July saw our staff sharing recommendations for novels that imagine life in cults and communes, memoirs that examine depression and anxiety, and hot reads to help readers stay warm in winter – everything from heart-warming to heart-racing.

This month also saw the release of a new Liane Moriarty novel (here’s why you should read her books), and we published a short update from the Readings Foundation about one of the amazing projects they’re supporting in 2016.

This year’s shortlists for both the Wainwright Prize (for nature writing), and National Biography Award were announced, as well as the winners of the Kibble and Dobbie Literary Awards. Congratulations again to Lucy Treloar (Salt Creek) and Fiona Wright (Small Acts of Disappearance)!

NAIDOC Week is always held in the first full week of July, and to celebrate we put together a collection of beautiful books exploring Indigenous culture and history that were perfect for reading along with the kids. Children’s and YA specialist Holly Harper also had some great suggestions for picture books that tackle tough feelings this month, and we compiled some themed reading lists for voracious teen readers: here are 10 terrific YA thrillers, and here are 10 terrific YA romcoms.

Looking forward to August, Readings is the official bookseller for both the Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF), which runs from 28 July to 14 August, and the Melbourne Writers Festival (MWF), which runs from 25 August to 3 September). Here are our staff picks for MIFF, and here are our staff picks for MWF.