Category: Reading

#AussieAuthors2025, #AussieYAChallenge, #LoveOzYA, A.L. Tait, adventure, animals, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Australian women writers, Blog Tour, Book bingo, Book Industry, CBCA, challenges, check in post, Crime/Mystery, Dymocks Reading Challenge, Fables, Fairytales, Fantasy, historical fiction, history, humour, Indigenous authors, Jackie French, Jacqueline Harvey, literary fiction, memoir, mythology, non-fiction, plays, poetry, Publishers, R.A. Spratt, Reading, Reviews, Scholastic, Sci-Fi, series, Speculative fiction, spies, The Girls Who Change the World, Young Adult

#AussieYAChallenge 2025 Completed

Ashleigh

And that’s a wrap on this year’s #AussieYAChallenge. 45 books read, and all the prompts marked off. Some of the books I read probably also crossed over into children’s and middle grade for various reasons, which I aimed to explain in the reviews. And I did my best to read as diversely as possible, as… Continue reading #AussieYAChallenge 2025 Completed

Book Industry, Books, check in post, historical fiction, history, literary fiction, Publishers, Reading, Reviews

Cape Fever by Nadia Davids

Ashleigh

Title: Cape Fever Author: Nadia Davids Genre: Gothic, Historical Fiction Publisher: Simon and Schuster/Scribner UK Published: 30th December 2025 Format: Paperback Pages: 240 Price: $29.99 Synopsis: An exhilarating tale of twisted desire and the unexpected shape of revenge, for readers of The Safekeep‘I come highly recommended to Mrs Hattingh through sentences I tell her I cannot… Continue reading Cape Fever by Nadia Davids

#AussieAuthors2025, #AussieYAChallenge, #LoveOZMG, #LoveOzYA, A.L. Tait, adventure, animals, Anna James, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Australian women writers, biography, Book bingo, Book Industry, Books, CBCA, challenges, check in post, Children's Literature, Crime/Mystery, Dymocks Reading Challenge, Fables, Fairytales, Fantasy, Friday Barnes, historical fiction, history, humour, Indigenous authors, Jacqueline Harvey, literary fiction, memoir, middle grade, mythology, Nevermoor, non-fiction, Picture Books, Publishers, R.A. Spratt, Reading, Reviews, Scholastic, series, The Nerd Daily, Wherewithal Way, Young Adult

My Favourite Books of 2025

Ashleigh

I haven’t done this for a while, because whenever I see posts about people’s top ten reads of the year, I never know what to put on mine. Somehow, I always end up with more than ten, or not quite ten, or I’ll have read a series during the year, and have enjoyed all of… Continue reading My Favourite Books of 2025

#AussieAuthors2025, #AussieYAChallenge, #LoveOZMG, #LoveOzYA, adventure, animals, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Australian women writers, biography, Book bingo, Book Industry, Books, challenges, check in post, Children's Literature, classics, Crime/Mystery, Dymocks Reading Challenge, Fables, Fairytales, Fantasy, historical fiction, history, Indigenous authors, Jackie French, Jane Austen, Junior Fiction, literary fiction, memoir, middle grade, non-fiction, Picture Books, poetry, Publishers, R.A. Spratt, Reading, Reviews, Scholastic, Sci-Fi, series, short stories, Speculative fiction, spies, The Girls Who Change the World, The Nerd Daily, Young Adult

Readings Book Bingo Completed-ish

Ashleigh

 One final challenge I took part in this year was the Readings book bingo. I managed to tick every prompt apart from the cookbook prompt off, which probably had more to do with time than anything else. 2024 Prize Winner:  A Gift from the Birds by Caroline Stills (Text Prize 2024) A debut author: Earth… Continue reading Readings Book Bingo Completed-ish

#AussieAuthors2025, #LoveOZMG, Alice-Miranda, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Australian women writers, Book Industry, Books, check in post, Children's Literature, Jacqueline Harvey, middle grade, Publishers, Reading, Reviews, series

Alice-Miranda at Sea by Jacqueline Harvey

Ashleigh

Title: Alice-Miranda at Sea Author: Jacqueline Harvey Genre: Fiction/Mystery Publisher: Puffin Australia Published: 7th May 2019/1st August 2011 Format: Paperback Pages: 352 Price: $16.99 Synopsis: Mystery and intrigue above deck and below! Alice-Miranda is set for a luxurious cruise aboard the royal yacht Octavia, where Aunty Gee is hosting the wedding of Aunt Charlotte and Lawrence… Continue reading Alice-Miranda at Sea by Jacqueline Harvey

