Books & Media

A beautiful, thoughtful guide to finding your perfect next read, no matter what life’s throwing at you, from the founder of Aphra a.k.a. ‘your inclusive AF feminist book club’

- Hardcover

Grieving widow or wronged wife ... which would you choose? The witty and heartwarming new novel from the bestselling author of The Scent of You
Sophie blinked and looked down again, relieved that everyone would think she was overcome with devastation at the prospect of reading her husband's eulogy, not that she was in shock, having just looked right into the eyes of his mistress.
Food stylist Sophie Crommelin has a beautiful life. Now that their two boys are grown up, she and her husband Matt - an acclaimed artist - are leaving London for a new start on England's fashionably boho south coast. But the day after the house is sold, a series of shocks leave Sophie reeling - and suddenly she's heading off to Hastings on her own.
Beau Crommelin has always been very much his father's son. Charming, beautiful and creative, he gets on with everyone and is building a name as a jewellery designer. But after Matt's sudden death, Beau finds himself on the wrong end of a scandal and everything he thought he knew about himself is called into question.
As Sophie and Beau try to find their feet, new friends and opportunities appear. But the biggest revelation is still to come ...
A deliciously warm, witty and moving story of love, family, second chances and starting over.
'Delightful ... With a cast of wonderful characters and divine settings, from London to the sea, this is a perfect summer read' Good Reading

Empower young kids with the help of the critically acclaimed Teeny Tiny Stevies

You're not the boss of what other people think,
what they say and how they exist.
You're not the boss of how someone else behaves --
the positions they take and the decisions they make.
But you ARE the boss of one thing ...
From Byll and Beth Stephen, the writers behind the ABC TV musical sensation Teeny Tiny Stevies, comes a book to show young kids everywhere their minds are their own

Paddington Bear has been delighting adults and children alike with his earnest good intentions and humorous misadventures for over sixty years. To celebrate his enduring popularity, seven best-loved classic picture books are brought together in this lavish volume, truly to be treasured!

Paddington is now a major movie star!
Paddington Bear had travelled all the way from Darkest Peru when the Brown family first met him on Paddington station. Since then their lives have never been quite the same… for ordinary things become quite extraordinary when a bear called Paddington is around.

This sumptuous treasury brings together seven of the most popular stories:

Paddington
Paddington at the Zoo
Paddington at the Palace
Paddington in the Garden
Paddington and the Marmalade Maze
Paddington the Artist
Paddington at the Tower

'Hello! I'm Costa, and welcome to my garden. Let's discover the joy of nature together.'

Flowers are the part of a plant that smiles. Flowers make us smile too!
And there are so many different kinds of flowers – all the colours of the rainbow.
Join Australia's favourite garden gnome as he shares the awe and wonder of the natural world with young readers.

A dazzling must-have picture book biography for the rabid Taylor Swift lover. Features illustrations of the pop icon, from childhood to fearless stardom, and the story of how she broke out to share her sparkle with the rest of the world.
Since the release of her self-titled first album, Taylor Swift has enchanted the world again and again. The fearless singer-songwriter empowers her listeners to be confident, brave, and expressive. This gorgeous picture book biography follows the big star from her childhood to present day. Follow Taylor’s earliest performances, her musical inspirations, and—above all else—her passion for writing and storytelling. Sweeter than fiction, Taylor’s story is the perfect collectible for every bejeweled Swiftie. There’s only one question: Are you ready for it

The year is 1859 and the goldfields are filled with diggers -- and danger!

Orphaned twelve-year-old Tigg is the Bandicoot Bushranger, the youngest bushranger on the Ballarat goldfields in 1859.
When a robbery goes wrong, Tigg must flee in disguise as one of the tens of thousands of Chinese men and boys braving heat, thirst, starvation and murderous attacks on the long road from Robe in South Australia to the goldfields in Victoria.
But even further danger threatens. Who has offered a large sum of money for Tigg's capture? And is the mysterious Henry Lau a friend or enemy?
To be safe, Tigg must solve the greatest mystery of all.
Who is Tigg?

With even more hilarious jokes, trivia, facts and cartoons, THE FARTIONARY 2: THE FOLLOW THROUGH is guaranteed to be a hit with kids everywhere!
A book with more POP, BANG and CRACKLE than a 100-year-old vintage car fuelled on baked beans!
Who farts? The why, when and how of farting ... Farting by age, location and climate ... The Whoopee Cushion ... why? All this and much, much more will be revealed by self-proclaimed fart guru to the stars, the 'Fart Whisperer' himself, ANDY JONES! Ably assisted by his go-to gas consultant, world-renowned 'fart-ologist', Dr Windee Wendy (BScGAS, PhdWind).
Science! Facts! Comedy! Rap! Poetry! All things gassy will be discussed, dissected and disposed of in this deliciously whiffy raspberry romp.
So get ready to let one rip with THE FARTIONARY 2: THE FOLLOW-THROUGH!

