four stars | Lost in a Good Book

Eddie and the Show Queen (#5) by Cathryn Hein

04 Aug 2026 Leave a comment

by Amy in 4 Stars, Audiobook, Australian Women Writers, Novella, Romance Tags: Audiobook, aussie books, australia, australian women writers challenge, aww, cathryn hein, four stars, levenham love story, madeleine chaplain, novella, romance

Published: 10 September 2019 (print)/1 March 2025 (audio)
Publisher: Self Published/Bolinda Audio
Pages: 268/5 hrs and 56 mins
Narrator: Madeleine Chaplain
Format: Audiobook
Genre: Romance
★ ★ ★ ★ – 4.5 Stars

When horticulturalist Alice Lindner goads her ex-boyfriend Eddie Argyle into a fundraising contest, she doesn’t expect him to take it seriously. Winning small-town Levenham’s inaugural Wine Show crown will take dedication and hard work, and all Eddie cares about is chasing skirt. Besides, a win will be Alice’s tribute to her late mum. No way is Eddie getting his hands on the crown.

Big-hearted farmer Eddie never understood why love-of-his-life Alice dumped him. Yeah, it’d been a difficult time with her mum’s illness, but he’d loved her the best he could and losing her left him adrift. Now he has the opportunity to prove himself by winning not only the crown but maybe Alice’s heart in the process.

Will Eddie’s enthusiasm ruin Alice’s tribute and with it all hope of a second chance? Or will Alice realise that the real prize isn’t in the past but with the man who wants to be her future?

This is a delightful book full of interesting plot and wonderful characters. I loved Eddie, he’s such a sweetie and I loved the arc and journey between himself and Alice. Hein balances the history, the present, and the emotional bundle involved really well. The conflict that drives their interactions was decent, full of misunderstandings and young emotions, neither willing to look beyond the initial reactions, both in need of growth.

The competition battle between the pair is a fun way to keep up Alice’s dislike for Eddie but also a creative way for him to show his good intent and how he’s not the man she thinks he is. I loved reading Eddie’s perspective. He doesn’t take himself too seriously and is up for a bit of fun for a good cause which brings a lot of humour to the story. But at the same time he has a good heart and tries his best to do the right thing. It was a great contrast to see Eddie’s perspective of his behaviour versus Alice and the broader community.

All the characters we’ve met in previous books are there – a nice bonus of a series set in a small town. You don’t need to have read anything in order but if you have, then seeing these past characters pop up is a little joy and hark back to previous adventures. I like the progress of time in this type of series. While some things happen concurrently others take place months or years after other evets and it’s good to see the town going on with their lives.

There is a lot of character depth which is always tricky with something so short and with so many players involved. On one hand, knowing the history of everyone else did a lot of heavy lifting but they are also good, solid secondary characters. Even if you aren’t aware of their histories from other books you get a real sense of who they are.

This is a fun, light-hearted read even with the seriousness of Alice’s motivation and her emotional hurt. Being so young is a benefit and it’s easy to see their foolishness but also their stubbornness playing out in a way that you know they only need to see what is right in front of them to know everything is going to be ok.

You can purchase Eddie and the Show Queen via the following

Dymocks | Wordery | Blackwell’s | Angus & Robertson

Fishpond | Amazon | Amazon Aust | Audible | Author

Hogbert by Briony May Smith

24 Jul 2026 Leave a comment

by Amy in 4 Stars, The Picture Book Corner Tags: briony may smith, children's picture book, four stars, picture book

Published: 31st January 2025
Publisher: Walker Books Australia
Illustrator: Briony May Smith
Pages: 32
Format: Picture Book
★ ★ ★ ★ – 4 Stars

Uh-oh! When a tasty trail lures Hogbert away from his family, he ends up all alone in the forest. Can he find his way home? Lush artwork, subtle fairy-tale references, and the kindness of new friends keep readers smiling.

When Mommy Boar sends her little snufflebugs to explore the forest for the first time, she cautions them to stick together. After all, the Big Bad Wolf could be near! But Hogbert’s keen nose has other ideas, and after following a trail too far, he finds himself trembling alone in fear. What’s that rustling in the leaves? Just a little red squirrel on her way to visit her sick granny! What’s that growl coming through the trees? Just a snoring white doe who took a bite of an apple that made her sleepy! With each temporarily scary encounter, Hogbert finds that the world is a less frightening place, and that the same sense of smell that led him into trouble may just lead them all out of it again.

