Eat Your Heart Out: A Foodie Rom-Com with an Unfortunate Villain

Chloe Bridgers, Australian food blogger in Paris, has landed an interview to write the tell-all memoir of controversial celebrity chef Carla Duris. The only catch? To nab the role, she has to compete against a group of cut-throat, world-class food writers during a weekend-long job interview at the Duris family villa on the glistening CôteContinue reading “Eat Your Heart Out: A Foodie Rom-Com with an Unfortunate Villain”

March Book Club: Hospital by Sanya Rushdi (S4E2)

A daring literary account of a young woman’s experience of psychosis by Bengali-Australian writer Sanya Rushdi. This March, our book club discussion features Hospital, which explores the experience of psychosis and subsequent hospitalisation, drawn from the author’s real-life experience. We unpack the limitations of the medical model approach towards treatment of mental health issues, sharedContinue reading “March Book Club: Hospital by Sanya Rushdi (S4E2)”

The Paradise Heights Craft Store Stitch-Up: A modern, cosy(ish) mystery

Tilly navigates grief over her grandmother’s death, family lies, and unreciprocated love on her sixteenth birthday. “Never, Not Ever” explores teenage identity and emotional growth through challenges and family dynamics.

Tara Calaby on spiritualism, representation, and grief l Author interview

Tara Calaby joins us on today’s episode to discuss her latest novel, The Spirit Circle: a speculative historical fiction on the intersection of spiritualism and grief. The novel features women who are haunted by grief and come together as a church under the charismatic leadership of a medium. Tara discusses writing cult-ish dynamics in theContinue reading “Tara Calaby on spiritualism, representation, and grief l Author interview”

January book club: Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow (S4E1)

In this exhilarating novel, two friends—often in love, but never lovers—come together as creative partners in the world of video game design, where success brings them fame, joy, tragedy, duplicity, and, ultimately, a kind of immortality. Join Priscilla and Elise for a book club discussion on Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow‘s complex characterisation and videoContinue reading “January book club: Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow (S4E1)”

Tell Me Lies leans on tired tropes around psychology

Psychologist Margot Scott has a picture-perfect life: a nice house in the suburbs, a husband, two children and a successful career. On a warm spring morning Margot approaches one of her clients on a busy train platform. He is looking down at his phone, with his duffel bag in hand as the train approaches. That’sContinue reading “Tell Me Lies leans on tired tropes around psychology”

Two Sisters, Two Takes on the ‘Crazy Ex Girlfriend’ Trope

I am a fan of both Liane Moriarty and Nicola Moriarty; they both write the sort of books that I tend to devour, and I love both of their writings. I had never compared their work (as a woman with a sister, I know the particular pain of such comparison), until I finished reading Nicola’sContinue reading “Two Sisters, Two Takes on the ‘Crazy Ex Girlfriend’ Trope”

Review: ‘No One Will Know’ presents no shortage of twists and turns

Eve Sylvester is young and broke and needs a job fast. After years of foster homes, backpacking and a sailing trip across the Pacific Ocean, she has lost contact with friends and family. She is alone, desperate—and pregnant. Then she meets Julia and Christopher Hygate, a charming and glamorous couple, who seem to have theContinue reading “Review: ‘No One Will Know’ presents no shortage of twists and turns”

Review: ‘The Hitwoman’s Guide to Reducing Household Debt’ is a highly entertaining debut

I met my husband on the same day I committed my very last murder. There’s a joke in there somewhere, about ending two men’s lives. Olivia Hodges used to do horrible things – back when she worked for a Spanish crime syndicate – but she fled that life and moved home to Australia, building aContinue reading “Review: ‘The Hitwoman’s Guide to Reducing Household Debt’ is a highly entertaining debut”

Review: The quiet emotional force of The Burrow

Amy, Jin and Lucie are leading isolated lives in their partially renovated, inner city home. They are not happy, but they are also terrified of change. When they buy a pet rabbit for Lucie, and then Amy’s mother, Pauline, comes to stay, the family is forced to confront long-buried secrets. Will opening their hearts toContinue reading “Review: The quiet emotional force of The Burrow”