Bestsellers for the week ending Saturday 11th November 2023

The Axeman’s Carnival

1.

Everywhere, the birds: sparrows and skylarks and thrushes, starlings and bellbirds, fantails and pipits – but above them all and louder, the magpies. Tama is just a helpless chick when he is rescued by Marnie, and this is where his story might have ended. ‘If it keeps me awake,’ says Marnie’s husband Rob, a farmer, ‘I’ll have to wring its neck.’ But with Tama come new possibilities for the couple’s future. Outside, in the pines, his father warns him of the wickedness wrought by humans. Indoors, Marnie confides in him about her violent marriage. The more Tama sees, the more the animal and the human worlds – and all of the precarity, darkness and hope within them – bleed into one another.

Pet

2.

Like every other girl in her class, twelve-year-old Justine is drawn to her glamorous, charismatic new teacher, and longs to be her pet. However, when a thief begins to target the school, Justine’s sense that something isn't quite right grows ever stronger. With each twist of the plot, this gripping story of deception and the corrosive power of guilt takes a yet darker turn. Young as she is, Justine must decide where her loyalties lie. Set in New Zealand in 1984 and 2014, and probing themes of racism and misogyny, Pet is an elegant and chilling psychological thriller by the bestselling author of The Wish Child, Remote Sympathy and The Axeman’s Carnival.

The Bone Tree

3.

The story of two brothers, born and raised in the shadow of Taranaki Maunga, by 'one of Aotearoa's finest writers' (NZ Listener).

Kauri and Black's mum has been gone six months now. Their dad is barely holding on and the threat of child services taking Black looms large. Kauri won't let that happen, and so he embarks on a journey into their family's past. The only way to break the cycle of violence is to understand where it all began. But when an accident brings child services to their door, the race is on for Kauri to save his brother. And he will learn that no matter how brave he is or how strong he is, he cannot do it alone.

Spoiled Fruit: Queer Poetry from Aotearoa

4.

Spoiled Fruit is the debut title from micro press Āporo Press. This collection gathers 20 queer poets from across Aotearoa, compiles work largely first published on bad apple and asks these poets to reflect upon their work to create new pieces.
Emerging from this introspection are themes of growth, evolution, change and transition. Like spoiled fruit fallen and left to rot, new growth emerges.
Featuring: Nicola Andrews, kī anthony, kate aschoff, Jo Bragg, Cadence Chung, Rhys Feeney, Ted Greensmith-West, Haukupu, Kyra Lawler, Rex Letoa Paget, Casey Lucas, Ivy Lyden-Hancy, Amy Marguerite, Jackson McCarthy, Hannah Patterson, Ngaio Simmons, sylvan spring, El Spurlock, Fetūolemoana Tamapeau and Laura Vincent.

The Penguin New Zealand Anthology

5.

A milestone collection to celebrate a milestone event - 50 years publishing in NZ! To celebrate 50 years of publishing in Aotearoa New Zealand, this anthology brings together 50 enthralling stories from some of the country’s finest writers. From established authors to new, emerging names, these stories track the changing styles, voices and preoccupations explored through the short story over the past five decades. Read – and celebrate!

Kāwai

6.

Kāwai: For Such a Time as This is the remarkable first novel by respected historian Dr. Monty Soutar, in a series that reveals the role of colonisation in shaping Aotearoa New Zealand, balanced with an honest appraisal of the country in pre-colonial times.

Birnam Wood (Paperback)

7.

Birnam Wood is on the move ... A landslide has closed the Korowai Pass in the South Island of New Zealand, cutting off the town of Thorndike, leaving a sizable farm abandoned. This land offers an opportunity to Birnam Wood, a guerrilla gardening collective that plants crops wherever no one will notice. But they hadn’t figured on the enigmatic American billionaire Robert Lemoine, who also has an interest in the place.

Everything is Beautiful and Everything Hurts

8.

Mickey Bloom: five foot tall, dyslexic, and bullied at school. Mickey knows she's nothing special. Until one day, she discovers running.

Mickey's new-found talent makes her realise she's everything she thought she wasn't – powerful, strong and special. But her success comes at a cost, and the relentless training and pressure to win leaves Mickey broken, her dream in tatters.

Years later, when Mickey is working in a dead-end job with a drop-kick boyfriend, her mother becomes seriously ill. After nursing her, Mickey realises the only way she can overcome her grief – and find herself – is to run again.

A chance encounter with a stranger sees Mickey re-ignite her dreams. The two women form an unbreakable bond, as Mickey is shown what it means to run in the right direction.

An unforgettable debut novel about change, family and grit, and what it takes to achieve your dreams.

Hannah & Huia

9.

