Category: history

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

The Whispering Palms by Annette Leigh

Ashleigh

Title: The Whispering Palms Author: Annette Leigh Genre: Crime Publisher: Annette Leigh Published: 6th February 2024 Format: Paperback Pages: 354 Price: $37.99 (Readings Price) Synopsis: Note from Readings Books: This title is printed to order. This book may have been self-published. If so, we cannot guarantee the quality of the content. In the main most… Continue reading The Whispering Palms by Annette Leigh

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Black Silk and Sympathy by Deborah Challinor

Ashleigh

Title: Black Silk and Sympathy Author: Deborah Challinor Genre: Crime, Historical Crime Publisher: HarperCollins Australia Published: 3rd April 2024 Format: Paperback Pages: 384 Price: $32.99 Synopsis: A dazzling new series from bestselling historical fiction author Deborah Challinor, exploring the fascinating world of Victorian funeral customs and featuring Sydney's first female undertaker. 'Men have been undertakers… Continue reading Black Silk and Sympathy by Deborah Challinor

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Young Adult books read in 2025

Ashleigh

In 2025, I read 50 young adult books, mostly by Australian authors in all sorts of genres and styles, and who all had different identities. Some of these books probably crossed over with middle grade, but they’re here because they could also be enjoyed by a young adult audience, or in the case of the… Continue reading Young Adult books read in 2025

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Australian Authors Read

Ashleigh

Every year, I aim to focus by reading on Australian authors, because I see authors from the UK and the US get widely promoted, and I feel that a lot of Australian authors, unless they’re super popular, get overlooked. Particularly the kids and young adult authors. So in 2025 I read 239 Australian authors in… Continue reading Australian Authors Read

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Australian Women Read

Ashleigh

In 2025, I read 210 books by Australian women, and may not have read as diversely as I wanted based on a focus for judging reading. That said, I did manage to get in as many diverse books as possible, where I could see or knew that the author was disabled, Indigenous or LGBTQIA, or… Continue reading Australian Women Read