The most exciting new releases coming from Australian authors in 2024

The 15 upcoming releases we’re adding to next year’s reading list.

No matter how high the stacks get, nothing beats the feeling of a new book. Whether it’s a new release from an author you love, or an impulse purchase after wandering your local bookstore, the feeling of cracking a new spine and the smell of fresh pages is second to none. 

Combine this with the increasingly impressive list of homegrown, Australian authors, and we don’t stand a chance. The TBR (that’s ‘to be read’, for the uninitiated) list is getting longer and we couldn’t think of a better problem to have.

Looking for more thought-provoking reads? Try our Life section.

From Gyan Yankovich’s deep dive into all things friendship to renowned writer Bri Lee’s first fiction novel, 2024 is already shaping up to be an even stronger year for the Australian literary scene. Here are 15 upcoming releases by Australian authors that we’re adding to our 2024 reading list.

Love, Just In by Natalie Murray

January 2024

A friends-to-lovers romance perfect for readers of Emily Henry and Ali Hazelwood. Love, Just In follows Sydney TV news reporter, Josephine ‘Josie’ Larsen, who’s on the cusp of turning 30 and feels adrift amid other people’s career milestones, engagement parties and baby showers. After being reassigned to a regional bureau in Newcastle, Josie is reunited with high school best friend, Zac Jameson. The catch? Josie hasn’t spoken to Zac since his fiancé tragically died two years ago, causing him to flee Sydney to cope with his grief.

Find out more here.

Life Skills for a Broken World by Ahona Guha

January 2024

Praised by the likes of Benjamin Law, Yumiko Kadota and Chantelle Otten, Life Skills is an all-encompassing exploration of what it means to live in a broken world. In this book, psychologist Dr Ahona Guha cuts through the noise and provides readers with evidence-based answers to many of life’s questions, both big and small.

Find out more here.

The Lucky Ones by Melinda Ham

February 2024

From award-winning journalist and former foreign correspondent Melinda Ham comes The Lucky Ones, a meticulously researched book of refugee stories. Offering a complex insight into the Australian refugee experience, The Lucky Ones spans 70 years, with stories stretching across Iraq, Afghanistan, Poland, Tibet and Vietnam.

Find out more here.

Couple Goals: Building a Strong Financial Future and an Even Better
Relationship by Nicole Haddow

January 2024

How do couples split costs when one person earns more money? Should your partner contribute to your super if you go on maternity leave? What happens to your finances if things don’t work out? Journalist and author of Smashed Avocado and The Ethical Investor, Nicole Haddow, answers these questions and more with her practical and inspiring guide, Couple Goals.

Find out more here.

In Bad Faith: Inside a Secret Ultra-Orthodox Sect and the Betrayal It Tried to Hide by Dassi Erlich

January 2024

In Bad Faith is the true story of Dassi Erlich. The fourth of seven children to parents who belonged to one of the strictest ultra-Orthodox Jewish communities in the world, Dassi was largely isolated from Australian society. Dassi’s harsh home life made her a target for a predatory teacher, and it wasn’t until years later that she reported her principal to the police. A powerful memoir, In Bad Faith is Dassi telling her story in her own words.

Find out more here.

Just Friends: On the Joy, Power and Influence of Friendship by Gyan Yankovich

February 2024 

Just Friends is the debut release from acclaimed Australian journalist, Gyan Yankovich. Exploring friendship in all its forms, this book unpacks what it means to be, make and lose a friend. From overly long voice memos and phone calls to wedding toasts and workwives, Just Friends is a celebration of the power and influence of friendship.

Find out more here.

Body of Lies by Sarah Bailey

February 2024

Sarah Bailey is back with another heart-stopping new thriller. Body of Lies begins when a car crash victim’s body is stolen from the morgue, capturing the attention of Detective Sergeant Gemma Woodstock, who is visiting her hometown when the incident takes place. As Gemma gets closer to revealing the identity of the missing woman, she questions why she is back home and realises the danger she’s in.

Find out more here.

Appreciation by Liam Pieper

March 2024

The fifth novel by Liam Pieper, Appreciation follows Oli Darling, a successful queer artist who gets cancelled after saying the wrong thing on live TV. Desperate to restore his reputation and the faith of those who have invested millions into him, Oli enlists the help of a ghostwriter to pen a memoir and set the record straight. A satirical take on celebrity and authenticity, Appreciation is as scathing as it is hilarious.

Find out more here.

Women of Good Fortune by Sophie Wan

March 2024

Women of Good Fortune is a debut release from Sophie Wan about Shanghai’s high society and a daring wedding heist. Despite not being in love, Lulu has no choice but to accept when she receives a marriage proposal from Shanghai’s most eligible bachelor. Realising that money is the ticket to her freedom, Lulu enlists the help of her friends to plan a heist at her own wedding.

Find out more here.

Lead Us Not by Abbey Lay

March 2024

Lead Us Not is a contemporary fiction recommended for readers of Elena Ferrante and Diana Reid. An emotionally charged novel about female friendship, the story follows Millie as she navigates her final year at a Catholic girls’ school. When Olive moves in next door, the two are caught up in an intoxicating and all-consuming friendship until Olive suddenly cuts off all contact, leaving Millie with endless questions.

Find out more here.

Thanks for Having Me by Emma Darragh

March 2024

In Thanks for Having Me, Emma Darragh tells the story of Mary Anne, who leaves her family after realising she no longer wants to play the roles of wife and mother. Despite being wounded by her mother’s abandonment, daughter Vivian looks for guidance in true crime, boys’ bedrooms and Dolly Magazine.

But after growing up finding herself unhappily married and miserable in motherhood, Vivian also feels she has no choice but to leave. This one will appeal to fans of Paige Clark’s She is Haunted and Elizabeth Strout’s Olive Kitteridge.

Find out more here.

The Work by Bri Lee

April 2024

Bestselling author of Eggshell Skull and Who Gets to be Smart, Bri Lee, is back with her first fiction book. The Work follows Lally, a successful and independent young gallery owner who isn’t looking for a relationship. When she meets Pat, an Australian traditional art specialist at a show in New York, she figures he’s going home soon and that he’s a good distraction.

Over the next six months, Pat and Lally find themselves orchestrating trips back and forth between New York and Sydney so they can see each other, despite neither being brave enough to admit how much they’re falling for each other.

Find out more here.

Marketplace by Jonathan Seidler

April 2024

Following on from his critically acclaimed memoir, Jonathan Siedler is returning with a debut novel. Marketplace revolves around Elly and Enzo, who are breaking up after more than a decade together. As Elly sells their furniture on Facebook Marketplace, the story goes back in time to the moments each item was purchased and the memories they hold. 

Find out more here.

The Pyramid of Needs by Ernest Price

April 2024

Ernest Price’s The Pyramid of Needs unfurls as Linda Taylor, a glamorous supplement saleswoman, breaks her hip and is no longer able to care for her husband or meet her monthly sales quota. Though she needs her children’s help, Linda hasn’t spoken to her son, Jack, since he first came out as a trans man a decade ago. As the family get together in Noosa, Jack is forced to decide whether he can forgive years of hurt, or whether he should cancel his mother once and for all.

Find out more here.

My Secret Friend by Sally Hepworth

November 2024

Sally Hepworth, the bestselling author of nine novels (one of which was just released this year), is already set to release her tenth book in late 2024. Imbued with Sally’s signature themes of murder, betrayal and revenge, My Secret Friend is set to be an addictive and suspenseful read.

Find out more here.

Head here for a recap on some of 2023’s best releases.