Books Set in Australia and New Zealand

by Tracey Lien
Setting: CABRAMATTA (near Sydney)

Ky is a Vietnamese-Australian woman who deeply regrets encouraging her parents to let her brother go out to celebrate his graduation. That evening, he is killed inside a restaurant. The Sydney suburb of Cabramatta is known for violent crime and the worst heroin epidemic in Australian history, and the police force seems indifferent.

Ky returns home to Cabramatta for the funeral and learns that while a dozen people were in the restaurant when Denny was killed, they all claim to know nothing. The police are stumped, so Ky decides to talk to the witnesses herself. As she peels back the layers, readers get the points of view of both Ky and the witnesses. These POV add depth to this literary thriller, exploring everything from colonialism to the Vietnam War.

The Book Girls Say…This late 2022 release has been nominated for several 2023 Australian literary awards.

by Jenni Ogden
Setting: GREAT BARRIER REEF, AUSTRALIA

When funding for her research lab in Boston is suddenly reduced, 49-year-old Anna Fergusson is at a crossroads. On impulse, she decides to rent a cabin on an island along Australia's Great Barrier Reef for a year. 

However, her time on Turtle Island was not the simple retreat she expected. While she falls in love with islanders and with Tom, the laid-back turtle whisperer. Her time there is also filled with pain and challenges.

Book Girls Say... The author is a scientist and a neuropsychologist. Through this novel, she shares a great deal of scientific knowledge about marine turtle conservation and the main character's area of research specialty, Huntington's Disease.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐
93% Would Recommend to a Friend

by Kate Morton
Setting: 1959, ADELAIDE HILLS & 2019 SYDNEY

On Christmas Eve sixty years ago, a delivery man makes a gruesome discovery that forever changes the small town of Tambilla. In the present day, Jess is a journalist in London when she gets a call to return home to Australia to help with her grandmother, Nora. Nora was more like a mother to Jess, after Jess’s mother, Polly, left her with Nora and moved to Brisbane when Jess was only 10.

Nora fell in her attic while searching for something, and now she is mumbling about an event in her past in a way that is difficult to understand. As Jess tries to piece things together, she learns that Nora was agitated and restless even before the fall. She knows something is going on, and is determined to figure it out. As she searches the house for clues, she finds a true crime book about the Turner Family Tragedy of Christmas Eve. But what does this cold case have to do with her family?

The Book Girls Say…This new 2023 mystery has been getting rave reviews, but is on the longer side at 547 pages. Some readers feel like the first 400 pages could have been shorter, but most agree that you won’t be able to put this book down in the last 100 pages.

by Jojo Moyes
Setting: EASTERN COAST OF AUSTRALIA

Set in a seaside town, Silver Bay is about a family of women at a small inn. The draw of Silver Bay is the sea life. One of the family members, Liza, even takes tourists on whale and dolphin-watching boat tours.

When Mike, a real estate developer from London, is sent to scope out the town for a giant hotel complex, he brings visions of water sports that would disrupt the natural habitat. But, as he learns more about the impacts of his plans, he falls in love with more than just the location.

The Book Girls Say... Like the lifestyle in the book, reviews say the plot can also feel slow at the beginning despite the multiple points of view. However, they also praise the descriptions of what it's like to live in a sleepy coastal Australian village, including vivid descriptions of the lives of dolphins and whales. This is a great choice if you're looking for a light, pleasant book for Australia with Hallmark movie vibes!

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐
93% Would Recommend to a Friend

by Holly Ringland
Setting: Early 2000s-2020s & locations across AUSTRALIA

In the beginning of this novel, the main character Alice is only 9 years old and is sent away from her seaside home to live with her estranged grandmother, June, on a flower farm. Over the years, she learns both the language of flowers and about all the women her grandmother has taken in over the years to help them heal from abusive situations.

However, Alice eventually realizes that she has her own unhealed wounds and ends up fleeing the flower farm and ends up in the remote, but beautiful, central desert of Australia. She thinks she has found peace until her new love, Dylan, ends up being much different than she expected.

