There are two kinds of people in this world: those who can commit to one book at a time, and those with a bedside table teetering under the weight of seven half-finished novels. Whichever camp you fall into, we've rounded up five reads the frankie team has been happily getting lost in lately.The Ruiners, Ellena Savage
I was a big ol’ fan of Ellena Savage’s debut essay collection Blueberries when that came out in 2020, so I was pretty keen to get my mitts on Ellena’s first foray into novel-length fiction. The Ruiners is a tale of two cities told from three perspectives, whisking you from the house parties and hospitality venues of Melbourne/Naarm to a (literal) garbage dump of a Greek island, Fokos. Pip leads the way of the story, coming into an unexpected inheritance before shacking up and buying into a crumbling pile of real estate halfway across the globe with her new lover-slash-husband, Sasha. Before too long, a third personality gets thrown into the mix, and then a fourth, and with them both comes tensions that cascade between sexual, existential and political. For those with an appetite for leftist theory, you’ll love this. For those who hunger for human relationships, The Ruiners has plenty of that too.

-Juliette Salom, digital copywriterMother Waters, Lisa Nan Joo
After my brief snorkelling hyperfixation a few months ago, I was super keen to read this novel about exploring the haunting and unfamiliar creatures living in the deep sea. I love that on the first page of Mother Waters the main character Charlie walks out of her marriage to listen to the sounds of ocean life – iconic. The book is also split across the story of Dexter, who comes at deep sea exploration from another avenue and their stories eventually intertwine in a satisfying way. They’ve both got some pretty complex parental trauma and use their marine biology fascination to explore what it – relationships with parents, romantic partnerships, life and death – all means. 

I found myself reading this book while partially submerged (in the bath – no giant squids here) a lot of the time, which added a tactile layer to this beautifully written book. I feel like it’s how this evocative marine tale was meant to be read.

- Emily Naismith, branded content directorFever Dream, Elsie Silver
Elsie Silver is a New York Times bestselling author, and this was my first time reading one of her books. I went in blind and ended up having a fun time! The story follows Emmett, a rodeo cowboy looking to solve his family’s money troubles by becoming TV’s next Bachelor. The only problem? This notorious bad boy has already fallen for someone, and she’s not one of the contestants…

I loved the clear communication and emotional honesty in Fever Dream. After growing up with romance stories full of conflict, it’s refreshing to be living through this wave of high-EQ love stories. My only note: things get a little steamy after the halfway mark, so learn from my experience and enjoy the second half somewhere other than public transport!

- Kate Pullen, art directorTight Lines, Allee Richards
For those of us who are out the other side of our late teens, reach around and give yourself a pat on the back. Those years can be damn hard. That life stage is captured beautifully in Tight Lines through the perspectives of four friends: the angst, the uncertainty, but also the fun and freedom (remember just how long school holidays feel when you’re that age, and how all-consuming friendships are?). It also brings into sharp focus just how quickly fun and freedom can be taken away on the impulses of a not-yet-formed frontal lobe, which delivers a searing, heartbreaking undercurrent to the novel.

Set in the early 2000s in ‘Wonnie’ in regional Victoria where the Target Country and local pub reign supreme, I was fully immersed in the time and place – think references to chatting on MSN Messenger, playing Nintendo, watching The O.C. Teenage boy banter is captured perfectly too, and is pretty damn funny (“cheese dick” as a nickname… why not?!). 

Pick up this book and you’ll feel all the feels. The lives of those kids will linger in your mind beyond the pages, but it’s a ride well worth taking.

- Claire Mullins, partnerships directorNeighbourhood Watch by Lauren Williams 
I love, love, LOVE a witty crime novel. So when I realised that this one is set in a quiet suburban street in Melbourne/Naarm (which I suspect is actually based right near my own home) I was excited to dive in. 

A respected Supreme Court judge known as ‘The Pope’ is murdered and detective Priyanka Pal is on the case. We get to follow Priyanka’s perspective as she works the investigation, as well as the perspectives of the successful, guarded Emma (The Pope’s wife) and her abrasive younger sister, Margot. The tale has corruption, family drama, bikies, and an annual scarecrow competition. There are dark themes and it gets gritty at times, but it’s still incredibly readable. 

Neighbourhood Watch made me laugh, made my cry and I was hooked until the very end. This is Lauren Williams’ debut novel and I can’t wait to see what she does next.

-Shannon Jenkins, editor

These tasty book recommendations were published in partnership with Simon & Schuster. For even more books to devour, check out the Simon & Schuster website.