Our team loves to read, and diving into their most recent favourites provides a true melting pot of literature.

We checked in with everyone to get their latest recommendations, and we’ve now got something from almost every genre (and a fair few from the fantasy/romantasy genres). We’ve also got two trilogy recommendations, some prize-winning fiction, and a memoir described as ‘gutwrenching’.

So, lean into the rest of the cold, grey winter by curling up with one of these reads at home.

NOTE: Prices are accurate at time of publishing.

My Year of Rest and Relaxation, Ottessa Moshfegh

“I’m currently reading the cult favourite My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh, and it’s a wild ride. The narrator and the book’s premise are so ridiculous that I can’t help but be entertained. The novel’s weirdly relatable look at life has me constantly wondering if I could give up everything society expects of me and still find happiness.” – Emily

The Bee Sting, Paul Murray

“I’ve just started The Bee Sting by Paul Murray. I told myself I wouldn’t buy any new books for a while, but then I tried a sample on Kindle and was completely hooked and couldn’t not buy it.” – Kahla

Skipshock, Caroline O’Donoghue

“I also recently read Skipshock by Caroline O’Donoghue and loved it – it’s a sci-fi fantasy romance, so a genre I don’t tend to read very often, but I found it so engaging and the concept was fascinating. It also felt very political and current and gave me a lot of food for thought.” – Kahla

The Broken Earth Trilogy, N.K. Jemisin

“I recently finished The Broken Earth trilogy (The Fifth Season, The Obelisk Gate and The Stone Sky) by N.K. Jemisin and it blew my mind. Reading a book that centres on a mother and daughter facing the end of the world from opposite sides of a magical war wasn’t something I expected to enjoy as much as I did. I’ve never read such a unique, expansive fantasy series, and I can see why so many readers rave about it, especially because it has such a different spin on the classic fantasy plot.” – Maddison

The Eyes of Gaza: A Diary of Resilience, Plestia Alaqad

“The Eyes of Gaza: A Diary of Resilience by Plestia Alaqad was the kind of book that made me sit back and take stock of my own life and how lucky I am. A newly minted journalist who was visiting her home in Gaza when the Israel-Hamas conflict broke out, Alaqad journaled everything she witnessed while living and working in a war zone for months before she was evacuated to Australia. It’s gut-wrenching to hear how her narrative voice changes as the war goes on, but I think this is a really important piece of literature.” – Maddison

I Who Have Never Known Men, Jacqueline Harpman

“I devoured I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman in two days, and it honestly would’ve been a five-star read if it hadn’t left me with more questions than answers! I think that’s the point of this book, though, and if you’re looking for a short novel that will make you think, this is the one to pick up.” – Maddison

Brutes, Dizz Tate

“I just finished Brutes by Dizz Tate. Truly a hypnotic read, you’re sucked into the sickly-sweet, lipsticked realm of pre-teen girls obsessed with secrets and their own individual darkness. Whilst the plot is anchored around the disappearance of the preacher’s daughter, the girls’ coming-of-age pains are so brutal and not picture-perfect that I was compellingly overwhelmed by this more sinister representation of girlhood and the experiences that build and break it. I like a story that isn’t wrapped in a pretty bow with an equally ‘pretty’ ending!” – Polly

When Breath Becomes Air, Paul Kalanithi

”This is an oldie, published in 2016, but still relevant today: When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi. Kalanithi is a neurosurgeon who was diagnosed with stage IV metastatic lung cancer. His book attempts to answer the question ‘What makes a life worth living?’ as he reflects on his work, patients, family and life. It is gutwrenching. I had to take several breaks from sobbing. It’s great. Highly recommend.” – Sindy

The Elements Series, John Boyne 

“I just read the John Boyne series Water, Earth and Fire. They’re the best books I have read in years. The fourth in the series comes out this month, Air. This is the Irish author who wrote The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas and The Heart’s Invisible Furies. They are confronting, but so well written.” – Shauna

The Secret History, Donna Tartt

“After getting back into reading and vowing to read the classics, I’m currently about 5/6ths of the way through Donna Tartt’s The Secret History, which was recommended to me by a friend. Admittedly, it’s a hard read to start. Still, I’ve gotten so sucked into this group of misfit university students exploring the consequences of their pretentious ways of living, I can’t put it down. It’s enthralling, clever, gets you laughing, and gives you chills at the right moments. The perfect read if you’re into that dark, gothic genre.” – Josh.

A Forbidden Alchemy, Stacey McEwan

“I tore through A Forbidden Alchemy by Stacey McEwan on my most recent holiday. It started a little slow, but as soon as the plot got going, I was hooked. The twist mid-way through the book totally blindsided me, and I read the second half so fast just wanting to know how it would play out – only to be left on a massive cliff-hanger. Such a fun read, and I can’t wait for the sequel.” – Maddison

READ MORE: From BookTok to New York Times bestseller: How Aussie teacher Stacey McEwan defied the odds

Quicksilver, Callie Hart

“I am just about to finish Quicksilver by Callie Hart. All I read is fantasy, so I was sceptical of something that had blown up on BookTok, but I can confirm I have been hooked. The world-building was super interesting and kept me guessing, the female main character is badass, and though the male main character got on my nerves a little, his turnaround is getting to me (in a different way). Just waiting for the big ending and an inevitable cliff hanger as the Fae War is no doubt about to erupt.” – Kristine

READ MORE: The new Kindle (in colour) is now here!