We are proud to announce the six shortlisted titles for The Readings New Australian Fiction Prize 2025! The Readings New Australian Fiction Prize is presented for the best new contribution to Australian fiction.
Our staff judges for 2025 are Teddy Peak (chair of judges; Readings Carlton), Thomas Busse (Readings Doncaster), Christine Gordon (Readings Programming) and Pauline Hopkins (Readings Hawthorn).
Translations
Jumaana Abdu
After the death of her father, Aliyah and her young daughter escape to country NSW to start a new life. There they begin to regenerate a run-down property with the help of a local Palestinian man. Then their lives are destabilised by bushfires and a friend from the past. This is an eloquent, stunning debut with fascinating interior landscapes of the mind.
'Palestinian-Australian identity, Indigeneity, motherhood, and the struggles faced by rural Australians collide in this gorgeous and original story. Jumaana Abdu contends with what “home” means: a haunted house of a concept located in a language, a child, a friend, a community, an identity, a Country, and, ultimately, compassion.' – Teddy Peak
I Want Everything
Dominic Amerena
A destitute young writer spies the famous, reclusive author Brenda Shales at his local pool. At her aged care home, he is mistaken for her grandson. He hopes to write her biography, solve the mystery of her disappearance and make his name. But as she tells him stories, truth and falsehood blur and lead to a hilarious and catastrophic finale.
'Scathing and hilarious, this novel examines – with relish – ego and its ramifications. Set in Melbourne, this debut novel explores the notion of a reliable narrator. You’ll laugh, cringe and delight in this clever story of literary ambition.' – Christine Gordon
Edenhope
Louise Le Nay
Marnie has just got a job at a discount shop and a ‘granny flat’ rental. It’s not much, but at 63 it’s hard to start again. When her drug-addicted daughter arrives with a new boyfriend and her two young kids, Marnie’s precarious life is upended. Marnie’s daughter has already lost her eldest child, so Marnie decides to take the children away and look after them herself.
'A compelling story about a practical, quick-thinking woman going about her business, making tough decisions without a fuss and exuding both quiet strength and resilience. Here is a woman making choices about what’s important with an admirable single-mindedness, serving as a poignant reminder of the power of love and the courage of humility.' – Pauline Hopkins
Together We Fall Apart
Sophie Matthiesson
Clare travels back from the UK to Australia when her father is sick. She leaves her partner, Miriam, behind in London with their young child. Back in the family home, Clare relives the past and the ongoing downward spiral of her brother’s drug addiction. When their father dies, Clare decides to help her mother take charge for once.
'In her moving debut, Sophie Matthiesson captures the quiet heartbreak of family and the messy fallout of addiction. Told with clarity and care, it’s a story about love stretched thin, and what happens when you’re pulled between people you can’t stop caring about. It’s a beautifully restrained, emotionally intelligent piece of fiction that feels deeply lived in.' – Thomas Busse
The Confidence Woman
Sophie Quick
Chrissie Swales has the perfect get-rich scheme to get enough for a deposit on a house. She masquerades as Dr Ruth Carlisle, a ‘high-performance mindset coach’ who charges big bucks to her gullible clients and gathers material to blackmail them. This high-stakes tactic unravels spectacularly, as the author skewers contemporary society with razor-sharp wit.
'Using the housing crisis as a backdrop, Sophie Quick’s debut novel is a glorious story of a single mother’s game of hustle. The novel explores online scammers, the ridiculous ideals of success and how to break through it all. Funny and heroic all at once, reading this story was a delight.' – Christine Gordon
The Honeyeater
Jessie Tu
Fay is an academic and emerging translator working at a prestigious university. She takes her mother to France for a holiday, during which she discovers her ex-lover has died. When her mentor offers a trip to Taiwan during the Hungry Ghost Festival, her superstitious mother warns her of the danger. Ambition, betrayal and love are all beautifully portrayed with a singular voice.
'This is a book about language: how we translate it, manipulate it, interpret it. Jessie Tu wields this language with mastery: the characters use language as armour and weaponry to hide and reveal their own emotions, showing us how love and rage are equally deceptive, equally empowering.' – Teddy Peak
The Readings New Australian Fiction Prize Shortlist Pack
Get the six books shortlisted for the Readings New Australian Fiction Prize for a special price! Normally $207.94, while stocks last you can get the pack for just $174.99.
Stay tuned for the announcement of The Readings Young Adult Prize and The Readings Children's Prize shortlists later this week. The 2025 prize winners will be announced on Friday 14 November as part of the A Day in Carlton festival!
