Category: challenges

#AussieAuthors2025, #LoveOZMG, adventure, animals, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Australian women writers, Awards, Book bingo, Book Industry, Books, CBCA, challenges, check in post, Children's Literature, DANZ, Dymocks Reading Challenge, Fables, Fairytales, Fantasy, literary fiction, middle grade, Publishers, Reading, Reviews, series

The Wintrish Girl (Talismans of Fate #1) by Melanie La’Brooy

Ashleigh

Title: The Wintrish Girl (Talismans of Fate #1) Author: Melanie La’Brooy Genre: Fantasy Publisher: UQP Published: 30th August 2022 Format: Paperback Pages: 440 Price: $17.99 Synopsis: On Talisman Day in Arylia, every child receives an object that gives them special powers and reveals their destiny. Every child except for the Wintrish girl, Penn, that is.… Continue reading The Wintrish Girl (Talismans of Fate #1) by Melanie La’Brooy

#AussieAuthors2025, #AussieYAChallenge, #LoveOZMG, #LoveOzYA, animals, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Australian women writers, Blog Tour, Book bingo, Book Industry, Books, challenges, check in post, Children's Literature, Christmas, classics, Crime/Mystery, Dymocks Reading Challenge, Fables, Fairytales, Fantasy, historical fiction, history, humour, Junior Fiction, Kate Temple, literary fiction, middle grade, non-fiction, Picture Books, Publishers, Reading, Reviews, Scholastic, Sci-Fi, series, Speculative fiction, translated works, Writing, Young Adult

September 2025 Reading Round Up

Ashleigh

In September, I read 20 books for review, and some reviews will be appearing at later dates for various reasons. I mostly read Australian authors, and focused on children’s and young adult books. I also made progress on reading challenges, and am almost done with my last few. Most books were by women authors, and… Continue reading September 2025 Reading Round Up

#AussieAuthors2025, animals, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Australian women writers, Book Industry, Books, challenges, Children's Literature, Christmas, Dymocks Reading Challenge, Junior Fiction, literary fiction, middle grade, Picture Books, Publishers, Reading, Reviews

The 12 Birds of Christmas by Jodie McLeod, illustrated by Eloise Short

Ashleigh

Title: The 12 Birds of Christmas Author: Jodie McLeod, illustrated by Eloise Short Genre: Christmas Publisher: Wollemi Press Published: 1st October 2025 Format: Hardcover Pages: 32 Price: $26.95 Synopsis: From the award-winning author and illustrator of The Black Cockatoo With One Feather Blue comes this original rhyming read aloud about giving, community and sharing the… Continue reading The 12 Birds of Christmas by Jodie McLeod, illustrated by Eloise Short

#AussieAuthors2025, animals, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Australian women writers, Book Industry, Books, challenges, Children's Literature, Junior Fiction, non-fiction, Picture Books, Publishers, Reading, Reviews

Dogs with Jobs by Max Hamilton

Ashleigh

Title: Dogs with Jobs Author: Max Hamilton Genre: Contemporary Publisher: Allen and Unwin Published: 30th September 2025 Format: Hardcover Pages: 32 Price: $19.99 Synopsis: From beekeepers to brave rescuers, dogs have the most amazing jobs! A delightful exploration of the many careers of our canine companions. Dogs may be our best friends, but sometimes that's… Continue reading Dogs with Jobs by Max Hamilton

#AussieAuthors2025, #AussieYAChallenge, #LoveOzYA, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Australian women writers, Awards, Book Industry, Books, challenges, check in post, Crime/Mystery, Fantasy, literary fiction, Publishers, Reading, Reviews

Into the Mouth of the Wolf by Erin Gough

Ashleigh

Title: Into the Mouth of the Wolf Author: Erin Gough Genre: YA Mystery Publisher: Hardie Grant Published: 1st May 2024 Format: Paperback Pages: 384 Price: $22.99 Synopsis: Part thriller, part queer romance, Into the Mouth of the Wolf is a stunning, CBCA Notable YA novel from the award-winning author of Amelia Westlake. Dear Iris, If all goes well I will be… Continue reading Into the Mouth of the Wolf by Erin Gough

Book Industry, Books, challenges, literary fiction, Publishers, Reading, Reviews, translated works

Dinner at the Night Library by Hika Harada, translated by Philip Gabriel

Ashleigh

Title: Dinner at the Night Library Author: Hika Harada, translated by Philip Gabriel   Genre: Fiction Publisher: Scribner/Simon and Schuster Published: 16th September 2025 Format: Paperback Pages: 320 Price: $29.99 Synopsis: The Night Library is no ordinary library. Within it are found the rarest and most unusual collections – the books of deceased famous writers:the books… Continue reading Dinner at the Night Library by Hika Harada, translated by Philip Gabriel

#AussieAuthors2025, #AussieYAChallenge, adventure, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Australian women writers, Blog Tour, Book bingo, Book Industry, Books, challenges, Crime/Mystery, Dymocks Reading Challenge, Fables, Fairytales, Fantasy, historical fiction, history, Indigenous authors, literary fiction, Nevermoor, Publishers, Reading, Reviews, series, Verse novels, Young Adult

#AussieYAChallenge Update 2

Ashleigh

It’s time for another update! Last time, I had read 12 books, and completed my chosen level. So now I’m working on getting up to 40 books, Well, I have read 22 more Australian young adult books since April, and some possibly crossover into middle grade, because I found them on lists for both, and… Continue reading #AussieYAChallenge Update 2

#AussieAuthors2025, #AussieYAChallenge, #LoveOzYA, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Australian women writers, Book Industry, Books, challenges, Dymocks Reading Challenge, humour, literary fiction, Publishers, Reading, Reviews, Young Adult

Maisy Hayes is Not For Sale by Allayne L Webster

Ashleigh

Title: Maisy Hayes is Not For Sale Author: Allayne L Webster Genre: Contemporary YA Publisher: Text Publishing Published: 2nd September 2025 Format: Paperback Pages: 336 Price: $22.99 Synopsis:  I often sit and dream with all my might, but nothing’s happened. Yet. Maybe I’m not wishing hard enough. Maybe I’m not very good at believing it.… Continue reading Maisy Hayes is Not For Sale by Allayne L Webster

#AussieAuthors2025, #AussieYAChallenge, #LoveOZMG, #LoveOzYA, adventure, animals, Anna James, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Australian women writers, biography, Blog Tour, Book bingo, Book Industry, Books, challenges, check in post, Children's Literature, Covers, Crime/Mystery, Dymocks Reading Challenge, Fables, Fairytales, Fantasy, historical fiction, history, humour, Indigenous authors, Junior Fiction, literary fiction, middle grade, non-fiction, Picture Books, Publishers, Reading, Reviews, Scholastic, Sci-Fi, series, Young Adult

August 2025 Reading Round Up

Ashleigh

In August, I read 25 books and reviewed most of them. Literary judging duties are over, so I was able to do everything I could to stay on top of my reading and reviewing. And was able to read a few books that I hadn’t agreed to review. This was nice, and I am enjoying… Continue reading August 2025 Reading Round Up

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

Promises and Other Lies by Sue Whiting

Ashleigh

Title: Promises and Other Lies Author: Sue Whiting Genre: Contemporary/Mystery Publisher: Walker Books Published: 1st September 2025 Format: Paperback Pages: 304 Price: $17.99 Synopsis: A gripping middle-grade mystery from Australian author Sue Whiting, in which a small coastal town is torn apart by more than just a bushfire.One year on from a devastating bushfire, the… Continue reading Promises and Other Lies by Sue Whiting