The Book Girls Say…In May 2019, The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart won The Australian Book Industry Award for General Fiction Book of the Year. The book is now a series on Amazon Prime and stars Sigourney Weaver as June.

by M.L. Stedman
Setting: WEST COAST OF AUSTRALIA

After fighting on the Western Front in WWI, Tom Sherbourne returns home and takes a job as a lighthouse keeper on an isolated island. It's a half-day journey from the west coast of Australia, and supply boats only come once a season. During their years on the island, Tom and his wife, Isabel, suffer two miscarriages and a stillbirth. 

Then, a boat washes up onshore carrying a dead man and a crying baby. Against Tom's judgment, the couple claims the baby as their own and raise her on the island. Two years later, when they return to mainland Australia, they must face the reality of their choice.

The Book Girls say... We've both read this novel and were drawn in by the beautiful writing, the compelling characters, and the moral complexities of good people making bad decisions with the best intentions.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐
91% Would Recommend to a Friend

by Tony Birch
Setting: 1960-1961, AUSTRALIA

In the 1960s, the misnamed “Aboriginal Protection Act” was still in effect in Australia. The law made it possible for the government to micromanage and oppress the Aboriginal population in endless ways, including taking light-skinned children from their families. This novel tells the story of this devasting policy.

Odette lives on the edge of a small town, and is raising her granddaughter, Sissy, after her daughter disappeared. She works hard to stay under the radar of welfare authorities who commonly take fair-skinned children. She’s willing to risk everything to protect Sissy from that fate.

by Bill Bryson
Setting: Across AUSTRALIA

Bill Bryson's humorous travel memoirs never disappoint, and this one is the perfect combination of laugh-out-loud funny and an in-depth look at what makes the land down under so unique. Although Australia is home to more things that can kill you in extremely nasty ways than anywhere else on Earth, Bryson adores the place, and after you read his travelogue, you'll understand why! He takes readers far beyond the beaten tourist path, where he meets friendly locals at every turn and shares hilarious stories of his adventures.

The Book Girls Say… Angela read this book right after she arrived in Australia for her study abroad experience back in 2000, and she has re-read it twice since then (as the perfect way to armchair travel back to one of her favorite places on Earth).
Whether you've been fortunate enough to visit Australia or just want to feel like you have, this book is entertaining and informative from beginning to end!
If you enjoy audiobooks, Bill Bryson narrates this one himself. His dry, sarcastic tone adds even more humor to his writing.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐
93% Would Recommend to a Friend

by Tea Cooper
Setting: 1880 and 1910, Australia

Evie Ludgrove’s father was obsessed with famous Australian explorer, Dr. Ludwig Leichhardt. From her father, Evie adopted a love of charting the landscape. When a magazine offers a large reward for proof of what happened to Dr. Leichhardt when he disappeared, she sets out to use her father’s papers to discover the secret. But in the course of trying to prove her theory, Evie disappears without a trace.

Thirty years later, Letitia Rawlings visits her great aunt Olivia and discovers Evie’s beautifully hand-illustrated map, she sets out to discover the truth about her missing aunt Evie. This historical fiction, which features one of Australia’s great mysteries, is recommended for fans of Kate Morton.

The Book Girls Say… This historical fiction novel is also featured on our list of books set in the 1880s and 1890s. Readers who selected it for our Decades Challenge reported that they learned a great deal about the history of Australia and enjoyed exploring the country through its pages.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐
100% Would Recommend to a Friend

by Sandy Barker
Setting: SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA

Abby Jones is a very successful writer, except no one knows because she writes under a pen name. She is the secret identity behind a wildly popular reality television recap column in a UK tabloid.

When Abby's boss calls her in to talk about the upcoming season of The Stag (a Bachelor-style show) that will be filmed in Sydney, she tells her they want Abby on set to get the behind-the-scenes scoop.

