Category: Dymocks Reading Challenge

#AussieAuthors2025, #AussieYAChallenge, #LoveOZMG, #LoveOzYA, animals, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Australian women writers, Awards, Blog Tour, Book bingo, Book Industry, Books, challenges, check in post, Children's Literature, Crime/Mystery, Dymocks Reading Challenge, Fables, Fairytales, Fantasy, historical fiction, history, humour, Junior Fiction, literary fiction, middle grade, Picture Books, poetry, Publishers, Reading, Reviews, Scholastic, series, short stories, Speculative fiction, Young Adult

October 2025 Reading Round Up

Ashleigh

In October I read 18 books, covering picture books to young adult, with some poetry, mystery and time travel thrown in. It was an eclectic bunch of books this month, and most of them were Australian authors. I managed to review most, and have also been keeping on top of my review books as much… Continue reading October 2025 Reading Round Up

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

What Have They Done to Liza McLean? by Amy Doak

Ashleigh

Title: What Have They Done to Liza McLean? Author: Amy Doak Genre: Mystery, Dark Academia, Young Adult Publisher: Penguin Australia Published: 28th October 2025 Format: Paperback Pages: 336 Price: $19.99 Synopsis: Dark academia meets The Stepford Wives in this new YA mystery thriller from the bestselling author of Eleanor Jones is Not a Murderer. Meg McLean is a… Continue reading What Have They Done to Liza McLean? by Amy Doak

#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, #AussieYAChallenge, #LoveOzYA, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Australian women writers, Book Industry, Books, Children's Literature, Dymocks Reading Challenge, literary fiction, Publishers, Reading, Reviews, Young Adult

Catch by Sara Brill

Ashleigh

Title: Catch Author: Sarah Brill Genre: Contemporary Publisher: Allen and Unwin Published: 30th September 2025 Format: Paperback Pages: 304 Price: $24.99 Synopsis: A unique and irresistible YA coming-of-age story about sixteen-year-old Beth, who discovers she has a life-saving gift. A superb novel about finding out what it takes to be an unlikely hero. Sometimes people… Continue reading Catch by Sara Brill

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

A Guide to Falling Off the Map by Zanni L Arnot

Ashleigh

Title: A Guide to Falling Off the Map Author: Zanni L Arnot Genre: Contemporary Publisher: Hachette Australia Published: 26th August 2025 Format: Paperback Pages: 400 Price: $19.99 Synopsis: A funny, tender, messy, and authentic story about two teens who fall in love on the precipice of things falling apart.Vinnie Smith has her future mapped. She… Continue reading A Guide to Falling Off the Map by Zanni L Arnot