Hannah is in a mental health unit, in shock and rendered speechless following the sudden death of her husband and baby son one rainy night – for which she feels unspeakable guilt. She pays little attention to her institutional surroundings as events play and replay inside her head. There is no way out, no way back, and no future she can possibly imagine, just an endless, unbearable present. Huia is also there, a long-term resident who lives entirely in her own inner world, a woman who seems unable to communicate. Her mutterings, her sleeve-plucking, her foot-tapping? Well, that’s just Huia. But who is she? What is her story and why does she play on Hannah’s mind? No one else pays attention to Huia’s condition, but Hannah is drawn to the mystery of the older woman … Huia has something to teach Hannah, if only Hannah pays attention – and she does. Gradually drawn out of her own web of misery, Hannah learns to read Huia and decides to follow the tiny clues back to the source and discover the truth of Huia. In the process, she uncovers the strange bonds that unite them and finds it might, after all, be possible to save her own life – that families can and should heal. And Huia is her path to redemption. Two women, two literally unspeakable tragedies, two families, one powerful and unforgettable story. No one should ever be made to feel invisible. And you are never alone.

Turncoat

10.

Daniel is a young, idealistic Human determined to make a difference for his people. He lives in a distant future in which Earth has been colonised by aliens. His mission: infiltrate the Alien government called the Hierarch and push for it to honour the infamous Covenant of Wellington, the founding agreement between the Hierarch and Humans. With compassion and insight, Turncoat explores the trauma of Māori public servants and the deeply conflicted role they are expected to fill within the machinery of government. From casual racism to co-governance, Treaty settlements to tino rangatiratanga, Turncoat is a timely critique of the Aotearoa zeitgeist, holding a mirror up to Pākehā New Zealanders and asking: “What if it happened to you?”

Untouchable Girls

1.

The incredible story of how a couple of country kids from Huntly became much-loved Kiwi icons and TV stars, with their own unique brand of original country music and comedy that has captivated audiences in New Zealand and overseas for more than 40 years. Jools and Lynda Topp aka The Topp Twins tell this story in their own words, describing their adventurous lives through laugh-out-loud anecdotes and heartwarming tales. As well as enjoying long careers as country music stars and comedians, with their characters like Camp Mother & Camp Leader and Ken & Ken, the twins have always stood up for their political beliefs and have been embraced by New Zealanders from all walks of life.
Including never-before-told stories and images, this is a nostalgic and important historic record of the lives of two ground-breaking and inspiring women, and of the times through which they've lived.

Smithy

2.

Wayne Smith is arguably the finest rugby brain in the world - a man the players he coached dubbed 'The Professor'. In Smithy: Endless Winters & The Spring of '22, we'll hear from not only Wayne, but also the women and men who took the Ferns to a World title. In this long-awaited memoir, Wayne Smith will tell his best, most entertaining, insightful, and amusing anecdotes from an amazing career in in the game. We'll look inside the Black Ferns' World Cup triumph, which saw Wayne go from a man entitled to free bus rides with his Gold Card, to the dancing leader of a diverse, vibrant group of players and coaches who won all Kiwis' hearts.

Bookshop Dogs

3.

Heartwarming and charming stories of dogs and books from the bestselling author of The Bookseller at the End of the World. Dogs of all shapes and sizes visit Ruth Shaw's three wee bookshops in Manapōuri in the far south of Aotearoa New Zealand. Local dogs, holiday house dogs, travelling dogs: many have great stories, be they funny, sad, strange, bemusing, quirky or sweet.

Woven throughout are tales of the very special Hunza, the dog who worked with troubled teens alongside Ruth when she was a youth worker.
This is a window into the wonderful world of Ruth and her generous love of people, books and dogs. It's a must-read for dog fans, book fans and anyone who loved her first book, The Bookseller at the End of the World.

Gangster's Paradise

4.

Gangster's Paradise is about drugs, guns, gangs and money. Lots of money. A gang which took over a small rural town. A police officer shot and killed in a routine traffic stop. A port-worker who helped a gang whisk a shipping container off a wharf in the middle of the night. A crew of corrupt baggage handlers smuggling meth into the country during Covid lockdowns. A shooting inside a 5-star hotel in broad daylight. Turf wars, retaliation, and retribution: new gangs like the Mongols and Comancheros have brought with them better connections with international syndicates, challenging the established gangs like the Head Hunters - so dominant for many years - who have had to up their game in response. Jared Savage's bestselling book Gangland was about the evolution of gangs in New Zealand. Gangster's Paradise is about the deadly escalation.

The Crewe Murders

5.

The murder of Harvey and Jeannette Crewe in their Pukekawa farmhouse in 1970 remains New Zealand’s most infamous cold case. It spawned two trials, two appeals, several books, a film, and eventually a royal commission finding of police corruption. It also resulted in a free pardon, the only time the New Zealand government has bypassed the courts to set a convicted murderer free. And still, the Crewes’ killer has not been found. Combining gripping narrative, detailed research and striking new testimony from those who were there, this book tells the complete story of the case for the first time.

Whakawhetai: Gratitude

6.

