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2025 reading round up

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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Total Women

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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Every Word by Ellie Marney

Title: Every Word Author: Ellie Marney Genre: Mystery/Crime Publisher: Allen and Unwin Published: 28th May 2024 Format: Paperback Pages: 352 Price: $24.99 Synopsis: Sparks fly when Watts follows Mycroft to London in this second sophisticated thriller about the teen crime-fighting pair. Rachel is still getting used to the idea of Mycroft being her boyfriend when… Continue reading Every Word by Ellie Marney

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Dymocks Reading Challenge 2026

In 2026, instead of releasing their prompts seasonally or yearly, Dymocks is using their Instagram channel to release a few prompts at a time. To participate this year, you have to be on Instagram and part of their channel to get these prompts. Only getting a few prompts at a time might be a tad… Continue reading Dymocks Reading Challenge 2026

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Dymocks Reading Challenge 2025 Completed

And just like that, another year of the Dymocks Reading Challenge is over. I managed to fill in each prompt for this one, and may have ummed and ahhed about the Gothic Ruins prompt, because I read a couple of books that seemed to fit it well. I did focus on Australian books and authors… Continue reading Dymocks Reading Challenge 2025 Completed

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Maisy Hayes is Not For Sale by Allayne L Webster

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

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Dymocks Reading Challenge Volume 3: September to December

The final nine prompts for 2025 are here, and ready to take reading into the last third of the year. They’re quite flexible again, or at least open to interpretation. I think this makes for a good reading challenge prompt because it gives people the chance to be creative with what they come up with… Continue reading Dymocks Reading Challenge Volume 3: September to December