When Lemons Give You Life
by Anna Johnston

Retired Michelin-star chef Griff Barlow has lost his appetite.

He’s done with grief, guilt and the beige slop they dare call food at Sunny Glen Aged Care Facility, where he now resides.

Life’s given him all the lemons he can handle – so he breaks into the nursing home kitchen to bake himself one last tart.

It’s supposed to be his final meal, but the act of cooking stirs a dormant joy.

Soon, he’s regularly sneaking in after dark, serving up flavour and comfort to his fellow residents.

Yet behind the apron is a lie so big it could destroy the one thing he has left to protect...

Cold River 
by Margaret Hickey

Detective Constable Sally White knows how easily hikers can go missing in Victoria’s high country.

But there’s something about the disappearance of Louis Taylor that’s not sitting right with her.

Louis was an aspiring journalist, researching the illegal tobacco trade that was once so prevalent in the area.

And the last person he interviewed before his hike has just met a gruesome end . . .

But with no other leads, and with the search winding down, Sally is forced to accept the young man died in a tragic accident.

Until she learns of another missing person case that bears striking similarities.

Big Little Truths
by Lianne Moriarty

After all their big little lies, what happens next?

The gang is back.
Madeline is planning her 50th birthday party.
Jane is happily married to Tom (isn’t she?).
Celeste is haunted by memories of her dead husband, and troubled by her very alive mother-in-law.
The kids are no longer kids.
And things are falling apart …

It’s been ten years since Perry Wright fell from a balcony at the Pirriwee High trivia night but best friends Madeline, Celeste and Jane are still shadowed by his death.

When an anonymous package containing a severed finger arrives at the school, and a man in a green Volvo is seen lurking around the kids, everyone is uneasy.

What is clear is that the truth will always hurt someone.

The Cairo Bridal Shop
by Tess Woods

At the foothills of the pyramids lies the iconic Albi Bridal Boutique, where three sisters are about to break the shackles of tradition to fight for their futures.

When Mariam Albi was tragically killed, the responsibility of running the business was thrust upon eldest daughter, Sarah.

Political journalist Aya is writing the story of her career while on the cusp of a thrilling new relationship with Australian-raised journalist, Gamal.

University student Lola, the youngest of the Albi girls, is finding her place in the world while masking her true identity.

But her secret is exposed, putting her life in grave danger as she faces losing everything and everyone she loves.

My Family's Journey
by Peter Daicos

Peter’s parents left Macedonian for Australia in the 1950s and built a new life in Melbourne.

Peter grew to love the game of Australian Rules football and played his first game for Collingwood in 1979.

A hugely successful football career followed with Peter retiring from the game in 1993.

Peter is still considered one of the Collingwood Football Club’s greats, earning a host of awards.

Peter's two sons have followed in his footsteps and joined Collingwood.

Both sons were in the Premiership team of 2023, and are considered stars at the Collingwood Football Club.

Reckless
by Jeff Apter

When Australian Crawl first appeared on Countdown in 1979, no one knew what to make of them.

But they quickly proved they were no novelty act. Over the next seven years, they produced two of Australia's bestselling albums.

Their success would launch the solo career of heart-throb lead singer James Reyne.

To the public, Australian Crawl were sun-kissed surfies from the Mornington Peninsula—though not all of them actually surfed.

They toured relentlessly, partied hard and built a huge and loyal following. Yet behind the scenes, tensions simmered.

Decades later, Australian Crawl's legacy remains tangled, yet their songs still command the airwaves and are streamed by millions.

Noodle Night
by Deborah Kaloper

Whether it’s a gathering with friends, or a mid-week noodle craving, Noodle Night has the best noodle recipes from China, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, and beyond.

Make authentic noodles from scratch and then transform those noodles into noodle soups or cold noodle dishes. 

Turn to the Instant noodle chapter and whip up some viral TikTok noodles in 15 minutes– think Spicy creamy peanut butter noodles, Cheesy mac ‘n’ cheese noodles or Sizzling chili crisp oil noodles. 

Or go all out and make Curry laksa, Pad Thai or the Korean favorite Jap chae.

Falsely Convicted
by Neil Mercer

Nine wrongful imprisonments. Nine innocent men and women freed.

Australia has a robust legal system. According to conventional wisdom, only the guilty end up behind bars.

The reality is far more complex and, for First Nations Australians and other minorities, the law can become a trap - one that has condemned innocent people to decades, of wrongful imprisonment.

These cases reveal how fragile truth can be, how easily lives can be destroyed, and how freedom - when it arrives - often comes only after everything else has been lost.