WINNER ABIA BOOK OF THE YEAR FOR YOUNGER READERS
'Fans of Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events will eat up Withering-by-Sea'
-- Shelf Awareness

High on a cliff above the gloomy coastal town of Withering-by-Sea stands the Hotel Majestic. Inside the walls of the damp, dull hotel, eleven-year-old orphan Stella Montgomery leads a miserable life with her three dreadful Aunts.
But one night, Stella sees something she shouldn't have ... Something that will set in motion an adventure more terrifying and more wonderful than she could ever have hoped for ...
Discover the gorgeously illustrated series that's loved by tens of thousands of readers!

The first in the Dirty Diana trilogy – a story of desire within marriage from the stars of the hit feminist erotic podcast, Dirty Diana …

'Deliciously entertaining, funny, tantalizing' Demi Moore
Diana Wood has a job she likes and a husband, Oliver, she loves. They’re in married love, which isn’t exactly the same as love love, but it’s fine.

Or is it? Is fine good enough?

With sex and intimacy more like a memory, Diana decides to rediscover the deeply feeling woman she once was, embarking on a journey of art, sensuality – and sexual fantasy.

But does rediscovering her own desires means dissolving the safe life she’s so carefully cultivated? And is it worth it…?

Intelligent, entertaining, and contemporary, Dirty Diana explores female desire in a fun and honest way – and also explores how two partners can find their way back to each other through perseverance, connection and sex.

Readers are already loving Dirty Diana…

'Absolutely loved this book. It focuses on the female desire, ambitions and needs and wants out of their lives. It looks at marriage and relationships from the point of view of a woman which I found to be a refreshing take.'

'I read this book in a day, I couldn’t put it down!'

'This is perfect for a holiday read'

Join the small community of Summerfield in this warm-hearted, charming romance about trying not to fall in love - and failing - from an award-winning Australian author. For readers of Stella Quinn and Fleur McDonald
Mackenzie Henry is happy enough with her life in the small town of Summerfield. She loves her work as a saddler, the bushland surrounding her home, and the feeling of safety her beloved grandfather brings her. She doesn't want anything-or anybody-else.
So when her grandfather asks her to lead the fight to rehabilitate land destroyed by an open-cut mine, and work in front of the camera with a Norwegian documentary-making team, Mackenzie fears her life will be tipped on its axis. And she's right. The documentary not only reignites old resentments but unearths secrets that threaten her family's reputation and her own safety. To make matters worse, the enigmatic scientist, filmmaker and adventurer Kit Thorsen is a threat to the heart Mackenzie has kept safe.
Handsome, arrogant and infuriating (read: Viking), Kit is in equal parts as fascinated and frustrated by Mackenzie's mix of independence and vulnerability as she is by his. Given the demons in both of their pasts, they should run a mile. Will the compulsion that brings them together unite them or tear them apart?
'A rural story that has it all ... simmering romance [...], a complex heroine and a swoon-worthy hero. What's not to love?' Karly Lane, bestselling Australian author

A weekend away that has lasted a century. True love's kiss can't break this spell ... A cosy, romantic fantasy mystery for all fans of Rebecca Ross, Legends and Lattes and Assistant to the Villain.

A hundred years ago, Genevieve and Oliver spent an amazing weekend together in Riverswood manor. They wished they could stay there forever ... and then their wish come true.
Blessed with immortality but trapped for eternity, the two former lovers are now thoroughly tired of one another's company. Then, one dark and stormy night, a stranger called Ella arrives with a cheery disposition and a secret that could be the key to their salvation. With the help of Ella and the return of their best friend, Fionn, Genevieve and Oliver learn more about Riverswood's tangled history.
If they can come to terms with their own feelings, and the truth that has kept them locked away, they might stand a chance at breaking this curse. True love certainly hasn't worked.
'The definition of a comfort read. Riverswood manor and Almond's cast of characters glow with the same warm depth of detail and loveability that shines from every page. Thoroughly Disenchanted revels in the power of belonging, both to people and to place. If you are on the hunt for a cosy, contemporary fantasy with a love story that foregrounds friendship (and more than a dash of heartwarming queer romance), then this is the story for you.' Sarah Street, author of A Curse of Salt

'a candid, rollicking read…roars with honesty, chaos, self-awareness, literary ambition and drunken benders.'

The Times
From Josh Brolin, a unique and decidedly un-celebrity memoir, by turns affecting, funny, uncanny, and unforgettable. A remarkable and an unforgettable read.

