Overall mood: busy – it has been a little hectic this month with PhD work, exams, my reading schedule, and looking after myself in the switch over to winter. Thankfully, I have managed well and made it out the other side healthy, happy, and ready to dig into the nitty gritty stuff for my presentation coming up. Reading has been as much an escape this month as a much needed break from all the writing and movements of travelling and work. I am happy to see more variety in my reads this month too as I missed my murder mysteries and sci-fi reads.

Books read:

Better Left Dead by Catherine Lea, 4/5

A gripping New Zealand crime fiction that not only gave a good plot and character drama but a glimpse into the realities of impoverished communities and the lives of the vulnerable in society. I quite like the group atmosphere and ensemble relevance in Catherine Lea’s work as it makes it feel more like a team effort to these stories than an individual one. Highly recommend the DI Nyree Bradshaw series for all you crime fiction readers out there.

The Mires by Tina Makereti, 4/5

A beautifully written small-town family drama New Zealand literary fiction that flows like water, infiltrating every inch of space in your mind and doing so with such stunning passages, lyrical prose, and outstanding imagery. This is not just a story set in a row of units in small-town New Zealand. It is much deeper, more heartfelt, and far bigger than it appears. Well deserving of its praise and spot on the Ockhams 2025 list.

Feijoa: A Story of Obsession and Belonging by Kate Evans, 4/5

I don’t pick up many non-fiction books, and those I do tend to lean more academic and research based than your typical read. I love Feijoa: A Story of Obsession and Belonging not just because oof the tremendous amount of work that has gone into it, but for the strong communal ties it establishes and the revelations it brings to the reader. Some of my favourite quotes of the month came from Feijoa so I hope more than a few people find themselves adding this to their tbrs.

The Space Between by Lauren Keenan, 4/5

A dramatic New Zealand historical fiction novel with all the right settings – from the geographical positioning to the social happenings and clashing cultural contexts – The Space Between shines a light on a moment in New Zealand history that deserves its focus and attention. Historical fiction readers will have a blast with this one, and it is through novels like The Space Between that the stories of Aotearoa New Zealand are becoming more and more relatable to a wider audience.

The Bookshop Detectives: Tea and Cake and Death by Gareth and Louise Ward, 4.5/5

As soon as I saw the second book was coming out, I was so excited and could not wait to get my hands on it. Sure enough, The Bookshop Detectives: Tea and Cake and Death manages to deliver a killer mystery alongside several wholesome discussions surrounding life, death, shared experiences, and community. A must-read for New Zealand fiction readers as well as you crime mystery readers.

The Bone People by Keri Hulme,

The Bone People is a truly bewitching novel that is equal parts whimsical, grounded, heartwarming, gut-wrenching, bittersweet and shocking. I had the absolute pleasure of buddy reading this with a friend, and the experience was made even better by the fact I could talk to someone about the plot and characters and our theories throughout the stages of the novel. The Bone People is the kind of novel that feels so special, so brilliant, yet it is so familiar and almost casual in its contents. It feels intrinsically Kiwi, and as such deserves its place as one of New Zealand classics.

Pretty Ugly by Kirsty Gunn, 4/5

A sharp, descriptive, and intriguing collection of short stories, Pretty Ugly gives a slice of New Zealand life in a slightly different lens. The experiences may be set in New Zealand and England, but they feel so universal and so easily understandable and relatable. There is certainly a handful of stories that will grab your attention, and there are several authors that I note in the review as having similar vibes, enticing their readers to consider perusing the pages of Pretty Ugly when they get the chance.

Caught Up by Liz Tomforde, 4.5/5

Back on the sports romance grind and there is no going wrong with Caught Up. It is a fantastic romance book, an exceptional sports romance, and a great read all round. The Windy City series takes a step into baseball with this one, and the set-up for Play Along ties in beautifully with the context and plot of Caught Up. If you haven’t started the Windy City series then you are truly missing out.

Wild Love by Elsie Silver, 4/5

Wild Love is a romance I have seen floating around bookish social for a while now, and I figured it was about time that I picked up an Elsie Silver book to see what her writing style and characterisations were about. While I didn’t mind the book, nothing stuck out to me, and I don’t think I will be continuing with the Rosehill series or picking up any of the other Elsie Silver books. She’s just not my kind of romance writer.

The Fake Out by Stephanie Archer, 4.5/5

The Fake Out is my favourite in the Vancouver Storm series thus far and I enjoyed the plot and character development between the two main characters. The romance is great, the conflicts fun, and the story felt well-balanced and well-paced. The family aspect between the guys and the interactions between all the characters make The Fake Out engaging and interesting and I recommend giving it a read if you are a sports romance reader.

The Wingman by Stephanie Archer, 4/5

The Wingman was a good book, though I didn’t enjoy it as much as The Fake Out. I don’t dislike the characters, and over the course of the novel I did find myself liking them individually and together, but there are aspects of their relationship and the development of their relationship that didn’t click with me. There felt like there was a little step back in terms of plot balance and intention with The Wingman, but it was an enjoyable read nevertheless.

Play Along by Liz Tomforde, 4.5/5

Play Along is a great read, the characters are complex and interesting, the conflict is engrossing and layered, and the tension is always at the perfect place throughout the novel. This may be my favourite novel in the Windy City series and Isaiah might be my favourite of the leads. I love the vulnerability and connection formed between the characters and how their relationship has such strong foundations from the beginning as a friendship. Definitely add this to your tbr, my fellow romance readers.

Heat of the Everflame by Penn Cole, 4/5

Heat of the Everflame, in my mind, gave too much in some areas and not enough in others, leading to an ultimately good but not great read. I liked the exploration into the other magic systems, locations, and characters of interest, but a lot of things directly involving Diem and her decisions or though process left me feeling underwhelmed. I am keen to see how this series ends, and there are a lot of characters I really like in this series, but I’m not sure how I will feel about it all once it is over.

The Full Moon Coffee Shop by Mai Mochizuki, 4/5

Who could say no to a cute, homey, magical realism fantasy translated from Japanese that has celestial cats running a midnight cafe and reading your horoscope? The Full Moon Coffee Shop is such a lovely and enlightening read, with similar vibes to When the Coffee Gets Cold with its exploration into customer’s lives and how they can move on, find the right thing for themselves, and start living the life they deserve. What’s not to love about this book?

Who Will Remember by C.S. Harris, 4.5/5

It’s been a while since I read a historical fiction murder mystery book, and Who Will Remember reminded me of why I love the genre so much. There is so much grit and immersion in this series, the characters are so heroic and flawed and wonderful, the historical and social context creates so much tension and charged energy on the page, and the plot is thrilling and gripping. Highly recommend the Sebastian St. Cyr mystery novels to all you murder mystery readers out there because you will not be disappointed.

Consider Me by Becka Mack, 4.5/5

I’ve found another sports romance series to dive into and I am so excited. I wasn’t expecting much from Consdier Me when I first came across it, thinking it would simply be yet another sports romance to come across my lap. I was wrong. I really enjoyed Consdier Me and have a strong suspicion the rest of the series will be a wonderful read. I was pleasantly surprised at how vulnerable the main male character was, the relationship between the sports boys, and the possibilities for future novels. Very excited to see where the Playing For Keeps series goes.