August 2025 New Book Releases from Australian Authors
New on the Shelf: Books That Feel Like a Warm Hug (Even When They’re Murder Mysteries)
I was supposed to pick just one theme for this month’s blog about our new arrivals. But in true disorganised, disjointed fashion, I got distracted by the sheer range of genres and suddenly I had 100 tabs open and my table looked like someone spilled a very well-curated library across the store.
So instead of pretending to be orderly, I have rounded up a handful of new releases that all feel like a warm hug. Sometimes that’s a literal hug (hello, small-town rom-coms), and sometimes it’s the kind where your heart is being squeezed during a good thriller, and you like it. You’ll see what I mean.
The Midnight Estate – Kelly RimmerThis is gothic Aussie fiction at its finest. Rimmer gives us a crumbling mansion, a family mystery, and a manuscript-within-a-manuscript. Think The Distant Hours by Kate Morton meets The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart. It’s rich, layered, and set right here in Australia, which means you get haunting drama and references to actual dirt roads.
Lessons in Love at the Seaside Salon – Sophie Green
Is it just us, or do Sophie Green novels feel like getting a long overdue haircut from a hairdresser who also happens to be your therapist? This one’s set in 1980s Australia (yes, there are leg warmers) and brings together four women who slowly untangle the knots in their hearts. You’ll laugh, cry, and maybe call your mum afterward.
Stillwater – Tanya Scott
We can’t resist a crime novel set in a quiet town that turns out to be not so quiet after all. Stillwater follows a man trying to leave his violent past behind, only to find the past isn’t done with him yet. Gritty, atmospheric, and full of moral grey zones. The writing is sharp, the pace is tight, and the ending? Let’s just say we didn’t see it coming.
How Not to Become a Grumpy Old Bugger – Geoff Hutchison
Every now and then, you get a non-fiction book that’s not just wise but also fun. Hutchison delivers one of those rare reads that makes you snort with laughter and take notes for later. It’s part memoir, part social commentary, part pep talk for anyone hitting midlife and wondering if yelling at the TV is a slippery slope.
What a Ripper! – Tim Ross
If you’re the kind of person who gets emotional over old couch patterns or remembers the sound of a Hills Hoist squeaking in the wind, this one’s for you. Tim Ross (the genius that is Modernister - big fan here) has created a loving (and cheeky) tribute to Aussie design and nostalgia with his genuine side of wit. You’ll want to leave this one on your coffee table, if only to spark a good chat.
That’s it for now, but more’s on the way (obviously). I mean there are so many books this month there will likely be a part two and even part three.
If any of these sound like your kind of read, head over to our Books Collection and snap one up before they’re gone. Or swing by our Stansbury shop to browse in person, breathe in the scent of books and vinyl, and chat to someone who will absolutely ask what your favourite chapter was.
