AUSTRALIAN. INDEPENDENT. FOR READERS.
JANUARY
2026
Welcome book clubbers to my list of summer loving reads that I have the extreme pleasure of chatting to all of you about! Some books I revisited, others I devoured for the first time but all I dearly enjoyed and made this extremely hot season bearable.
​Ruins by Amy Taylor
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If you are currently experiencing holiday withdrawal symptoms, Amy Taylor provides a cure with this simmering trip to Athens where the views are stunning and the drama escalating for one unsuspecting young couple. At crossroads in their relationship, tourists Emma and Julian take a risk in accepting an intriguing offer from Lena, an enigmatic young Greek woman they meet on vacation. At first, the new dynamic both thrills and excites them but there may be a reason why three is sometimes a crowd and the fires of passion can leave you burned…
A scorching read and excellent match for fans looking to fill The White Lotus-shaped hole in their lives.
Heart the Lover by Lily King
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A doomed love triangle filled with literature, desire and carnage, this book broke my heart like a Twix and I loved every second of it. The narrator, nicknamed Jordan for her Gatsby-esque golfing aptitude, is in her senior year of college when she’s invited into a close intellectual circle by charismatic duo Yash and Sam. As the banter flies, growing feelings become harder to ignore and Jordan is thrown into an epic and complex love story that I couldn’t escape until its bittersweet end.
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Capturing both the euphoria and devastation of young love, this book is potent for tragic romantics and will delight bookish boffins.
Power Moves by Leesa Ronald
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Did somebody turn off the AC? Nope, it’s this diabolically spicy rivals-to-lovers rom-com that is the perfect boost for dwindling dopamine levels. Professional enemies Camilla, aka Millsy, and Archie are no strangers to drama in their tangled work web of media and politics, but as their ongoing game of cat-and-mouse leads to something more, will they be able to handle the heat?
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Be sure to keep a tall, refreshing beverage nearby while reading.
The Worst Thing I've Ever Done by Clare Stephens
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Personally, a psychological thriller is a welcome choice after days of extended family activity, and Clare Stephens nails it in this compulsive and timely debut. Laden with drama and suspense, The Worst Thing I’ve Ever Done takes us through the nightmare of what happens when one wrong move puts you on the receiving end of a viral online shaming. What’s worse for trending enemy #1 Ruby is that all of the skeletons in her closet are yet to be revealed…
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The perfect book for anyone looking to cut back on their screen-time.
The Natural Way of Things by Charlotte Wood
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Okay, yes, I did JUST talk about this book at length for December Book Club but I feel it is my duty as a fan to endear it to you yet again. This brilliant dystopian rage-filled ride will draw you in like a moth to a flame until it’s grisly end. Ten mistreated women secretly imprisoned by a power-mad patriarchy are forced to endure daily abuse for their ‘crimes’ of speaking out against injustice. A riveting story steeped in horror and revenge with a message still relevant since its publication ten years ago, The Natural Way of Things is essential reading.
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Also my top recommendation if you’ve fervently binged Alone Australia, The Handmaid’s Tale or Yellowjackets.
​Well chums, I hope you’ve enjoyed hearing my more or less coherent thoughts and that I’ve provided some assistance in your selection of what to read next.
Until next month, stay cool and well-read.
Em xo
