Recently arrived fiction from Aotearoa New Zealand
The Walking Frame War by Denis Dwyer
Sunset Rest Home is anything but serene. Rose, the owner, fights to keep it from becoming a luxury development coveted by a ruthless businessman. Meanwhile, her family pressures her to sell, and the residents themselves face an uncertain future. As Rose navigates this turmoil, her personal life becomes unexpectedly complicated by online dating. Secrets, betrayals, and hidden wounds come to light, forcing everyone to confront their priorities and forge new paths.
The Mess We Made by Megan O'Neill
The years haven't been easy for childhood friends and high school sweethearts Quin and Henry. Quin spends her days behind the counter at the local takeaway and barely sees her twin brother Josh. Her mum has a degenerative disease and Quin hasn't spoken to Henry since he left 9 years earlier. But when he reappears suddenly, buried secrets come to light. Fans of Sally Rooney and Taylor Jenkins Reid, will enjoy raw and real this will-they-won't-they love story.
At the Grand Glacier Hotel by Laurence Fearnley
A disastrous family holiday leaves a bitter taste in Libby and Curtis's mouths. They make a pact: if they ever set foot on the South Island's West Coast again, it will be for a luxurious stay at the legendary Grand Glacier Hotel. Two decades fly by. Cancer throws Libby a curveball, and with newfound appreciation for life, the couple decides to revisit their promised paradise but plans quickly unravel, and a fierce storm separates Libby and Curtis. Stranded in the isolated hotel, disappointment hangs heavy. Undeterred, Libby cautiously steps out to explore. The once-grand hotel, now shrouded in solitude, houses an intriguing cast of staff and guests. Could this unexpected detour be the key to Libby rediscovering the woman she used to be?
When I Open the Shop by romesh dissanayake
A young man, nursing the grief of losing his mother, opens a noodle shop in Te Whanganui-a-Tara. Obsessing over julienning carrots, he recreates his mother's cherished salad, a dish that speaks of his mixed heritage and the ache of loss. Themes of ethnicity, belonging, community and the food that connects us make this gentle coming of age novel a powerful and warm hearted read. dissanayake is an author and poet to watch.
The High Mountain Court by A.K Mulford
The first in the fantasy romance Five Crowns of Okrith series that follows the journey of Remy, a red witch who is the last of her kind. On the run from the Northern Court King, who has slaughtered her family and placed a bounty on red witch heads, Remy is captured by four fae warriors who need her help to stop a war. As they join forces, she must not only learn to trust again but also embrace her magic to save her people and herself. The series is full of romance, intrigue, magic, and adventure, and will appeal to fans of Sarah J. Maas and Jennifer Armentrout and anyone who likes strong female protagonists in their fantasy.
Three generations of the Fernando family, from Josephina in Singapore in the 1950s, Maria Louisa Sithara, a child immigrant from Sri Lanka to the brutal cold of 1980s Invercargill and Annie, a child of modern times whose story also takes her across the world. Amma is a story of trauma, family, and the modern face of New Zealand.
Sewing Moonlight by Kyle Mewburn
Wilhelm Erdinger, a young German immigrant arrives in the remote Central Otago settlement of Falter's Mill seeking a new beginning. Wilhelm dreams of a simple, sustainable life and purchases a piece of land to cultivate. Despite the challenges of climate and the suspicion his heritage draws from the locals in the wake of World War 1, Wilhelm finds solace in the land and in the company of a few fellow outsiders. Sewing Moonlight is a story of resilience, loss, and the enduring power of hope.
The Bookshop Detectives - Dead Girl Gone by Gareth Ward & Louise Ward
Cosy mystery meets murder, drugs, crime and authors in a new adult novel from author and book shop owner Gareth (his children's steampunk novels are legendary) and Louise Ward set in the fictional Sherlock Tomes bookshop in Havelock North.
