Show Notes
Welcome to our atypical episode in which co-hosts Rachael Johns and Sophie Green do not chat amongst ourselves or with guests but, instead, tell you all about some wonderful new books to put on your TBR list or in the TBR pile. They’re organised by genre, as Soph learnt her lesson the first time we did this and shall never again attempt to present them haphazardly. All these books are by Australian (and one New Zealand) author and released in the month of June 2025.
GENERAL FICTION Title: Rise and Shine Author: Kimberley Allsopp Publisher: HarperCollins
HISTORICAL FICTION Title: The Secret Year of Zara Holt Author: Kimberley Freeman Publisher: Hachette
CRIME/MYSTERY/THRILLER The title: The Palazzo Author: Kayte Nunn Genre: Mystery Publisher: HarperCollins
Title: Boney Creek Author: Paula Gleeson Genre: Mystery/thriller Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
Title: A Beautiful Family Author: Jennifer Trevelyan (NZ author) Genre: Thriller Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Title: Whiskey Valley Author: Joan Sauers Genre: Mystery Publisher: Allen & Unwin
SCI FI/FANTASY Title: Ever Blessed Author: Olivia O'Flynn Genre: Fantasy Publisher: HarperCollins
Title: Galaxy Grifter Author: A Zaykova Genre: Sci fi Publisher: Orbit US (Hachette)
Title: Shadow of Ruin, book 2 in the Donare series Authors: Melissa and Andre Hattingh Genre: Romantasy Publisher: Blue Gryphon
Title: Raven and the Witch: The Bloodlines of Destiny book 1 of 3 Author: Wendy Pym Genre: YA Indie published
ROMANCE Title: Cockatoo Cove Author: Maya Linnell Genre: Rural romance Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Title: An Academic Affair Author: Jodi McAlister Genre: Romance Publisher: Simon & Schuster
LITERARY FICTION
Title: New Skin Author: Miranda Nation Genre: Literary Publisher: Allen & Unwin
YOUNG ADULT Title: The Foal in the Wire Author: Robbie Coburn Genre: YA verse novel Publisher: Hachette
For more about Rachael Johns: https://www.rachaeljohns.com Rachael's latest book is Outback Reunion (2025)
For more about Sophie Green: https://sophiegreenauthor.com Sophie's latest book is Art Hour at the Duchess Hotel (2024)
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For more information about Rachael Johns: https://www.rachaeljohns.com
For more informationabout Sophie Green: https://sophiegreenauthor.com
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More from Dear Rach & Soph
Nina Kenwood was one of the featured authors at this year’s Rachael Johns Book Club Readers Retreat in Geelong, Victoria, a few months ago, so we met her there. At the time we had not organised to talk to Nina about her new novel, People Skills, which will be released by Text Publishing on 6 October. And we hadn’t yet read the book, but ahead of recording this episode we did (and have both read the novel before it, The Wedding Forecast). As fans of Nina's writing and her storytelling, of her sense of humour and her compassion for human foibles, we had much to discuss when she joined us on the pod for this episode.
A year ago, on the podcast, we talked to Chloe Berry, who was in the process of launching a digital marketing agency for authors and also planning to become a literary agent. Chloe is in her twenties and has worked in publishing as a marketer for romance and other genre fiction. Starting her own agency was, obviously, risky - starting any business is a risk.
Listeners-slash-viewers a.k.a. liewers, you’re going to have to watch or listen to find out why, quite early on in our latest episode, Rachael says, ‘This is not a poo podcast.’ We're not giving you any hints! What we will say is that we recorded this ahead of her going to the RWA conference in Darwin, at which she taught a day-long workshop, gave the opening keynote speech and was made a lifetime member of the RWA. In short, she was an RWA rock star!
At the time of recording this episode Rachael was preparing her day-long workshop for the RWA Conference, which is happening this weekend. Sophie was meant to attend but, due to personal circumstances, had to cancel, so we aren’t seeing each other in person as planned. Yet we are together on screen and in audio in this episode, which we recorded about three weeks ago.
As has become customary, each time Rachael or Sophie releases a book, we devote an episode of the podcast to discussing it. This time it’s Sophie's turn, with The Frock Shop, which was published on 21 July 2026 (blurb below).