Kia ū ki te pai, kia whai hua ai. Hold on to what is good and good things will follow. An inspirational, bilingual gratitude journal, based on the Māori holistic approach to health, hauora.
Discover the four dimensions of hauora: taha tinana (physical), taha hinengaro (mental), taha wairua (spiritual) and taha whānau (family).
No matter how difficult life can seem, there is always something to feel grateful for. Taking note regularly of the positives – no matter how small – in each of these areas of your life can have a huge impact on your health and happiness.

On the Record

7.

Before Steven Joyce entered politics, he had a hugely successful 17-year career building and running the radio network RadioWorks. He learnt to cut deals, compete ferociously, and carefully manage the on-air talent. They were all skills he would put to great use when he joined the National Party.

After entering Parliament in 2008 when John Key took back power from Labour, Joyce was appointed directly into Cabinet, and was a senior minister for almost all of his 10 years in Parliament. Alongside his portfolios - including transport, infrastructure, tertiary education and economic development - Joyce occupied a pivotal role as National's campaign strategist, including leading the party's winning campaigns in 2008, 2011 and 2014.

Such was Joyce's effectiveness, he gained the nickname of 'Minister for Everything'. Alongside Key and Bill English, Joyce was one of the main powerbrokers of the Key government, as both strategist and upholder of party discipline. Here, Joyce details the hard slog, discipline and negotiating skills necessary to thrive in the often-brutal world of politics.

On the Record reveals what it takes to win and keep office, and the secrets behind the strategy and campaigning that led to National being in power for almost a decade. This is an essential read for anyone interested in the business of governing: packed full of insider knowledge, honest appraisals of the main players, entertaining anecdotes and the reality of how politics works.

Every Effing Inch

8.

Three Pensioners' Epic 3012km Journey the Length of Aotearoa. Tim Pankhurst details walking the 3012km Te Araroa Trail, New Zealand's long pathway, from Cape Reinga to Bluff with two companions — former Wellington mayor Dame Kerry Prendergast and his wife Sue. At times they wondered why? They encountered flooded rivers, snow and ice, serious injury, hard case characters, personal conflict, magnificent country and some sublime moments. this account is required reading for everyone who has walked the Trail, those who are thinking of getting into the back country and those who never will, but can experience it from the couch.

Fungi of Aotearoa

9.

The complete introduction to finding, identifying and using mushrooms and other fungi in New Zealand Enter and explore the fascinating world of fungi.

In this practical and up-to-date guide, forager and fungus enthusiast Liv Sisson shares her top tips and takes the reader on a journey to discover the unique and diverse fungi Aotearoa has to offer.

The Dressmaker and the Hidden Soldier

10.

A prisoner of war's daring escape from a speeding train . . . a Greek resistance heroine's fateful decision to harbour the fugitive . . . and a young dressmaker's curiosity spark a chain of events that has consequences none of them could ever have imagined. The Dressmaker & the Hidden Soldier is based on the extraordinary true story of Peter Blunden, the New Zealand soldier, and Thalia Christidou, the young Greek dressmaker, and Tasoula Paschilidou, the resistance heroine.
What follows is an epic love story set in a country under Hitler's oppressive regime. With the Nazis closing in, Peter makes another courageous escape, Thalia is threatened by betrayal, and Tasoula is sent to a concentration camp.
Will Tasoula survive? What will become of Peter and Thalia's undeclared love?

Slinky Malinki's Christmas Eve: A Lift the Flap Book

1.

It is Christmas Eve, and sneaky Slinky Malinki has stolen the Christmas tree decorations! Lift the flaps to help find the missing tinsel and trinkets, baubles and bells, in this special board book for babies and toddlers. Festive lift-the-flap fun with our favourite mischievous cat, Slinky Malilnki!
Young children will love discovering where Slinky has hidden the decorations on every page. An engaging board book, with a durable case, thick pages and sturdy flaps, add Slinky Malinki to all stockings this Christmas!
Bursting with Lynley Dodd’s characterful artwork and glorious language, Slinky Malinki’s Christmas Eve will delight young children everywhere.
Read all the Hairy Maclary and Friends books by Lynley Dodd!

Patu: The New Zealand Wars

2.

A large-format, stunning visual history of the New Zealand Wars of the 1800s, suitable for children and adults, by the multiple-award-winning Gavin Bishop Discover the key people, perspectives and battles of the New Zealand Wars in this powerfully told and richly illustrated visual history by Gavin Bishop. Auē! Te mamae!
Navigate the defining moments of the wars, visit the battle sites and explore the sweeping change that took place in Aotearoa during the 19th century. Guiding readers through the bitter armed clashes over land and sovereignty, PATU is an essential book for every home, school and library. A stunning large format hardback, complete with foldout maps of key pā, villages and battle sites, this is a book to engross children and adults, bringing to life a complex period of Aotearoa's past that has urgent relevance for our present and future.

The Observologist: A handbook for mounting very small scientific expeditions

3.

