MWF's Summer Reading List
Looking for the perfect page-turner to pair with your summer sun sessions? The team at MWF has you covered.
From timeless classics to hot-off-the-press favourites, this list is packed with stories to inspire, entertain and transport you to new worlds. As the year wraps up, we’re here to inspire you to switch off and escape into the magic of these incredible reads.
Whether you’re shopping for yourself or looking for a festive gift, grab these gems from our friends at Readings, your local independent bookstore or your closest library. Happy reading!
Recommendations from Veronica Sullivan, Festival Director
Title: The Safekeep
By: Yael van der Wouden
Summer is the perfect season to immerse in atmospheric fiction, and Dutch author Yael van der Wouden’s debut novel The Safekeep will hook you from its first pages. It’s a masterfully layered story that is by turns eerie, thrilling, sexy, aching, and always haunted by the legacies of both our individual and collective histories. I was so happy to see it shortlisted for this year’s Booker Prize.
Title: Black Convicts: How Slavery Shaped Australia
By: Santilla Chingaipe
This remarkable book unpacks a fascinating but hitherto little-known part of Australian history – the stories of hundreds of convicts of African descent who were brought to Australia from the First Fleet onwards. Both deeply researched and highly readable, Black Convicts illuminates the global contexts of slavery and colonialism that underpinned this formerly whitewashed aspect of Australian history.
Recommendations from Adrian Basso, General Manager
Title: The Hundred and One Dalmatians
By: Dodie Smith
Way before the Disney merch fest was the super cute original book by Dodie Smith (I Capture the Castle). Yes, it is Of Its Day and almost impossible to find in hard copy but if, like me, you are a human who loves being put on a leash and taken for a walk by your dog, it’s well worth downloading. I had a Statesman De Ville V8 named Cruella once, so my re-reading came with extra nostalgia. It even takes place at Christmas.
Title: Women & Children
By: Tony Birch
How lucky we are to have Tony Birch here in Melbourne, a living legend. I heard him speak about his early life and influences this year, bought the book there and then and read it immediately! I love his understated style and the way he leads you through confronting subjects in a such gentle manner, leaving you reflecting on the story long after.
Recommendations from Mimi Nightingale, Head of Marketing & Partnerships
Title: In Memoriam
By: Alice Quinn
It’s hard to believe this is a debut novel. Quinn sucks you into the glorifying fighting of WW1 with her poignant and dramatic depiction of young lives shattered by war. You’ll find yourself unable to breathe, lost in a story that demands your full attention. It’s the kind of book you can easily devour in one sitting—a perfect companion for a lazy afternoon in the sun.
Title: Lou Reed: The King of New York
By: Will Hermes
Step into the heart of New York's avant-garde rock & roll scene from the '60s to the '80s with this captivating biography. As a lifelong Lou Reed fan, I was thrilled to discover new stories around his life, legacy, and enduring influence—especially his remarkable writing. It's a rich and riveting portrait for fans and newcomers alike!
Recommendations from Maya Honey-Holmes, Program Producer
Title: A Language of Limbs
By: Dylin Hardcastle
Dylin Hardcastle’s ‘instant queer classic’ (Benjamin Law) weaves vulnerable explorations of grief and loss with intimate scenes fizzing with ‘downright sexy’ prose. It’s physical, sticky, sweaty – perfect for a hot beach read.
Title: Didion & Babitz
By: Lili Anolik
I implore you to read this study of ultimate literary cool girls Joan Didion and Eve Babitz and their complicated alliance. Deftly researched and written, Anolik has unlocked so much about these two titans of the industry. The front cover is also absurdly iconic.
Recommendations from Karys McEwen, Education Advisor
Title: The Wedding Forecast
By: Nina Kenwood
This is the perfect summer read that I have recommended endlessly since it came out earlier this year. Nina Kenwood is so good at writing about the messiness of love (and life) in a genuinely funny and engaging way. Her adult debut is life-affirming and especially well-suited to anyone who loves bookshops, is going through a breakup, or needs a novel to hook them quickly.
Title: Off to the Nursery
By: Alice Oehr
This beautiful picture book would make such a nice gift for a creative young person who loves being outdoors. It's a brightly-coloured tour through a plant nursery with some great practical tips for families. Alice Oehr has done a wonderful job of celebrating gardens and all the treasures that live and grow in them.