Popular fiction
Demelza Jones
THE DIRTY BOOK CLUB
by Lisi Harrison
(Simon and Schuster, $35)
Every so often, my husband shows an interest in what I’m reading. A book called
The Dirty Book Club was bound to catch his eye — although it was about halfway through the novel that he asked what it was about. At first, I struggled to tell him because the story centres round the relationships and friendship between eight women and, as you can imagine, this takes a while to build. Despite the title, it is not an erotic novel but a light-hearted, humorous read where an eclectic group of women get together each full moon (in secret) and discuss the latest “erotic” novel. The book club members start as strangers but, of course, start to divulge details of their own lives and learn friendships like these are just what they each needed. There’s not a lot of depth, the chapters tend to blend into one another but it does have a perfect and rather satisfying “a-ha” moment to end.
THE RIGHT GIRL
by Ellie O’Neill
(Simon and Schuster, $33)
There’s an interesting premise here, one that is all too believable when main character Freya’s life is governed by technology. A lifestyle app called BBest determines her best options, right down to what she eats, where she works and who she dates. So, when Freya still doesn’t feel happy, despite her life going swimmingly, she begins to question her choices within the app — and everyone else’s, for that matter — with society’s dangerous dependence on one company and their technology. It reads well, with a little romance and a little drama, and a fascinating undercurrent.
THE OPAL DRAGONFLY
by Julian Leatherdale
(Allen & Unwin, $33)
At 600-odd pages, this was initially daunting. Set in 1850s Sydney, it’s a novel that feels like both a fiction and non-fiction story of Australia woven into a tale of 17-year-old Isobel and her plunge into social disgrace. An opal dragonfly brooch is both the curse and gift behind the Macleod family, showing Isobel that her father was going to die and propelling her to act in a society that expects women to do nothing. It’s an engaging, if a little overly descriptive, read that I’d recommend.
GABRIEL’S BAY
by Catherine Robertson
(Black Swan, $38)
There’s something about reading a New Zealand novel that I love (besides instilling good old Kiwi pride). I can only think it’s the familiarity and ease of the language and humour. To me, this was the highlight of Gabriel’s Bay, a story told from the perspective of different characters in the community following Kerry’s arrival in town. He’s an easy-to-love kind of guy, even if he did run away from his bride in the UK the morning of their wedding. I loved the subtle, wry humour peppered throughout — “Ngaire’s question was put on hold as she coughed up her own lungs and possibly those of two other people” — and was genuinely invested in this make-believe NZ town, the people and their relationships. Its downfall was the sheer number of diverse characters but, overall, Robertson’s fourth books is an enjoyable, funny and refreshing read.