new relationship overwhelm her, so do thoughts of Atlas Corrigan - her first love and a link to the past she left behind. He was her kindred spirit, her protector. When Atlas suddenly reappears, everything Lily has built with Ryle is threatened.

With this bold and deeply personal novel, Colleen Hoover delivers a heart-wrenching story that breaks exciting new ground for her as a writer. It Ends With Us is an unforgettable tale of love that comes at the ultimate price.

This book contains graphic scenes and very sensitive subject matter..]]> 378 Colleen Hoover 1471156265 Suz 5
I read Confess a couple of years ago, did the whole ‘I’m too old for CoHo’ ra ra ra thing. So dismissive. This week I’ve had some solo time deciding to watch the movie, which I LOVED (Blake Lively and the clothes, the hair. Loved it all).

The book was great, I could tell from the dedication there was something behind this story ~ please do listen/read the acknowledgements.

I listened to this one as well as flicking through my physical copy. Yes, the writing is far from literary, but as I do with Danielle Steel on my summer beach holidays, I consume easy stories enjoying their ease and comfort.

The reflective perspective of Lily and her relationship with her first love via the diary entries were clever (I had no idea of this having watched the movie first). I loved that Lily and Atlas had a *special thing* in Finding Nemo, I loved the imagery of the flowers, first love, desperation in Lily to find the good, the kindness and the friendship. I really just fancied this book.

How good is the Libby app and coming across this book on my second hand shopping at the beach at Christmastime? An unexpected treasure - oh, and my first born is the gorgeous Rylee - how excited was I too see this pop up. ]]> 4.05 2016
author: Colleen Hoover
name: Suz
average rating: 4.05
book published: 2016
rating: 5
read at: 2025/04/24
date added: 2025/05/04
shelves: have-seen-the-movie, audio-libby, library-yarra-plenty
review:
All the stars.

I read Confess a couple of years ago, did the whole ‘I’m too old for CoHo’ ra ra ra thing. So dismissive. This week I’ve had some solo time deciding to watch the movie, which I LOVED (Blake Lively and the clothes, the hair. Loved it all).

The book was great, I could tell from the dedication there was something behind this story ~ please do listen/read the acknowledgements.

I listened to this one as well as flicking through my physical copy. Yes, the writing is far from literary, but as I do with Danielle Steel on my summer beach holidays, I consume easy stories enjoying their ease and comfort.

The reflective perspective of Lily and her relationship with her first love via the diary entries were clever (I had no idea of this having watched the movie first). I loved that Lily and Atlas had a *special thing* in Finding Nemo, I loved the imagery of the flowers, first love, desperation in Lily to find the good, the kindness and the friendship. I really just fancied this book.

How good is the Libby app and coming across this book on my second hand shopping at the beach at Christmastime? An unexpected treasure - oh, and my first born is the gorgeous Rylee - how excited was I too see this pop up.
]]> 223342510 The townsfolk live in a state of controlled disharmony, until a mysterious celestial body falls from the sky and throws the township into a tailspin.
An accomplished solicitor plagued by self-doubt. A Mayor at war with the local press. A British publican struggling to make her heritage-listed hotel profitable. An idealistic waitress yearning to leave town. A former Wallaby searching for immortality. A nefarious youth on his last warning. To say nothing of an insurance scam, a parking fine, frontal-lobe damage, a scandalous affair, a handsome visitor from Houston, a lively town hall debate, Freddie Mercury and bandicoots. Plenty of bandicoots.]]> 245 Peter Hunt Suz 0 to-read, 2025 4.67
author: Peter Hunt
name: Suz
average rating: 4.67
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/05/04
shelves: to-read, 2025
review:

]]> 15755512 300 Michael Brissenden 0702248460 Suz 0 4.14 2012
author: Michael Brissenden
name: Suz
average rating: 4.14
book published: 2012
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/05/01
shelves: to-read, america, aussie-author, non-fiction, z
review:

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