We’ve got something for everyone this month! February’s new releases are an enticing mix of Australian and international fiction for adults, young adults and middle-graders. Read on for more about this month’s new releases, including details of how you can win a copy of each.
The Competition by Katherine Collette
From the author of the hilarious debut novel The Helpline comes this affectionate comedy about the world of competitive public speaking, inspired by the author’s real-life experiences in Toastmasters.
‘An amusing tale of ambition, friendship and redemption, with just a touch of romance. It will appeal to fans of heartfelt easy-reading books with quirky characters such as those by Graeme Simsion and Toni Jordan.’ Books+Publishing
This is New York, a city in crisis, as experienced by a work-obsessed Chinese-American single woman employed in the male-dominated field of intensive-care medicine. A wry and insightful portrait of contemporary life, by the author of the award-winning Chemistry.
‘I am staggered by Weike Wang’s humour, heart and brilliance. I loved Joan and I am pressing this book into your hands.’ Lily King, author of Writers and Lovers
Strangers I Know by Claudia Durastanti
Translated by Elizabeth Harris
Part memoir, part travelogue and part fiction, this eloquent yet intense story defies genre. A bestselling, award-winning sensation in Italy, Strangers I Know asks whether we can truly know anyone – including ourselves.
‘A shape-shifting work straddling the boundaries of genre…Fans of Jenny Offill and Rachel Cusk will enjoy this unusual work of personal mythology.’ Kirkus Reviews
The Grass Hotel by Craig Sherborne
Short and sharp, savage yet tender, and written with a poet’s touch, The Grass Hotel is a bittersweet portrait of a mother and son by an award-winning Australian novelist.
‘Pays homage to the body in all its vulnerabilities…The Grass Hotel is an unsparing but humane portrait of a mother and son.’ Books+Publishing
In this compelling companion to the New York Times bestseller Amal Unbound, Omar finds a way to change the corrupt system in his new school.
‘Omar Rising is irresistibly appealing and genuinely inspiring – a story that helps us to see the world more clearly, and to see ourselves as powerful enough to change it.’ Rebecca Stead
Fish Out of Water by Kate Hendrick
Beloved young-adult author Kate Hendrick’s new novel deftly examines Australian ideas of masculinity. Fish Out of Water follows young Finn as he grapples with the pressures of teenage life and the disappearance of his abusive father.
‘The writing is powerful and insightful, without being maudlin or cliched…it’s perfect for those looking to sink into something thought-provoking and meaty.’ West Australian on The Accident
For your chance to win one of our February new releases, visit our Facebook page and tell us which one you would like and why.
The competition is open to AU/NZ residents only. Entries close 23:59 AEST Friday 4 February. Winners will be notified via Facebook (one book per person only).