Our team loves to read, and diving into their most recent favourites provides a true melting pot of literature.<\/p>\n
We checked in with everyone to get their latest recommendations, and we’ve now got something from almost every genre (and a fair few from the fantasy\/romantasy genres<\/a>). \ufeffWe’ve also got two trilogy recommendations, some prize-winning fiction<\/a>, and a memoir described as ‘gutwrenching’<\/a>.<\/p>\n So, lean into the rest of the cold, grey winter by curling up with one of these reads at home.\ufeff<\/p>\n NOTE: Prices are accurate at time of publishing.\ufeff<\/p>\n My Year of Rest and Relaxation<\/a>, Ottessa Moshfegh<\/p>\n “I’m currently reading the cult favourite My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh<\/a>, and it’s a wild ride. The narrator and the book’s premise are so ridiculous that I can’t help but be entertained. The novel’s weirdly relatable look at life has me constantly wondering if I could give up everything society expects of me and still find happiness.” \u2013 Emily<\/p>\n The Bee Sting<\/a>, Paul Murray\ufeff<\/p>\n “I’ve just started The Bee Sting<\/a> by Paul Murray. I told myself I wouldn’t buy any new books for a while, but then I tried a sample on Kindle and was completely hooked and couldn’t not buy it.” \u2013 Kahla<\/p>\n Skipshock<\/a>, Caroline O’Donoghue\ufeff<\/p>\n “I also recently read Skipshock by Caroline O’Donoghue<\/a> and loved it \u2013 it’s a sci-fi fantasy romance, so a genre I don’t tend to read very often, but I found it so engaging and the concept was fascinating. It also felt very political and current and gave me a lot of food for thought.” \u2013 Kahla<\/p>\n The Broken Earth Trilogy<\/a>, N.K. Jemisin\ufeff<\/p>\n “I recently finished The Broken Earth trilogy (The Fifth Season<\/a>, The Obelisk Gate<\/a> and The Stone Sky<\/a>) by N.K. Jemisin and it blew my mind. Reading a book that centres on a mother and daughter facing the end of the world from opposite sides of a magical war wasn’t something I expected to enjoy as much as I did. I’ve never read such a unique, expansive fantasy series, and I can see why so many readers rave about it, especially because it has such a different spin on the classic fantasy plot.” \u2013 Maddison<\/p>\n The Eyes of Gaza: A Diary of Resilience<\/a>, Plestia Alaqad<\/p>\n “The Eyes of Gaza: A Diary of Resilience<\/a> by Plestia Alaqad was the kind of book that made me sit back and take stock of my own life and how lucky I am. A newly minted journalist who was visiting her home in Gaza when the Israel-Hamas conflict broke out, Alaqad journaled everything she witnessed while living and working in a war zone for months before she was evacuated to Australia. It’s gut-wrenching to hear how her narrative voice changes as the war goes on, but I think this is a really important piece of literature.” \u2013 Maddison<\/p>\n I Who Have Never Known Men<\/a>, Jacqueline Harpman<\/p>\n “I devoured I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman<\/a> in two days, and it honestly would’ve been a five-star read if it hadn’t left me with more questions than answers! I think that’s the point of this book, though, and if you’re looking for a short novel that will make you think, this is the one to pick up.” \u2013 Maddison<\/p>\n Brutes<\/a>, Dizz Tate\ufeff<\/p>\n “I just finished Brutes by Dizz Tate<\/a>. Truly a hypnotic read, you’re sucked into the sickly-sweet, lipsticked realm of pre-teen girls obsessed with secrets and their own individual darkness. Whilst the plot is anchored around the disappearance of the preacher’s daughter, the girls’ coming-of-age pains are so brutal and not picture-perfect that I was compellingly overwhelmed by this more sinister representation of girlhood and the experiences that build and break it. I like a story that isn’t wrapped in a pretty bow with an equally ‘pretty’ ending!” \u2013 Polly<\/p>\n When Breath Becomes Air<\/a>, Paul Kalanithi<\/p>\n \ufeff”This is an oldie, published in 2016, but still relevant today: When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi<\/a>. Kalanithi is a neurosurgeon who was diagnosed with stage IV metastatic lung cancer. His book attempts to answer the question ‘What makes a life worth living?’ as he reflects on his work, patients, family and life. It is gutwrenching. I had to take several breaks from sobbing. It’s great. Highly recommend.” \u2013 Sindy<\/p>\n The Elements Series<\/a>, John Boyne \ufeff<\/p>\n “I just read the John Boyne series Water<\/a>, Earth<\/a> and Fire<\/a>. They’re the best books I have read in years. The fourth in the series comes out this month, Air. This is the Irish author who wrote The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas<\/a> and The Heart’s Invisible Furies<\/a>. They are confronting, but so well written.” \u2013 Shauna<\/p>\n The Secret History<\/a>, Donna Tartt\ufeff<\/p>\n “After getting back into reading and vowing to read the classics, I’m currently about 5\/6ths of the way through Donna Tartt’s The Secret History<\/a>, which was recommended to me by a friend. Admittedly, it’s a hard read to start. Still, I’ve gotten so sucked into this group of misfit university students exploring the consequences of their pretentious ways of living, I can’t put it down. It’s enthralling, clever, gets you laughing, and gives you chills at the right moments. The perfect read if you’re into that dark, gothic genre.” \u2013 Josh.\ufeff<\/p>\n A Forbidden Alchemy<\/a>, Stacey McEwan<\/p>\n “I tore through A Forbidden Alchemy by Stacey McEwan<\/a> on my most recent holiday. It started a little slow, but as soon as the plot got going, I was hooked. The twist mid-way through the book totally blindsided me, and I read the second half so fast just wanting to know how it would play out \u2013 only to be left on a massive cliff-hanger. Such a fun read, and I can’t wait for the sequel.” \u2013 Maddison<\/p>\n READ MORE: From BookTok to New York Times bestseller: How Aussie teacher Stacey McEwan defied the odds\ufeff<\/a><\/p>\n Quicksilver<\/a>, Callie Hart\ufeff<\/p>\n