But Abby won't just be observing from off-camera - they expect her to be one of the contestants on the show. Abby can't think of anything worse than going undercover in front of the cameras.

The only thing that might make the experience worthwhile is the handsome Aussie producer.

The Book Girls Say... This comedic romance book set in Australia is a must-read for fans of The Bachelor!

Australian Sandy Barker is one of Angela's favorite rom com authors! She loves the vivid descriptions of the travel destinations in Sandy's books, and this book did not disappoint! In addition to being a laugh-out-loud reality TV-inspired rom-com, you'll also feel like you've just returned from a vacation to sunny Sydney!

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
100% Would Recommend to a Friend

by Jane Harper
Setting: QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA

The Lost Man is a mystery thriller set on the Bright family's adjourning cattle farms in outback Queensland. Nathan discovers his well-liked brother Cameron dead near an isolated headstone of an unknown cowboy. The grave is famous in local legends and ghost stories, but what was Cameron doing there, miles from his car?

You'll be transported to the dry, remote Outback as you try to piece together the mystery along with Nathan.

The Book Girls Say... Our readers say they enjoyed how the author slowly revealed the underlying story. However, be aware that this book set in the Australian Outback includes some domestic violence.

Readers also highly recommend The Dry by the same Australian author, which is included with Kindle Unlimited as of 5/17/23.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
95% Would Recommend to a Friend

By Tricia Stringer
Setting: Contemporary Small Town AUSTRALIA

In Badara, everyone knows everything about everybody. Paige is a single mom of three who moved to the small town to escape city life. She’s lonely and overwhelmed but joins a Tuesday Gym Club for a bit of respite from caring for her children. While she expects to be judged, the town matriarchs, Briony & Marion, are kind and fill her life with baked goods.

Briony and Marion’s lives are filled with enough drama and secrets that they don’t have time to critique Paige’s life. Briory’s adult children have boomeranged home, and Marion fears the upcoming opening of a time capsule, knowing the words she wrote as a teenager are about to rip everything apart.

by Christina Baker Kline
Setting: VAN DIEMEN'S LAND (penal colony on modern Tasmania, Australia)

The Exiles takes us back in history to the British settlement of Australia in the 1800s. While Aboriginal people inhabited the land for tens of thousands of years, the British government decided to forcibly relocate many tribes and create a new nation where they would exile British citizens who violated laws in their other territories.

The book follows three women and their intertwining lives - Evangeline, a young governess imprisoned after becoming pregnant, Hazel, a young girl sentenced to 7 years after being accused of stealing a spoon, and Mathinna, an orphaned Aboriginal who the governor of the new land adopted.

The Exiles tells the originals of Australia from new perspectives, with themes of friendship, perseverance, and freedom.

The Book Girls Say… This historical fiction set in Australia, from the author of Orphan Train, provides a compelling account of the hardships women faced in the nineteenth century.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
97% Would Recommend to a Friend

by Gill Thompson
Setting: AUSTRALIA & London, England

Following a WWII air raid, an injured woman is found wandering the streets of London. She has lost her memory, but has a strong feeling that something very precious to her is missing. 

Her son sits in an orphanage, hoping his mother will return for him. Before she remembers, he is put on a ship bound for Australia with the promise of a wonderful new life. When he arrives in Perth, on Australia's west coast, he is taken in by a lonely wife.

When his new caretaker discovers the truth about his past, she must decide whether to tell the truth and risk losing him, or keep quiet and hide the secret.

The Book Girls Say… This Australian historical fiction is based on a true story and is recommended for fans of Lisa Wingate's Before We Were Yours and Martha Hall Kelly's Lilac Girls.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐
100% Would Recommend to a Friend

by Kimberley Freeman
Setting: 1901 & 2011 QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA

This dual-timeline novel transports you to the Sunshine Coast of Queensland, Australia. In 1901, a ship sank, and only one passenger survived. Isabella Winterbourne’s husband had been commissioned to transport a jeweled mace to the Australian Parliament. As the sole survivor of the shipwreck, Isabella must brave the elements to survive and deliver the priceless gift.

