Book Club – this month’s reads
Friday, 10 July 2026 Books+Publishing @booksandpublishing
Looking for your next great group read? Our monthly Book Club rounds up new release titles 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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A Short History of Longans Mirandi Riwoe University of Queensland Press ISBN: 9780702269004 RRP: $34.99 Book club notes |
| Why book clubs will love it: “A Short History of Longans is a beautifully crafted novel about memory, identity, belonging and the stories we inherit. Set across 4 generations of an Irish Chinese family in Australia, this is a book that invites readers to compare perspectives, trace echoes to their source and debate the legacy of family secrets. As a book club pick, it rewards open hearts and probing minds – and you’re guaranteed to walk away from any discussion with even more to think about.” – Lauren Mitchell, editor, University of Queensland Press | |
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Billie King Shannon Kelly-White HarperCollins ISBN: 9781460768891 RRP: $34.99 |
| Why book clubs will love it: “From the moment you meet Billie King – 12 years old, razor-sharp and holding her fractured family together by sheer force of will – there’s no putting this book down. With a missing mother, a gambling father and child services closing in, Billie faces an impossible choice. But this is also a story about bushranger Dulcie and the fearless Anna King, and together the 3 women are completely unforgettable. Set in the Victorian high country in 1918/1930, this is original, gutsy, funny and so distinctly Australian – Shannon Kelly-White has written a blazing debut. Comparisons to Boy Swallows Universe feel entirely deserved. This is the kind of book you recommend with your whole heart – and discuss long into the night with your book club.” – Brigitta Doyle, publishing director, HarperCollins | |
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Good Intentions Jessy Wu Macmillan Australia ISBN: 9781761776694 RRP $34.99 |
| Why book clubs will love it: “Set in the little-seen worlds of venture capital, journalism and tech, Good Intentions raises timely questions about ambition, integrity, wealth and influence, asking whether it is possible to succeed without compromising your values. Alongside these contemporary moral dilemmas, its moving love story invites reflection on first love, memory and the lasting impact of past relationships. The novel also explores how parents’ best intentions can evolve from guidance into constraint, prompting conversations about family expectations, cultural backgrounds, and the different worlds each generation inhabits. Set it for your book club and watch the sparks fly.” – Emma Rafferty, publisher, Macmillan Australia | |
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Hanged for Hitler Tony Matthews Big Sky Publishing ISBN: 9781923514744 RRP: $36.99 |
| Why book clubs will love it: “Hanged for Hitler uncovers the gripping true stories of two men whose loyalty to Nazi Germany led them to the gallows. Far more than a story of spies and secret missions, this is an exploration of loyalty, radicalisation, justice and the moral complexities of war. Matthews combines the pace of a thriller with the authority of rigorous historical research, revealing how intelligence failures, political ideology and personal choices shaped lives and altered the course of wartime operations. Rich in historical detail and ethical questions, Hanged for Hitler offers book clubs an engaging foundation for conversations about betrayal, patriotism, propaganda and the human consequences of ideological extremism.” – Mika Gonzales, social media and marketing assistant, Big Sky Publishing | |
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I Made This Just for You Chris Ames Ultimo Press ISBN: 9781761154782 RRP: $34.99 |
| Why book clubs will love it: “This is a collection that book clubs won’t be able to stop dissecting, with unsettling and hilarious takes on the things that matter – from grappling with the absurdity of an ageing body to recruiting 100 replacement fathers to live in your basement, just in case. It was like Chris reached into my heart, found the threads of every anxiety about the world I live in, and twisted them into something enthrallingly new.” – Sophie Mayfield, senior editor, Ultimo Press | |
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The Mortons Justine Larbalestier & Scott Westerfeld Penguin Random House Australia ISBN: 9781761353512 RRP: $34.99 |
| Why book clubs will love it: “Think Donna Tartt’s The Secret History meets The Sopranos with a dash of Saltburn and a pinch of Succession and you have some of what makes The Mortons so dark, funny and original – and perfect for book club discussions. Written by a husband-and-wife writing duo, The Mortons is about how families shape us, and the mythologies that seem true until we escape the family enclave and discover other ways of being.” – Jess Malpass, head of launch marketing and publicity, Penguin Random House Australia |
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People Like Us Sally Piper University of Queensland Press ISBN: 9780702271199 RRP: $34.99 Book club notes |
| Why book clubs will love it: “People Like Us is an ideal book club pick, combining an engaging story with timely, discussion-rich themes. At its heart, Tina Lamb’s journey of starting over after divorce and financial upheaval invites meaningful conversation about issues many readers will recognise or feel strongly about: the realities of housing stress and near-homelessness, the invisible sacrifices women make for their families, and the challenges of rebuilding identity later in life. These topics naturally spark thoughtful and often personal discussion – whether around financial independence in relationships, workplace bias, or the question of whether society is keeping pace with the needs of modern women.” – Jacqueline Blanchard, managing editor, University of Queensland Press | |
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The Picasso Ransom AT Prewett Macmillan Australia ISBN: 9781761776731 RRP: $34.99 |
| Why book clubs will love it: “A hilarious, warm-hearted senior cosy crime that answers the ‘whodunnit’ of Australia’s greatest art heist. The Picasso Ransom will leave book clubbers cackling with laughter and debating: ‘That’s how it happened … right?’” – Alex Lloyd, publisher, Macmillan Australia | |
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The Shortest History of Reality Geraint F Lewis Black Inc. ISBN: 9781760645656 RRP: $27.99 |
| Why book clubs will love it: “Thank goodness for The Shortest History of Reality! Geraint Lewis digs deep into the history of how we have perceived our world and makes even the trickiest of scientific concepts accessible. From ancient philosophy through to quantum physics, book clubs will revel in the did-you-knows and the potted biographies of key thinkers. A witty and insightful book that will seriously change how you think about reality.” – Sophy Williams, publisher, Black Inc. | |
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Worlds Within a World Edited by Casey Mulder Fremantle ISBN: 9781760995010 RRP: $34.99 Book club notes |
| Why book clubs will love it: “Five life stories give intimate insight into what it is like to grow up a First Nations woman in Australia. These inspiring and heartwarming true stories of resilience, courage and connection will encourage conversation and Truth Listening.” – Georgia Richter, publisher, Fremantle Press | |
Category: Book Club Friday newsletter
