As we turn the page into 2026, a fresh batch of captivating books is hitting shelves, offering Australian readers a diverse mix of history, memoir, social critique, and escapist fiction. From a TikTok historian's rule-breaking women to Paul McCartney's post-Beatles band and a deep dive into Australia's gambling crisis, this year's early releases promise to enlighten and entertain.
Non-Fiction: From Scandalous History to Sobering Truths
Ainslie Harvey, the Sydneysider behind the TikTok sensation Hot History, challenges the historical record with her new book, Sisters of Scandal. Harvey points out that women occupy a mere 0.5 per cent of recorded history. Her illustrated compendium aims to correct this, celebrating famous and forgotten women she describes as "queens, witches, bitches and It Girls" who broke rules and bones to make their mark. From Cleopatra to Pamela Churchill Harriman, Harvey blows the dust off traditional textbook narratives.
Music legend Paul McCartney finally sheds light on a pivotal yet often overlooked chapter of his life in Wings: The Story of a Band on the Run. This 550-page volume explores his efforts to forge a new path after The Beatles by forming the chart-topping 1970s band, Wings. Drawing on interviews for the upcoming documentary Man on the Run, the book details McCartney's quest for camaraderie and recalls wild episodes, including a mugging in Nigeria during the recording of Band on the Run. It is packed with timelines, photos, and discographies.
In a sobering analysis of a national habit, Quentin Beresford presents Hooked. The Sunshine Coast University adjunct professor lays bare the staggering cost of Australia's gambling love affair: $32 billion lost annually on legal gambling, and a nation with 0.5 per cent of the global population housing 25 per cent of its poker machines. Beresford argues online sports betting is a new driver of misery and criticises the Albanese government's "cowardice" in failing to ban gambling ads and stand up to "Big Gambling," a failure highlighted in the late federal MP Peta Murphy's 2023 parliamentary inquiry.
For younger readers facing back-to-school nerves, Jess Sanders offers How to have the Best School Year Ever. With gentle, direct advice for children aged 4 to 8, Sanders focuses on goal-setting to manage anxiety, offering tips on making friends, tackling tough subjects, and trying new sports, all brought to life by Andrea Onishi's playful illustrations.
Fiction: Royal Drama, Pirate Adventures & Outback Mysteries
The fiction slate is led by a debut novel that received a royal boost from Hollywood. The Heir Apparent by Tasmanian journalist Rebecca Armitage was selected as the December pick for Reese Witherspoon's book club. The story follows 29-year-old Lexi Villiers, a medical resident in Hobart whose life is upended when a family tragedy reveals she is actually Princess Alexandrina, third in line to the British throne. Thrust back into a world of palace intrigue, she must protect her secrets and the life she built.
Shortlisted for the 2026 Victorian Premier's Literary Awards, The Wondrous Tale of Lavender Wolfe by Karen Foxlee is a fantasy-adventure for readers aged nine and up. It follows a courageous girl with a magical secret, a friendly ogre, treasure-hunting pirates, and a dark curse threatening to turn the heroine to sand. It's a swashbuckling tale full of oddities and danger from the acclaimed author of Lenny's Book of Everything.
Prolific Australian storyteller Di Morrissey returns with her 31st novel, The Endless Sky. Set under the Queensland outback sun, it follows TV presenter Nicole Robertson and her producer Stacie as they embark on a fossil-hunting expedition to prove themselves to a new boss. Their journey into the red earth country tests their friendship with unexpected mysteries, a missing stranger, and blossoming romance against a vast desert landscape.
Finally, Carmel Bird transports readers to the decadent court of Versailles in Crimson Velvet Heart. The novel tells the story of 11-year-old Marie-Adelaide, betrothed to the grandson of King Louis XIV, who enchants the aging Sun King upon her arrival from Turin in 1696. Through the eyes of fictional friend Sister Clare, Bird unveils the splendour and sinister rot beneath the palace's perfumed surface—a world of malice, jealousy, and treachery.
Building Your 2026 Library
This diverse selection of eight new releases provides a powerful start to the 2026 literary year. Whether you're drawn to uncovering hidden histories, understanding pressing social issues, or getting lost in a gripping narrative, there's a title here to add to your reading list. These books not only promise great stories but also reflect the vibrant and critical voices shaping contemporary Australian publishing and beyond.
