New Releases to add to your TBR this week (29th September)

First we have to talk about the fact that we have a follow on from The Whale Rider by Witi Ihimaera Smiler, over 30 years since the original novel staked its claim as an absolute Kiwi icon of a story. The Star Path sounds just as magical, if not more - blending reality and mythology, taking us from France to French Polynesia, and returning to a story about memory and the water. I can't wait to read this one. The novel is centered on 16-year-old Teva, who takes an epic voyage to rescue a great whale and claim his lost inheritance. 

I am particularly troubled this week by the number of books vying for me attention. I can't wait to read the newest novel by Zoe Foster Blake, Group Chat, which is about a group of friends who respond to a marriage breakdown by taking a trip to Mykonos. I loved Zoe's earlier novel, Things Will Calm Down Soon - the writing is sharp and funny and incredibly relatable in the ways that remind me how wonderful contemporary fiction can be. We all know I love a bit of Japanese Healing Fiction so Welcome to the Koro Cat Clinic has to be on the TBR too - this series is perfect if you enjoyed Before the Coffee Gets Cold. 

Another one for the contemporary readers, Monica McInerney is back with a new novel about the 86-year-old Lola Quinlan, a character whose time on earth is running out but she's about to go on a trip to Melbourne alone despite her family's reservations. When Sullivan Met Lola looks like one of those novels that will surprise you with its heart and it's warmth, and the characters already have me intrigued before I have even started. On a slightly different note, Shirl read the devastating new Irish novel, Stations by Louise Kennedy, and after reading her review of it I added it straight to my own TBR. 

I need to get myself a copy of the beautiful new fantasy by V.L. Bovalino (seriously some of the most stunning covers out there). The Thief and the Traitor Bride is fantasy but with the addition of a little horror and some yearning romance and I think that might just be one of my favourite combinations. It's from the author of the popular Second Death of Locke, set in the same world but this is standalone so don't panic if you haven't read that one yet.

We can't talk about Romantasy without mentioning Threshing Day but I'll be honest - I'm holding off a bit because all our hundreds of copies already sold in pre-orders and there are more coming SO soon but until they arrive I just have to pretend it doesn't exist (and try to avoid spoilers, wish me luck).

Lucky there's plenty of other new romantasy titles to keep me busy in the meantime, including The Ascended by dynamic duo Parker & Lennox, The Wretched Divine by Adalyn Grace, and Lover Enthroned by J. R. Ward.

In Crime & Thriller there's also some excellent books that have arrived this week, including one I got to read a month or so ago and LOVED - my first Michael Robotham, Tell Me Something True, which was an incredibly emotional small-town crime mystery that had so much heart and such memorable characters. If you loved All the Colours of the Dark you will probably enjoy this one too! We also have The Chase by Felix Francis which is a racing thriller (new niche subgenre alert!), a brand new John Grisham about a French honeymoon gone wrong, The French Illusion, as well as a brand new James Bond novel from Charlie Higson, King Zero.

Non-Fiction new releases this week are almost as packed as Fiction, so good luck to us all in choosing our next reads. Memoir lovers have a lot to choose from this week with Sylvester Stallone's The Steps which looks amazing, Kyle MacLachlan's candid Fictional Selves, the previous Governor General for NZ Silvia Cartwright's That Woman, and Nothing But the Truth from one of our most distinguished lawyers, Stuart Grieve. Like I said, good luck choosing!

For me however - the choice was easy this week for my non-fiction pick. I absolutely adore Naomi Klein and think about her last book, Doppelganger, constantly. As soon as I saw that End Times Fascism had arrived I grabbed myself a copy. It's a blistering expose about the far-right and the apocalyptic state of the planet, as well as a guide to how we resist the combination of religious fundamentalists, Silicon Valley billionaires, and ethno-nationalists that threaten our future in not-so-little ways. Just a bit of light reading.

Aside from The Star Path by Witi Ihimaera Smiler which obviously you have to read as an adult but should also be read by every young teen reader everywhere, we have some other amazing Kiwi kids books released this week too. Wahine by Isobel Joy Te Aho-White has already had huge acclaim for the stunning set of Māori pūrakau about the women of Aotearoa. Illustrated by Isobel herself this is a taonga of a pukapuka and absolutely stunning as well as beautifully told.

Another favourite of ours, Donovan Bixley is back with The Sweet As Looky Book. If you haven't tried out one of his Looky Books with your tamariki you're absolutely missing out! It's a delightful chance to see Aotearoa in a new way, spotting the littlest details and having fun taking a tiki tour around Aotearoa.

We also have the newest Miles and Jones adventure, The Day of the Dinosaur Disaster, by NZ comedian Sam Smith! These are such hilarious little graphic novels that kids love, especially those aged 5-10 who might have trouble finding their next read but like the sound of Indiana Jones meets The Bad Guys.

For an adorable new picture book, Ruth Shaw of The Bookseller at the End of the World fame, along with talented illustrator Deborah Hinde have come together to share the delightful true story about an injured baby seal that Ruth Shaw nursed back to health. Millie from Milford is definitely one for any animal story lover or future conservationists, and the next picture book I would like to bring home for my own avid reader. It would also be my pick for a classroom pukapuka too!

There's so much new that's arrived in the last week or so - make sure to check them all out on our website!