Berkelouw Rose Bay - Book Reviews

'Writers & Lovers' by Lily King

Reviewed by Michela

A compulsively readable novel following the trials of the artist as a young woman.   We meet Casey Peabody as she arrives back in Massachusetts after the tragic death of her mother and tries to figure out what she's meant to do next. She spends her time alternating between wor... (continued)

The Weekend by Charlotte Wood

Reviewed by Michela

This unputdownable new novel by one of Australia's most celebrated authors follows three friends in their seventies as they gather for a last weekend at the holiday home of their recently deceased fourth best-friend. In this sharply observed, excruciatingly funny, and brilliantly written n... (continued)

Very Nice by Marcy Dermansky

Reviewed by Michela

A brilliantly funny novel concerning money, sex, race, and bad behaviour centred around a wealthy Connecticut divorcée, her college-age daughter, and the famous American novelist who is seduced by them both. This is a vicious little novel and I loved every minute. Perfect summer reading... (continued)

The Hearts Invisible Furies by John Boyne

Reviewed by Alex

The story of Cyril starts in Ireland in the 1940s and continues until today. At the mercy of fortune and coincidence, he will spend a lifetime coming to know himself and where he came from. This book made laugh and cry, the beautiful writing elevating  the sometimes difficult circumstance... (continued)

Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb

Reviewed by Bru

Lori is a therapist who after a personal crisis went to see another therapist. The book interweaves chapters about her own experiences in therapy and her experiences supporting her clients. Expect quite a few laughs and a couple rounds of tears alongside her and her clients. Perfect for any th... (continued)

No Friend But the Mountains by Behrouz Boochani

Reviewed by Bru

No Friend But the Mountains was written entirely on a mobile phone by Behrouz Boochani, an Kurdish journalist detained on Manus Island.  When the book won the Victorian Premier’s Literary Award, the author, still incarcerated, was unable to collect his award. This lyrical, brave mem... (continued)

My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh

Reviewed by Michela

My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh charts the journey of a young nameless narrator who enters a drug-induced hibernation to escape the societal demands placed on her by being a white, wealthy, and  beautiful inhabitant of New York City in the early 2000s. Moshfegh’s ... (continued)

You Know You Want This by Kristen Roupenian

Reviewed by Bru

Kristen Roupenian shot to fame with her viral short story in the New Yorker Cat Person. Her new collection You Know You Want This follows in the famed story’s tradition, ruthlessly examining the dark underbelly of modern relationships and love. Perfect for fans of Sally Rooney and Elena ... (continued)