In 2011, Libby Slater leaves her life in Paris to return to her Australian hometown. Having recently lost the love of her life, she hopes that reconciling with her sister, who she hasn’t spoken to in 20 years, might help her grieving process.

As this story intertwines between the centuries, the women learn to navigate life’s losses and hardships in search of love and happiness.

This book is also featured on our list of summertime historical fiction novels.

by Jesse Blackadder
Setting: NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA

The Brennan family is trying to adjust to daily life after a huge move from chilly Tasmania to subtropical New South Wales when tragedy strikes. The father, Finn, is thrust into the spotlight even though the family and police are unsure what happened or who is to blame. The mom, Bridget, is outraged and begins searching for answers on her own. Jarrah, the teenage son, has his own overwhelming emotions of blame, grief, and loss in this suspenseful family drama.

The Book Girls Say... This book dives pretty intensely into the grieving experience, which might be difficult for some readers. We don't recommend this book for anyone currently dealing with their own personal grief.

The author of this book is Australian Jesse Blackadder, who wrote Chasing the Light from our Antarctica book list.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
90% Would Recommend to a Friend

by Josephine Moon
Setting: NOOSA and BRISBANE, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA

Maria is a seventy-year-old former Catholic nun living with tremendous guilt from events in her past. She leads a solitary life of self-imposed penance, spending her days tending to her bees and creating honey products. She donates the proceeds to help orphaned children.

When Maria's niece, Tansy, tracks her down by letter asking to meet and inquiring why she has no contact with the rest of the family, Maria knows that she'll finally have to deal with her past.

As you travel with the characters from Noosa to Brisbane, in Queensland, Australia, you'll feel like you're right there beside them. You'll also learn quite a bit about bees and beekeeping in this book.

The Book Girls Say... Don't judge this book by the cover. Readers say that the cartoonish-style on the front doesn't reflect the charm and depth of this novel, which intertwines the themes of repentance and forgiveness. The author describes her writing as a mashup of FoodieLit and Uplit (uplifiting literature).

Heads Up: This book deals with abuse in the Catholic church.

by Anita Hess
Setting: AUSTRALIA

For the short-story lovers in the group, you might enjoy this anthology from 51 Aboriginal Australians spanning a wide range of ages, locations, and life experiences. While many of the stories share heartbreaking injustice, there are also themes of hope and encouragement. It's a great way to learn about this important culture.

The Book Girls Say... If you enjoy the format of this book, there are other books in the Growing Up series, including Growing Up Disabled in Australia and Growing Up Queer in Australia.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐
100% Would Recommend to a Friend

by Kendall Talbot
Setting: KAKADU, NORTHERN AUSTRALIA

Kakadu National Park in Northern Australia is breathtaking...and desolate. It's not ideal for a plane crash with two survivors. Fans of adventure shows like Survivor and Lost might enjoy this tale of a spoiled socialite and a younger man recovering from the loss of his partner. Together, they must try to escape the region alive, while addressing their pasts along the way.

The Book Girls Say... This book is described as a romantic suspense survival story. Reviewers warn that Abigail, the socialite, is a bit insufferable at first, but she does develop throughout the book. 

This book is included with Kindle Unlimited as of 5/12/23.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐
100% Would Recommend to a Friend

by Terri Irwin
Setting: QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA

At 27, Terri Raines took a vacation from her wildlife rescue work in Oregon and traveled to Australia. There, at a small wildlife park in Queensland, she met a conservationist named Steve Irwin. Less than a year later, the two were married in Oregon. Then she moved with Steve to Australia, where they continued his conservation work together. The footage filmed of their crocodile-trapping honeymoon would ultimately become the first episode of "The Crocodile Hunter."

In this memoir, Terri shares the unforgettable adventures that she shared with Steve. While Steve was world-famous for his daring and enthusiasm, Terri provides a more intimate view of a devoted family man and dedicated environmentalist.

