Book Review: Wallaby Lane by Maya Linnell -

The arrival of a brand new novel from Maya Linnell is always an exciting event, and this year it was exactly what I needed to cheer me up the week we returned from our overseas holiday. I devoured this sweet slice of rural romance so quickly, and it hit the mark perfectly on all the things I love about Maya’s novels. As always, the publisher’s blurb is below and you can find my thoughts underneath that.

What is Maya Linnell’s Wallaby Lane about?

From interviewing local flower growers to receiving blue ribbons for her show baking, Lauren Bickford’s genuine love for her hometown is almost as strong as her ambition to become a radio presenter. But is it enough to outweigh the series of on-air stuff-ups that have plagued her career?

No stranger to this small winegrowing region in South Australia’s Limestone Coast, Jack Crossley is the new cop in town. He’s traded his city beat for a slower pace, and as a former local, knows only too well that mischief can lurk around every quiet corner.

For Jack and Lauren, the course of true love is not running smoothly. Can he restore order in the town before the neighbourhood watch vigilantes take justice into their own hands? Or are Jack’s biggest worries much closer to home? Can Lauren’s reporting remain impartial as her attraction to Jack grows? Or will her family’s advice lead her completely astray?
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My review of Wallaby Lane

In Wallaby Lane, Maya takes us back to the Limestone Coast, the same setting as her 2023 release Kookaburra Cottage, and I loved being back there and having the opportunity to check back in on April and Connor too (I do love the way previous character pop up in romance series!). As always, Maya’s creation of the setting is impeccable – when I’m reading one of her novels I feel like I live in one of her fictional country towns, and by the time I finish reading I’m ready to pack up and find my own little pink cottage to move into.

Lauren and Jack made great protagonists in Wallaby Lane. Both lovable without being too perfect, and I really enjoyed the way that the nature of their jobs created extra tension between them – her being a radio presenter and journalist and him the new local policeman. Their growing relationship was really lovely and I liked the gentleness and patience they both showed towards each other at times throughout the book.

Of course as well as being keen for a country tree-change after finishing a Maya Linnell novel, I’m also ready to back up a storm and I loved the cookbook and local show storyline in this one. Maya we’d love to see the cookbook in real life please, ok?

Maya serves up sweet romance with a side of baked goods in her books, but I also really appreciate the way this is balanced with sensitive handling of more serious issues. In Wallaby Lane we get several threads throughout that touch on mental health, including Lauren working through managing anxiety and another character having previously dealt with post-natal psychosis.

I have zero hesitation in recommending this one wholeheartedly. If you’ve read Maya’s books before you won’t want to miss this, and if you’ve been enjoying the moment romance novels have been having but haven’t tried rural romance yet this would be a perfect place to start. I think in particular if you’ve loved novels like Karina May’s Duck à l’Orange for Breakfast or Amy Hutton’s Love from Scratch for the foody bits, or Love, Just In by Natalie Murray for the mental health and journo vibes, then this is one worth picking up.

As always big thanks to Maya and Allen & Unwin for getting an early copy into my hands, and ESPECIALLY for the lovely surprise of a quote from my review of Kookaburra Cottage on the back cover!
Let me know in the comments if you’ve read this one!

xo Bron
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Wallaby Lane by Maya Linnell
Out now from Allen & Unwin
Source: The team at Allen & Unwin kindly sent me an early copy for review.
Category: Contemporary Aussie rural romance (closed door)

Wallaby Lane on Goodreads
Read an excerpt of Wallaby Lane here.
You can keep up with the latest from Maya online on her website here, and her Instagram account here.

Check out my previous reviews of Maya’s books
My review of Wildflower Ridge
My review of Bottlebrush Creek
My review of Magpie’s Bend
My review of Paperbark Hill
My review of Kookaburra Cottage