From “sibling novels” for cult literary favourites to political thrillers from former politicians, here are the best books we read in January 2022.
Olivia Fricot – Senior Content Producer
Gallant by V. E. Schwab
Why I loved it: One might wonder how V. E. Schwab would follow up The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, a beautiful fantasy epic. Such a novel is hard to beat, but Schwab’s new dark fantasy, Gallant, makes a very convincing case. Its heroine is Olivia Prior, a non-verbal 16-year-old orphan raised in a miserable girls’ school with only her mother’s mad diaries and a bunch of ghouls for company. When Olivia receives a letter from her long lost family begging her to come to her ancestral home of Gallant, she leaps at the chance – only to arrive and discover that the manor is hiding some very twisted secrets. Gallant is a deliciously dark and haunted mystery reminiscent of Crimson Peak, with atmosphere and tension in spades. This is classic V. E. Schwab, and a book you won’t want to miss.
Buy it here
Amelia Morgano – Community & Influencer Manager
How We Love by Clementine Ford
Why I loved it: One of life’s essential lessons, how to love, is interestingly something we all stumble upon and through. I’m glad that Clementine Ford took on the task of examining this subject matter for us all, and even more glad that she felt comfortable enough to share her personal stories. It’s very different to Fight Like A Girl and Boys Will Be Boys, but just as raw and vulnerable. I cried and had to take a break midway through, but was pleasantly surprised that this book-induced grief further elevated the meaning that I have come away with after turning the final page.
Buy it here
Nicholas Wasiliev – Senior Content Producer
F**k No! by Sarah Knight
Why I loved it: Sometimes you need a good new year’s resolution book, and this one serves as a great solution to a real problem many of us face. Part of Sarah Knight’s No F**ks Given Guide series, this book serves as a useful handbook to saying one of the most dreaded words in all of language: no. As a self-confessed Yes Man who has found the experience unfulfilling, this book was a much needed guide for me. It also proves that for your own self preservation and care, sometimes it’s more than alright to put yourself first and damn well say no!
Buy it here
Arthur Malkoun – Author & Publisher Liaison
Based on a True Story (Not a Memoir) by Norm MacDonald
Why I loved it: The late Norm MacDonald was one of my favourite comedians, and this aptly-titled book Based on a True Story, just might be one of my favourite things he’s ever been involved in. The book reads like a typical memoir at first, but as the book goes on MacDonald’s stories get wilder, zanier and more over the top with events that he passes off as real that are complete fiction, such as a failed attempt to murder a fellow comic as well as a hilarious encounter at a book store with icon Andy Griffith. Quite possibly one of the funniest books I’ve ever read and a painful reminder of the talent that was taken too soon.
Buy it here
Ben Hunter – Fiction Category Manager
The Candy House by Jennifer Egan
Why I loved it: In what the author has dubbed a “sibling novel” to her Pulitzer-winning cult favourite A Visit from the Goon Squad, Jennifer Egan exhibits an inventiveness and raw storytelling power that rivals any of the best writers at work today. This is a novel for our times – interrogating frontiers of the self. Just how much of our lives will we make public to participate in the next wave of big-tech innovation and how will these strange new devices change our relationship to memories and the nature of personhood? I was completely spellbound by this form-defying feat of fiction. Dazzling.
Buy it here
Robert O’Hearn – Academic & Professional Category Manager
Twelve Caesars by Mary Beard
Why I loved it: Starting with Suetonius’s Twelve Caesars, this book looks at the portrayal of these famous men over the centuries. We recognise various faces in art (Julius, Nero, Caligula, etc); but perhaps these identities are merely symbols based on falsehood, politics, expediency or fancy? Acclaimed historian Mary Beard reveals that many of the characteristics of these faces were actually formulated in much later times. This fascinating book is a landmark piece of art history, showing the ways we see (and the ways we choose to represent) people are intertwined with all kinds of complex agendas. Beard is as witty as ever as she shows us statues whose attributions and subjects have changed time and time again, as curators assess and reassess. All is not as it seems and the truth gets slippery. A formidable book for art-lovers, classicists, and history buffs.
Buy it here
Shanulisa Prasad – Lifestyle Category Manager
Son of Sin by Omar Sakr
Why I loved it: This novel is so powerful and poetic. It’s a deeply personal exploration of family, sexuality and the push and pull of growing up between cultures in Western Sydney. Definitely one to look forward to!
Buy it here
Hannah Armstrong – Assistant Fiction Category Manager
Circe by Madeline Miller
Why I loved it: This is a masterfully woven epic about the goddess Circe, daughter of the sun god Helios, and better known as the witch from Homer’s The Odyssey who turns Odysseus’s men into pigs. This iteration finds her an outcast and powerless at the whims of her father and cruel siblings, until the day she learns she can manipulate the shape of any living being through witchcraft. She is banished to the abundant and wild island of Aiaia, where she discovers an entirely new sort of power – resilience and strength in the face of adversity. This is a fierce and feminist retelling of Circe’s life, centring her and freeing her from being a side player in the stories of men. Miller’s signature spellbinding prose made me both ache with sorrow, and also wish I could be a goddess banished to a beautiful island to hang out with lions. You won’t want this book to end.
Buy it here
Cassandra Sharp – Assistant Non-Fiction Category Manager
The Psychic Tests by Gary Nunn
Why I loved it: If you’re ever looking for a conversation starter, this book could be it. Journalist Gary Nunn was curious after reporting on a court case where a CEO’s psychic adviser took the stand, leading him to wonder what would draw powerful people to having such faith in fortune telling. He sets out with his sister Taren to explore the belief horseshoe – from devotees to sceptics, and those in the middle – examining the psychic world from angles like crime investigations, grief and misinformation. Nunn is thoughtful and considered with his interviewees, suggesting that perhaps the human connection of being heard is what people really want. Perfect for fans of Jon Ronson and Louis Theroux.
Buy it here
Ashleigh Berry – B2C Campaign Planner
Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid
Why I loved it: It has taken me far too long to read Such a Fun Age, and despite hearing nothing but amazing reviews it still managed to surpass all of my (very high) expectations. When Emira is apprehended at a supermarket for ‘kidnapping’ the white child she’s babysitting, her employer Alix, a feminist blogger with a ‘personal brand’ and the best of intentions, resolves to make things right. Kiley Reid’s debut is an astonishingly engrossing read, exploring complicated nuances of race and privilege in today’s society. The story weaves back and forth between Emira and Alix as they each struggle with the aftermath of Emira’s devastating public humiliation. This is an empathetic must-read that’ll stay with you long after it’s finished.
Buy it here
Karen Robinson – Territory Relationship Manager
State of Terror by Hillary Rodham Clinton and Louise Penny
Why I loved it: This is the best political thriller I’ve read in years. The combination of Rodham Clinton’s knowledge from her life in politics and Penny’s writing experience makes this a fast-paced, timely and intelligent page turner that I finished in 24 hours. Highly recommended!
Buy it here
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