You might also like The Last Crocodile Hunter: A Father and Son Legacy, by Steve's dad, Bob Irwin. 

The Book Girls Say... Despite Steve being known worldwide as the "Crocodile Hunter," his lifelong work involved rescuing and protecting wildlife from poachers, not "hunting" them as the name might imply. 

Fun Fact: Angela was fortunate enough to visit Steve and Terri's beautiful Australia Zoo in 2000, and to meet their daughter, Bindi, who was just a toddler at the time.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐
100% Would Recommend to a Friend

by Andrew Tink
Setting: CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA

This non-fiction option tells the story of Western Australia's little-known role in the 1969 moon landing. They broadcast some of the most-watched images in history as Neil Armstrong took an unforgettable small step. 

The book is part history and part biography of Tom Reid, the director of Honeysuckle Creek, the satellite tracking station in Canberra, Australia. While Tom Reid's name is not wildly known, partially because of his extreme humbleness, you'll be fascinated by his life and contribution to science. 

The Book Girls Say... An Australian movie called The Dish also covers the broadcast. Angela highly recommends it if you ever get a chance to see it.

by Harmony Verna
Setting: WEST COAST OF AUSTRALIA

This Australian historical fiction novel is set in the late 1800s and the early decades of the 1900s. In the vast and unforgiving desert of Western Australia, a little girl is abandoned in the sand.

She is taken back to the town of Leonora and named after it. Here, she is raised in an orphanage and slowly bonds with another orphan named James.

Eventually, Leonora is sent away to live with a wealthy family in America. James is taken in by relatives who have emigrated from Ireland. Years later, Leonora has the opportunity to return to Australia, and there she comes face to face with James - the only person who knows the real her.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐
100% Would Recommend to a Friend

by Robyn Davidson
Setting: AUSTRALIAN OUTBACK

In this travel memoir, Robyn Davidson, an Australian native, tells the story of her mostly solo, perilous journey across Australia's Outback in the late 1970s. She covered 1700 miles from Alice Springs all the way to the Indian Ocean. Robyn was just 25 years old when she set out. 

Driven by a love of the Australian landscape, she braved sweltering heat, poisonous snakes, and every other challenge that crossed her path. Robyn often went weeks without interacting with another human - it was just her, four camels, and her dog. She did have an Aboriginal guide for a few days of her trek and received a commission from National Geographic, which allowed one of their photographers to accompany her for short stretches.

Heads Up: Some reviewers express concern with Robyn's use and treatment of the camels on her journey. 

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐
100% Would Recommend to a Friend

by Jane Crittenden
Setting: Contemporary NEW ZEALAND & early 2000s England

This 2023 release is a contemporary romance that alternates between our main character’s past & present. In the past sections, Amy is a 17-year-old living in England. She becomes pregnant and writes a letter to the father, Chris, but never hears back. Amy then moves to New Zealand with her parents.

In the present, Amy is now 40 and still in New Zealand raising her 17-year-old daughter, Bea. She’s shocked when Chris walks through the door of her cafe. But if he’s showing up now, why does he seem so disinterested in Bea?

The Book Girls Say…This book is full of turmoil and twists, often driven by a lack of communication between the characters, which some readers find frustrating. While the major of readers really enjoy this one, some find it difficult that Amy isn’t more likable.

This book is included with Kindle Unlimited as of 5/16/23.

by Danielle Hawkins
SETTING: RURAL NEW ZEALAND

Danielle Hawkins is a New Zealand author known for perfectly capturing rural life in her light and humorous novels, which are said to be perfect for fans of Doc Martin.

Lia and Anna are friends who opened a cafe near a seaside town. They're spending all their free time working, planning Anna's wedding, and trying to get Lia's ex-boyfriend to understand that it's over. Then, one night, a gorgeous stranger appears at Lia's window in the middle of the night. Is it worth fitting a new relationship into her already hectic life? 

