Category: Young Adult

#AussieAuthors2026, #AussieYAChallenge, #LoveOzYA, adventure, animals, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Australian women writers, biography, Book bingo, Book Industry, Books, check in post, Crime/Mystery, Disney Reading Challenge, Dymocks Reading Challenge, Fables, Fairytales, Fantasy, historical fiction, history, humour, literary fiction, non-fiction, Publishers, Reading, Reviews, series, short stories, The Nerd Daily, Verse novels, Young Adult

Aussie YA Challenge Completed!

Ashleigh

Well, I pledged to read 40 YA books this year, and I did! Some crossed over from middle grade into YA, or would be suitable for lower YA, and the rest seemed to cover as much of the spectrum as possible. Most were fiction and I reviewed nearly all of them, and I did have… Continue reading Aussie YA Challenge Completed!

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Us in the Bright Lights by Zanni L Arnot

Ashleigh

Title: Us in the Bright Lights Author: Zanni L Arnot Genre: Contemporary Publisher: Hachette Australia Published: 28th July 2026 Format: Paperback Pages: 340 Price: $19.99 Synopsis: Sometimes, you have to lose everything to find yourself. A swoony and moving novel about ending up in the most unexpected places, with the most unlikely people, and discovering it's… Continue reading Us in the Bright Lights by Zanni L Arnot

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The Ghost Horse of Snowy River by Stef Gemmill

Ashleigh

Title: The Ghost Horse of Snowy River Author: Stef Gemmill Genre: Contemporary Middle Grade/YA Publisher: Wombat Books Published: 3rd June 2026 Format: Paperback Pages: 216 Price: $18.99 Synopsis: A year has passed since 12-year-old Georgie Stone had a serious horse-riding accident. Now that she’s back at the cattle station, she tries to overcome her fear… Continue reading The Ghost Horse of Snowy River by Stef Gemmill

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July 2026 Reading Round Up

Ashleigh

What a month July was. I read 21 books this month and reviewed as many of them as possible, and others were read for fun. I also didn’t have time to review everything. And what I did read was chosen for various purposes to fit in with reviewing and challenges. Some books were longer or… Continue reading July 2026 Reading Round Up

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Aidan versus the Ocean by Dannika Patterson, illustrated by Heidi Cooper Smith

Ashleigh

Title: Aidan versus the Ocean Author: Dannika Patterson, illustrated by Heidi Cooper Smith Genre: Contemporary Publisher: Wombat Books Published: 1st August 2026 Format: Paperback Pages: 130 Price: $16.99 Synopsis: All Aidan thought he'd have to survive during the summer school holidays was yet another game of Fortnite with his mates. But his plans are suddenly… Continue reading Aidan versus the Ocean by Dannika Patterson, illustrated by Heidi Cooper Smith

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Miles Thorne and the Forbidden Magic by Rebecca Ahola

Ashleigh

Title: Miles Thorne and the Forbidden Magic Author: Rebecca Ahola Genre: Fantasy Publisher: Wombat Australia Published: 1st August 2026 Format: Paperback Pages: 238 Price: $19.99 Synopsis: Miles Thorne was kicked out of his last school, the prestigious Nox Wizarding Academy, because he’s a wizard with almost no magic. At his new school, he meets Eric,… Continue reading Miles Thorne and the Forbidden Magic by Rebecca Ahola

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A River I Must Be by Kate Foster

Ashleigh

Title: A River I Must Be Author: Kate Foster Genre: Contemporary Verse Novel Publisher: HarperCollins Australia Published: 28th July 2026 Format: Paperback Pages: 272 Price: $18.99 Synopsis: A compelling and moving verse novel by award-winning author, Kate Foster, who combines her heart-felt writing with an authentic view of autism and the pressure of masking. And… Continue reading A River I Must Be by Kate Foster

#AussieAuthors2026, #AussieYAChallenge, #LoveOzYA, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Australian women writers, Book Industry, Books, challenges, Dymocks Reading Challenge, literary fiction, Publishers, Reading, Reviews, Young Adult

A New Kind of Beautiful by Suzy Zail

Ashleigh

Title: A New Kind of Beautiful Author: Suzy Zail Genre: Contemporary Publisher: Walker Books Published: 1st August 2026 Format: Paperback Pages: 384 Price: $22.99 Synopsis: A moving novel about love, loss, and the beauty in the things we can't always see.Paige Wilding has her future mapped out — the Year 10 Art prize. Graduation. A… Continue reading A New Kind of Beautiful by Suzy Zail

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June 2026 Reading Round Up

Ashleigh

In June, I read 21 books, and reviewed most of them. All but one were by Australian authors, and one or two were re-reads. I also finished reading the Alice-Miranda books that I hadn’t read yet, and have been staying on top of my review books. It’s meant I have been able to squeeze some… Continue reading June 2026 Reading Round Up

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Shakespeare in the Orchard by Danielle Binks

Ashleigh

Title: Shakespeare in the Orchard Author: Danielle Binks Genre: Historical Fiction Publisher: Lothian/Hachette Australia Published: 7th July 2026 Format: Paperback Pages: 320 Price: $17.99 Synopsis: A coming-of-age story inspired by true events in Australia in World War I that explores the things that separate us and those that bring us together, from an award-winning author.… Continue reading Shakespeare in the Orchard by Danielle Binks