Category: #AussieYAChallenge

#AussieAuthors2026, #AussieYAChallenge, #LoveOZMG, #LoveOzYA, animals, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Australian women writers, Book Industry, Books, challenges, check in post, Children's Literature, Disney Reading Challenge, historical fiction, history, literary fiction, middle grade, Publishers, Reading, Reviews, The Nerd Daily, Young Adult

A Light on the Rocks by Helen Edwards

Ashleigh

Title: A Light on the Rocks Author: Helen Edwards Genre: Historical Fiction Publisher: Riveted Press Published: 28th January 2026 Format: Paperback Pages: 224    Price: $17.99 Synopsis: In 1859, fourteen-year-old Daisy is travelling on the SS Admella from Adelaide to Melbourne, when the steamship is wrecked on a submerged reef near Cape Banks, in what became… Continue reading A Light on the Rocks by Helen Edwards

#AussieAuthors2026, #AussieYAChallenge, #LoveOzYA, adventure, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Australian women writers, Book Industry, Books, challenges, Futuristic Fiction, literary fiction, Picture Books, Publishers, Reading, Reviews

Red Star Rebels by Amie Kaufman

Ashleigh

Title: Red Star Rebels Author: Amie Kaufman Genre: Science Fiction Publisher: Allen and Unwin Published: 28th January 2026 Format: Paperback Pages: 288 Price: $24.99 Synopsis: From the NYT bestselling co-author of Illuminae and Aurora Rising comes a high-stakes, high-chemistry sci-fi romp filled with witty banter and clever high jinks about a stowaway girl and the richest boy in the… Continue reading Red Star Rebels by Amie Kaufman

#AussieAuthors2026, #AussieYAChallenge, #LoveOzYA, adventure, animals, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Australian women writers, Book Industry, Books, challenges, check in post, Children's Literature, Crime/Mystery, Fables, Fairytales, Fantasy, literary fiction, Publishers, Reading, Reviews, Young Adult

Silverbrook: Yumna and the Golden Horse by Yassmin Abdel-Magied

Ashleigh

Title: Silverbrook: Yumna and the Golden Horse Author: Yassmin Abdel-Magied Genre: Fantasy/Young Adult Publisher: Hachette/Hodder Children’s Books Published: 27th January 2026 Format: Paperback Pages: 230 Price: $16.99 Synopsis: Warm, funny, and zinging with imagination this thrilling MG fantasy adventure highlights the power of community. Perfect for readers of Tola Okogwu and Sharna Jackson, aged 9+.… Continue reading Silverbrook: Yumna and the Golden Horse by Yassmin Abdel-Magied

#AussieAuthors2025, #AussieYAChallenge, #LoveOZMG, #LoveOzYA, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Australian women writers, Book Industry, Books, check in post, Children's Literature, Crime/Mystery, literary fiction, middle grade, Publishers, Reading, Reviews, Young Adult

My Brother, Finch by Kate Gordon

Ashleigh

Title: My Brother, Finch Author: Kate Gordon Genre: Mystery Publisher: Riveted Press Published: 3rd July 2024 Format: Paperback Pages: 200 Price: $17.99 Synopsis: Finch and Wren were as close as a brother and sister can be. When he vanished, when they were nine years old, her world cracked in two. Finch was never found. On… Continue reading My Brother, Finch by Kate Gordon

#AussieAuthors2026, #AussieYAChallenge, Blog Tour, Book bingo, Book Industry, Books, challenges, Disney Reading Challenge, Dymocks Reading Challenge, The Nerd Daily

  2026 Reading Challenges

Ashleigh

The reading challenges I am taking part in in 2026 are: Goal: 150 Disney:44 Disney Princesses: 4 Disney Heroes: 4 Furry Friends: 4 Sassy Sidekicks: 4 Pixar Pals: 4 Disney Destinations: 4 Magical Objects: 4 Villains: 4 Sensational Six: 4 Disney Songs: 4 Bonus – Disney Babies: 4 The Nerd Daily:52 Dymocks – total to… Continue reading   2026 Reading Challenges

#AussieAuthor2025, #AussieAuthors2025, #AussieYAChallenge, #LoveOZMG, #LoveOzYA, adventure, Alice-Miranda, animals, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Australian women writers, biography, Blog Tour, Book bingo, Book Industry, Books, challenges, check in post, Children's Literature, Crime/Mystery, Dymocks Reading Challenge, Fables, Fairytales, Fantasy, Friday Barnes, historical fiction, history, humour, Indigenous authors, literary fiction, memoir, middle grade, non-fiction, Picture Books, plays, poetry, Publishers, Reading, Reviews, Scholastic, Sci-Fi, series, short stories, Speculative fiction, spies, The Nerd Daily, Young Adult

