This What to Read Wednesday we’re spotlighting powerhouse women from across Australia, authors who are shaping fiction, challenging norms, and crafting unforgettable stories in every genre. From outback thrillers to speculative allegories, here’s your essential reading list featuring one incredible Aussie woman per category.
Big thanks to @madisonrosebooks for the inspiration for this week’s post!
🔪 Crime/Thriller: Jane Harper
Read: The Dry
Jane Harper writes rural noir like no one else. The Dry is a slow-burn mystery set in a drought-stricken town where past and present collide. Her vivid sense of place, and restrained suspense, make her a go-to for fans of intelligent, atmospheric thrillers.
💕 Romance: Sally Thorne
Read: The Hating Game
Canberra-born Sally Thorne broke the internet with her sparkling enemies-to-lovers debut. The Hating Game is funny, sexy, and endlessly quotable, a must-read for rom-com lovers.
🌍 Literary Fiction: Melissa Lucashenko
Read: Too Much Lip
A Goorie woman of Bundjalung heritage, Lucashenko writes with humour, grit, and rage about injustice, identity, and survival. Too Much Lip is fierce, funny, and deeply political, and it won the 2019 Miles Franklin Award for good reason.
🌿 Indigenous Literature: Tara June Winch
Read: The Yield
Tara June Winch’s The Yield is a luminous novel about language, culture, and reclamation. It follows the story of a Wiradjuri man who leaves behind a dictionary of his language, and the granddaughter who must piece together what’s been lost. Essential reading that’s as beautiful as it is important
🧙 Fantasy: CS Pacat
Read: Dark Rise
From the bestselling author of the Captive Prince trilogy comes a queer YA fantasy packed with hidden powers, ancient battles, and morally grey characters. CS Pacat, born in Melbourne, crafts fantasy that’s lush, sharp, and full of twists.
🚀 Sci-Fi/Speculative: Claire G. Coleman
Read: Terra Nullius
A Noongar author, Coleman reimagines Australia’s colonial past through the lens of speculative fiction. Terra Nulliusstarts out feeling like dystopian sci-fi, only to shift into something far more profound, a must-read for fans of allegory and activism.
👻 Gothic/Horror: Kirsten McDougall (honourable Kiwi-Aussie mention)
Read: She’s a Killer
Although from Aotearoa, McDougall’s eerie eco-fiction is widely read in Australia. She’s a Killer blends horror, black comedy, and climate crisis commentary into one genre-defying ride.s
📌 Bonus: Where to Find More
- Check out the Stella Prize longlist for the best in Australian women and non-binary writing
- Follow @blackfulla_bookclub on Instagram for Indigenous book recommendations
- Explore First Nations Australia Writers Network (FNAWN) for author spotlights and resources
Minnie's Fiction Addiction 
Leave a comment