3 New Books for your Summer Reading List -

I feel like 2024 has been such an incredible year for new book releases – I haven’t been able to keep up with all the amazing-looking titles I’ve wanted to read. It might be December but the new releases aren’t done with us yet – today I’m sharing three new books by Aussie writers coming out next week that I think will be PERFECT for summer reading.

That Island Feeling by Karina May

A week on Pearl Island is exactly the R&R that perpetual planner Andie Alcott needs. Except instead of sipping pina coladas by the beach, she’s busy throwing her freshly divorced bestie, Taylor, a girls’ trip to remember, dealing with a double-booking fiasco and worrying about her ailing father on the mainland. But it’s cool – she has it covered. After all, everyone would be lost without her, right?

The last thing habitually barefoot local Jack Cooper wants is the headache of managing tourist bookings. But since he’s to blame for the island’s dwindling supply of holidaymakers, he’ll do whatever it takes to keep them happy – in particular, a beautiful visitor named Andie . . .

With sun-kissed sands, sapphire waters, oysters and wine, Pearl Island promises the perfect getaway – and maybe even a hot holiday fling. But what happens when the emotional baggage comes in excess, and island life suddenly feels all too real?

I had the absolute PLEASURE of meeting Karina May (twice!) this year and tore through both of her two previous print novels, Duck a l’Orange for Breakfast and Never Ever Forever in the past couple of months (I loved them both). That Island Feeling has the summery-est summer vibes I’ve ever seen on a book cover, and I think it will be perfect read to take us into the new year.
That Island Feeling is out 31 Dec from Pan Macmillan Aus (who have kindly sent me an early copy for review).

The Inheritance by Kate Horan

Families lie. DNA doesn’t.

Isobel Ashworth breezes through life, blissfully accustomed to the privilege which comes with her family name. But that changes when she arrives in the exclusive town of Hartwell. Sent there by her father to complete a controversial property development – and prove herself a serious player in the succession plan – her perfect life is unravelling. Isobel’s fiance is telling lies, the project is a disaster and the locals hate her; could her father be setting her up to fail?

Buzzing with the promise of a big story, journalist Meg Hunter arrives in Hartwell to expose the Ashworth family dealings, and transform her faltering career. As she follows the trail of corruption, she uncovers clues about her mother’s mysterious past.

When the next-gen Ashworths each receive an anonymous Christmas gift of a DNA testing kit, Isobel questions everything she knows about her family. Isobel is drawn to Meg and her pursuit of the truth … but someone out there will stop at nothing to hide the secrets of both families.

I’m loving books in the domestic noir/family drama/ thriller space, and this debut from Aussie author Kate Horan sounds so good! The Inheritance is out from Harper Collins (HQ Fiction) on 1 January.

The Paradise Heights Craft Store Stitch-Up by Kate Solly

Meet Fleck Parker: Mother, Crafter and Amateur Detective.

Fleck loves a good puzzle. She spends most of her time feeling invisible, caring for three small children, and that’s fine, really. But it does make her brain itch occasionally.

When Trixie, fellow school-mum and avid crafter, is accused of stealing money from Many Hands, the women’s charity known for its charming store full of handmade crafts, Fleck feels compelled to investigate and clear Trixie’s name. From playground stake-outs to tailing cars while nursing the baby to sleep, Fleck and Trixie uncover a case more complex than either of them could have imagined.

Will they crack the case?

This is Kate Solly’s second novel and as an avid crafter myself this sounds right up my alley, I love a book about women’s friendships (my fave, Sophie Green, has blurbed on the cover of this one!) and this looks like it will be cosy and fun, while also being relatable and poking at the roles and expectations of women in our society. The Paradise Heights Craft Store Stitch-Up is out 31 Dec from Affirm (who kindly sent me an early copy for review).

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Don’t those all sound like fabulous summer reads? I’m so keen to read all three of them – do check back for reviews over the next little while (I actually started The Paradise Heights Craft Store Stitch-Up today and am loving it so far!). I’d love to know whether any of these have caught your eye, or what other books you have on your reading list for the summer!

xo Bron
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