Observology is the study of looking. An observologist makes scientific expeditions, albeit very small ones, every day. They notice interesting details in the world around them. They are expert at finding tiny creatures, plants and fungi. They know that water snails glide upside down on the undersurface of the water; not all flies have wings; earthworms have bristles; butterflies taste with their feet. An observologist knows that there are extraordinary things to be found in even the most ordinary places. The Observologist puts over 100 small creatures and features of the natural world under the microscope, piquing our curiosity with only the most interesting facts. Subjects range from slugs, ants and seeds, fungi and flies through to bees and bird poop. But this is no everyday catalogue of creatures. It is an antidote to boredom, an invitation out of the digital world and screentime, an encouragement to observe our environment, with care and curiosity, wherever we are. Facts combine with comics, detailed illustrations, science and funny stories in this unique, warm and fascinating account of the small things all around us. Graphic and comic illustrations with funny talking insects make this a playful and informative book for 7- to 11-year-olds and one to be treasured in the classroom.

Little Ruby and Friends

4.

Gorgeous picture book from the amazing Ruby Tui. Little Ruby explores the playground and finds all of her friends there!

But they all face challenges as they run and swing and climb and kick the ball.
Ruby discovers that her friends have very different ways of sorting out their problems – she even learns from them how to solve her own!

Note from Ruby: Talofa, my friends!I wrote this book to show that everyone gets upset sometimes, and that can look very different for each of us. But the good news is there are also heaps of ways to feel better, and sometimes all we need to do is listen. I hope you love this book, too! Ruby Tui xx

The Stinky Wonky Donkey

5.

The whiffy Wonky Donkey is back, and this time he is playing an outrageous bad Dad joke on Dinky. As Wonky listened, his face was deadpan, but he was devising an outrageous plan! Dinky Donkey loves hooved animals so much, Wonky Donkey poses the question to her: "Are you hoof-hearted?" Hilarity ensues as Dinky innocently enquires of other members of her family if they are 'hoof-hearted', much to the delight of her dad.

Edmonds My First Cookbook

6.

With an illustrated, step-by-step layout, you'll find it super easy to learn to cook these classic New Zealand recipes.Become a champion-pikelet-maker, an expert-afghan-baker or an award-winning-pizza-creator. From breakfast through to dessert and all the meals and snacks in between, this collection of over 90 recipes will be the beginning of a life-long love of baking and cooking.

Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy

7.

The iconic first Hairy Maclary book, which introduces Hercules Morse, Bitzer Maloney, Muffin McLay, Bottomley Potts, Schnitzel von Krumm and of course the famous Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy.

Pee Wee the Lonely Kiwi Finds a New Friend

8.

This beautifully illustrated book is a gorgeous little story of friendship between New Zealand Birds. Join Pee Wee as he makes his way around the South Island of New Zealand meeting many native New Zealand birds.

Badjelly the Witch

9.

A special hardback 50th anniversary edition of much-loved fairy story, Badjelly the Witch. Badjelly the Witch has been delighting children for 50 years! Celebrate with this gorgeous gift edition of the classic story. Badjelly, the baddest witch in all the world, is coming to get you!

Badjelly the Witch can turn children into sausages or chop them up to make boy-girl soup. She can turn policemen into apple trees or bananas into mice! Tee hee hee hee! Tim and Rose’s terrifying encounter with Badjelly is a classic fairy tale, loved by children for 50 years. This celebratory gift edition contains comic genius Spike Milligan’s original hand-lettered story and illustrations, and an introduction written by his family. Hardcover with Badjelly in a deliciously shiny purple foil, this special story will delight today's children just as much as it did 50 years ago.

Critters of Aotearoa

10.

Slimy, stinky, creepy, crawly and gross . . . but also a little bit cute! Discover New Zealand’s most curious creatures — from Smeagol the gravel maggot, to the walking worm and the drooping blobfish — with Nicola Toki from the hit RNZ segement on Afternoons with Jesse Mulligan ‘Critter of the Week’ as your guide. Featuring 50 illustrated profiles of Aotearoa’s weird and wonderful critters, and an introduction by Jesse Mulligan, this book proves that sometimes nature’s best stories are the ones you have to work a little harder to uncover.

Iron Flame

1.

Everyone expected Violet Sorrengail to die during her first year at Basgiath War College, Violet included. But Threshing was only the first impossible test meant to weed out the weak-willed, the unworthy, and the unlucky. Now the real training begins, and Violet's already wondering how she'll get through. It's not just that it's grueling and maliciously brutal, or even that it's designed to stretch the riders' capacity for pain beyond endurance. It's the new vice commandant, who's made it his personal mission to teach Violet exactly how powerless she is - unless she betrays the man she loves. Although Violet's body might be weaker and frailer than everyone else's, she still has her wits, and a will of iron. And leadership is forgetting the most important lesson Basgiath has taught her: Dragon riders make their own rules. But a determination to survive won't be enough this year.
Because Violet knows the real secret hidden for centuries at Basgiath War College - and nothing, not even dragon fire, may be enough to save them in the end.

The Secret

2.

