Latest from Books

New book about sex work in NZ offers first-hand insights

Book of the Day: Untold Intimacies: A history of sex work in Aotearoa, 1978–2008

How We Grow Up: The surprising science of adolescence

Book of the day: How We Grow Up: Understanding Adolescence by Matt Richtel.

Top 10 bestselling New Zealand books: July 26

Jacinda Ardern proves unbeatable as a new book rockets into the top 10.

Three new crime books to check out this weekend

New stories from seasoned writers deliver taut plot turns.

Book of the day: 2024: How Trump Retook the White House and the Democrats Lost America

Insider interviews power account of political machinations behind 2024’s US election.

Book of the day: My Sister and Other Lovers by Esther Freud

A kind-of sequel to Hideous Kinky where the author again fictionalises her life.

She was on the spectrum, he was a 'fat chubby nerd': Madison Ashton on Polkinghorne

After the Polkinghorne trial, Steve Braunias sat down to lunch with Madison Ashton.

Murder, he wrote: Steven Braunias on covering NZ’s most high-profile crime cases

"I've spent quite a lot of my professional life these past 20 years at murder trials."

Death becomes him: Crime writer Michael Connelly’s long exploration of LA continues

With the streaming premiere of Ballard, Micheal Connelly shows no signs of slowing down.

Meet New Zealand's new reading ambassador

Author Kate De Goldi has been preparing for her new role for years.

Kiwis flock to Jacinda Ardern memoir, smashing local sales records

Her memoir’s healthy early sales suggest Jacinda Ardern’s pulling power endures.

The best books (so far) of 2025 - and those to look forward to

Books editor Mark Broatch and Listener reviewers on this year's best books.

Book of the day: Model Home by Rivers Solomon

A fresh take on a well-worn horror motif triumphs in the detail.

Charlotte Grimshaw: Why being read to and reading are among childhood’s great pleasures

To be read to as a child is to be introduced to the power of your own mind.

The genius of Maurice Gee

Maurice Gee's genius can be traced through his appearances in the pages of the Listener.

Book of the day: Our Beautiful Boys by Sameer Pandya

After a scandalous incident, parents rally behind their kids.