Welcome to Vic Books, your ultimate destination for discovering fantastic reads right here in New Zealand. In our quest to help you find your next favourite book, we’ve taken inspiration from a renowned platform that many book lovers swear by, Goodreads.
Goodreads is an incredible online community where readers from around the globe come together to explore, review, and discuss books. If you're passionate about reading, you've probably heard of them. It’s a treasure trove of book recommendations, reviews, and literary discussions that cater to every type of reader.
Here at Vic Books, we’re bringing a similar spirit to our website, aiming to create a space where New Zealand readers can find and share their good reads. Our curated collection spans various genres and interests, ensuring there's something for everyone. Whether you're into gripping thrillers, heartwarming romances, thought-provoking non-fiction, or captivating young adult novels, we’ve got you covered.
Readers can leave their thoughts on books they’ve read, providing honest opinions and ratings that help others decide what to read next. At Vic Books, we encourage you to share your reviews and recommendations to help fellow Kiwis discover the best books out there.
By joining in discussions, and following friends, readers can discover new books and authors they might not have found otherwise. We hope to foster this sense of community at Vic Books, where readers can connect, share, and celebrate their love of books.
Our dedication to bringing you the best reads mirrors the passion you’ll find on Goodreads. We meticulously select books that we believe will delight, engage, and inform you. These kinds of books keep you turning pages late into the night and inspire you to text everyone you know with a recommendation.
At Vic Books, you’ll find a section dedicated to the best books of 2024 so far, similar to the lists curated by Goodreads’ editors. These books have captured the hearts and minds of readers with their engrossing narratives and unforgettable characters. Whether they’re topping the charts or flying under the radar, we strive to highlight books that you might not otherwise hear about.
We understand that a great book can come from any genre, so we’ve made sure to include a diverse range of categories. From cookbooks and food & wine to literature & fiction, history, nonfiction, children's books, mystery, thriller & suspense, romance, science fiction & fantasy, and teens, our selection reflects the broad spectrum of literary interests that Goodreads caters to.
One of our main goals is to help you find your next favourite read, and we believe that the Goodreads model of community and sharing is a powerful tool for achieving that. By offering detailed reviews, user recommendations, and curated lists, we aim to guide you through the vast world of books and bring you closer to the titles that resonate most with you.
We’re also committed to supporting New Zealand authors and literature. Just as Goodreads provides a platform for authors to connect with their readers, we want to showcase the incredible talent that exists within our borders. Look out for special features on Kiwi authors, book launches, and literary events that celebrate our rich cultural heritage.
So, dive into Vic Books, explore our collection, and discover the magic of a good book. Whether you’re inspired by the community feel of Goodreads or simply looking for your next great read, we’re here to help you on your literary journey. After exploring this section, don’t forget to check out our recommendations for several books we consider good reads. Happy reading!
"A propulsive and uncommonly wise novel about one unexpected wedding guest and the surprising people who help us start anew. It's a beautiful day in Newport, Rhode Island, when Phoebe Stone arrives at the grand Cornwall Inn wearing a green dress and gold heels, not a bag in sight, alone. She's immediately mistaken by everyone in the lobby for one of the wedding people, but she's actually the only guest at the Cornwall who isn't here for the big event. Phoebe is here because she's dreamed of coming for years--she hoped to shuck oysters and take sunset sails with her husband, only now she's here without him, at rock bottom, and determined to have one last decadent splurge on herself. Meanwhile, the bride has accounted for every detail and every possible disaster the weekend might yield except for, well, Phoebe and Phoebe's plan--which makes it that much more surprising when the two women can't stop confiding in each other."
"Women can be heroes, too’. When twenty-year-old nursing student, Frances “Frankie” McGrath, hears these unexpected words, it is a revelation. Raised on California’s idyllic Coronado Island and sheltered by her conservative parents, she has always prided herself on doing the right thing, being a good girl. But in 1965 the world is changing, and she suddenly imagines a different path for her life. When her brother ships out to serve in Vietnam, she impulsively joins the Army Nurses Corps and follows his path.
As green and inexperienced as the young men sent to Vietnam to fight, Frankie is overwhelmed by the chaos and destruction of war, as well as the unexpected trauma of coming home to a changed America. Frankie will also discover the true value of female friendship and the heartbreak that love can cause."
