Benable — create shareable lists of things you recommend!
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Must read books - romance/contemporary fiction⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ or ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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items Romance is one of my least favourite genres, so if it’s made it to this list and it’s 4 or 5 stars,it must be bloody good!!
Wow I love this series. And I am not a romance reader. So many of the tropes in these books, are not what I enjoy.BUT I don’t know what Jessa Hastings has done in her writing but I am in love with this series!!! I can even tolerate the spoilt and ann...
Magnolia Parks Universe Series by Jessa Hastings
Beautifully written story about love of family,friends,colleagues,partner. Exploring all the different relationships and facets. So well researched,I actually learnt things about astronomy. Was not expecting to gain knowledge. Teary ending.
Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid
This is a book by an Australian author. Holly took me back to my childhood. I loved her writing style so much, it was easy to read and flowed so well. I really enjoyed how each character developed as the book went on, switching between present day an...
He Would Never by Holly Wainwright
I really like the writing of this
Australian author. Her writing is very authentic and has a sense of realism to it. I live in Melbourne, so really enjoyed being able to picture the theatre and the surrounding streets etc. I found the story to be a ...
Until the red leaves fall by Alli Parker
Australian indie author. This is a mafia romance. Wow wow wow I loved this book. Romance is one of my least favoured genres. But I could not put this down!! I have discovered my corner or the romance universe is mafia, and ex’s are my trope. It was s...
Blood is Blue: Forbidden Mafia Romance
What a great read. I read this book in a day. It was such an easy read, with so many diverse characters. And the characters were relatable I imagine that we all know a Joan, Elsie etc, and can relate. I really enjoyed the story, I love how at 81 yo E...
Mad Mabel by sally Hepworth
I love this book. I believe it was her 1st book? I may be wrong. I love this author, and have read most of her books,only 1 to go. This book here is one of my all time favourites from her. Imagine triplets who are best of friends,no one can come betw...
Three Wishes by Liane Moriarty
This is one of those books that everyone should read. Especially YA. Talks about SA and how it is dealt with in a small town where life is hockey and the perpetrator is a local hockey hero. The behaviours that adults, businesses, media, other youth w...
Bear town
This book is so Australian, I loved it!! Quinn (one of the female characters) is one of my favourite characters ever. She is just so down to earth bogan Aussie. I listened to it on audio, and I think this heightens the book. Bit of a culture shock in...
The angry women’s choir
This is a book of essays, written by the author to his son, when his was a babe. This was my first 5 star read of the year. It is so relatable, especially if you are a parent. You find yourself laughing and agreeing to each story shared. I listened t...
Things my son needs to know about the world
Love love love. Out of the magnolia parks universe, I much prefer daisys books. This is book 4 out of 5. And eventhough magnolia makes an appearance, she’s not as grating in daisys books lol. I do love Jessa Hastings writing, have really enjoyed the ...
Daisy haites the great undoing
A book written a First Nations author. This book is quite short, but written so well and concisely that it doesn’t needed fluff or words just for the sake of it.
It read like a memoir or biography though completely fictional. And though it is fictio...
Swallow the air
This author is an absolute genius, his writing is so immersive. He is one of my favourite authors. If you want to know what ‘excellent’ writing is then check him out. This is book two in the Beartown series. When you read this book you feel as if you...
Us against you by Fredrik backman
This is book 1 of the series. I absolutely loved it. The series follows 6 sisters (that we know of) who were adopted. Each book focuses on one sister and her journey in discovering her familial history. This book focuses on Maia and Isabella. Maia be...
The seven sisters book 1
I am a huge fan of this author and honestly this would be up in the top 3 of her books that I have read. Really takes you on an emotional journey, and depicts how time and actions of self and others can really change who you are at the core of your b...
What Alice forgot
Another fantastically unique Australian author. Honestly I don’t know where this author comes up with ideas for her stories, but what an amazing imagination. Joy is a little ‘not quite right’ and this could easily he called ‘the cult of joy moody’. T...
Joy moody is out of time
This is book 3 and final book in the ‘Beartown’ series. This was my favourite of all 3. This author is someone who should be studied by upcoming authors, his writing is top tier, amazing, beautiful. I really enjoy reading anything he has written, he ...
The winners (book 3 in the Beartown series)
This is a short story - I think about 60 pages. You can only get on kindle or audio ( hence no link) loved it, it amazes me how such a powerful story can be told in such a short time. Every word is important to the story.
The price of honey
This book is a book that everyone should read! It shows you the power of kindness, love, generosity. How a small positive action, a kind work can go a long way, and the friendships that can ensue. How one person can impact so many. I have recently st...
Theo of Golden: Million-Copy Bestseller
This is book 3 of the seven sisters series. This book series is my 2026 reading highlight I would say. I am absolutely loving it. This book has been my favourite so far, but honestly every book is between 4-5 stars. This authors writing is incredible...
The Shadow Sister (The Seven Sisters)
I wasn’t sure about this book initially, but I loved it. Was a coming of age book, and it gave you all the feels, I laughed, I cried, I got angry, and I felt that this fmc (out of all fnc’s I have read so literally thousands) was the most misundersto...