Standard disclaimer that I was lured in by the absolutely adorable cover. Smith has done a brilliant job depicting teeny tiny Hogbert the baby boar.

Not only that, the story is gorgeous. The format is clever and the illustrations through the rest of the book are stunning. I love the design of the animals and the scale and angle Smith uses to portray the vast forest and the smallness of Hogbert and his new friends is incredibly creative.

Each character feels unique and their personalities come across on the page. Smith doesn’t try to make them overly personified, they are still animal in nature, but there are feisty bunnies, and a sweet fawn, plus many other forest creatures that work together.

I enjoyed the story was not as scary as Hogbert believed, but there was also truth in what he had been told. The big bad wolf is in the forest, but it may not be entirely true you will be eaten by them. The instinct of the animals is demonstrated well and I liked the sweet ending where the forest comes together to help the lost babies find their way home.

You can purchase Hogbert via the following

QBD | Dymocks | Booktopia

Wordery | Blackwell’s | Angus & Robertson

Fishpond | Amazon | Amazon Aust

Follow the Rabbit Proof Fence by Doris (Nugi Garimara) Pilkington

16 Jul 2026 Leave a comment

by Amy in 4 Stars, Australian Women Writers, Classic, Fiction Tags: australia, australian women writers challenge, aww, classic, doris (nugi garimara) pilkington, doris pilington, first nations classics, four stars, movie adaptation

Published: 30 May 2023
Publisher: University of Queensland Press
Pages: 192
Format: Paperback
Genre: Novella
★ ★ ★ ★ – 4 Stars

A Stolen Generations story of astounding courage: three Aboriginal girls, taken from their mothers, escape barefoot back to their beloved homeland in East Pilbara.

This is the true account of Nugi Garimara’s mother, Molly, made legendary by the film Rabbit-Proof Fence.

In 1931 Molly led her two sisters on an extraordinary 1600-kilometre walk across remote Western Australia. Aged eight, eleven, and fourteen, they escaped the confinement of a government institution for Aboriginal children removed from their families. Barefoot, without provisions or maps, tracked by Native Police and search planes, the girls followed the rabbit-proof fence, knowing it would lead them home.

Their journey – longer than many of the celebrated treks of recognised explorers – reveals a past more cruel than we could ever imagine.

Based on a true story this is a personal account of the journey Doris’ mother and relatives took to return home after escaping confinement as part of Australia’s Stolen Generations practices.

I was surprised to find this book was only published in the 90s. For some reason I thought it was a long classic from the 60s that had been turned into a film later on. But the movie on which it was based came out not long after this was published.

The Wikipedia page has interesting history on how Doris found out about the story and it documents the stages this story went through – from original draft in the 80s until a reworking to what we know today. It is also surprisingly different from the movie which was my first introduction.

It still contains the harsh realities of what the children and families in these Aboriginal communities endured, but there are also differences from the movie – less abduction more informed intent and little chance to fight back against government regulations.

The included letters and telegrams show that no one followed orders or the rules and had their own interests – surprise surprise. That hurt to read because of how avoidable it all could have been, at least for this family.

There is also the blatant reminder about how abhorrent this actually was and for how many decades this went on. This is a book everyone should read, it’s a short book but important because while it is a little fractured, a mixture of story elements and explanations from transcriptions, it flows well and tells the story.

You can purchase Follow the Rabbit Proof Fence via the following

QBD | Dymocks | Booktopia

Wordery | Blackwell’s | Angus & Robertson

Fishpond | Amazon | Amazon Aust | Audible

Don’t Fall for the Trick by Jessica Bain

10 Jul 2026 Leave a comment

by Amy in 4 Stars, The Picture Book Corner Tags: children's picture book, four stars, jessica bain, picture book, scott stuart

Published: 25 February 2025
Publisher: Affirm Press
Illustrator: Scott Stuart
Pages: 32
Format: Picture Book
★ ★ ★ ★ – 4 Stars

An empowering rejection of gender stereotypes, this book unpacks the unconscious biases that hold us back from true equality.

Have you ever heard something that doesn’t sound true? Something that you know for a fact is false? It feels like a trick, doesn’t it?

Every day, we come across many tricks that keep the world from being a truly equal place. This book helps kids and their grown-ups to learn the tricks that are holding us all back so that together we can smash gender stereotypes and create positive change.

Less a story and more an educational guide this is a book that talks directly to the reader about things they have observed, experienced, or may come across in their lives in relation to the patriarchy and societal “rules”.

