Recommended Reads

Reading Bio: I’ve loved books for as long as I can remember and what I like to read has changed a lot over the years, but I have always been a big fan of Historical fiction. I know I’ve hit a good book if I’m itching to google the topic and deep dive to find out more about a real place, person or moment in time. That being said, I also love a cosy mystery, contemporary fiction and a little bit of sci fi here and there to keep life interesting!

Authors that keep me coming back include Kristin Hannah, Lisa See, Patrick deWitt and John Boyne. My top pick for 2025 was A Beautiful Family by Jennifer Trevelyan, definitely keen to see what this debut kiwi novelist comes out with next.

Jennifer's Reading List

I’ve been a passionate advocate for literacy for most of my adult life. Reading has been my safe space since I was a young girl, and over the years I’ve explored almost every genre imaginable, with a little non-fiction mixed in along the way.

These days, I’m most drawn to thrillers, urban fantasy, mystery, sci-fi, and romance. I also love children’s and teen fiction, graphic novels, and manga. One of my favourite non-fiction authors is Kate Moore. Her book The Radium Girls was one of my standout reads of 2020 and sparked my love of historical non-fiction.

My current auto-read authors include Patricia Briggs, Matt Dinniman, Nalini Singh, Ilona Andrews, Gregg Hurwitz, J. D. Robb, Jo Callaghan, Martha Wells, and Benjamin Stevenson.

Book list coming soon....

Reading Bio: I’m a bookworm from way back before it was cool and to this day literally cannot go past a second-hand bookstore without going in for just five minutes, I swear! I will absolutely judge a book by its cover and happily pick up anything that looks intriguing, but I tend to gravitate towards horror, fantasy, sci-fi, and the wonderfully weird. My bookshelf is filled with authors like Margaret Atwood, China Miéville, Jacqueline Carey, Junji Ito, Octavia E. Butler, and yes, master of horror Stephen King. I’m especially drawn to stories with Gothic or Lovecraftian elements, as well as the occasional deep dive into true crime non-fiction.

A couple of my all-time favourites include Imajica by Clive Barker and The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe. More recently, I’ve been enjoying discoveries like T. Kingfisher for her take on Gothic horror and Benjamin Stevenson for something a bit more irreverent in the mystery space. My standout read of 2025 was a tie between Hooked by A.C. Wise and Nameless by Grant Morrison.”

Gray's Reading List

You’ll find me reading fiction 99% of the time, (and listening to an autobiography the other 1%). As a children’s librarian, I’ll always enjoy a touch of fantasy and a sense of whimsy, but mostly, I’m just a sucker for a beautiful book cover. Lately, the common threads running through my picks, are the stories of women, set amongst turbulent political or environmental backdrops, whether that’s historical or speculative fiction (hello Isabel Allende, and Emily St. John Mandel). Looking back, my love of reading really began with John Marsden’s Tomorrow series and Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials and you’ll probably see that not much has changed!

Sam's Reading List

Reading Bio: I have been a reader my whole life and have very distinct memories of pushing open the heavy door and finding refuge within. My favourite book was the Nickle nackle tree tree by Dame Lynley Dodd in those days, while I still love a wonderful picture book I have moved on in my tastes a wee bit.

I now like to try everything but am partial to a crime story sometimes the more gritty the better, a nordic noir is always good, Jo Nesbo has always delivered. I think I just love a good story teller Kate Atkison is a firm favourite and I do enjoy Frederick Backman too. I just read Greg Newbolds biography ‘Dream Dealer’ which was a great read about a University professor that made it good after prison. I have learnt that reading is like a box of chocolates or is it better with a box of chocolates?!

Sarah's Reading List

Reading Bio: I like my reading time to count! So I look out for books that make a big impact or have good word of mouth. Twentieth-century classics form a good chunk of my reading as I try to catch up on what I should have read but didn’t.

Good writing is important to me so contemporary fiction is often my bag (Catherine Chidgey, Sarah Perry, Tim Winton) but a smart thriller (Robert Lee Burke, Val McDermid) is welcome.

Autobiography appeals, whether political or showbiz, and can be brilliant if read by the writer as an audiobook. Actually audio has become my favourite platform (thanks Audible, Libby and Hoopla).

