Our superb St Kilda booksellers are well-read, thoughtful and insightful people, so we thought we’d ask them what books have really resonated of late. Read on for their recommendations.

For a scalding novel on identity, read…

Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi

‘Gods, multiple selves (all at once), frat parties, Nigeria and the USA. This is a metaphysical novel that addresses the viscerality and complexity of living in a human body. It blew my mind a little bit.’ – Kalinda

For a captivating mystery, read…

The Lost Estate by Henri Alain-Fournier

‘ The Lost Estate is a beloved classic in France. It’s a story of love and loss, of games that turn serious, of youthful enchantment and disenchantment. Read this if you’re a teenager; read it again at any age to reclaim that lost domain.’

For a much-anticipated collection of short stories, read…

Exhalation by Ted Chiang

‘I always feel better for having read Chiang’s humane, inventive and rigorous science fictions.’ – Gerard

For a witty, dark reflection on New York life, read…

My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh

‘After the death of both her parents, an attractive art history graduate decides to take a break from life and sleep for a year – heavily aided by prescription narcotics. A cold and funny novel about NYC existence in the moments before 9/11.’ – Neika

For a warm, mystical story, read…

The Forest of Wool and Steel by Natsu Miyashita

‘It’s easy to understand why this book has been such a hit in Japan; it’s a beautiful and totally immersive work of fiction.’ – Danielle

For a dark but quirky look at tough topics, read…

Pretend I’m Dead by Jen Beagin

‘An oddball novel that deals with heavy issues: trauma, addiction and class, in a funny, eccentric way.’ – Kalinda

For a surreal, funny look at modern romance, read…

The Pisces by Melissa Broder

‘An excellent, smart-girl trash read!’

For an inside look at the way successful women tick, read…

Daily Rituals: Women at Work by Mason Currey

‘A fantastic compendium of the workaday habits and routines of more than a hundred remarkable artists.’ – Gerard

For a revealing look at a complex interior life, read…

Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata

‘Murata draws lush descriptions of the beauty of order and routine out of simple, spare prose, and every page crackles with the life she’s created. Because of the humour, the wit, the almost unbearable loveliness of it all, Convenience Store Woman, a small book about a quiet life, makes an enormous impact on the reader.’ – Belle

For a confronting, heartbreaking examination of the human fallout of disaster, read…

Chernobyl Prayer: Voices from Chernobyl by Svetlana Alexievich

‘Every aspect of the human experience is contained in this book. One of the most emotionally affecting and devastating things I’ve read.’ – Kita