June Reading Guide | Page 7

SANDWICH
Catherine Newman
$ 34.99
available 11 june
For the past two decades , Rocky has looked forward to her family ’ s yearly escape to Cape Cod . Their rustic beach-town rental has been the site of sweet memories , its quirky furniture and mismatched pots and pans greeted like old friends . Now , sandwiched between her children who are adult enough to be fun but still young enough to need her , and her parents who are alive and healthy , Rocky wants to preserve this golden moment forever – this one precious week when everything is in balance ; everything is in flux . But every family has its secrets and hers is no exception . With her body in open revolt and surprises invading her peaceful haven , the perfectly balanced seesaw of Rocky ’ s life is tipping towards change ...
BRIEFLY VERY BEAUTIFUL
Roz Dineen
$ 32.99
available 4 june
In a city rocked by global catastrophe , home-grown terrorism , shortages and wildfires , Cass is quietly raising three small children by herself . Her husband , Nathaniel , has left to serve as a medic in a war overseas . As life in the city becomes
increasingly impossible , Cass knows she can no longer wait for Nathaniel ’ s return . Packing up their lives , she and the children set off in search of a place of greater safety . But Cass will learn that not all sanctuaries are what they seem and as the fires around them begin to close in , she ’ ll discover just how far she ’ ll go for her children . Sensual , claustrophobic and vivid , Briefly Very Beautiful announces the arrival of a major new talent .
THE LITTLE CLOTHES
Deborah Callaghan
$ 34.99
available 11 june
When you are heading towards 40 and people start to notice you a little bit less , what do you do with your new powers of invisibility ? Audrey Mendes is a clever lawyer but has never made partner . Her weeks are filled with long hours in the office , visits to her ageing parents , trivia nights at the local pub and evenings at home with her pet rabbit , Joni . When Audrey tries to buy wine at the pub she is ignored and walks out without paying . One thing leads to another , and soon she starts rebelling in small and creative ways against a world in which she is unseen – until a painful reminder from her childhood pushes her into a reckoning . All the while there ’ s a potential romance and an eccentric new neighbour to deal with . And why does Audrey buy extravagant baby clothes when she doesn ’ t have a child ? Wry , humorous and provocative , this is an affectionate novel about sorting out the past , grabbing onto life and claiming your place in it .
ALLOW ME TO INTRODUCE MYSELF
Onyi Nwabineli
$ 32.99
available 4 june
Anuri ’ s stepmother , Ophelia , is the ultimate ‘ mumfluencer ’, cataloguing every minute , milestone and carefully curated family outing on social media , cultivating a devoted following . Now 25-years-old , life looks pretty perfect on the outside for Anuri . Ophelia ’ s fans could be forgiven for wondering why Anuri spends much of her time insulting men online for money , battling the call of alcohol , running from a PhD application , and reminding herself that she is now allowed to choose her own outfits . But when she sees her little sister being pushed down the same rocky path , she decides to take back control . Her stepmother , however , isn ’ t giving up without a fight . Put away your phone and get ready to rethink your ‘ harmless ’ social media habit , in this darkly hilarious page-turner from an exciting new voice .
THE SKELETON HOUSE
Katherine Allum
$ 34.99
available 4 june
Meg ’ s life is woven into the fabric of St Stephens . It ’ s a tapestry made of two precious children , a hidden truth and
a husband whose ideas of a perfect wife do not match her own . When Meg puts her foot down on a third kid , gets a job and is empowered by the same book group that was meant to keep her in her place , her marriage begins to disintegrate . Set in a tiny Mormon community , Katherine Allum ’ s awardwinning debut novel , The Skeleton House pulls back the layers on a seemingly perfect family and explores the fierceness of a mother ’ s love and the power that comes with never forgetting who you really are .
BLUE SISTERS
Coco Mellors
$ 34.99
available 5 june
Avery , a strait-laced lawyer living in London , is the typical eldest daughter , though she ’ s hiding a secret that could undo her perfect life forever . Bonnie was a boxer but , following a devastating defeat , she ’ s been working as a bouncer in L . A . – until a reckless act one night threatens to drive her out of the city . And Lucky , the rebellious youngest , is a model in Paris whose hard-partying ways are finally catching up with her . Then there was Nicky , the beloved fourth sister , whose unexpected death left Avery , Bonnie and Lucky reeling . When , a year later , the three of them must reunite in New York to stop the sale of their childhood home , they find that it ’ s only by returning to each other that they can navigate their grief , addiction and heartbreak and learn to fall in love with life again .

stella selection
FEAST
Emily O ’ Grady
$ 32.99
Shortlisted for the 2024 Stella Prize .
17-year-old Neve packs her bags and moves to Scotland with her somewhat aloof father , Patrick , and her mysterious stepmother , Alison . Neve plans to stay for a year . To celebrate his daughter ’ s 18th birthday , Patrick , a musician past his prime , plans a feast at their Scottish Highlands manor .
The whole family , including Neve ’ s mother Shannon , who arrives from Australia for the big occasion , gather in the old house to celebrate the young woman coming of age .
Alison , an actor who hasn ’ t worked in years , is keeping a secret . Neve , despite appearances , has a darkness of her own . And Shannon has motives beyond her daughter ’ s birthday : to be in the same house as Patrick and his new partner . And in the days before the feast , all will unravel .
In her second novel , O ’ Grady carefully dissects family dynamics and the poisonous effect of secrets . The award-winning author prompts readers to contemplate the motives and storylines of each character – is it as simple as saying who is right and who is wrong ? Can we really measure Alison ’ s , Neve ’ s , and Shannon ’ s actions through this lens or is there a much more nuanced option to gauge them ?
O ’ Grady is no novice to exploring family dynamics . In her first novel , The Yellow House ( 2018 ), she explores how trauma , loyalty and betrayal shape future generations . In Feast , trauma , death and ageing pique our attention , page after page .
The 2024 Stella Prize judges defined Feast as a ‘ perfect jewel of a novel ’. They said :
‘ In Feast , O ’ Grady deploys a tight quorum of characters to the Scottish Highlands for the novel ’ s titular meal , bringing together the quintessential “ mixed blessing ” family . While events take place over a few brief days , the story unearths complexities , secrets , derelictions and joys that span decades and occupy the seamy continuum between good and evil , dignity and contempt , life and death . Told from the perspectives of three connected women , Feast reminds us not so much to be wary of unreliable narrators , but of the deep subjectivity of moral value , the unsettling implication that we are – each of us – capable of committing and condoning so much , without ever abandoning our complex humanity and undeniable fragility .’
about stella
Stella is the voice of change . Founded in 2012 , the organisation ’ s flagship program is the annual Stella Prize . Each year the Stella Prize is committed to recognising the best books by Australian women and non-binary writers . The judging terms are that the winning book be excellent , original and engaging .
4 | june 2024 australian author hardback paperback flexi board book 5-8 kids age range