Latest from Books

Debut novel with a vivid Auckland flavour

A debut novel with pitch-perfect narrative

Oh, put it away! Why sex in novels rarely succeeds

Sally Rooney on why sex in literary fiction is a turn-off and not much fun to write.

'My story of heartbreak and hope': Toni Street on surrogacy, losing three siblings

Behind the Coast presenter's bubbly persona is a story of heartbreak and resilience.

Sebastian Faulks' Austrian trilogy part two: love as a kind of puzzle to be solved

Sebastian Faulks says James Bond boosted his pension fund

Homegrown Happiness: Your guide to gardening and good food

The art of goodness from garden to table

'Being lucky enough to know some of the stories behind the fiction makes it fascinating to see their transformation

David Hill on what he's reading - a focus on NZ writers

'You don't go to Berlin to set up a cosy house in the suburbs and have kids'

Bridget van der Zijpp's third novel sees a middle-aged novelist throw caution to the wind.

The Spinoff: Hands off our Hairy Maclary, Scotland

For decades, Scots have believed the beloved NZ children's books are Scottish.

'It was like I'd never done it before': How Sally Rooney wrote again

"It was like I'd never done it before." How Sally Rooney wrote again

Meghan and Harry call in lawyers amid Finding Freedom reissue

An edition of a Meghan and Harry book has seen the royal couple call in the lawyers.

Colourful career criminal reveals his evolution

Career criminal pens his memoir.

Obsession and discovery: Stories from inside the second-hand book trade

How far will people go to obtain the objects of their longings?

'I'm down in theory weeds, which is like being in a YouTube rabbit hole but not as much fun'

Richard Pamatatau's reading list

How an entrepreneur spun fibs into dollars

For readers who love to understand a business bust

'I do not believe that family 'trumps' everything else'

Mary Trump on her estranged - and strange - uncle

Political memoirs flooding the book scene

The political memoirs have been written by highly educated political figures.

Simon Bridges on what's next: 'I've found my true happiness'

The ousted leader opens up about love, family, politics and how his enemies got too cruel.

Of mermaids, massage parlours and middle-aged men

Michael King Writers' residency recipient Megan Dunn on releasing a book into the wild