Want to add to your Tsundoku* pile?

If you’re stuck in a reading slump, need to experience all the feels, or just want to jump into something fantastic, we have the books for you!!

Our fabulous staff have put all their favourite books in one place, along with passionate and compelling reviews.

Collected below are some of our faves, and there are plenty more in store. Come in and let us help you find your next favourite book.

*Tsundoku – the practice of buying a lot of books and keeping them in a pile because you intend to read them but have not done so yet (Cambridge Dictionary)

ADULT FICTION

 

Wide Sargasso Sea
John Rhys
RRP $22.99

This impassioned retelling of Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre from the perspective of Rochester’s first wife is one of the most fascinating and readable great works of the 20th century.

– Marc

 

 

 

Britt-Marie Was Here
Fredrik Backman
RRP $22.99

I love this book! Backman is the master of human connection, writing with sincerity, humour and warmth. His characters feel so genuine, you’ll be happily swept into their world.

– Isobel

 

 

 

This is Happiness
Niall Williams
RRP $22.99

Every page in this wonderful novel has a quotable passage or line that hangs with you. If ever a book could make you feel like you’re in the warm embrace of the Irish countryside, it’s this modern literary masterpiece. Lost love, unrequited love, love of music, love of life and some plain old-fashioned love all feature heavily. The title of the book is very leading, but as you read it, you’ll realise it’s possibly the experience you’re living whilst reading it, that the title refers to.
Highly, highly recommended.

– Martin

 

Klara and the Sun
Kazuo Ishiguro
RRP $24.99

How do we treat those who are less than human? What is it that divides a “someone” from a “something”?
A haunting, delicate fable that is bound to be a modern classic. Ishiguro is redefining sci-fi, one masterpiece at a time.

– Frances

 

 

Someone You Can Build a Nest In
John Wiswell
RRP $24.99

This Sapphic Horror Romance is a new all-time fave! As close to ‘cosy’ as you can get when characters are being torn apart on the regular, it’s perfect for fans of T. Kingfisher and anyone looking for a queer romance who doesn’t mind a bit of horror on the side (or as the main course).
TW: body horror.

– MJ

 

 

The Man Without Qualities
Robert Musil
RRP $44.99

This remains my favourite book – within these pages vibrates the world labyrinth, philosophical, historical, sardonic and utterly elegant…
Robert Musil is a GENIUS, and this unfinished magnum opus, will change the way you think the world.
Fans of Bernhard, Bachmann, Lispector, pay heed!

– Cecily

 

 

Hour of the Star
Clarice Lispector
RRP $22.99

“All the world began with a yes. One molecule said yes to another molecule and life was born. But, before prehistory there was the prehistory of prehistory and there was the never and there was the yes. It was ever so. I don’t know why, but I do know that the universe began.” At this masterful stroke, so Lispector opens this unafraid, terrifyingly eloquent anti-tome. Reading this will turn you into an instant disciple – you will fall in devotion and sadness at the feet of its quiet protagonist – the one macabea – enjoy!

– Cecily

 

No Longer Human
Osamu Dazai
RRP $24.94

It’s a rare thing that you can both despise the main character of a book but be completely intrigued as to what will happen to him next and how everything will end. A somehow gripping read.

– Rosi

 

 

The Bloody Chamber
Angela Carter
RRP $19.98

Arguably the most delicious and seductive collection of short stories ever written.
Absorbing feminist readings of fairy tales.
Dark and brooding.

– Richard

 

 

 

Amrita
Banana Yoshimoto
RRP $24.99

Sakumi lives with her not-so run of the mill family, which consists of her mother, her mother’s best friend, her cousin and her half-brother. After the death of her younger sister, and an accident resulting in memory loss, Sakumi’s life takes an interesting turn; starting with her half-brother’s psychic powers…
An unpredictable read.

– Phoebe

 

 

The Safekeep
Yael van der Wouden
RRP $22.99

At once poignant, The Safekeep unravels with soaring moments of vulnerable and honest compassion.
This is my new favourite book.
Winner of the Women’s Prize for Fiction.

– Luke

 

 

The Pursuit of Love
Nancy Mitford
RRP $22.99

Set in the 1930s, The Pursuit of Love follows cousins, Linda and Fanny, as they negotiate love and life as the prospect of war looms ever closer.
Mitford is an elegant writer that effortlessly balances humour and social commentary. However, it’s the way she explores the suffocating and often contradictory expectations of women that is most timely. I wept when I finished this book, not just for the ending but for the fact my time with Linda and Fanny was past.

