Staff picks

Amanda staff picks are filled with books across many genres including myth retellings, romance and mysteries however, at the core of her reading you'll strong female characters with complex stories.

Hayley enjoys reading books that feature quirky characters, found family, a good mystery, and a touch of humour in a fantasy or sci-fi setting.

Aimee enjoys travel biographies, culinary adventures and novels with strong female leads.

Kate enjoys reading books across all genres, with her favourites being science fiction and fantasy. She enjoys being transported to different worlds through literature, with a particular love of settings involving dragons!

Anna Loder, founder of the online bookish community at readabook.com.au, curates a list of recommended reads each month.

A lover of historical fiction and horror, but depending on her mood Kristen will read just about anything… And love it!

Cathy prefers reading real-life fiction filled with conflict, drama and maybe a little romance; as well as the occasional biography, true crime, and Young Adult fiction.

Quirky, humorous non-fiction features alongside mysteries and classic fiction in Julie's staff picks.

Calling all music fans! The history of rock features prominently in Jarrett's mix of fiction and memoir, with a couple of curve balls thrown in to keep things interesting.

Jacinta enjoys books that drag her out of her comfort zone and let her walk in someone else’s shoes, whether they be fiction or non-fiction. A bit of magical whimsy never goes astray either!

Becky' likes a good crime novel but that's certainly not all she reads. Her eclectic list ranges across a mix of styles, genres and forms, including non-fiction, mysteries, literary and historical fiction and much more.

Strong female characters feature prominently in this list of literary fiction titles recommended by Vesna.

Sci-Fi, fantasy and horror sit alongside literary award winners on Ben’s list, but a compelling story and a well-crafted sentence are what matter most.

Martin prefers plot driven stories of resilience that possess a dark, gritty atmosphere and create a tangible sense of place.

Ari’s multicultural and multilingual background draws her to fiction writers from Afghanistan to Zanzibar and everywhere in between.

If you enjoy books with an historical setting or short listed and award winning titles take a peek at Debra’s suggestions.

A boundary crossing list full of diverse genres and forms including fiction, non-fiction, poetry, classics, short stories and graphic novels.

Marisa enjoys a range of genres in adult and young adult fiction. Compelling, thought-provoking plots with interesting characters are her go to reads.

Linda is one of our staff members from Sylvania Library. A prolific reader, crime thrillers feature prominently in this list of some of Linda's favourite books.

If you enjoy a character driven story, you might like to explore some of Julie's favourites in this list.

The top 20 most popular books of 2023 in Australian public libraries.

Original and imaginative storylines, unconventional characters and distinctive settings make these classics stand the test of time.

Discover award-winning stories of love and loss from a selection of emerging Australian authors.

In this TV series broadcast on ABC TV, Claudia Karvan embarks on a literary journey to celebrate our love of books and meet some of our most beloved and brilliant writers. The series explores the role these classic Australian books play in defining an Australian national identity.