Book Club – this month’s reads
Friday, 13 February 2026 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.
 |
Trials of Hope (የተስፋ ፈተና) Yirga Gelaw Woldeyes Fremantle ISBN 9781760996376 RRP $35.99 |
| Why book clubs will love it: “Book clubs will have much to discuss after reading the story of Yirga’s journey from shepherd boy in Lalibela to human rights educator in Perth. The dual-language, dual-genre narrative is uplifting and enlightening – a rich exploration of Ethiopian culture, heritage and belief. This is a book that shows how hope can be a beacon in dark times – and how our stories shape who we are.” – Georgia Richter, publisher, Fremantle | |
 |
A Time of Living Graciously: Reflections on growing older |
| Why book clubs will love it: “Covering everything from dodgy knees to the afterlife, these essays give book clubs the opportunity to talk about the inevitability of growing older. Informed by contemporary psychology and Buddhist philosophy, Brigid’s collection gently invites readers to move from complaint to contemplation, and from living in denial to approaching ageing with gratitude and insight.” – Georgia Richter, publisher, Fremantle | |
 |
The Watchmaker’s War Danny Ben-Moshe HarperCollins ISBN 9781460763612 RRP $34.99 |
| Why book clubs will love it: “The Watchmaker’s War is a great book club book, full of tragedy, tension and moral dilemmas. It explores little known aspects of the Holocaust, the fate of the surviving Jewish diaspora, and of Australia’s post-war history. It also poses disturbing questions about Jewish resistance and how far someone might go in seeking justice when authorities fail to act.” – Mary Rennie, publisher, HarperCollins | |
 |
Iluka Cassie Stroud HQ ISBN 9781038933652 RRP $32.99 |
| Why book clubs will love it: “Families are contested ground at the best of times, and in this beautifully nuanced debut, sibling rivalries, past hurts and a sense of profound loss are fiercely played out against the sudden realisation that the mother three siblings thought dead is actually alive – and keen to reunite. So many relationship issues surface under this kind of pressure – petty spites, missed opportunities and shifting loyalties, as well as the more profound themes that break through – drug and alcohol misuse, money problems, affairs and hurtful betrayals. This implosion and reformation of family is coolly filmed from a distance by granddaughter Tegan, whose perspective adds distance from the drama. Cassie is so good at evoking with precision and elegance the scratchiness and tenderness of sibling relationships. It’s all set against the backdrop of their childhood home, a quintessential Australian beachside fibro cottage and the sprawling coastline, the kind of architecture and landscape that is both beloved and immediately recognisable. There is so much for readers to discuss in this book – so much that will prompt stories of their own families. A perfect bookclub read.” – Jo Mackay, head of publishing, HQ | |
 |
In a Common Hour Sita Walker Ultimo ISBN 9781761153471 RRP $34.99 Book club questions |
| Why book clubs will love it: “Set in a school and told over the course of one lunch hour, In a Common Hour shows how the ripples of a scandal can affect teachers, parents and students alike, and what can happen when a community band together to protect one of their own. Informed by Sita Walker’s 20 years’ experience as a high school teacher, this novel shows how a school is the perfect canary in a coal mine, it can show you a nation. Book clubs will love the authenticity and warmth of Sita’s writing, the cast of recognisable characters and the deeply funny and heartbreaking dialogue. It is witty, hopeful and wise.” – Andrea Johnson, marketing manager, Ultimo | |
 |
Inside Man John McMahon Macmillan ISBN 9781460766460 RRP $34.99 |
| Why book clubs will love it: “There’s nothing more satisfying for a crime fiction fan than unpicking a puzzle, and John McMahon’s quirky characters are brilliant, misfit puzzle-solvers. The Inside Man is a gripping, fascinating read that book clubs will love dissecting – both the crimes and the moral conundrums. Perfect for fans of Slow Horses with so much to discuss.” – Anna Valdinger, publisher, Macmillan | |
 |
Side Character Energy Olivia Tolich Text ISBN 9781923058736 RRP $34.95 |
| Why book clubs will love it: “Ever wondered what the best friend gets up to while the main character enjoys the spotlight? Gertrude, Bee’s best friend, is Bee’s most loyal sidekick. Until she realises she has no idea who she even is beyond what Bee thinks or feels or wants. Gertrude turns to a new friend, Arthur, to help figure out if there’s more to her beyond her friendship with Bee. Side Character Energy is a romance novel with an edge that playfully explores platonic love and toxic friendship, offering book clubs plenty to debate about identity, boundaries and the roles we play in each other’s lives.” – Aideen Gallagher, publicist, Text | |
 |
Two Tongues Maria van Neerven UQP ISBN 9780702271038 RRP $24.99 |
| Why book clubs will love it: “Maria has deftly woven a masterful debut poetry collection, paying homage to her Yugambeh language, Blak pride and the Indigenous women who have taught and guided her. Two Tongues is defiant in its reclamation of ancestral storytelling, emerging from the aftermath of intergenerational harm, racism and colonisation. Each poem is stitched together to hold all the grief, anger, injustice, forgiveness, empathy and love that Maria so generously lays bare, giving book clubs rich emotional and political territory to reflect on and discuss.” – Siena Johnstone, marketing and publicity officer, UQP | |
 |
Sunstruck Jay Allen Hachette ISBN 9780733653285 RRP $34.99 |
| Why book clubs will love it: “Sunstruck is a moving, raw and inspiring memoir about one man’s battle with stage 3 melanoma in the skin cancer capital of the world, and how he became a catalyst for change and the founder of the Australian Skin Cancer Foundation. An uplifting story of survival and resilience, Sunstruck is intimately relatable to Aussies and our constant battle for sun safety, while also being a profoundly personal story about turning tragedy and hardship into a fight for change.” – Vanessa Radnidge, head of nonfiction and literary, Hachette | |
 |
Two Islands Ian Kemish UQP ISBN 9780702268991 RRP $34.99 |
| Why book clubs will love it: “Two Islands has an exotic and remote setting in the Scottish Hebridean islands, which will be attractive to many Australian readers. The setting frames a storyline that is fast-paced and driven by a young Croat man who is escaping the Balkan War and the enemies who want him silenced for witnessing a war crime. Narrated by 4 courageous central characters, who each have their own complex histories and relationships with trauma, the novel covers topical subjects of PTSD, the legacy of war and finding healing through connection. The author has a history as a diplomat during the 1990s, so his life experience informs the plot. The ending will be the source of great book club conversation and debate.” – Madonna Duffy, director, UQP | |
Category: Book Club Friday newsletter
