Staff Reviews

Eating together: a recipe for healthier, happier families by Clare Mosley and Stephen Scott

Available in print 

Eating Together is an expert-led parenting guide and recipe book by Dr Clare Bailey Mosley and Professor Stephen Scott. It celebrates the benefits of eating meals together in building family bonds and improving both physical and mental health of both parents and children in the long term.

Based on their successful online parenting platform, Parenting Matters, this essential handbook helps parents build the skills around mealtimes to offer children the right balance of Love and Limits, and to build healthy family habits through praise, connections, instructions, kindness, and boundaries, along with a 4-week step-by-step programme.

This book is for parents and grandparents with children of all ages, with advice on pantry essentials, guidance on what not to feed your children, how to make mealtimes fun, tips on how to involve the whole family in the preparation and cooking process, and 70 healthy, family-friendly recipes free of ultra-processed foods for all occasions.

Essential yoga with props by Sara Lyn Chana

Available in print

Essential yoga with props is the perfect guide for yoga practitioners at all levels. Those new to yoga are given basic, yet valuable, instruction on correct yoga postures, whereas the use of yoga props gives experienced yogis the opportunity to challenge themselves by improving their form and attaining precise body alignment. Those with physical disabilities and who may struggle with their own mobility and balance are encouraged to practice the asanas with the support of props.

Within this book are the most important and fundamental asanas for strength and alignment and relaxation. Specific muscle groups are stretched and strengthened with the use of yoga block and straps. The second half of the book provides restorative yoga exercises to relax muscles, joints, and the nervous system.

The complete A-Z of embroidery stitches

Available in print

The classic, complete manual for the beginner through to the advanced embroiderer looking to extend their stitch repertoire.

This comprehensive guide to embroidery stitches contains all the embroiderer needs to know to work dozens of stitches, and includes full advice on everything from choosing materials, beginning and ending a thread and using hoops to working as a left-handed embroiderer and learning how to paint threads. Step-by-step photography and clear instructions make the techniques achievable for beginners as well as providing an invaluable reference guide for experienced embroiderers.

Secret Bali: an unusual guide by Narine Exelby

Available in print

Step off the beaten track with this fascinating Bali guidebook and let our local experts show you the well-hidden treasures of this amazing city.

Far from the crowds and the usual cliches, Bali is still a reserve of well-concealed treasures that only reveal themselves to those who know how to wander off the beaten track, whether residents or visitors.

The endless sky by Di Morrissey

Available in print, eBook and eAudiobook

A story of friendship, mystery and adventure in outback Australia. Journey with master storyteller Di Morrissey to the red, rocky desert in her 31st novel.

Top-rating TV presenter Nicole and her savvy producer and friend Stacie suddenly find themselves under the rule of a new boss ... he's arrogant, patronising and out to prove he's in charge.

Their challenge? To create a hit show revealing the hidden heart of outback Australia - a place few from the towns and cities have visited and even fewer people understand.

What begins as a career-defining adventure quickly spirals into something far more dangerous and unexpected. In a land of craggy rocks and vast plains, whispered stories and a history as old as the dinosaurs, Nicole and Stacie uncover secrets - how other lives are lived, fossil treasures deep in the red earth, a missing stranger and a blossoming love story.

Beneath the endless sky this land reveals its magic - and its menace - as the two friends find more than they could ever have imagined.

The adventuress of Albany by Darry Fraser

Available in print

Albany, Western Australia, 1881

Stifled by English society, Molly Bentley has always yearned for adventure. When her father offers to send her to the bustling port town of Albany in Western Australia, Molly readily agrees, even if it means assuming a secret identity. With only her chaperone Mrs Caldicott to answer to, her life of freedom can finally begin.

Until Molly is knocked down in the streets, nearly trampled, and a threatening letter is slipped into her hands.

Suddenly, Molly and Mrs Caldicott must reckon with the darker motives behind their move to these southern shores. The women have no choice but to put their safety into the hands of the enigmatic colonial Leo McRae and his cousin Alistair who seem to know exactly who Molly and Mrs Caldicott are, and why they're in the colonies. But from whom has Mr McRae sourced his information? And why has Molly's father stopped replying to her messages?

Attempts are made on their lives, and their motley crew must undertake a dangerous journey from Albany to Adelaide and into rural Victoria to evade capture. As secrets are revealed and loyalties tested, will Molly ever be able to find the freedom she so desperately craves?