Jack Reacher, "the coolest continuing series character" (Stephen King), returns in a brand new, pulse-pounding read from Lee and Andrew Child. 1992. Two strangers bring a hospital patient a list of names. They ask him for one more, but it's a question the patient can't answer. Minutes later he is dispatched through the 12th floor window. His death generates some unexpected attention. That attention comes from the Secretary of Defence, who brings in an inter-agency task force to investigate. Jack Reacher, recently demoted from Major to Captain, is assigned as the Army's representative. Reacher may be an exceptional soldier, but sweeping other people's secrets under the carpet isn't part of his skill set. As he races to find the killer, he must navigate around the ulterior motives of his new 'partners'. And all while moving into the sight line of some of the most dangerous people he has ever encountered. His mission is to uncover the truth. Fast. The question is: will Reacher bring the bad guys to justice the official way . . . or his way?

Resurrection Walk

3.

From No. 1 bestselling author Michael Connelly: Lincoln Lawyer Mickey Haller is back, and he's taken on another long-shot case. The chance of winning is one in a million... Defence attorney Mickey Haller has agreed to represent a woman who is in prison for killing her husband, a sheriff's deputy, and Haller enlists his half-brother, retired LAPD Detective Harry Bosch, as investigator. Even after four years in prison, his new client maintains her innocence.

Reviewing the case, Bosch sees something that doesn't add up and senses the sheriff's department close ranks as he pursues the truth.

The path to true justice is, for both the lawyer and his investigator, fraught with danger from those who don't want the case reopened. And their opponents will stop at nothing to keep the Haller–Bosch dream team from uncovering what the deputy's killing was really about.

The Exchange

4.

The Exchange is John Grisham's epic follow-up to his phenomenal global bestseller The Firm, the novel that launched his career as the world's favourite storyteller- it will take you on a rollercoaster journey across the globe, from New York to London, and Rome to Marrakech. TEN DAYS TO SAVE A LIFE. ONE SECOND TO END IT. Mitch McDeere has cheated death and come out the other side. Fifteen years ago, he stole million from the mob and disappeared. Now, with his enemies jailed or dead, he has fought his way to the top of the biggest law firm in the world. When a new case takes Mitch to Libya, danger awaits: he's soon in the biggest hostage negotiation in recent history with terrorists who have murdered and will murder again. Their demand is staggering: a ransom of 0 million must be paid within 10 days. But this isn't a random kidnapping - it's personal. And no one, not even Mitch's wife in New York, is safe. With the clock ticking, can Mitch stay one step ahead of his enemies? This time, there's nowhere to hide.

Light at Lavelle

5.

'Paullina Simons pulls on every heartstring, she's a master of epic love stories' COLLEEN HOOVER TORN BETWEEN WHAT THEY CANNOT HAVE AND WHAT THEY CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT. It is 1929. The world is about to change. Finn Evans is a successful Boston banker harboring a secret that threatens to unravel his carefully constructed idyllic life. Isabelle Lazar, a young Ukrainian farmer, endures unspeakable hardships in her homeland as she fights to save her family from the Soviet Union's iron grip. Barely escaping the Terror-Famine, she washes up alone on America's distant shores.Fate throws Finn and Isabelle together just as the stock market crash causes a devastating collapse of his world. Amid the Great Depression and the trials of their new lives, an undeniable connection grows between them that they both must hide.
As their intertwined destinies hang in the balance, they discover that even those who have lost everything still have something left to lose. Light at Lavelle is the breathtaking epic love story from the worldwide bestselling author of Tully and The Bronze Horseman. Paullina Simons weaves an unforgettable tapestry of love, hope, and fate, showing us that sometimes the greatest battles are fought within our own hearts.

The Year of the Locust

6.

The long awaited follow-up to global bestseller I AM PILGRIM - and a massive event publication from Transworld If, like Kane, you're a Denied Access Area spy for the CIA, then boundaries have no meaning. Your function is to go in, do whatever is required, and get out again - by whatever means necessary. You know when to run, when to hide - and when to shoot. But some places don't play by the rules. Some places are too dangerous, even for a man of Kane's experience. The badlands where the borders of Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan meet are such a place - a place where violence is the only way to survive. Kane travels there to exfiltrate a man with vital information for the safety of the West - but instead he meets an adversary who will take the world to the brink of extinction. A frightening, clever, vicious man with blood on his hands and vengeance in his heart...

Lola in the Mirror

7.

Bighearted, gritty, magical and moving, Lola in the Mirror is the irresistible new novel from international bestselling author of Boy Swallows Universe and All Our Shimmering Skies, Trent Dalton.

