Ben’s Book Club will now be known as Libby Reads with Ben Hobson. Each month best-selling author Ben Hobson sits down with another great writer to talk stories, craft and creativity. Borrow the featured title as either an eBook and eAudio on OverDrive (Libby) and join the free virtual discussion to connect, learn, and ask your own questions.

We kick off the year with The long night by Christian White, a bold, vivid and heart-racingly intense psychological thriller about two women - Em and Jodie - whose lives collide in a terrifying sequence of events one fateful night.

Borrow The long night on Overdrive or Libby today

Visit the Libby Reads with Ben Hobson Facebook page for more information.

The bonnie dead by Andrew Raymond

Five years ago, DCI John Lomond led the search for notorious Glasgow child-killer 'The Sandman', until personal tragedy forced him off the case. In Lomond's absence, the killer was never found. Now, with nothing but work left in his life, Lomond remains obsessed with the case, despite the nightmares it brings.

Bookstore girls by Kei Aono

Can two very different women put aside their differences to save the bookstore they love? The Japanese bestseller that kicked off a seven-book series - adapted for TV and 200,000 copies sold. 

The in-laws by Sinead Moriarty

Amanda. Katie. Melanie. Three wildly different women with one big problem -- their impossible mother-in-law, Nancy. When an unexpected crisis hits the family business, the sisters-in-law find themselves navigating stormy waters.

A queer case by Robert Holtom

A gripping 1920s-set whodunnit, this debut features a queer sleuth who must solve a murder in a mansion on London’s Hampstead Heath without revealing his sexuality, lest he be arrested as a criminal.

A smart girls guide to second chances by Steph Vizard

What happens when the man who broke your heart reappears just before your wedding? Rebecca, a super-smart consultant, is determined to defy the family marriage curse, which claims no woman marries their first fiancé, and prove that Matt is The One. As Rebecca's past and present collide, she realises her choices can't be resolved with a trusty pros and cons list, and she'll have to finally come to terms with the age-old question: head or heart?

Guinness : a family succession by Arthur Edward Guinness

The head of the Guinness family tells the dramatic true story of how his ancestors created the largest brewery in the world. This is a tale in which brewing genius, sibling rivalry, bounteous philanthropy and astonishing social mobility are interwoven with historic national events.

Quick wins : healthy cooking for busy lives by Ella Mills

Do you want to eat more plants? This book has the answer. It's your guide to making healthy eating effortless, cutting down on ultra-processed food, and enjoying 30 different plants each week with deliciously simple recipes. Plus adaptable meal plans and shopping lists to make nutritious home cooking a seamless part of your busy life. 

Ultimate family holidays : Australia by Catherine Best

Author and travel journalist Catherine Best believes travelling with the kids should mean getting beyond a resort pool. While family holidays can be challenging, they're also about getting outdoors and having fun, spending quality time together and trying new things. This book is packed with travel inspiration, featuring 65 exciting experiences from around the country. 

Words for life by Susie Dent

Whatever you need, Susie Dent has a word for it. Do you know the name for someone who loves reading in bed, or what a binfluencer does? How about the medieval invention of Lubberland as a place for lazy teenagers, or the story of Mayday as a request for help? Lexicographer extraordinaire and Queen of Countdown's Dictionary Corner, Susie Dent does and here are her greatest discoveries.

Tuesday 24 February, 6pm
Story Space, Ground Floor, Harry Bailey Memorial Library, Yarrila Place

Join us in person for a special livestreamed event from the State Library of NSW to celebrate the launch of the Library’s 200th Anniversary book The Library That Made Me.  

Leading storytellers Bruce Pascoe, Shankari Chandran, Thomas Keneally AO, Grace Karskens and Kate Evans will reflect on the libraries that have shaped them as readers and writers.

Arts & Cultural Development Grants are open NOW

Funding of $1,000–$7,000 is available to bring creative ideas to life across Coffs Harbour. Supporting inclusive, engaging arts projects that strengthen the fabric of community connection, celebrate culture and energise our region.

Applications closing at 4pm, Monday 16 March

Arts & Cultural Development Info Session

Date: Wednesday 25 February 2026
Time: 4:30pm – 5:30pm
Location: Yarrila Place, Coffs Harbour

Curious about turning your arts and cultural ideas into reality in Coffs Harbour? Join us for an Information Session on the City’s Arts & Cultural Development Grants. Whether you’re an artist, community group, or not-for-profit cultural organisation, this session will give you support you can use to bring your ideas to life and contribute to a vibrant creative future for Coffs Harbour.