Weaving a latticework of different strands, moving back and forth through time, Josh Brolin captures a life marked by curiosity, pain, devotion, kindness, humor. He recounts an unconventional childhood far from Hollywood. Raised on a ranch in Paso Robles, California, he was surrounded as a child by the wolves, cougars and other wild animals gathered by his fearless and explosive mother, Jane Agee Brolin. Her tragic, early death haunts this book, and the force of her unforgettable personality is felt throughout.

Brolin also brings to life his career in the film industry —from his breakout role in The Goonies to the set of No Country for Old Men—and the professional and personal ups and downs in between and since. With unflinching honesty but also great humor, he shares insights into relationships, addiction, love and fatherhood, while letting the white space in between words speak for itself. Grappling with the mysteries of life and death in a way that will catch readers by surprise, From Under the Truck is an audacious and riveting memoir from a born writer.

With one unexpected email from her estranged best friend, Lucy, Mina Murray’s carefully curated life is turned upside down. Leaving behind her psychiatric practice in London, along with her routine and the calm it brings, she returns to the windswept shores of Wales. Faced with everything she’s left behind, she soon discovers that Lucy’s symptoms mirror those of her mysterious patient with amnesia hundreds of miles away.
With nothing but an untreatable sickness connecting the two women, and with Lucy’s life on the line, Mina finds herself asking questions and being drawn ever deeper into a web of secrets, missing girls and the powerful, nameless force at its centre — one that has been haunting her for years.
As terrible, ancient truths begin to reveal themselves, Mina prepares to confront her own darkest secrets, and with them, an evil beyond comprehension. Together with a group of smart, savvy women, Mina seizes one last, desperate chance to stop the cycle that began so long ago. But there are dangers to inviting the attentions of what might not be a man, but a monster...

Paddington Bear has been delighting adults and children alike with his earnest good intentions and humorous misadventures for more than sixty years. To celebrate his enduring popularity, six bestselling classic paperback novels are brought together in this special slipcase edition. Paddington is now a major movie star!
Paddington Bear had travelled all the way from Darkest Peru when the Brown family first met him on Paddington station. Since then their lives have never been quite the same . . . for things just seem to happen to Paddington. Wherever there is excitement to be found, whether a flooded bathroom, a DIY disaster or a kitchen calamity, Paddington is never far from the scene!

Set includes:
• A Bear Called Paddington
• More About Paddington
• Paddington Helps Out
• Paddington Goes to Town
• Paddington Here and Now
• Paddington’s Finest Hour

Dogs, puppies and more dogs!
Since Muster Dogs first hit our screens in 2022, it has captured the hearts of people worldwide. The gorgeous hard-working puppies and their dedicated breeders, educators and trainers not only charmed us, they taught us about the drive and capacity needed to work this land and feed our population.
But what really resonated with fans was the loyalty, connection and mutual dependence between dog and handler. The intuition and drive of the muster dog, whether kelpie or collie, is truly something to behold.
In this book, captured in vivid colour are the characters - both canine and human - and moments of drama that have made the show, as well as the tough but glorious locations around Australia that they call home.
With more than 200 photos of these pups at work and play - creating mischief and demonstrating mateship - this is a tribute to the uncomplaining, reliable and often unsung heroes of our land.

'Compelling, haunting and beautifully written. You'll be thinking about it long after you turn the last page!' Liane Moriarty
Two women. A tragedy on the lake. And secrets beneath the surface ... The lyrical, haunting new novel from the author of The Beautiful Words

For fans of The Lovely Bones, Before You Knew My Name and Everything I Never Told You
Paige White kayaked across the lake each morning at dawn. Someone was watching her. Many someones watched her online. But was anyone with her the day she was found?
Paige White's beautiful life is documented closely for her thousands of followers: lakeside picnics with her daughter, sunny afternoons in the family van, and romantic dinners with her husband. So when she posts an ominous image, and her body is shortly after discovered in the lake, everyone immediately wonders - suicide or foul play?
Paige finds herself suspended in a strange, idyllic place that resembles her most 'liked' Instagram post, forced to watch as life continues without her.
When Paige's death makes national news, Jane Masters, a journalist who was close to Paige in childhood, reluctantly travels home. Struggling with the morality of covering her friend's death, Jane will confront the town she left behind and the dark undercurrents that she's always known run underneath.
'Compelling, haunting and beautifully written, The Last Illusion of Paige White is a clever, page-turning modern mystery as well as a thoughtful exploration of female friendship, family dynamics and the complex impact of social media on self identity. You'll be thinking about it long after you turn the last page! ' Liane Moriarty
'An addictive read which nimbly combines a twisty small-town mystery with a thoughtful critique of influencer culture, all set against the wild, irresistible beauty of the Australian coastal landscape.' Mikki Brammer, author of The Collected Regrets of Clover
'Lyrical and evocative, and with a twisty whodunnit edge, this is Vanessa McCausland's best book yet.' Fiona Lowe
'Atmospheric and poignant' Petronella McGovern
'An ambitious and evocative novel that will appeal to both young and old. Vanessa McCausland has written a modern classic with family, friendship and beauty on the surface, and dark currents swirling beneath.' BM Carroll