'Mirror, mirror, on the grass, what's my future? What's my past?' A girl and her mother have been on the run for sixteen years, from police and the monster they left in their kitchen with a knife in his throat. They've found themselves a home inside a van with four flat tyres parked in a scrapyard by the edge of the Brisbane River. The girl has no name because names are dangerous when you're on the run. But the girl has a dream. A vision of a life as an artist of international acclaim. A life outside the grip of the Brisbane underworld drug queen 'Lady' Flora Box. A life of love with the boy who's waiting for her on the bridge that stretches across a flooding, deadly river. A life beyond the bullet that has her name on it. And now that the storm clouds are rising, there's only one person who can help make her dreams come true. That person is Lola and she carries all the answers. But to find Lola, the girl with no name must first do one of the hardest things we can ever do. She must look in the mirror. From international bestselling author Trent Dalton, Lola in the Mirror is a big, moving, blackly funny, violent, heartbreaking and beautiful novel of love, fate, life and death and all the things we see when we look in the mirror: all our past, all our present, and all our possible futures.

The Sugar Palace

8.

Under the clamour of the Sydney Harbour Bridge being built nearby, Grace Fairweather is working in her father’s grocery shop in The Rocks when she begins making her own confectionery. Her colourful creations of toffees, lollies and chocolates soon become crowd favourites, and Grace begins to dream of one day opening her own sweetshop. When the roguish but irresistible Londoner Alfie Sweeting comes to work for the Fairweathers, his ambition for her success thrills her – so much so that she begins to question her engagement to Norman. Perhaps the ‘safe’ option in life isn’t the right thing for her after all. Alfie encourages her to open not just a sweetshop, but a delightful destination for young and old – a sugar palace! With Grace’s natural business acumen and Alfie’s creative sales skills, it seems like they could be the perfect pairing – in work and in love – but when Alfie’s criminal past catches up with him, both their lives come under threat and Grace is forced to make the most difficult decision of all.

Moving between the colourful world of a carnival-like confectionery store and Sydney’s organised crime world of brothel madams, gambling dens and cocaine dealers, this is a thrilling romantic adventure that shows not everyone is to be trusted, and life isn’t always as sweet as it seems.

Fourth Wing (The Empyrean)

9.

Dragons, war and Hunger Games-esque trials. Fourth Wing is a high-stakes, enemies-to-lovers fantasy romance perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo, Sarah J Maas and dark academia. Welcome to the brutal and elite world of Basgiath War College, where everyone has an agenda, and every night could be your last . . .

Sisters Under the Rising Sun

10.

Sisters under the Rising Sun, the captivating new novel by Heather Morris, is a story of women in war: a testament to resilience, bravery and friendship in the darkest of circumstances. It is February 1942. Amid the turmoil of World War II, a group of Australian Army nurses, among them Nesta James and Vivian Bullwinkel, have just arrived in Singapore. The women have fled there from Malaya, where they had been stationed to care for Allied troops – and they are reluctant to move on again. Their hope is to remain in the beleaguered British colony to continue their mission of treating the sick and wounded. Norah Chambers, an English musician, has also fled to Singapore from Malaya, where she had been living with her husband and her eight-year-old daughter, Sally. A few days earlier she had sent her child away on a ship bound for Australia, desperate to keep her safe from invading Japanese forces. As the Japanese military overruns the city, Nesta and Vivian reluctantly join a terrified cargo of people – including the heartbroken Norah – crammed aboard the merchant ship Vyner Brooke. Only two days later, they are bombarded from the air off the coast of Indonesia, and in a matter of hours, the Vyner Brooke has sunk. After 24 hours in the sea, Nesta and Norah reach the beaches of a remote island, only to be captured and held in a succession of Japanese POW camps, places of starvation and brutality, where disease runs rampant. Alongside hundreds of other women prisoners, they begin a struggle for survival that will last almost four years. But even here, joy can be found by those with the will to defy their desperate circumstances. When Norah forms a 'vocal orchestra', with the women's voices taking the place of instruments, their music has the power to bring hope into the midst of despair. Sisters in arms, Norah and Nesta fight side by side, discovering in themselves extraordinary reserves of courage, resourcefulness, humour and hope in their determination to retain their humanity by caring for others.

The Woman in Me

1.

The Woman in Me is a brave and astonishingly moving story about freedom, fame, motherhood, survival, faith, and hope. In June 2021, the whole world was listening as Britney Spears spoke in open court. The impact of sharing her voice her truth was undeniable, and it changed the course of her life and the lives of countless others. The Woman in Me reveals for the first time her incredible journey and the strength at the core of one of the greatest performers in pop music history. Written with remarkable candor and humor, Spears’s grou­ndbreaking book illuminates the enduring power of music and love and the importance of a woman telling her own story, on her own terms, at last.

Guinness World Records 2024

2.

This year's edition compiles the very best of the thousands of new records approved over the past year.

Rambling Man

3.