2025 Reading Summary

Ashleigh

I write roundups that are broad and focused, and split them into men, women, Australian, non-Australian, children’s, young adult, adult, LGBTQIA, Disabled and co-authored books. There is also a post with everything and a summary at the end. So if people want to look at something in particular, they can. My final reading stats for… Continue reading 2025 Reading Summary

#AussieAuthors2025, #AussieYAChallenge, #LoveOzYA, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Australian women writers, Book Industry, Books, check in post, Crime/Mystery, historical fiction, history, literary fiction, Publishers, Reading, Reviews, Young Adult

Return to Sender by Lauren Draper

Ashleigh

Title: Return to Sender Author: Lauren Draper Genre: Mystery Publisher: Pan Macmillan Published: 25th Jube 2024 Format: Paperback Pages: 384 Price: $26.99 Synopsis: SHORTLISTED FOR THE QLD LITERARY AWARDS YOUNG ADULT BOOK AWARD 2025SHORTLISTED FOR THE AUSTRALIAN BOOK DESIGN AWARDS 2025 BEST DESIGNED YOUNG ADULT COVERAfter three years away, seventeen-year-old Brodie McKellon has returned to… Continue reading Return to Sender by Lauren Draper

#AussieAuthors2025, #AussieYAChallenge, #LoveOZMG, #LoveOzYA, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Australian women writers, Blog Tour, Book bingo, Book Industry, Books, Dymocks Reading Challenge, Fables, Fairytales, Fantasy, historical fiction, history, Junior Fiction, literary fiction, memoir, middle grade, non-fiction, Picture Books, plays, poetry, Publishers, Reading, Reviews, series, short stories, The Nerd Daily, Young Adult

2025 reading round up

Ashleigh

In 2025, I read 270 books across every genre, style, and author identity I came across. Reviewing and judging activities meant a lot more reading, and until the end of the year, a lot less time to read the books I wanted to get through on my shelves. It was a delicate balancing act to… Continue reading 2025 reading round up

#AussieAuthors2025, #AussieYAChallenge, #LoveOZMG, #LoveOzYA, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Australian women writers, Blog Tour, Book bingo, Book Industry, Books, CBCA, check in post, Children's Literature, Crime/Mystery, Dymocks Reading Challenge, Fables, Fairytales, Fantasy, historical fiction, history, Jacqueline Harvey, Junior Fiction, Kate Temple, Larrikin House, literary fiction, memoir, middle grade, mythology, non-fiction, Picture Books, Publishers, R.A. Spratt, Reading, Reviews, Scholastic, Sci-Fi, series, short stories, Speculative fiction, The Girls Who Change the World, translated works, Verse novels, Wherewithal Way, Willa and Woof, Young Adult

Children’s and Young Adult Books Read in 2025

Ashleigh

In 2025, I read 198 children’s books, from picture books to middle grade books and young adult books. I covered every age range possible. I also have a separate post for young adult books. I covered a lot of different themes and ideas in this, as well as reading as diversely as possible. There seems… Continue reading Children’s and Young Adult Books Read in 2025

#AussieAuthors2025, #AussieYAChallenge, #LoveOZMG, #LoveOzYA, A.L. Tait, adventure, Alice-Miranda, Anna James, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Australian women writers, biography, Blog Tour, Book bingo, Book Industry, Books, CBCA, challenges, check in post, Children's Literature, Christmas, Chronicles of Whetherwhy, Cressida Cowell, Crime/Mystery, Dani Vee, Dervla McTiernan, Dymocks Reading Challenge, Ella at Eden, Fables, Fairytales, Fantasy, Friday Barnes, Futuristic Fiction, historical fiction, history, humour, Indigenous authors, Jackie French, Jacqueline Harvey, Junior Fiction, Kate Temple, Larrikin House, literary fiction, Matilda Saga, memoir, middle grade, Natasha Lester, Nevermoor, non-fiction, Pages and Co Series, Picture Books, plays, poetry, Publishers, R.A. Spratt, Reading, Reviews, satire, Scholastic, Sci-Fi, series, short stories, Speculative fiction, spies, The Girls Who Change the World, The Nerd Daily, Verse novels, Wherewithal Way, Young Adult

Total Women

Ashleigh

Each year, I try my best to read as many books by women as possible, and to read as diversely as possible. In 2025, I read 234, participated in judging an award, and of course, continued to do my reviewing. Reading across as many styles and genres as possible, based on what I had from… Continue reading Total Women