Dirt trap by Michael Burge

Available in print

Journalist James Brandt lives in a brittle truce with his partner Dylan and his family, never talking about the homophobic attacks he exposed in his rural hometown, including the brutal death of a beloved cousin twenty years ago.

But this illusion of peace is ripped apart by the start of the state's historical gay-hate crime inquiry, and the reappearance of the Joneses, who waltz back into Kippen professing to be queer allies. Yet when one of that notorious dynasty is found dead at a local water tower, it is James who stands accused.

With an under-resourced sergeant and a tech-savvy podcaster on his heels, James refuses to trust in a police force that has proven its inadequacy with gay-hate crime. In order to clear his name and flush out which member of this remote community took justice into their own hands, he will need to expose every secret, including his own.

Lost and found by Liz Byrrski

Available in print, eBook and eAudiobook

Rose Walters has never taken a leap of faith quite like this one - she is flying home to England for the first time in decades to search for her first love. But what she finds there is far from what she expected.

When Rose turns up at her door, Dora Stutchbury is not sure she's willing to rake over the coals of the past - especially those she has taken care to let lie for so long. But both women are about to be surprised as an unlikely friendship shows them a way forward - and finally unearths some answers to questions about the past, an absent son and lover, and the women themselves.

Hot Wheels ultimate handbook by Orli Zuravicky

Available in print 

Discover the seriously speedy world of Hot Wheels is this fact-packed action guide which features over 160 original designs, behind the scenes interviews with designs and enthusiasts and some cool fun facts.

Meet thrill-seeking vehicles, visit epic racing locations and learn all about the supercharged Hot Wheels world. This collector's guide is perfect for new fans or expert collectors. Use your collectors guide to track your Hot Wheels collection!

Homemade sausage making for beginners by James Peisker and Chris Carter

Available in print

An extremely accessible guide for making sausage right in your own kitchen.

Aimed at the beginner, it provides information on sourcing your meat, techniques and tools for grinding and seasoning. Sausages include classic links, patties, brats, kielbasa, chorizos and andouilles.

Ride across America by Simon Parker

Available in print

A 4,000 mile adventure through the small towns and big issues of the USA.

Did the America of his teenage dreams exist? Or was it a really as fractured as the headlines suggest?

On his journey to find out more, Simon cycled 4,327 miles through eleven states and numerous extreme weather events, via mountains and open country, forests and urban areas. He visited schools, homes, churches, rodeos and fairs meeting hundreds of Americans behind the click-bait news posts to discover a nation whose portrayal has been vastly oversimplified.

Sweet spaces by Erin Siney

Available in print

Learn to doodle the coziest corners.

Artist Erin Siney, creator of eggsdoodz, brings her popular doodle-like style to all things cute and cozy. Through simple step-by-step tutorials, Erin shares how to draw charming interiors, fun motifs and adorable characters. From a serene study nook to a berry sweet breakfast table, every room brims with precious things.

Armchair detective puzzle book by Dr Gareth Moore and Laura Jayne Ayres

Available in print

Can you think like a detective?

Sit back in your armchair, grab a pen and get ready to put your sleuthing skills to the test with this casefile of over 70 criminally difficult puzzles to solve.

The dinner party by Nina Manning

Available in large print 

To celebrate their wedding anniversary, Lily Leonard books a table at the exclusive restaurant of Hector Bolson-Woods renowned celebrity chef. It should be the perfect evening for Lily and husband, Stig, but not even a perfect menu can heal the cracks in their marriage.

So when Hector invites them to dine with him privately, Lily is thrilled. Surely this will please Stig? Hector is charming and attentive – everything Stig is not – and she finds herself more and more drawn to the enigmatic Hector.

After the dinner, Stig makes it clear the entire evening was a mistake, something he never wants to repeat again. Hurt and confused, Lily’s certain Stig is hiding something from her. Something linked to Hector…she just doesn’t know what.

And then another dinner invitation from Hector arrives. This time with a proposal neither Lily or Stig can refuse…

The uninvited guest by Ruby Speechley

Available in large print

One hen, one stag, one uninvited guest…who won’t make it to the wedding?

Megan Lewis is ready for her big day, but when an unexpected guest crashes her hen weekend, her perfectly curated world unravels.

