Delirious
Damien Wilkins

Damien is such a smart and perceptive writer; his ability to imbue humanity into the banality of the everyday is masterful. He is also very funny, I still rate Dad Art as one of the funniest books I have read and I can’t wait to get into his latest offering.

Pachinko
Min Jin Lee

I feel the need for a long complex, emotionally rich novel that I can sink into: Pachinko might be that for me this summer. It's not new, but having recently been to Japan, it feels like it might be the right time.

All Change
Elizabeth Jane Howard

I’ve been slowly reading the Cazalet Chronicles, a Sussex family saga by Elizabeth Jane Howard, so I’ll read the final one (and look forward in 2026 to the next in the series, to be written by Elizabeth’s niece Louisa Young).

The Mighty Red
Louise Erdrich

I have been reading Louise Erdrich for decades now and she is a consummate storyteller who makes me laugh and hurts my heart in equal measure. There's not much more to say - she is a writer that makes me feel like I am returning to the familiar and yet every time she surprises me. She is also on my 'people I'd invite to my imaginary dinner party' list.

The Message
Ta-Nehisi Coates

I actually bought this about a month ago now, but seeing as I have been falling asleep one page into anything I read at the minute, I have been saving it for Xmas so that I have the mental time and space for it. Ta-Nehisi is interested in who controls the narrative. His critical analysis and unflinching search for the truth feel like just what I need right now.

Dog
Rob Perry

This book was gifted to me, and I know nothing about it, and I don't need to know anything other than that it is about a dog, so it is bound to be one of the best books I read this year. If you're crazy for dog books, hit me up - I have a long list of books about dogs that are absolutely spectacular.

The Use of Photography
Annie Ernaux and Marc Marie

I have dragged my heels long enough in catching up with the reading world on Annie Ernaux. Learning of this foray into photography writing, recently republished with colour reproductions by Seven Stories Press, was my tipping point.

Orbital
Samantha Harvey

Do I look forward to reading this because of Harvey's recent Booker Prize Win? Or because it addresses the ever and increasingly timely issue of climate catastrophe? Good reasons, but no. It's because I love space stuff!

A Flat Place
Noreen Masud

Thanks to the Backlisted podcast for this recommendation, they haven't let me down yet! I'm from a flat place; they give up their beauty slowly and gently. I have high hopes for the same from this read.

The Empusium
Olga Tokarczuk

Tokarczuk's Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead is one of my favourite books, and I can't wait to immerse myself in this new folk horror.

[Sarah: seconding this as my fourth pick!]

Perfume & Pain
Anna Dorn

It simply would not be summer to me without some messy queer lit fic about terrible people, and this homage to 1950s lesbian pulp fiction will do nicely.

The Raven's Eye Runaways
Claire Mabey

I love reading middle-grade fiction when I want to read something that will wash over me easily but don't want to sacrifice quality of writing. I've heard nothing but great things about this, including from our School Library reviewer!

Sunburn
Chloe Hovarth

The title wasn't supposed to be a summer pun, it's more that I'm basically pre-obsessed with this book and am finally fourth in the library reserves queue so the light at the end of the tunnel is nearing. I'm hoping for a sapphic vibe somewhere between Joy Holley's Dream Girl and a Sally Rooney. 

Poorhara
Michelle Rahurahu

Some debut novels just sparkle with a certain x factor. I don't know exactly what x equals, but Poorhara has it. I'm excited to read it for the sheer rizz, and if you aren't already too, please read the first sentence of the blurb, which describes the novel as 'a tragicomedy set in the confines of a 1994 Daihatsu Mira.' Sold.

The Beautiful Afternoon
Airini Beautrais

Harry Ricketts recommended that I read Airini's poetry collection Flow after he read some of my own [limp] attempts at evoking place with poems, and it's possibly in my top five Aotearoa reads ever. I also adore essays, so am patiently frothing over the chance to recline with this collection in the backyard, probably stretched over several beautiful afternoons.