Want to know what books the Penguin NZ team have been reading and loving recently? Read on for our recommendations!
How to Hold Someone in your Heart Mizuki Tsujimura
“A beautiful, profound and moving read that follows Ayumi, a young man who has the special power to bring back the dead. If you enjoyed Before the Coffee Gets Cold this is the perfect, heart-warming read for you!”
-Summer
Don't Let Him In Lisa Jewell
"An absolute cracker of a read – lots of cliffhangers and multiple viewpoints but also thoughtful observations about family, grief, how it feels to be in a middle aged body… but really mainly, just a gripping read about a man with multiple lives and families and you as the reader are practically leaping out of your hammock with the desire to warn the next victim not to fall for his charms."
-Becky
How to Hold Someone in your Heart Mizuki Tsujimura
“A beautiful, profound and moving read that follows Ayumi, a young man who has the special power to bring back the dead. If you enjoyed Before the Coffee Gets Cold this is the perfect, heart-warming read for you!”
-Summer
The Good Losers Meg Bignell
"I have only just discovered Meg Bignel and I am very excited to read all her books as it turns out she is a comedy writer! Think a Tasmanian Sue Townsend.
The Good Losers is many things. Centred around a mother, her teenage son and the local sailing club, it is a caricature of the personalities and emotions involved in high school sports. It is also an exploration of rage, the mother is grappling with her own wellbeing while being a good mum and a good daughter. And there is a rather unexpected, chaotic mystery! I laughed out loud constantly."
-Clare
Don't Let Him In Lisa Jewell
"An absolute cracker of a read – lots of cliffhangers and multiple viewpoints but also thoughtful observations about family, grief, how it feels to be in a middle aged body… but really mainly, just a gripping read about a man with multiple lives and families and you as the reader are practically leaping out of your hammock with the desire to warn the next victim not to fall for his charms."
-Becky
The Good Losers Meg Bignell
"I have only just discovered Meg Bignel and I am very excited to read all her books as it turns out she is a comedy writer! Think a Tasmanian Sue Townsend.
The Good Losers is many things. Centred around a mother, her teenage son and the local sailing club, it is a caricature of the personalities and emotions involved in high school sports. It is also an exploration of rage, the mother is grappling with her own wellbeing while being a good mum and a good daughter. And there is a rather unexpected, chaotic mystery! I laughed out loud constantly."
-Clare
Not Quite Dead Yet Holly Jackson
“I absolutely LOVED this book! In this debut adult thriller from Holly Jackson, Jet Mason has 7 days to solve her own murder after a brutal attack that the doctors are certain will trigger a deadly brain aneurysm. This was a book I couldn’t put down! Such a great premise for a thriller and the ending had me in tears.”
-Summer
Island Calling Francesca Segal
“Island Calling is the perfect escape - a delightful, funny and uplifting read about mothers and daughters (and a tortoise called Gloria Gaynor).”
-Sacha
Not Quite Dead Yet Holly Jackson
“I absolutely LOVED this book! In this debut adult thriller from Holly Jackson, Jet Mason has 7 days to solve her own murder after a brutal attack that the doctors are certain will trigger a deadly brain aneurysm. This was a book I couldn’t put down! Such a great premise for a thriller and the ending had me in tears.”
-Summer
Happiness and Love Zoe Dubno
"Savagely funny and good. A satire about friendship, capitalism, culture, and art, perfect for fans of Ottessa Moshfegh and Curtis Sittenfeld."
-Becky
Island Calling Francesca Segal
“Island Calling is the perfect escape - a delightful, funny and uplifting read about mothers and daughters (and a tortoise called Gloria Gaynor).”
-Sacha
Happiness and Love Zoe Dubno
"Savagely funny and good. A satire about friendship, capitalism, culture, and art, perfect for fans of Ottessa Moshfegh and Curtis Sittenfeld."
-Becky
Treat Mum to an amazing meal at home this Mother’s Day! We’ve curated the perfect Mother’s Day brunch using some of our most popular recipes.
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Learn about the inspiration behind debut authors’ first novels.
Penguin Random House is delighted to announce that Jacinda Ardern will be doing three book events in New Zealand in April and May.
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Graphic novels are the perfect way to get disinterested readers to pick up a book.
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See the Penguin Random House NZ books shortlisted for the 2026 NZ Booklovers Awards
If it's your turn to choose the title for your book club, we've got you covered.