When Billy set out from Glasgow as a young man he never looked back. He played his banjo on boats and trains, under trees, and on top of famous monuments. He danced naked in snow, wind and fire. He slept in bus stations, under bridges and on strangers' floors. He travelled by foot, bike, ship, plane, sleigh - even piggy-backed - to get to his next destination. Billy has wandered to every corner of the earth and believes that being a Rambling Man is about more than just travelling - it's a state of mind. Rambling Men and Women are free spirits who live on their wits, are interested in people and endlessly curious about the world. They love to play music, make art or tell stories along the way but, above all, they have a longing in their heart for the open road. In his joyful new book, Billy explores this philosophy and how it has shaped him, and he shares hilarious new stories from his lifetime on the road. From riding his trike down America's famous Route 66, building an igloo on an iceberg in the Arctic, playing elephant polo (badly) in Nepal and crashing his motorbike (more than once), to eating witchetty grubs in Australia, being serenaded by a penguin in New Zealand, and swapping secrets in a traditional Sweat Lodge ritual in Canada, Rambling Man is a truly global adventure with the greatest possible travel companion.

Be Useful

4.

Seven lessons from the international icon on how to live a meaningful, purposeful life, for fans of Atomic Habits and Wim Hof The seven rules to follow to realize your true purpose in life-distilled by Arnold Schwarzenegger from his own journey of ceaseless reinvention and extraordinary achievement, and available for absolutely anyone. The world's greatest bodybuilder. The world's highest paid movie star. The leader of the world's sixth largest economy. That these are the same person sounds like the setup to a joke. But this is no joke. This is Arnold Schwarzenegger. And this did not happen by accident. Arnold's stratospheric success happened as part of a process. As the result of clear vision, big thinking, hard work, direct communication, resilient problem-solving, open-minded curiosity, and a commitment to giving back. All of it guided by the one lesson Arnold's father hammered into him above all: be useful. As Arnold conquered every realm he entered, he kept his father's adage close to his heart. Written with his uniquely earnest, blunt, powerful voice, BE USEFUL takes readers on an inspirational tour through Arnold's toolkit for a meaningful life. Arnold shows us how to put those tools to work, in service of whatever fulfilling future we can dream up for ourselves. He brings his insights to vivid life with compelling personal stories, life-changing successes and life-threatening failures alike--some of them famous, some told here for the first time ever. Too many of us struggle to disconnect from our self-pity and connect to our purpose. At an early age, Arnold forged the mental tools to build the ladder out of the poverty and narrow-mindedness of his rural Austrian hometown, tools he used to add rung after rung from there. Now he has shared that wisdom with all of us. As he puts it, no one is going to come rescue you -- you only have yourself. The good news, it turns out, is that you are all you need.

The Cat Who Taught Zen

5.

From the bestselling author of Big Panda and Tiny Dragon, a new adventure featuring a wise cat, a curious kitten, and the Zen wisdom they uncover on their journey together This is the tale of a cat wise in the ways of zen who hears of a solitary ancient pine, deep in a maple forest, under which infinite wisdom may be found. So begins a journey of discovery. Along the way he meets a vivid cast of animals: from an anxious monkey and a tortoise tired of life, to a tiger struggling with anger, a confused wolf cub and a covetous crow. Each has stories to tell and lessons to share. But after a surprise encounter with a playful kitten, the cat questions everything . . .

Atomic Habits

6.

Transform your life with tiny changes in behaviour, starting now. People think that when you want to change your life, you need to think big. But world-renowned habits expert James Clear has discovered another way. He knows that real change comes from the compound effect of hundreds of small decisions: doing two push-ups a day, waking up five minutes early, or holding a single short phone call. He calls them atomic habits.

Did I Ever Tell You This?

7.

In this unexpected memoir, written in a creative burst of just a few months in 2022, Sam Neill tells the story of how he became one of the world's most celebrated actors, who has worked with everyone from Meryl Streep to Isabel Adjani, from Jeff Goldblum to Sean Connery, from Steven Spielberg to Jane Campion.

The Twat Files

8.

A hugely relatable, funny, honest and inspirational 'memoir of sorts' in which Dawn celebrates what it means to be gloriously, messily human When I was younger I wanted to be an interesting, sophisticated, semi-heroic, multi-layered person. BUT. That kind of perfect is impossible. Being an actual twat is much more the real me. Sorry to boast, but I am a champion twat. In The Twat Files I will tell you about all the times I've been a total and utter twat. The moments where I've misunderstood stuff and messed up. My hope is that these stories might fire up yer engines to remind you of just what a massive twat you also are. Let's celebrate and revel in this most delightful of traits together. That would be perfectly twatty.

Oh Miriam!

9.

STORIES FROM AN EXTRAORDINARY LIFE Join us on another unforgettable adventure through the extraordinary life and strong opinions of Miriam Margolyes.
'My new book is called OH MIRIAM! - something that has been said to me a lot over the years, often in tones of strong disapproval. It contains lots more revelations and stories and discoveries and I can't wait to share it with you all!' From being escorted off the Today programme (for saying what we were all thinking) to declaring her love to Vanessa Redgrave; from Tales of the Unexpected to Graham Norton's sofa, she is our most loved and most outspoken national treasure. Oh Miriam! takes you inside both her head and her heart. Buckle up for the most irrepressible, hilarious and moving read of 2023.

The Barefoot Investor

10.

This is the only money guide you'll ever need.

No Brainer: Diary of a Wimpy Kid (18)

1.

