Brilliant and devastating: Are book blurbs anything more than a circle jerk? On the pros and cons of puff quotes on book covers.By Claire Mabey | 15th February, 2025Books editor
The falcon on Taieri Ridge'The falcon waits, statue still, eyes full and unblinking.' An excerpt from The Falcon and the Lark: A New Zealand High Country Journal.By Neville Peat | 15th February, 2025
The Unity Books bestseller chart for the week ending February 14Including the secret lives of lizards, dogs, and some humans too.By The Spinoff Review of Books | 14th February, 2025
‘Roald Dahl refused to sign my book’: Claire Baylis’s best and worst author encountersThe author of courtroom crime drama Dice on her life in books.By The Spinoff Review of Books | 12th February, 2025
‘My story with taonga begins in 1984’: an excerpt from Books of ManaJeanette Wikaira's profound relationship to books and to te ao Māori.By Jeanette Wikaira | 8th February, 2025
The Unity Books bestseller chart for the week ending February 7Guidebooks, prizewinners, Rooney and July.By The Spinoff Review of Books | 7th February, 2025⚖️
Vale Brian Turner, 1944 – 2025Remembering a major New Zealand writer, activist and sportsman.By Claire Mabey | 7th February, 2025Books editor
The books we actually read this summerInundated with end-of-year lists, we all had big plans to do a lot of reading-for-pleasure over the holidays. Here's where we ended up.By The Spinoff Review of Books | 6th February, 2025⚖️
Review: David Sedaris on Duolingo streaks, pantaloons and pesky fact-checkersNotes from an evening with the beloved raconteur.By Liv Sisson | 4th February, 2025Commercial editor
A Te Tiriti reading (and watching and listening) guideHow well do you understand Te Tiriti o Waitangi? If you're feeling short on the basics, here are some places to start.By The Spinoff Review of Books | 4th February, 2025⚖️
A Portrait of My Mother: an excerpt from Bad Archive by Flora FelthamAn essay from The Spinoff readers' favourite nonfiction book of 2024 – now longlisted for this year's Ockham NZ Book Awards.By The Spinoff Review of Books | 1st February, 2025⚖️
The Unity Books bestseller chart for the week ending January 31New year, new self-help sensation.By The Spinoff Review of Books | 31st January, 2025⚖️
It’s here! All the books longlisted for the 2025 Ockham New Zealand Book AwardsFour categories, 43 books, many thoughts and feelings. By The Spinoff Review of Books | 30th January, 2025⚖️
‘I threw the book across the room’: Tania Roxborogh’s Hunger Games furyThe award-winning children’s author on why she has a bone to pick with Suzanne Collins, her love of Shakespeare and what she's currently reading.By The Spinoff Review of Books | 29th January, 2025⚖️
The Unity Books bestseller chart for the week ending January 24Rebecca Yarros' latest romantasy hit storms the charts. By The Spinoff Review of Books | 24th January, 2025⚖️
Why we’re not ready to extend the parliamentary termA four-year term must be out of the question – at least until accountability mechanisms are strengthened.By Brian Easton | 23rd January, 2025Guest writer
‘Annie has a pretty macabre streak’: Jenny Pattrick’s holiday with ProulxThe author of The Denniston Rose on her life in books, including a memorable week in Centennial, Wyoming.By The Spinoff Review of Books | 22nd January, 2025⚖️
One simple trick to conquer your reading goals: read shorter booksTen brilliant – and brilliantly short – books to kickstart the year.By Clara van Wel | 21st January, 2025Guest writer
Auckland’s secondhand bookshops, ranked and reviewedSeven of the best, most browsable secondhand bookshops Tāmaki Makaurau has to offer.By Shanti Mathias | 9th January, 2025Staff writer
Christchurch’s secondhand bookshops, ranked and reviewedFrom a carefully curated caravan to a sprawling barn of unsorted banana boxes, Ōtautahi has something for every book buyer.By Simon Palenski | 8th January, 2025Guest writer
