style Book Club: The Novels We’re Currently Obsessing Over
booked and busy
By Victoria Lewis | 21st January 2026Not sure if you’ve heard (though you probably have), but 2026 is apparently the year of going analogue, or at least seriously cutting down screen time. This means there’s never been a better moment to dive back into a little good old-fashioned reading for fun.
Over the holidays, the style team got lost in a wave of bookish bliss, and now that we’re back to the nine-to-five grind, consider this your cue to switch off, pick up a book, and find your next analogue obsession.
Pop your phone on DND, set the mood lighting, and dive into our January picks – your next favourite read is waiting.
Our Chemical Hearts by Krystal Sutherland – 5/5
This book is gut-wrenching. A devastating portrait of first love, where romantic idealism collides with grief. I couldn’t put it down and was completely haunted by the ending… PSA, there is also a movie adaptation.
– Tahlia Leathart, Content Creator/Journalist
Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain – 4/5
I finally picked up one of Anthony Bourdain’s books, and it ended up being the perfect holiday read since he’s the travel foodie king. He’s a sharp writer, and the stories and insights he shares about the industry and his life are fascinating, funny, and wild. Long live Bourdain!
– Natalie McGowan, Deputy Print Editor
Rytual by Chloe Elisabeth Wilson – 3/5
For my first read of the holiday break, I wanted something light, fun, and impossible to put down — and Rytual delivered on all fronts. Think Mecca… if it were a cult. Set in Melbourne, it follows a female-founded beauty brand that’s actually a full-on cult, through the eyes of a girl who gets swept up in the chaos. Totally over-the-top and unrealistic, but absolutely delicious to devour.
– Bianca Licina, Deputy Digital Editor
Bunny by Mona Awad – 4/5
A gripping and chaotic read, Bunny surrounds a literature student at a prestigious American College whose life becomes intertwined with a cultish group of girls in her class. The perfect weird dark academia book to get you out of a reading slump!
– Caitlin Finucan, Junior Graphic Designer
Better than the Real Thing by Brooke Crawford – 5/5
Brooke Crawford’s debut novel is like wrapping yourself in a warm, comforting blanket. A cosy page-turner with all the charm of Bridget Jones meets Notting Hill, it’s impossible not to fall for. I devoured it in one sitting, and even now, I find myself thinking… will there be a book two? Because I definitely want more!
– Valentina Trifunov, Senior Account Manager
Not Now, Not Ever by Julia Gillard – 4/5
Does anyone remember that viral video from the pandemic days of that girl imitating the famous “not now, not ever” speech, wearing a big fur coat? I sure do, and after rediscovering said video, I was inspired to read Julia Gillard’s book. Not as much a political read as you might think, regardless of which way you swing in the ballots, this is an easy, informative, and actually interesting (I promise) read about the underside of being a public figure.
– Victoria Lewis, Digital Content Creator
Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll – 4/5
Shock to us all… I selected yet another book based on a pretty cover! I loved this read for the way it balanced visceral suspense with real emotional intelligence – it revisits the Ted Bundy–era violence through the lives of the women left in its wake, rather than the man himself. The writing is razor-sharp and immersive, turning a familiar true-crime narrative into something intimate, devastating, and impossible to put down.
– Cali Westmoreland, Creative Assistant
Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors – 4/5
This book is a bit of a slower read, but honestly, it’s so worth it. It’s gorgeously written and captures trauma, grief, and love in such a visceral way. As an only child myself, this book makes me simultaneously envious of and sympathetic to those of you who grew up with siblings.
– Ava Barker, Digital Writing Intern
Finished already? Check back next month for style book club, where we share our latest and greatest reading discoveries. Or, if you simply can’t wait that long, check out our previous book reccos here. Happy page-turning!
Imagery: Dupe @emily-patnaude / @zeniaadonts / Dupe @madeline-edwards