In No Brainer, book 18 of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series from #1 international bestselling author Jeff Kinney, it’s up to Greg to save his crumbling school before it’s shuttered for good. Up until now, middle school hasn’t exactly been a joyride for Greg Heffley. So when the town threatens to close the crumbling building, he’s not too broken up about it. But when Greg realizes this means he’s going to be sent to a different school than his best friend, Rowley Jefferson, he changes his tune. Can Greg and his classmates save their school before it’s shuttered for good? Or is this the start of a whole new chapter for Greg?

The Blunders

2.

Million-copy bestseller David Walliams’ funniest book yet – a laugh-out-loud tale of the most blundering and lovable family in history Meet the Blunders: Bertie, Betsy, their children, Brutus and Bunny, along with their beloved grandma Old Lady Blunder, and their petostrich, Cedric. An ostrich is not a sensible pet, but then the Blunders are not sensible people.

This family of upper-class twits lives in a crumbling country house named Blunder Hall. When their home comes under threat, they must embark on a series of comic misadventures to save it.

Absurd and hilarious, The Blunders is David Walliams’ funniest book yet. A laugh-out-loud tale of the most blundering and lovable family in history.

The 169-Storey Treehouse

3.

Andy and Terry have built their biggest and most astonishing treehouse yet! It has everything they - and you - could wish for, including an electric pony stable, a Santa Land, a NOISY level, a kangaroo-riding range, a WHATEVER-WEATHER-YOU-WANT dome, a 100% edible gingerbread house and a hall of funhouse mirrors.
But Anti-Andy, Terrible-Terry and Junkyard-Jill, their doppelgangers, are trapped in one of the mirrors - and they want out. Well, what are you waiting for? Come on up

Murtagh

4.

An epic new fantasy from the internationally bestselling author of ERAGON Master storyteller and internationally bestselling author Christopher Paolini returns to the World of Eragon in this stunning epic fantasy set a year after the events of the Inheritance Cycle. The world is no longer safe for the Dragon Rider Murtagh and his dragon, Thorn. An evil king has been toppled, and they are left to face the consequences of the reluctant role they played in his reign of terror. Now they are hated and alone, exiled to the outskirts of society. Throughout the land, hushed voices whisper of brittle ground and a faint scent of brimstone in the air - and Murtagh senses that something wicked lurks in the shadows of Alagaësia. So begins an epic journey into lands both familiar and untravelled, where Murtagh and Thorn must use every weapon in their arsenal, from brains to brawn, to find and outwit a mysterious witch. A witch who is much more than she seems. In this gripping novel starring one of the most popular characters from Christopher Paolini's blockbuster Inheritance Cycle, a Dragon Rider must discover what he stands for in a world that has abandoned him. Murtagh is the perfect book to enter the World of Eragon for the first time . . . or to joyfully return.

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

5.

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes will revisit the world of Panem sixty-four years before the events of The Hunger Games, starting on the morning of the reaping of the Tenth Hunger Games. On returning to the world of The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins said, 'With this book, I wanted to explore the state of nature, who we are, and what we perceive is required for our survival. The reconstruction period ten years after the war, commonly referred to as the Dark Days—as the country of Panem struggles back to its feet—provides fertile ground for characters to grapple with these questions and thereby define their views of humanity.'

Oh Dear!

6.

Celebrate 40 years of the favourite lift-the-flap farmyard story from Rod Campbell, the creator of the bestselling preschool classic, Dear Zoo.

Buster's staying with Grandma on the farm. But where will he find the eggs for breakfast? Not in the stable – oh dear! Young children will love lifting the flaps as they turn the pages and follow Buster around the farm.

Dear Zoo

7.

Lift the flaps and join in the fun with Rod Campbell's classic lift-the-flap book, Dear Zoo, with a host of favourite zoo animals and sturdy card flaps to lift on every page.

'I wrote to the zoo to send me a pet . . .'

Santa is Coming to New Zealand

8.

Have you been good? Are you ready to go to sleep? Then Santa is coming to town. Read about what happens to Santa when he visits New Zealand

Look Who's Talking (the Bad Guys: Episode 18)

9.

Forget what you know. This book changes everything. Someone’s found her voice and she has a lot to tell you. Take a deep breath, hermano, it’s The Bad Guys: Episode 18.

The Chalice of the Gods

10.

Percy Jackson has saved the world multiple times - battling monsters, Titans, even giants - but these days the modern-day son of Poseidon is hoping for a regular final year at school. Too bad the Greek gods have other plans, and three new quests for Percy to complete. First up: the cupbearer of the gods, Ganymede, is missing his golden chalice. Not only is this embarrassing (why do the gods keep losing their magical items?), it's also potentially disastrous. One sip from the cup will turn any mortal into a powerful god. And the old gods do not take kindly to newbies. Can Percy and his friends Annabeth and Grover find the chalice before it falls into the wrong hands? And even if they do, will they be able to resist its awesome power. . .?