The Book Girls Say... Our readers say that this book is laugh-out-loud funny at times with fun characters, but The Pretty Delicious Cafe also has some serious and darker topics interwoven into the book. 

When It All Went to Custard is another excellent option from this author, full of humor and a rollercoaster of emotions as Jenny tries to save her family farm. 

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
100% Would Recommend to a Friend

by Sarah Lark
SETTING: NEW ZEALAND

This novel, the first in a trilogy, is a colonial New Zealand historical fiction set in the 19th century.

Helen is the governess for a wealthy London household. She longs for a family of her own, but with her late 20s quickly approaching and no prospects, it doesn't seem promising. When she sees an ad seeking young women to marry New Zealand's honorable bachelors, she jumps at the opportunity.

In nearby Wales, Gwyn's wealthy sheep breeder father is dealt an unlucky blackjack hand and offers up his daughter's hand in marriage. The rest of her family is outraged, but Gwyn sees it as a thrilling chance to escape her boring life.

The two women meet on the ship to Christchurch, New Zealand, and become fast friends. When their new Kiwi husbands don't turn out to be what they expected, the two will lean on one another.

The Book Girls Say... This novel is over 700 pages long. But if you're up for it, you'll find a epic saga of friendship, romance, marriage, and adventure.

The full triology is included with Kindle Unlimited as of 5/12/23.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐
100% Would Recommend to a Friend

by Witi Ihimaera
Setting: WHANGARA, NEW ZEALAND

This YA book uses a popular New Zealand myth to create a magical realism/fantasy adventure. The main character is 8-year-old Kahu, a descendant of the legendary Whale Rider and a member of the Maori tribe.

Her great-grandpa is desperately looking for a successor to become chief, a role reserved for male heirs. However, Kahu is his only great-grandchild. While others see how special she is, the chief is blind to her greatness and continues searching for a male to take his place.

One day, hundreds of whales are beached and threaten the future of the tribe. Kahu will attempt the impossible to save them. Can this young girl be the leader the tribe needs?

The Book Girls Say...This is a short book at 140 pages - perfect if you have a busy month!

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐
100% Would Recommend to a Friend

by Rosalind James
SETTING: NEW ZEALAND

This is the first book in a snarky and steamy New Zealand Ever After romance series.

Jax is a former model who has just returned from a tour of duty in Afghanistan, where he lost a leg to a roadside bomb. He recently returned home to New Zealand, and he's agreed to help his pregnant sister by serving as a pseudo-tour guide for a wealthy American, Karen, who is interested in buying his sister's high-end glamping business.

Jax tours Karen around some of New Zealand's beautiful most beautiful - as well as some of it's quirkiest - ecotourism sites. Despite the challenges (Karen seems to have never heard the phrase "we don't have time" let alone "there's not more room in the car") the chemistry is undeniable.

The Book Girls Say... If you are looking for a light contemporary romance book that will whisk you away to New Zealand, consider giving this book a shot. Readers particularly enjoy the descriptions of New Zealand's scenery, food, and culture.

Be aware, however, that both Jax and Karen are working through some trauma, so this book may also cause you to shed a few tears as well.

Rosalind is also the author of another popular series of romance books set in New Zealand, called Escape to New Zealand.

The books in the New Zealand Ever After and Escape to New Zealand series are included with Kindle Unlimited as of 5/12/23.

by Jonathan Tindale
Setting: NEW ZEALAND

Ten years after returning from New Zealand, Jon receives a mysterious manuscript in the post. Squashed Possums, reveals what it's like to live in the wild through four seasons, including New Zealand's coldest winter in decades. The book is narrated by him home during that time, his caravan (camper)!

Stories include how Jon found himself reversing off the edge of a cliff, meeting a Maori chef who survived 9/11, encountering flying hedgehogs, screaming possums, and the elusive kiwi bird.

The Book Girls Say... This NZ travelogue gets mixed reviews, but Bill Bryson calls it "terrific," – which makes it worth a look in our book.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
100% Would Recommend to a Friend