Book Club – this month’s reads
Friday, 12 September 2025 Books+Publishing @booksandpublishing
Looking for your next great group read? Our monthly Book Club rounds up new release titles that are perfect for sparking conversation and perhaps even some debate. From compelling fiction to thought-provoking nonfiction, these are some of the books releasing this month that are worth stocking and recommending to readers.
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Cannon Lee Lai Giramondo ISBN 9781923106406 RRP $39.99 |
| Why book clubs will love it: ‘Lee Lai’s second graphic novel, Cannon, follows her Stella Prize-shortlisted Stone Fruit, and confronts the challenges of anger and anxiety and the sense of not belonging in one’s own skin. In so doing, it explores what Lai refers to as a “second coming-of-age”, in which narrow boundaries of identity can be overcome. The narrative is rich and emotionally complex, and Lai’s illustrations shift seamlessly between calm, spacious panels and ones filled with dramatic intensity. For book clubs, it will elicit discussions about the challenges of family and friendship, and the complicated process of learning to become oneself.’ – Nick Tapper, associate publisher, Giramondo | |
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Discipline Randa Abdel-Fattah UQP ISBN 9780702271014 RRP $34.99 Book club notes |
| Why book clubs will love it: ‘Randa Abdel-Fattah is a beloved, award-winning author, and Discipline is her best and most necessary novel yet. With the pace of a thriller, Discipline uses fiction to examine some of the most urgent questions of our time: free speech and protest; censorship and complicity; and the cost of speaking up in the spheres of academia and the media. It’s as unflinching as it is brilliant, and invites readers to consider the blurred lines it presents between fiction and reality. A short yet powerful novel, perfect for book club discussions.’ – Aviva Tuffied, publisher, UQP | |
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The Farm Jessica Mansour-Nahra Hachette ISBN 9780733652882 RRP $32.99 |
| Why book clubs will love it: ‘Claustrophobic, uniquely Australian and deliciously gothic, Jessica Mansour-Nahra has hatched an eerie psychological thriller that asks its readers confronting questions about women’s bodies, what is expected of them, and who is really in control. With an enthralling plot and important themes, The Farm is perfect for rich book club discussion.’ – Rebecca Saunders, head of fiction, Hachette | |
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Five Found Dead Sulari Gentill Ultimo ISBN 9781761153372 RRP $34.99 |
| Why book clubs will love it: ‘For lovers of the great train mysteries that have become a part of our collective literary consciousness. Five Found Dead will delight book clubs and crime readers new and old, bringing a fresh perspective to the Orient Express that has captivated so many readers.’ – Zoë Victoria, publicist, Ultimo | |
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Hot Ground Lisa Ellery Fremantle ISBN 9781760993191 RRP $34.99 Book club notes |
| Why book clubs will love it: ‘Australia’s not short on books about small town secrets. What makes this different is that Lisa Ellery is writing about her hometown, which she has depicted meticulously and authentically. Kalgoorlie really is a place of mystery where sudden disappearances do occur. But Lisa makes sure we, the reader, understand that this mining town is so much more than that.’ – Claire Miller, head of sales and marketing, Fremantle | |
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The Island of Last Things Emma Sloley Text ISBN 9781923058606 RRP $34.99 |
| Why book clubs will love it: ‘This beautiful, nostalgic and hopeful novel tells the story of two zookeepers at the last zoo in the world, on the island of Alcatraz. Their relationship transforms their lives and the destiny of the zoo. Sloley’s command of plot keeps the pages flying. It’s perfect for book clubs because the author tackles contemporary issues with a light and deft touch, including ideas around freedom (both individual and collective), tensions between state and corporate responsibility, and our relationships with animals. It does all this within an enjoyable, plot-driven read, with characters we care about, and tells a story full of hope.’ – Emily Booth, strategic director, Text | |
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The Lightning Ridge Ladies Fiona McArthur Penguin ISBN 9781761350115 RRP $34.99 |
| Why book clubs will love it: ‘Book clubs (especially regional and rural ones) will love it because Fiona (as one of the country’s truly bestselling authors of this genre) lives and breathes country life and brings so much authenticity to her stories. Her books celebrate community connection and the strength of the human spirit, especially through tough times.’ – Ali Watts, publisher, PRH | |
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Nature’s Last Dance Natalie Kyriacou Affirm ISBN 9781923293618 RRP $36.99 |
| Why book clubs will love it: ‘This is nature writing like you’ve never seen before, diving headfirst into a fierce, funny and deeply human journey of wild extinction, where drug lord hippos roam, birds romance rocks and whale poo gets the notice of Wall Street. For fans of Richard Flanagan and Yuval Noah Harari’s Sapiens, Nature’s Last Dance will radically alter the way you think about nature, humanity and extinction, and provide rich discussion for book clubs.’ – Ariane Ryan, publicist, Affirm | |
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Through My Eyes Tay-Leiha Clark Big Sky Publishing ISBN 9781923300606 RRP $34.99 |
| Why book clubs will love it: ‘Book clubs are always looking for stories that spark deep, meaningful discussion — and Through My Eyes does exactly that. Through My Eyes is the unflinching story of Tay-Leiha Clark, who at just 17 was a young, single, successful elite athlete facing coercive control and domestic violence. Now 27, she shares her rare perspective as a young author who stood up, pressed charges, and fought for justice — twice. Tay-Leiha’s story challenges readers to examine how abuse hides in plain sight, why society protects perpetrators, and what true courage looks like when a young woman stands up against it all — in court, in the media, and in her own life. Book clubs will love it because it’s raw, brave, and utterly relatable. It’s the kind of story that doesn’t end when you close the book — it lingers, provokes, and demands to be talked about. It’s raw, unflinching, and deeply moving — exactly the type of story that sparks the kinds of late-night, gut-level conversations book clubs crave. Through My Eyes is not only Tay-Leiha’s fight for justice — it’s an urgent wake-up call for society.’ – Sharon Evans, marketing director and owner, Big Sky Publishing | |
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The Watervale Ladies’ Writing & Firefighting Society Mette Menzies HarperCollins ISBN 9781460766019 RRP $34.99 |
| Why book clubs will love it: ‘A warm, witty, heartfelt and uplifting story of friendship, second chances and starting over, The Watervale Ladies Writing and Firefighting Society is a gentle, feelgood and engaging read – but while it’s entertaining, it doesn’t shy away from exploring some serious topics in a thoughtful way: bushfires, infertility, closed adoption, loneliness, domestic abuse – so there’s plenty there for book clubs to enjoy and discuss.’ – Catherine Milne, publisher, HarperCollins | |
Category: Book Club