#AussieYAChallenge, #LoveOZMG, adventure, Alice-Miranda, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Australian women writers, Book Industry, Books, challenges, check in post, Children's Literature, Crime/Mystery, humour, Jacqueline Harvey, Junior Fiction, literary fiction, middle grade, Publishers, Reading, Reviews, series

Alice-Miranda Takes the Lead by Jacqueline Harvey

Ashleigh

Title: Alice-Miranda Takes the Lead Author: Jacqueline Harvey Genre: Fiction Publisher: Puffin Published: 7th May 2019, first published 2011 Format: Paperback Pages: 304 Price: $1699 Synopsis: The tiny girl has TWO schools to save in this awfully lovely adventure. The tiny girl has TWO schools to save in this awfully lovely adventure. Alice-Miranda is thrilled… Continue reading Alice-Miranda Takes the Lead by Jacqueline Harvey

#AussieAuthors2025, #LoveOZMG, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Book Industry, Books, Children's Literature, Fables, Fairytales, Fantasy, humour, literary fiction, middle grade, Publishers, Reading, Reviews, series

The 113th Assistant Librarian: Lost in a Book by Stuart Wilson

Ashleigh

Title: The 113th Assistant Librarian: Lost in a Book Author: Stuart Wilson Genre: Fantasy Publisher: Penguin Australia Published: 30th September 2025 Format: Hardcover Pages: 288 Price: $19.99 Synopsis: The exciting sequel to The 113th Assistant Librarian is here! Oliver has settled into his life as the 113th assistant librarian. He loves his job – even though it… Continue reading The 113th Assistant Librarian: Lost in a Book by Stuart Wilson

#AussieAuthors2025, #LoveOZMG, Alice-Miranda, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Australian women writers, Books, Children's Literature, Crime/Mystery, humour, Jacqueline Harvey, Junior Fiction, literary fiction, middle grade, Publishers, Reading, Reviews, series

Alice-Miranda on Holiday by Jacqueline Harvey

Ashleigh

Title: Alice-Miranda on Holiday Author: Jacqueline Harvey Genre: Fiction Publisher: Puffin Australia Published: 1st September 2010 Format: Paperback Pages: 304 Price: $16.99 Synopsis: The ever so exciting sequel to Alice-Miranda at School Alice-Miranda Highton-Smith-Kennington-Jones has survived her first term at Winchesterfield-Downsfordvale. And now Jacinta Headlington-Bear, the school’s second-best tantrum thrower, is joining Alice-Miranda’s family for term… Continue reading Alice-Miranda on Holiday by Jacqueline Harvey

#AussieAuthors2025, #LoveOZMG, adventure, animals, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Australian women writers, Book Industry, Books, Children's Literature, Fantasy, humour, Junior Fiction, literary fiction, middle grade, Publishers, Reading, Reviews, series

The Travelling Bookshop: Mim and the Mother Muddle by Katrina Nannestad

Ashleigh

Title: The Travelling Bookshop: Mim and the Mother Muddle Author: Katrina Nannestad Genre: Fiction Publisher: HarperCollins Australia Published: 5th March 2025 Format: Paperback Pages: 240                Price: $16.99 Synopsis: The right book might just change your life ... Mim Cohen roams the world in a travelling bookshop, with her dad and brother and a horse called… Continue reading The Travelling Bookshop: Mim and the Mother Muddle by Katrina Nannestad

Book bingo, Book Industry, Books, Children's Literature, Fables, Fantasy, literary fiction, middle grade, Publishers, Reading, Reviews

Gloam by Jack MacKay

Ashleigh

Title: Gloam Author: Jack MacKay Genre: Fantasy/Horror Publisher: Rock the Boat Published: 2nd September 2025 Format: Paperback Pages: 272 Price: $16.99 Synopsis: In a creaky old house on a small, damp island, someone - or something - is waiting...Gwen doesn't want to admit that everything feels wrong since her mum died. There's no time for all these feelings… Continue reading Gloam by Jack MacKay