Book Club – this month’s reads
Friday, 10 October 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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Do We Deserve This? Eleanor Elliott Thomas Text ISBN 9781923058491 RRP $34.99 |
| Why book clubs will love it: ‘Thomas’ new novel is a witty family drama about three adult siblings who face a moral dilemma when their problematic mother wins the lottery and then falls into a coma. It explores the complexities of sibling dynamics and deals with serious themes (including the ethics of wealth, racial privilege and male privilege) with a light touch. Book clubs will love this because it gives the vicarious experience of watching likeable people veering toward awful moral choices, but it also makes you cheer for their wins. The sibling dynamic is beautifully realised, and makes for plenty of lively discussion about the obligations of family and the impacts of our choices on people we love. Do We Deserve This? has been described as perfect for fans of TV shows The White Lotus and Bad Sisters, which perfectly identifies the readers who will love this.’ – Emily Booth, strategic director, Text | |
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Killing for Sport Dwayne Russell Affirm ISBN 9781923419407 RRP $34.99 |
| Why book clubs will love it: ‘Dwayne Russell is known best for being one of Australia’s most beloved sports commentators, but he has now turned his hand to fiction, penning his debut novel Killing for Sport. A blockbuster thriller set across Europe and in the world of organised crime, Killing for Sport combines pace with depth, giving book clubs a plot to devour and ideas to unpack. Alongside the intrigue are big themes that will spark plenty of discussion, including the art world, tangled relationships and the lure of sport. For fans of David Baldacci, Jeffrey Archer and Daniel Silva, it’s a bold, page-turning release tailor-made for book clubs.’ – Ariane Ryan, publicist, Affirm | |
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The Lucky Sisters Rachael Johns PRH ISBN 9781761348037 RRP $34.99 |
| Why book clubs will love it: ‘Rachael Johns returns with her most ambitious novel yet, delving into the complexities of mortality, identity, desire and sacrifice. In The Lucky Sisters, she brings her trademark warmth and wit but also takes us deeper than ever before, inviting book clubs to confront and discuss what truly matters when everything is at stake. Twins Nora and Stevie Lucky, adopted at birth and long inseparable despite their differences, decide to search for their biological parents after their mother’s death, only to uncover a devastating revelation that forces them to ask: What would you do if you thought each day might be your last? This is a powerful book that will get book clubs laughing, crying, and talking long into the night, debating which sister each member is and sparking deep discussion about family, choice and resilience.‘ – Anna Tidswell, publicist, PRH | |
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One Story Pip Finkemeyer Ultimo ISBN 9781761152047 RRP $34.99 |
| Why book clubs will love it: ‘One Story is perfect for book clubs who enjoyed Gabrielle Zevin’s Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow. Echoing the real-life stories of the dot com scandals and tech titans who have defined the age of the internet, this novel is ripe for discussion about the power of technology and the effects of the internet on our culture. ‘ – Zoë Victoria, publicist, Ultimo | |
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Pictures of You Tony Birch UQP ISBN 9780702268922 RRP $34.99 |
| Why book clubs will love it: ‘Pictures of You is a collection of Tony Birch’s best short fiction from the past two decades. It is filled with big themes for book clubs to discuss, such as class, family, domestic violence, friendship, community, place, and faith. It is wrapped up in intimate storytelling full of heart, featuring characters you won’t forget. This book is a masterclass on the short story, and I couldn’t recommend it more highly. ’ – Jean Smith, marketing and publicity manager, UQP | |
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Salt Upon the Water Lyn Dickens Wakefield Press ISBN 9781923388208 RRP $32.95 Book club notes |
| Why book clubs will love it: ‘Lyrical and romantic, Lyn Dickens’ Salt Upon the Water is a powerful story of love, identity and resistance that book clubs will love discussing. Beautiful, curious, unsettling and slightly magical, this luminous historical fiction is inspired by the true history of one of Australia’s founding figures. Its rich themes and moral complexity invite reflection on power, belonging and the legacies of empire, while its vivid settings and layered characters provide ample opportunity for lively and thought-provoking conversation.’ – Maddy Sexton, editor, Wakefield Press | |
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A Smart Girl’s Guide to Second Chances Steph Vizard HarperCollins ISBN 9781460767061 RRP $24.99 |
| Why book clubs will love it: ‘Steph Vizard’s new novel is a gift to book clubs who want to debate some of the great questions of life: Would you pick the good boy or the bad boy? Would you follow your head or your heart? Packed with warmth, wit, sizzle and family drama, this is a joyful, thought-provoking look at love triangles, life crises, friendship and identity for smart girls everywhere.’ – Anna Valdinger, publisher, HarperCollins | |
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Together We Can Peter Baines Major Street ISBN 9781923186354 RRP $32.99 |
| Why book clubs will love it: ‘Together We Can is the uplifting true story of what can be achieved when resilience, purpose and community come together. In the wake of the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami, Peter Baines founded Hands Across the Water, a charity that has housed and educated Thai children orphaned by the disaster. Two decades on, to mark this legacy, Baines undertook an extraordinary challenge: running 1400 kilometres across Thailand in just 26 days. This mix of personal determination and collective impact gives book clubs a springboard for rich discussion: What drives someone to test the limits of body and mind? How do family, friends and teammates shape our ability to achieve the extraordinary? What role do charities play in keeping hope alive long after a catastrophe? Book clubs can also reflect on how individual resilience connects with shared responsibility, and celebrate an Australian story that demonstrates how one person’s vision can change countless lives.’ – Lesley Williams, publisher, Major Street | |
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Twisted River James Dunbar Echo ISBN 9781760689247 RRP $34.99 |
| Why book clubs will love it: ‘Twisted River plunges readers into a chillingly plausible nightmare: a couple returns home from holiday to find major parts of their lives digitally manipulated or even erased, their identities sabotaged, the lock to their home changed, and their dog missing. James Dunbar masterfully blends dark humour and suspense with sharp social commentary on privacy and trust in our hyper-connected world. Book clubs will be hooked by the fast-paced twists, eager to discuss the frightening vulnerability that comes with the digital age, and keen to debate the blurred lines between truth and deception.’ – Diana Hill, publishing manager, Echo | |
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Unfinished Revolution: The feminist fightback Virginia Haussegger NewSouth ISBN 9781761170102 RRP $36.99 |
| Why book clubs will love it: ‘From award-winning journalist Virginia Haussegger, Unfinished Revolution brings together the electrifying energy of the 1970s women’s liberation movement and the galvanising roar of March4Justice in 2021. From shifting media narratives to bold political power moves, this is a timely, deeply researched exploration of how far we’ve come and how far there’s still to go. This is perfect for book clubs eager to inspire meaningful and challenging conversation on gender, change, and our collective future.’ – Katherine Rajwar, senior publicist, NewSouth | |
Category: Book Club
