Subtle, immersive new novel, about a family holiday in rural Malaysia, is a quiet triumph.

Ann Packer checks out the best new junior fiction.

Beloved picture book character propels new story into top three local bestsellers.

Customers are encouraged to tell their stories in a welcoming Tokyo stationery shop.

Ambitious novel exploring modern calamity loses its way in the telling.

Evolutionary biologist has made his swansong tour but he’s not yet ready to make his peace

Music is the backdrop to this enjoyable novel of ambition, love and loss.

Exile and cultural disconnection are at the heart of this edgy saga.

The dynamic between ghostwriter and author has been likened to a counsellor and patient.

Teens will benefit but in this day and age adults need Jake Bailey's resilience guide too.

A tried-and-true romance formula with a satisfying plot offers escape from the real world.

Coming-of-age tale set in 1980s Manhattan unfolds at its own pace.

Erin Palmisano’s latest novel once again has food and romance at its heart.

Psychology professor Jonas Olofsson on why there’s more to the nose than meets the eye.

Pong or pleasant? Jonas ­Olofsson traces the rise in Covid-induced loss of smell.

The local books New Zealanders have been buying this week. Photos / supplied

Helen Phillips' novel asks how to raise children in a dying world.

Three very different collections stretch the sense of what might be called poetry.

Glorious Exploits is that rare thing: a debut of genuine freshness, verve and ambition.

Now in NZ, Samah Sabawi brings a message of hope and resilience amid chaos.

A small book is making a big impact.

Aussie domestic drama and a crime story from Sheffield zero in on class, race and history.

Love is found in the most surprising circumstances, suggests this folklore-inspired novel.

When it comes to psychedelics, Sarah Napthali has sampled what the world has to offer.

The neurodivergent are often caricatured but this insightful novel is more understanding.

Alarming allegory about a bunch of alpaca fanciers recalls Barry Crump.

The NZ books the country has been buying.

Warona Jay's debut tale of author connivance lays bare race and gender bias in the arts.

The backyard game invented by three dads is now a global sensation with high-profile fans.

BBC star on how to ensure your message is heard loud and clear.