My guilty pleasure is thumbing respectfully through expensive coffee table books and just enjoying the photos, especially if they’re of classic cars, great art or exotic places. Or perhaps big-format history or scientific books that are picture-heavy and not too wordy; these take me back to my boyhood joy of poring over encyclopedias, dictionaries and atlases.

Reading Bio: For as long as I can remember, I’ve always enjoyed a good story – be it novel, graphic novel, verbal story telling or video games.

My favourite genre is fantasy – the more dragons and swords the better! Though I do enjoy the odd Historical, Horror, Classic or Sci-fi novel. I also read a lot of Manga and the odd Graphic Novel. You can find me reading authors like David Eddings, Mark Lawrence, Tamsyn Muir and Tatsuki Fujimoto. I find myself drawn to stories with complex worlds where morality isn’t always black and white, where the “good guys” sometimes need to be villainous and where the main characters actions have actual consequences – nothing destroys immersion like the MC getting everything they want with no fallout! I enjoy seeing the way the world changes as the main characters interact and move through it, either fixing the world as they go or destroying it one town at a time.

A few of my all-time favourite series are ‘The Broken Empire’, ‘The Locked Tomb’, ‘A Chorus of Dragons’, ‘The Belgariad’, ‘Frieren; Beyond Journey’s End’ and ‘A Court of Thorns and Roses’. I’m currently reading ‘Throne of Glass’ and ‘Chainsaw Man’, and looking forward to starting ‘Red Rising’. If any of these story’s sound like your kind of book, ask for me at the customer service desk, or if you think you have a recommendation for me – please, LET ME KNOW!

Book list coming soon....

Reading Bio: I’ve been a bookworm and a library-kid since way back when. Any spare moment and I’d be reading! While my reading journey has had its ups and downs in my adult years, reading has always been important to me. I believe reading and sharing stories to be vital keys for a more empathetic world.

I’ve really reconnected with reading over these last five years and will often be reading at least two books at any given time, usually one book and one audiobook. Things like listening to read, joining our book club, falling in love with graphic novels and using reading tracking apps has really helped my reading flourish. I read across all formats; I love a physical book but also appreciate the versatility and accessibility of our digital titles.

A naturally curious reader, I will try anything! I've found some of my best reads while working in our library returns room, trying titles I might never have sought out myself. It is fascinating what other people read.

I tend towards a 50-50 split between fiction and non-fiction, and I adore a good memoir or biography (920s). You can often find me reading architecture, art or photography books (700s) or enjoying the poetry in our literature section (820s). I am particularly drawn to books with an Aotearoa New Zealand, Indigenous, Pasifika, Dutch or migrant lens. I love graphic novels, photobooks and books with beautiful imagery.

When it comes to fiction, I love cosy mysteries or mysteries with a strong sense of place, particularly if it's local. I do love historical fiction, especially if its from classical times or a retelling of a myth or legend. Some of my favourite authors include Patti Smith, Ann Cleeves, Tayi Tibble, Tusiata Avia, Roxane Gay, George R R Martin and Trent Dalton - but really who can pick!?

Some of my all-time favourite reads include:

• Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkein
• Pacific Arts Aotearoa by Lana Lopesi
• 10(X) books by Sara Terry
• No Ordinary Sun by Hone Tuwhare
• Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
• The Time of her Life by Lesley McIntyre
• The Road by Cormac McCarthy
• Down the Drain by Julia Fox
• Wild Dogs Under My Skirt by Tusiata Avia
• The Carpathians by Janet Frame
• The Southern Vampire Mysteries by Charlaine Harris
• The Persian Boy by Mary Renault
• Hold Still by Sally Mann Dracula by Bram Stoker
• 1985 by Dominic Hoey

But again – who can choose!

Leala's Reading List

Reading Bio: My reading life sits somewhere between hard-boiled grit and absurdist wit.

I’ve always been drawn to the "bridesmaids" of fiction—the cynical PIs, the cosmic losers, and the sharp satire that often hits harder than a straight drama. I know I’ve found a winner when a story manages to be pathetic without ever becoming bathetic.

I love to dive into reality-bending sci-fi, urban fantasy, and crime noir, but I’m just as likely to be found with a graphic novel in hand. I’m particularly fond of narratives that find the weird in any setting, especially those that combine a healthy dose of dark humour with a bit of cosmic dread. If it pushes boundaries and doesn't take itself too seriously, I’m in.

Book list coming soon....