Amid the rising flood waters and shearers' strike violence, can one brave woman reclaim her future? From an Australian bestselling author comes a riveting historical adventure about one woman's journey from a life of isolation to one of love and acceptance.
1894, Echuca, Victoria, Tess Hawthorn is a woman on the run from her abusive husband. All she has to do is get on the riverboat and she will be free. But with tensions at an all-time high between unionist shearers and Scabs, Tess isn't the only person trying to board a boat under the cover of night. When a brawl erupts between the union and non-union men, Tess is mistaken for a fellow Scab and in the chaos pulled aboard the PS the same boat heading up the Darling River that her husband was bound for. The last person Bram Kempster expects to see on board is Tess Hawthorn, the girl he's loved from afar since they were young. But he can't afford to get distracted, not when he's on an urgent trip to Renmark. Tess didn't want him back then and, if her haughty behaviour is anything to go by, she certainly doesn't want him now. But childhood hurts are the least of their problems. The continent is a tinderbox of violence and bloodshed waiting to ignite, and at home the Murray River is rising fast. Can they overcome their past in time to work together and survive? PRAISE FOR DARRY FRASER: Fraser has established herself as one of Australia's most loved historical fiction authors. The Milliner of Bendigo, Fraser delivers another enthralling adventure, sweeping us along on the remarkable journey of a woman determined to forge her own path. Darry Fraser is at the top of her game with her latest Australian historical The Milliner of Bendigo is another wonderful tale to immerse yourself in.

A sumptuous, shocking, steamy thriller set in the vineyards of California's Napa Valley…
What happens when the husband you thought died years ago shows up alive?
'Sensuous and intoxicating' Ashley Winstead

'Atmospheric and twist-packed' Ellery Lloyd

'Suspenseful, sexy, gritty, and empowering' Marissa Stapley



Ten years ago, June’s beloved husband drowned on their honeymoon. Josh’s body was never found. Now, a decade later, June is finally ready to move on. She owns a natural wine bar in Brooklyn and is engaged to a patient, supportive man named Kyle. She’s excited to begin a new chapter in her life, enjoy a picture-perfect wedding, and start a family.

But out of the blue, she sees…him. Josh, her first husband. Is this just a hallucination from the guilt June carries about finally moving on, or is it possible that her husband never died in the first place?

June tries to forget about this vision, chalking it up to grief and nerves, but soon enough, she stumbles across a website for a winery in Napa, and the owner in the photo is identical to her dead husband. With her upcoming wedding looming and a fiancé who’s already worried she hasn’t left her past behind, June flies to Napa for answers. But she’s not prepared for all the secrets she’s about to unlock, because everything she thought she knew about her first love is a lie.

Till Death Do Us Part is a simmering, page-turning thriller brimming with revelations, betrayals, and shocking twists.



Readers LOVE Till Death Do Us Part:
'A captivating look at love, lies, family bonds, and the twisted measures some will take to hide a horrible truth'

'Spellbinding and completely captivating'

'My favorite book of the year to date'

'The story kept me on the edge of my seat, with twists that made me gasp'

'I could not put it down'

'So well crafted'

'Sultry, enthralling, and utterly unputdownable'

Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell and Adele Parks!

Welcome to the secret diary of future tennis star Ash Barty and her adventures at Tennis Camp! By Ash Barty, Jasmin McGaughey and Jade Goodwin - the team behind the bestselling Little Ash series!
TOP SECRET! This is the PRIVATE diary of Ash Barty, future tennis SUPERSTAR! So don't tell anyone what I'm about to tell you... Okay? Ash is back at TENNIS CAMP and so HAPPY to see her friends again. When they all find out that they will COMPETE at the end of camp in a singles tournament and the WINNERS will get to be a ball kid at the local grown-ups tournament, they all get SUPER EXCITED! Especially when there's a chance they'll get to meet their tennis heroes AND go on TV! Will Ash get to meet her HEROES and be a BALL KID to the STARS?

Join Spot and his family on a road trip to the beach in this campervan-shaped board book.

Join Spot and his family on a road trip to the beach in this campervan-shaped board book.

It's time for a holiday - and Spot is going on a road trip to the beach with Mum and Dad. What exciting things will they see along the way?

Toddlers will love this campervan-shaped board book for little hands that can be played with or read for twice the fun!

Spot is the fun-first friend for new experiences, early learning, and stories you can play with.

If you loved this, why not try:
Where's Spot?
Spot Goes to the Farm
Spot Goes to the Beach
Spot Goes on Holiday
Spot Says Goodnight
Find Spot at Nursery
Find Spot at the Zoo
Spot's Train
Spot's Fire Engine