– Tasch

 

Cursed Bread
Sophie Mackintosh
RRP $22.99

Loosely based on the mysterious poisoning of a French village in 1951. Cursed Bread is a subtle horror that explores small town discontent, sapphic obsession and quiet desperation. A deliciously unhinged read that is perfectly suited to fans of weird contemporary literature.

– Victoria

 

 

Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil
V. E. Schwab
RRP $34.99

To the naked eye, this is a book that follows the stories of three female vampires with a dash of sapphic romance. But it is SO much more. It is a story of three women who have been silenced their whole lives and have been consumed by the patriarchy. But as their lives are changed by a single bite, they become the consumers. Schwab’s writing style is rhythmic and lyrical and really adds to the gothic beauty of this book. It is a story of hunger, love, and rage – and I couldn’t get enough!

– Zoe

 

 

KIDS AND YA

 

Found in Sydney: A Counting Adventure
Joanne O’Callaghan and Kori Song
RRP $26.99

This is one of my favourite picture books about our city! Joanne’s rhyme scheme coupled with Kori’s charming illustrations make for a playful exploration of Sydney’s most famous landmarks. A perfect souvenir for visitors from out of town!
*Also available in simplified Chinese*

– Phoebe

 

The Best of All Worlds
Kenneth Oppel
RRP $19.99

This is extraordinary! It is surprising, shocking, thrilling, terrifying, cosy, political, conspiratorial, thought-provoking and the most boldly original YA I’ve read in a long time. Settle in for an incredible reading session, because you won’t be able to put it down for wanting to know what the hell is going on. Just start it. And I guarantee that after you turn the final page you’ll be thinking about it for a very long time.

– Allyx

 

The Sky is Everywhere
Jandy Nelson
RRP $22.99

Such a gorgeous, sparkling YA novel – so well-written. This is a gem!
Lennie is reeling after the death of her sister – and finds herself drawn to two very different boys, one of whom happens to be her sister’s boyfriend… This truly is a special book, with such a truthful depiction of grief and a joyful, vibrant, neon portrayal of first love.

– Helena

 

 

The List of Things that Will Not Change
Rebecca Stead
RRP $16.99

Rebecca Stead has a big brain and an even bigger heart, so it’s no surprise that this book will make you smarter and kinder and more gentle and curious than you were when you began.
Essential reading for young readers (and old ones, too)!

– Marianne

 

 

Skellig
David Almond
RRP $19.99

A truly beautiful story about a boy, family, new friends and something – quite possibly an actual angel – that lives in the garage. It’s just a little bit magical, but entirely wonderful!

– Allyx

 

 

 

The Knife of Never Letting Go
Patrick Ness
RRP $22.99

When parents ask, it is smart, forward-thinking speculative fiction and political allegory of the highest order. And when teenagers ask, it’s a bloodthirsty unputdownable page-turner full of action, death, romance, mass graves and feelings. It’s hard to avoid hyperbole when you’re talking about the finest YA novel ever written. Uncompromising and morally uncomfortable science fiction of the most terribly moving variety. Prepare to ugly cry.

– Phil

 

Margaret’s Unicorn
Briony May Smith
RRP $16.99

A gorgeous and heart-warming picture book about embracing change and experiencing the beauty of nature through play. Guaranteed to capture the heart and imagination of kids and adults alike!

– Phoebe

 

 

 

COMICS & MANGA

 

Helen of Wyndhorn
Tom King, Bilquis Evely
$54.98

A smart-talking, axe-swinging, wine-drinking teen ‘Helen’ learns how to fight miraculous foes in the “Other World” on the outskirts of the estate Wyndhorn. An intriguing story accompanied by swirling, hypnotic art. This comic is a real gem!

– Amelia

 

 

Your Letter
Hyeon A Cho
$36.20

Sori Lee transfers to a new school with hopes for a fresh start as a former victim of bullying. At her assigned desk she finds a mysterious letter containing helpful info on her classmates, a school map…even what meals to order! Each letter she finds throughout the school turns into a whimsical scavenger hunt! A heartwarming story recommended for readers who enjoy Makoto Shinkai works!

– Grace K.

 

Cursed Pirate Girl
Jeremy Bastian
$36.00

Avast landlubbers! And cast your spyglass upon Cursed Pirate Girl, a barnacle encrusted pearl dredged up from the briny depths of creator Jeremy Bastian’s weevil riddled brain! A topsy turvy tale of a plucky young lass’s seafaring venture to discover her missing father in the treacherous waters of the Omerta Seas accompanied by a motley crew of riff raff including the talking parrot Pepper Dice, Governor Maygun and his goon Mr Six and the swordfish brothers Sir Haftu and Sir Halek. Drawn in a ravishing labyrinthine spiderweb of crow quill ink lines that harkens back to children’s illustrators of yore such as John Tenniel, Arthur Rackham and William Hogarth, Cursed Pirate Girl is a stupendous, raucous, anachronistic treasure trove of frabjous Lewis Carroll-esq stuff and nonsense!

