Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Nothing to Lose: Friday Barnes #14 – R. A. Spratt

    Penguin Australia September 2026 ISBN: 9781761349737 Imprint: Puffin RRP: $16.99 My delight in R. A. Spratt’s books is well known and no matter if it’s Friday, Nanny Piggins, the Peskis or any others of her wide-ranging titles, I am always eager to pick them up and never fail to be both entertained and to snort…

  • Us in the Bright Lights – Zanni L. Arnot

    Hachette Australia 9780734424501|July 2026|RRP $19.99 Imprint: Lothian Children’s Books I confess that I can be a bit of a sucker for a good rom-com and this new YA romance from Zanni ticked all the right boxes for me because it was not only a sweet romance but had serious moments as well as some vicarious…

  • Eleanor Jones is Not Drowning – Amy Doak

    Penguin Australia June 2026 ISBN: 9781761357305 Imprint: Penguin RRP: $19.99 Amy Doak’s thrillers, especially the Eleanor Jones series, have been smash hits from the start and you could bet that when this one arrived on Thursday 18th, it wasn’t going to languish on the shelf for long unread. In fact, I took it away with us up the…

  • The Girl and the Ghost #3 Grand Opening – Jacqueline Harvey

    Penguin Australia May 2026 ISBN: 9781761349430 RRP: $16.99 There will be plenty of delighted fans when this one hits the shelves [my advice is to buy multiple copies] as this fabulous series continues. Josephine, often known as Jet, and her family are gearing up for the grand opening of their restored chateau hotel but there is…

  • An Ancient Witch’s Guide to Modern Dating – Cecilia Edward

    Simon & Schuster November 2025 Publisher: Atria Australia (November 25, 2025) ISBN13: 9781761635267 LIST PRICE: AU$ 34.99 / NZ$ 39.99 It absolutely is not a Christmas themed book but it would make a great gift for a YA/NA reader in your circle because aside from anything else, it’s SO pretty! Look at those sprayed page…

  • The Fishmonger and the Pastrychef- Sophie Masson. Cheryl Orsini.

    Hardie Grant Australia November 2025 ISBN:9781761211225 Price:AU$24.99, NZ$27.99 Publisher:Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing Just OH MY!! This is simply an absolutely beautiful treasure from every angle. Sophie Masson has brought the flavour of her family background and her upbringing in France to young readers in what is the most delicious sounding narrative ever. Not to be…

  • Family Secrets: The Girl and the Ghost #2 – Jacqueline Harvey.

    Penguin Australia October 2025 ISBN: 9781761349416 RRP: $16.99 Officially, my blog break doesn’t finish until the weekend but how can I resist posting this one immediately, after gobbling it up over two nights! I was very excited to be back in France with Jet, Louis and Gabriel in another adventure. There is an exciting opening event as…

  • The Remembered Soldier

    Anjet Daanje (trans. David McKay) Scribe Publications June 2025 ISBN (13):9781761380136 RRP:$37.99 Ok, so I haven’t actually read this one yet but putting in the deets for you all to finish off this week of tributes for the 80th Anniversary. This is a mammoth book – almost 600 pages – and I just haven’t had…

  • Eleanor Jones is Playing with Fire – Amy Doak

    Penguin Australia July 2025 ISBN: 9781761350634 Imprint: Penguin RRP: $19.99 Anyone who has read the first two Eleanor Jones books will know exactly how pleased I was when this one arrived. You would also know exactly why the first two titles have been so highly acclaimed. Amy Doak has a great grip on the whole YA crime/mystery genre…

  • The Whisperer’s War – Jackie French

    Harper Collins Australia ISBN: 9781038903891 ISBN 10: 1038903890 Imprint: HQ Fiction AU RRP: $34.99 As always, Jackie’s historical fiction is perfection. I was aware of this one in progress and, in fact, had had some (email) conversation with the author about this period, and in particular Edward known as David, the Duke of Windsor. My anecdote was that…