Beth, claiming to be Jamie’s cousin, quickly charms the group. But when she gets close to bridesmaid Lauren, things take a dark turn, and a game of truth or dare exposes secrets from Megan’s past, shaking her world.

As the wedding nears, Megan realises Beth isn’t who she says she is – but she may be her only ally.

When you can’t trust anyone, not even your fiancé, who can you turn to?

The sea house by Louise Douglas

Available in large print

Only one person can unravel the hidden secrets of the past before it’s too late…

When Elisabeth Quemener dies she leaves a mysterious parcel with the instructions that it must only be opened by Astrid Oake. The trouble is, no one knows who Astrid Oake is…

Elisabeth’s family turn to Touissants detective agency but, when Mila Shepard and Carter Jackson try to track Astrid down, their frustration soon mounts. Their only clue is a photo of two young women holding the hands of a tiny child. The women are smiling but Mila is haunted by the sadness in their eyes. Is this Astrid and Elisabeth and if so, who is the child?

As Elisabeth and Astrid’s story slowly unfolds, Mila is ever more determined to carry out Elisabeth’s final wishes. Because what is inside that unprepossessing parcel might just save a life…

A Christmas murder by Mary Grand

Available in large print

Susan didn’t plan on a being an amateur sleuth and, after two successful investigations, she’s looking forward to a quiet Christmas.

So, when local businesswoman Meera asks for help, Susan agrees reluctantly. The task should be easy enough. The infamous press mogul Duncan Fern is coming back to the Isle of Wight to celebrate Christmas with his grown-up children and their partners, his new glamorous wife Kirsten and the spikey editor of his paper the Morning Flame, Antoine. The newly-refurbished luxurious Bishopstone Manor is the perfect setting for a festive break and all Susan has to do is help Meera host.

But when a snowstorm descends over the island, and the following morning a body is found, Christmas at the Manor takes a darker turn. Can Susan get to the bottom of the mystery before the murderer strikes again…

If anyone builds it, everyone dies: the case against superintelligent AI, by Eliezer Yudkowsky and Nate Soares

Available in print

AI is the greatest threat to our existence that we have ever faced.

The scramble to create superhuman AI has put us on the path to extinction – but it’s not too late to change course. Two pioneering researchers in the field, Eliezer Yudkowsy and Nate Soares, explain why artificial superintelligence would be a global suicide bomb and call for an immediate halt to its development.

The technology may be complex, but the facts are simple: companies and countries are in a race to build machines that will be smarter than any person, and the world is devastatingly unprepared for what will come next.

Could a machine superintelligence wipe out our entire species? Would it want to? Would it want anything at all? In this urgent book, Yudkowsky and Soares explore the theory and the evidence, present one possible extinction scenario, and explain what it would take for humanity to survive.

The world is racing to build something truly new – and if anyone builds it, everyone dies.

The perimenopause survival guide by Dr Heather Hirsch

Available in print

Perimenopause – the period of time during which a woman transitions to, but is not yet in, menopause – can be one of the biggest transitions of a women’s adult life, marked by massive hormonal changes. Troubled by symptoms like hot flushes, back pain, anxiety, brain fog – to name a few – many women are left without clear guidance on how to navigate this confusing time. 

But it doesn’t have to be this way. The Perimenopause Survival Guide is the ultimate handbook to help you understand the hormonal shifts happening within your body, so you can make informed decisions about how best to address your symptoms. Written by Dr Heather Hirsch, a certified menopausal medicine doctor, this crucial guide demystifies your symptoms, outlines how to treat them, and explains why doing so is important to your health today and in the years to come.

Combining medical with at-home strategies such as dietary changes and lifestyle tweaks, you’ll learn how to take back your health and feel like yourself again.

Phillip Island: the inside story of Australia's fastest racetrack, our home of motorsport, by John Smailes

Available in print

Phillip Island is Australia's home of motorsport. These are the untold stories of a century of racing.

There is no other motor-racing circuit in the world with the history of Phillip Island. Since 1928 it has hosted the Australian Grand Prix, the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix, the World Superbike Championship, the Armstrong 500 and many other races. Today, the Australian MotoGP attracts tens of thousands to the island every year. It is revered as the world's best MotoGP track and is the second-fastest in the world by just 0.1 km/h. Australia's champions of motorcycle racing are born there.