Calling it The Trick is a great way to explain to kids that society used to, and sometimes unfortunately still does, have rules and ideas on what men and women, boys and girls can/should be. And while we have gotten better at understanding all rules are made up and colour has no gender, there are a few people who will keep perpetuating these ideas, even if they don’t mean to.

Bain explains the patriarchy in a simple way that shows how a long time ago there were ideas set in place that were enforced but weren’t true. This covers everything from women couldn’t vote, men had to go to war, to men being bosses and women only being assistants.

This is the “trick” being addressed. Bain tells reader in non-judgemental ways, with very brief sentences that there are no rules on what you can wear or enjoy and it’s up to us to gently point it out when people get it wrong.

Like the xkcd Today’s Lucky 10 000 comic, this book treats the reader as someone who now knows people out there don’t know about the Trick and they must rectify this to make a more equal world. It isn’t about judgement or criticism, Bain directs it as more of an educational moment. There are examples of boys being picked on for playing tea parties or men trying to enforce the idea that they aren’t good in the kitchen, and the all-knowing kids able to teach them that anybody can do anything.

Scott Stuart is back, from My Shadow is… fame but this time as illustrator only. The design on the kids is diverse and creative. I loved spotting all the tiny details in the background and the different scenarios people may come across The Trick.

The story Bain has written is great and is a great balance on teaching kids about the world without being too preachy or detailed. It is a gentle introduction to the patriarchy and a great stepping off point for kids and adults that there are no girl colours, boy sports, exclusion isn’t nice, and people can like, do, and play whatever they want.

You can purchase Don’t Fall for the Trick via the following

QBD | Dymocks | Booktopia

Angus & Robertson

Fishpond | Amazon | Amazon Aust

One of Us is Back (#3) by Karen M. McManus

09 Jul 2026 Leave a comment

by Amy in 4 Stars, Audiobook, Mystery, Young Adult Tags: Audiobook, four stars, Holly Linneman, Jeff Ebner, karen m. mcmanus, mystery, one of us is lying, robbie daymond, shannon mcmanus, thriller, young adult

Long Lost Reviews is a monthly meme created by Ally over at Ally’s Appraisals which is posted on the second Thursday of every month. The aim is to start tackling your review backlog. Whether it’s an in-depth analysis of how it affected your life, one sentence stating that you only remember the ending, or that you have no recollection of reading the book at all.

Published: 27 July 2023 (print)/27 July 2023 (audio)
Publisher: Penguin/Penguin
Pages: 368/10 hrs and 12 mins
Narrator: Shannon McManus, Holly Linneman, Robbie Daymond, Jeff Ebner
Format: Audiobook
Genre: Young Adult Mystery/Thriller
★ ★ ★ ★ – 4 Stars

At first the mysterious billboard seems like a bad joke: Time for a new game, Bayview. But when a member of the crew disappears, it’s clear this ‘game’ just got serious – and no-one understands the rules.

Ever since Simon died in detention, life hasn’t been easy for the Bayview Crew. First the Bayview Four had to prove they weren’t killers. Then a new generation had to outwit a vengeful copycat. Now, it’s beginning again.

The thing is, Simon was right about secrets-they all come out, eventually. And Bayview has a lot it’s still hiding.

Everyone’s a target. And now that someone unexpected has returned to Bayview, things are starting to get deadly.

Simon was right about secrets – they all come out in the end.

This I’m resigning into a Long Lost Review because my notes are few, my memory of it is non-existent, and even the blurb is giving me nothing. I have a few notes but don’t remember much from this book. Even reading plot summaries nothing is sticking. Given my notes are about it being a bit confusing probably has something to do with it.

As the story starts there is a pause to recap previous books as characters are introduced. It’s seamless enough, but it’s a lot to recap given the complexity of previous books which makes it a little wordy and awkward all the same.

The cast has grown which is acknowledged, there are a lot of people to keep track of, and to mix the old ones in with the new and bring new readers up to speed and refresh memories is a lot. With the return of previous characters you can see growth, how they haven’t changed, how they are beyond high school even though it hasn’t been that long.

I have given it four stars so I must have enjoyed it, but maybe also I enjoyed McManus’ writing style, enjoyed returning to these characters, and maybe the plot was good and interesting at the time but isn’t one that sticks.

You can purchase One of Us is Back via the following

QBD | Dymocks | Booktopia

Wordery | Blackwell’s | Angus & Robertson

Fishpond | Amazon | Amazon Aust | Audible