– Tim

 

Love in the Palm of His Hand, Vol. 1
Rinteku
$24.90

Fujinaga has a desire to be understood through his acting but becomes disheartened after a slew of rejected auditions. After an unlikely meeting on the train he becomes friends with Keito, a fellow student who is deaf. It is through this bond that Fujinaga is exposed to sign language and in turn forges a bond with Keito that transcends the spoken form. An incredibly sweet and heartwarming series paired with a lovely art style, definitely worth the read!

– Rebecca

 

Lost Letters
Jim Bishop
$55.70

With its surreal Studio Ghibli-esque art and story this standalone from Jim Bishop is sure to stay with you. Equal parts whimsy and heartache this story of loss and connection with both make you laugh at its absurdity and cry at the very human story at its core.

– MJ

 

 

 

NON-FICTION

 

Change Your Thinking
Sarah Edelman
RRP $34.99

A practical guide to CBT, offering both logical and grounded strategies to manage the overwhelming feelings that arise from anxiety; stress; lack of motivation; or depression.
Well organised and easy to grasp, this book can be a powerful tool for anyone who wants to adjust the way they think and behave. Highly recommend!

– Thomas

 

 

The Cost of Living
Deborah Levy
RRP $24.99

In this autobiographical work, Levy strips back the metaphorical yellow wallpaper famed by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. She dismantles the stronghold of family structures and zooms in on she who is left in the rubble: the exhausted woman. Whilst usually existing in the periphery, this minor character is made major as Levy crafts a new life and a new space in which writing is both the cost and the product of living.

– Amelia B.

 

 

ART & DESIGN

 

Imaginative Realism
James Gurney (Creator of Dinotopia)
RRP $49.99

Up the ante of your illustrations and worldbuilding with the companion to Kino favourite Colour and Light. Gurney walks readers through all his tips and tricks for making fantastical environments and impossible creatures abide by the laws of light, physics and good composition. This book provides a true look into the research and behind the scenes labor that goes into developing fantasy. From building models and maquettes, to the revision process that makes his legendary Dinotopia sketches fly off the page, you’ll learn everything you need to know to go forth and build your own wonderlands!

– Grace H

 

Modern Origami
Muneji Fuchimoto
RRP $34.99

We have been obsessed with this magic little book! With dozens of projects that make you think, “I never thought I’d be able to make that!”, Modern Origami shows off the artistry, complexity, and surprising approachability of origami as an art form.
If you’re ready for a challenge—origami is for everyone! Even if you’re scared to fold a 60-step rooster: You! Can! Do it! Modern Origami emboldens the frightened and makes you feel like you can actually do this.

– Grace H

 

Meat Love
Amber Husain
RRP $35.00

Meat Love: An Ideology of the Flesh is a richly illustrated and provocative essay that delves into our complex relationship with meat, eco-philosophy, and the visual culture of consumption. Part critical theory, part memoir, and part art manifesto, it offers a sharp analysis of the “gentrification” of meat—how imagery transforms flesh into a cultural symbol. Husain deconstructs how photography frames meat, urging readers, especially visual media enthusiasts, to reflect on how we see and what it means to look responsibly. For those interested in photography, film, and conceptual art, her work reveals how meat operates as a powerful visual metaphor. More than a study of flesh, it’s a compelling meditation on how images construct desire, denial, and ideology. Highly recommended for anyone engaged in cultural criticism or thoughtful about meat consumption—omnivore, vegetarian, or vegan alike!

– Jen

 

Flower Colour Guide
Taylor & Michael Putnam
RRP $49.95

Super pretty flower photography!! :3
A great reference book for floral designers or flower enthusiasts. It’s a digestible encyclopedia of flower arranging, easy to understand and visually stunning. ^_^
Perfect for designers looking for something a bit different from the usual graphic design colour theory books!

-Jen

 

Worlds Beyond Time
Adam Rowe
RRP $60.00

Fueled by the space race and unrelenting demand, sci-fi novels of the 1970s featured psychedelic covers created by painters, comic book artists and designers. In Worlds Beyond Time, Adam Rowe has curated his blog ‘70s Sci-Fi Art’ into this otherworldly compilation. This title showcases artwork of spaceships, megastructures, sci-fi cities and landscapes, lifeforms, fantasy realms and cryptozoology. The influence of the artwork styles and themes from this time resonate through the sci-fi worlds we know today. This book is stunning to look at and is perfect for lovers of surrealist and fantasy art, sci-fi fans and acts as a great source of inspiration for practicing artists.

– Lauren