To the Moon and Back: Reese’s Book Club Pick
This is book 4 in ‘the Walsh family’ series and so far has been my favourite of the series. This one looks at grief and how it can play out in someone. This book evoked very strong emotions. The other thing I loved about this book is that the other f...
Anybody Out There
This is book 2 of ‘the seven sisters’ series. This was a solid 4 star for me, I didn’t enjoy as much as book 1 or 3. I wasn’t as invested in either storyline as I have been with the other books. Maybe because of where my natural interests lie (not a ...
The Storm Sister (The Seven Sisters)
This is book 3 of ‘the Walsh family’ series. I did enjoy this book, it was by far the funniest of the 4 books I have read so far, this storyline kind of tied in a little with the tv series (only a smidge though) it was more different than similar if ...
Angels
This book is just - wow - no words. I can’t say too much about the story without giving it away. This book reads and feels like a true crime book. I love that there are 2 different ‘voices’ and POV’s in this book, it allows you to understand or rathe...
Strange sally diamond
Is it worth the hype??? Yes it is 100%!! Another book that you can’t say too much or you give it away. This book will have you thinking, maybe get you a little confused, perhaps you will have some wild guess about what is going on. It will Definetly ...
Yesteryear
Easily my favourite Aussie author, her books are so funny, I laugh from page 1. This book would have to be one of my favourite of 2026. The writing is so unapologetically Australian. If you are from overseas and want to know what the true voice and c...
The Sparkle Pages by Meg Bignell - 9781761344039
Another great Australian writer, who really showcases what it’s like being a woman in Australia. This book examines women friendships as adults, looking at 3 different age groups, showing that age is no barrier to friendship. Lots of funny moments, p...
The Angry Wives Club by Gabbie Stroud - BIG W
Wow this book - no words! This is one book that I believe everyone should read, and would be an asset to a schools required reading. Showing the found family, where neither race, sex, or age matter. Showcasing the terrible divide that existed between...
The Pecan Man
This book is just such a warm, cosy book. I have never read a book where I just wanted to crawl into the pages and live there, until I read this. It gave me all the feels, I want to be these women friend, be a part of their group. A book all about fo...
Hexes Go Well with Tequila mocktail
I can’t believe a love story that I actually loved so much that it made it to my Benable list!! This is not a book I would ever pick up and read (if up to me) I read this as a part of my sisterhood of travelling stories. And am so glad I did, it was ...
Morbidly Yours by Ivy Fairbanks - 9781804995341
This book is the sequel to ‘The pecan man’ But you don’t need to have read that to read this. I love a sequel where it can be read alongside the other book, or as a stand alone, that shows a great deal of skill by the author in my opinion. This book ...
The Truth About Grace: A sequel to The Pecan Man
By far my favourite book of July. I didn’t think I would like this book, I was concerned about the ‘Little women’ aspect or retelling, and before reading asked myself, why do they have to use those characters. I was so wrong. Using Little women was p...
Beth Is Dead: Crime Reimagining of Little Women
If you follow me, you know I am a mega fan of ‘the seven sisters’ series. This is book 5 of 8. This was my least favourite so far (but still come on at a rating of ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. And I think that was because i found the 2 main characters a bit ‘meh’ they ...
The moon sister (the seven sisters 5)
Huge fan of this author (read all her books) super fan of ‘big little lies’ both the book and tv adaption. Was lucky enough to go see liane talk on the release day of the book. I loved this book, I felt it did justice to the first book. And as liane ...
Big Little Truths
I loved this book. I really enjoyed the storyline and the characters, they felt very realistic. And it really connected with the reader, where these are real issues that happen to real people, you almost felt like you were friends with this couple. I...
Into the Blue: Reese's Book Club Pick Love Story
Wow wow wow. I have had this book sitting on my kindle for a very long time, I wanted to clear the backlog of books on there, so it was finally time for this book. And boy was I kicking myself that I hadn’t read this earlier, I absolutely loved this ...
Westerly: A Novel
A generational story about first contact. I am not much of a sci fi fan, but enjoyed this just as much as project hail mary. What I loved was how the author explored one family (primarily) and how each of them reacts to this monumentous event. How in...
The Radiant Dark: A Novel
Another great book 2 from a duology. I read the first book over 5 years ago, but it was so impactful that the characters have stayed with me (believe me this is rare in my reading world). I found this book to be a brilliant second book, that took you...
The First Time I Saw Him
Another wonderful book from this author. All about ‘found family’ and investigates ‘trauma’ how trauma can present itself in different people, and how that can affect future you. This book was exceptional, and boy oh boy the villain in this book was ...
Darling Girls
One of the best books of the month for me. This book looks at the same family, but how 3 different names affect their life, almost like 3 timelines of the same people. Told from each ‘different name’ perspective , so sane person, but 3 different pov ...
The names
Everytime I read a book from this author, I think this is his best!! And this one didn’t let me down, this has to be his best surely?? 😂😂😂 all of his are brilliant. I laughed so much in this book, and I really liked the ‘6 degrees of seperation’ t...
Anxious People: No.1 NYT Bestseller & Netflix