As a motor-racing journalist for more than 45 years, John Smailes has had extraordinary access to Phillip Island and to the leading names who have competed there. When Wayne Gardner, Mick Doohan and Casey Stoner won their championships, John was there. He has delved into the island's rich history, from the winner of the first Australian Grand Prix, Gallipoli hero Captain Arthur Waite, to Australia's F1 world champions Sir Jack Brabham and Alan Jones, and the astonishing political and business dealings over the years.

In Phillip Island, John Smailes delivers the definitive account of the circuit, featuring interviews with champions including Valentino Rossi and many others who made it the legend it is today. It's the gripping and untold story of an island unlike any other.

1929: the inside story of the greatest crash in Wall Street history, by Andrew Ross Sorkin

Available in print

From the bestselling author of Too Big to Fail, comes a riveting, fly-on-the-wall account of the most infamous stock market crash in history

In 1929, the world watched in shock as the unstoppable Wall Street bull market went into a freefall, wiping out fortunes and igniting a depression that would reshape a generation. But behind the flashing ticker tapes and panicked traders, another drama unfolded—one of visionaries and fraudsters, titans and dreamers, euphoria and ruin.

With unparalleled access to historical records and newly uncovered documents, New York Times bestselling author Andrew Ross Sorkin takes readers inside the chaos of the crash, behind the scenes of a raging battle between Wall Street and Washington and the larger-than-life characters whose ambition and naivety in an endless boom led to wreckage. The dizzying highs and brutal lows of this era eerily mirror today’s world—where markets soar, political tensions mount, and the fight over financial influence plays out once again.

This is not just a story about money. 1929 is a tale of power, psychology, and the seductive illusion that "this time is different." It’s about disregarded alarm bells, financiers who fell from grace, and sceptics who saw the crash coming—only to be dismissed until it was too late.

Hailed as a landmark book, Too Big to Fail reimagined how financial crises are told. Now, with 1929, Sorkin delivers an immersive, electrifying account of the most pivotal market collapse of all time—with lessons that remain as urgent as ever. More than just a history, 1929 is a crucial blueprint for understanding the cycles of speculation, the forces that drive financial upheaval, and the warning signs we ignore at our peril.

How to manifest success by Hilton Misso

Available in print 

In this book, Australian entrepreneur, lawyer and philanthropist Hilton Misso provides 50 lessons for success drawn from eight decades of lived experience.

Part memoir, part success manual, this is a blueprint for harnessing fear, hardship and grit to build a life of purpose, prosperity and profit.

Click here by Alex Schultz

Available in print

It seems that there is an ever increasing and bewildering range of channels, platforms and mechanisms on the internet available to market a business no matter how large or small.

The author, Chief Marketing Officer for Meta, shares his experience and insights into the world of digital marketing. Alex outlines how ‘channels’ work, the importance of testing creative campaigns and techniques to measure performance, reach, click throughs and other buzzwords used in digital marketing. 

Old North Melbourne by Fiona Gatt

Available in print

This is the story of the first fifty years of today’s much-loved suburb of North Melbourne. When the unceded lands of the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung were first developed by European settlers in 1852, there were many barriers to overcome. This included a great expanse of barren land between it and Melbourne, a swamp to the west, open sewerage to the east and undeveloped bushland to the south. But to the thousands of immigrants who flocked to Victoria during the gold rush, some settled in North Melbourne, determined to develop an urban town to be proud of.

From 1859 to 1887, it was called Hotham. The town’s businessmen had a booming stake in Melbourne’s meat market, metal manufacturing and tanneries. It also harboured an unusually high number of Irish immigrants and some of Melbourne’s most downtrodden residents.

This book details the triumphs and struggles of the people of nineteenth-century North Melbourne, revealing fascinating individuals and the collective story of the emergence of this determined working class community. The book contains some fascinating images and an extremely detailed annotated bibliography.

101 books to read before you grow up by Bianca Schulze

Available in print

Looking for an awesome book to read?

This book is packed with amazing stories just waiting to be discovered. Whether you love epic adventures, laugh-out-loud humour, magical worlds or stories about kids, this book had lots of great suggestions for picture books, chapter books, graphic novels and more. With fun descriptions, cool facts and lists of even more books to read, finding your next favourite story has never been easier.