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Autumn reading guide

Finally, the weather is turning, the air is cooling and it's getting about time to snuggle up with a book as the rain gently waters the garden. From fiction to non-fiction, and even a few things for the kids, these are the books we're reading and recommending this autumn.

Fiction

Discipline by Randa Abdel-Fattah

This novel by Palestinian Australian academic Randa Abdel-Fattah spent so much time in the headlines in January that it sold out all around the country! Now that it's back on bookshops' shelves, it's time to pick it up and take in its prescient story of standing up for what you believe in.

beautiful changelings by Maxine Beneba Clarke

The poetry, picture book and memoir powerhouse Maxine Beneba Clarke's newest poetry collection is written in honour of women and girls as ephemeral, enigmatic beings. Pulling from literary conventions, misogynistic language and experiences of violence, this collection challenges ideas of what girls and women can be, opening up new spaces and possibilities.

De'Ath Takes a Holiday by Shaun Micallef

While autumn doesn't coincide with Halloween in the southern hemisphere, the chillier air and longer nights still add a certain spookiness to the season. Which makes it the perfect time for this new comedic take on the vampyre story from comedian Shaun Micallef.

TonyInterruptor by Nicola Barker

Maybe we're biased, but a book about the inner workings of a serial heckler? Colour us intrigued! When one particular event disruption goes viral, the characters of Nicola Barker's new novel get pulled into the vortex with unexpected consequences.

Pissants by Brandon Jack

Pretty soon AFL players around the country will be lacing up their boots and heading onto the field for the 2026 season. Get into the spirit early with this story set in the rough and tumble change rooms of a professional AFL team, written by ex–Sydney Swans player Brandon Jack.

Non-Fiction

The Mushroom Tapes by Helen Garner, Chloe Hooper and Sarah Krasnostein

It's mushroom season again! It has also almost been one year since the beginning of Erin Patterson's triple murder trial, which iconic Australian true crime writers Helen Garner, Chloe Hooper and Sarah Krasnostein immortalised in this recording of their conversations, investigations and speculations during a huge trial in Australian media.

A Truce That Is Not Peace by Miriam Toews

Spurred on by the seemingly innocuous question, "why do you write", the first work of memoir by acclaimed Canadian writer Miriam Toews uncovers a lifetime of grief and guilt behind her answer. For those acquainted or otherwise with Miriam's controlled and spring-tight fiction, this will be a powerful accompaniment.

Nature's Last Dance by Natalie Kyriacou

While you're getting ready to hunker down for the cold seasons, take the opportunity to revel in the wonders and glories of nature, captured here by environmentalist Natalie Kyriacou.

Looking from the North by Henry Reynolds

No matter how much time passes from our school days, autumn remains a time for learning. Dig into an alternative perspective of Australia's colonial history with this new work by historian Henry Reynolds which provides a detailed account of the European, Chinese, Japanese and Pacific Islander people who were vital to the settlement of the north.

Walking Sydney by Belinda Castles

In the last few evenings of long sunshine hours, get inspired to explore Sydney from a new perspective. In Walking Sydney, writer Belinda Castles walks through our city with local writers, including Michelle de Kretser, Malcolm Knox and Jazz Money, discussing their connection to place.

Young Readers

False versus Facts by Dan Marshall

We've all spent the last few years getting wound up with misinformation but Dan Marshall is here to set us all straight. In this fun and fully illustrated guide, Dan separates facts from fictions for over 40 common myths and misconceptions.

Freddie Jones: The Mystery of the Troublesome Trees by Kate Foster

If your little one is still yearning for the summer holidays that have just been, give them a vicarious holiday adventure with the first Freddie Jones instalment, set in the Daintree amongst cassowaries and crocodiles.

The Firefly Crown by Yxavel Magno Diño

This sophomore middle-grade novel from Sydney local Yxavel Magno Diño is a wild ride through magical insects, Filipino folklore and a mysterious crown thief. It's perfect for newcomers to the fantasy genre and seasoned readers alike!

What Have They Done to Liza McLean? by Amy Doak

Unlikely allies Meg, a scholarship student, and Douglas, the wealthiest student at school, team-up to uncover their prestigious school's secrets and find out what happened to Meg's younger sister Liza. Amy Doak's latest YA thriller is a dual-narrative page-turner that'll keep your teen hooked until the last page.

What else will you be picking up in the new season?