Read by Reid

03/12/2025

It's been a joy to serve the reading community this year...now as we reflect on 2025, the full book reviews from our gatherings and features are available on
www.readbyreid.nz

You can order the deep and vast range of books we've discussed and pondered from www.booksonline.co.nz

01/12/2025

December Book Club picks

Although we're not gathering instore in December, we still have these gems to put in the spotlight.

🌟 The Funeral Crashers by Joanna Nell
Humour, warmth and a wonderful array of characters including gentlemanly Martin, thoughtful Grace, Martin's bullish mother and even more forthright cat, the unloved and lonely ...wonderful observations of those aging in our midst, highlighting they're far from done and still have a place in our community.

🌟 Pilbara by Judy Nunn
Written in 'Regency' style that begins in the lush green fields of English Yorkshire until the good-hearted Burton family are uprooted and venture to the wild, vast Pilbara land in West Australia. Respect and social position are earned differently in the wild remote outpost in the late 19th century.

🌟 The American Boys
Wellington 1942, there's unease and uncertainty in a world at war...and the war creeps to New Zealand's coastline. The US Marines arrive as they set up a training base with mixed reception...but there's a warm welcome at the Baxter family home in Ranui St. Friendship, love, work and life must still go on despite the uncertain times.

Pick up your copies today
www.booksonline.co.nz
Happy Summer Reading 📚

01/12/2025

Pilbara by Judy Nunn

"Australian author Judy Nunn needs no introduction, with each novel, short story compilation or children's tale featuring in bestseller lists.

Pilbara is written in a strong 'regency' style that begins in the English Yorkshire countryside complete with class differences - the London-sect versus the hardworking landed-gentry.
How does the Burton family of 'Pendleton' go from the lush green fields of England to the wildly different and vast lands of the Pilbara region of West Australia in the late 19th Century?
Respect and position are earned in different ways in the wild remote Australian outpost but loyalty, goodwill and fair treatment is prized and it is a place of second chances.

The good-hearted Burtons have secrets to protect but a beloved community surrounds them.

Judy Nunn is an exceptional storyteller with bold, dramatic characters to match the hard terrain of the Pilbara and she delivers all of this in her newest novel. Whilst it has a satisfying close, I'm sensing there's room for a sequel that I'd race to read!"
Sue Reid

Great for book clubs or add to your up and coming holiday stack.
purchase your copy @ https://booksonline.co.nz/

HarperCollins Publishers New Zealand
HarperCollins Books Australia
Judy Nunn

26/11/2025

We are beyond excited to announce that our first author event for 2026 will be the international superstar, SIMON WI******ER!

The bestselling writer behind Krakatoa, Land, Precision and more, Wi******er is known for the fascinating way he deep dives into subjects through incredible storytelling.

His latest book, 🌬 🌬The Breath of the Gods 🌬 🌬 delivers a thought-provoking history, and future, of that unseen but not unfelt presence in our lives – the wind.

Between the wind as a malevolent force and wind as the saviour of our planet, lies a world of fascination, history, literature, science, poetry and engineering, which Simon Wi******er explores with the curiosity and vigour that are the hallmarks of his bestselling works.

The book is out now so tickets + a book will make a very nice Christmas present indeed. Just saying...

🕢 5.30pm Thursday 5th March 2026
📍 Hedley's Books, 150 Queen St, Masterton
🎟 Tickets $15

Tickets here: https://booksonline.co.nz/product/simon-winchester-event-ticket/
Buy the book here: https://booksonline.co.nz/product/the-breath-of-the-gods-the-history-and-future-of-the-wind/

25/11/2025

Make sure you grab your copy of
This week...the Top 100 Books 2025
👏👏👏

25/11/2025

The Funeral Crashers by Joanna Nell
"Dr Joanna Nell always brings humour, warmth and a wonderful array of characters that is part of her positive aging narrative that she understands deeply from her vocation as a GP.

The Funeral Crashers delves deeper into the reasons Gentlemanly Martin and Thoughtful Grace attend each Funeral at their local All Souls Church. Their harmonious hymns and mutual acceptance of each other's social awkwardness gives them a place to establish their friendship.

The literary cast includes Martin's bullish mother with her forthright cat, the parishioners, the unloved and shunned all with reasons they're on their own in life.

Wonderful observations of those aging in our midst, highlighting that they're far from done and they still have so much to contribute to others and community.
That's why I love Joanna Nell's writing..."
Highly recommended





Order your copy today

www.booksonline.co.nz

20/11/2025

https://www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/360888452/reading-really-dying-art
a short, brisk op-ed in Wairarapa Times Age 19th November
Print Media still has a heartbeat...
Wairarapa Times-Age

OPINION: Books editor Sue Reid on a recent trend of young people getting back to reading hard copy books.

19/11/2025

Top Ten Book Club Fiction 2025 by readbyreid.nz
Featured in Wairarapa Times Age Wednesday 19th November.

A stellar, dependable list ready to add to your TBR pile or gifts for summer holidays.

🌟 Speak To Me Of Home by Jeanine Cummins
🌟 The Chemist by A A Dhand
🌟 The River Is Waiting by Wally Lamb
🌟 A Beautiful Family by Jennifer Trevelyan
🌟 The Revisionists by Michelle Johnston
🌟 Carved In Blood by Michael Bennett
🌟 Lion Women Of Tehran by Marjan Kamali
🌟 See How They Fall by Rachel Paris
🌟 Deeper The Dead by Catherine Lea
🌟 Gravity Let me Go by Trent Dalton









Sincere thanks to sponsors and

19/11/2025

Meet author
28th November 2025

6 Kitchener St, Martinborough
5pm tickets $20
Contact the store for your ticket

"Carved In Blood features in ReadByReid.nz Top Ten Book Club Fiction list and is a string contributor to the ever growing New Zealand crime genre that rivals the lofty highs of celebrated Australian crime fiction."

19/11/2025

Pick up a bottle of bubbles for your next event, gift or summer hosting...

Highly recommended 🍾 🐝
and our choice for book clubs 📚

13/11/2025

🥁 Presenting .nz TOP TEN BOOK CLUB FICTION for 2025...

🌟 SpeakTo Me Of Home by


🌟 The Chemists by


🌟 The River Is Waiting by


🌟 A Beautiful Family by


🌟 The Revisionists by


🌟 Carved In Blood by


🌟 Lion Women Of Tehran by


🌟 See How They Fall by


🌟 Deeper The Dead by


🌟 Gravity Let Me Go by
NZ

Honorable mention to

The Names by Knapp

The Vanishing Place by

What a year! Solid, dependable reading 📚 with debut authors delivering big hearted novels, our ever-growing New Zealand crime genre and cross-culture narrative that transported across borders.
A huge thank you to authors and publishers for the literary gems you've given us, the reading community this year 👏👏👏
Cheers to another spectacular bookish year!

Be sure to order your copies .booksonline.co.nz

Book Club meets again on 11th February but I'll be posting highly recommended reads to keep you going over summer.

Sincere thanks to for their fantastic support and understanding of all that Read By Read NZ is and continues to be...

[email protected]