"When a teenager vanishes from her Adirondack summer camp, two worlds collide
Early morning, August 1975: a camp counselor discovers an empty bunk. Its occupant, Barbara Van Laar, has gone missing. Barbara isn't just any thirteen-year-old: she's the daughter of the family that owns the summer camp and employs most of the region's residents. And this isn't the first time a Van Laar child has disappeared. Barbara's older brother similarly vanished fourteen years ago, never to be found.
As a panicked search begins, a thrilling drama unfolds. Chasing down the layered secrets of the Van Laar family and the blue-collar community working in its shadow, Moore's multi-threaded story invites readers into a rich and gripping dynasty of secrets and second chances. It is Liz Moore's most ambitious and wide-reaching novel yet."
"Set over one sizzling summer, FUNNY STORY is a shimmering, joyful new novel about the happily-ever-after that wasn't and the exes determined to make the best of it from the #1 Sunday Times bestselling author of Happy Place and Book Lovers
Daphne always loved the way Peter told their story. That is until it became the prologue to his actual love story with his childhood bestie, Petra. Which is how Daphne ends up rooming with her total opposite and the only person who could possibly understand her predicament- Petra's ex, Miles. As expected, it's not a match made in heaven - that is until one night, while tossing back tequilas, they form a plan. And if it involves posting deliberately misleading photos of their adventures together, well, who could blame them?
But it's all just for show, of course, because there's no way Daphne would actually start her new chapter by falling in love with her ex-fiance's new fiancee's ex . . . right?"
"Bryce Quinlan is stranded in a strange new world. She's going to need all her wits about her to get home again and return to everything she loves. But that's no easy feat when she has no idea who to trust. Meanwhile, Hunt Athalar is back in the Asteri's dungeons. Stripped of his freedom and the happiness he'd fought so hard for, he's without a clue as to Bryce's fate. Hunt is desperate to help his mate, but until he can escape the Asteri's chains, his hands are quite literally tied. In this breathtaking sequel to the #1 bestsellers House of Earth and Blood and House of Sky and Breath, Midgard is brought to the brink of collapse, and the fate of the world rests on the hope of rebellion. But the fight for survival, freedom, and love may cost everything Bryce and Hunt have."
"Arthur Parnassus has built a good life on the ashes of a bad one. He’s headmaster at an orphanage for magical children, on a peculiar island, assisted by love-of-his-life Linus Baker. And together, they’ll do anything to protect their extraordinary and powerful charges. However, when Arthur is forced to make a public statement about his dark past, he finds himself fighting for those under his care. It’s also a fight for the better future that all magical people deserve. Then when a new magical child joins their island home, Arthur knows they’ve reached breaking point. The child finds power in calling himself a monster, a name Arthur has tried so hard to banish to protect his children. Challenged from within and without, their volatile family might grow stronger. Or everything Arthur loves could fall apart. Somewhere Beyond the Sea is a story of resistance, lovingly told, about the daunting experience of fighting for the life you want to live and doing the work to keep it."
"A time travel romance, a spy thriller, a workplace comedy, and an ingenious exploration of the nature of power and the potential for love to change it all: Welcome to The Ministry of Time, the exhilarating debut novel by Kaliane Bradley. In the near future, a civil servant is offered the salary of her dreams and is, shortly afterward, told what project she'll be working on. A recently established government ministry is gathering "expats" from across history to establish whether time travel is feasible--for the body, but also for the fabric of space-time. She is tasked with working as a "bridge" living with, assisting, and monitoring the expat known as "1847" or Commander Graham Gore. As far as history is concerned, Commander Gore died on Sir John Franklin's doomed 1845 expedition to the Arctic, so he's a little disoriented to be living with an unmarried woman who regularly shows her calves, surrounded by outlandish concepts such as "washing machines," "Spotify," and "the collapse of the British Empire." But with an appetite for discovery, a seven-a-day cigarette habit, and the support of a charming and chaotic cast of fellow expats, he soon adjusts. Over the next year, what the bridge initially thought would be, at best, a horrifically uncomfortable roommate dynamic, evolves into something much deeper. By the time the true shape of the Ministry's project comes to light, the bridge has fallen haphazardly, fervently in love, with consequences she never could have imagined. Forced to confront the choices that brought them together, the bridge must finally reckon with how--and whether she believes--what she does next can change the future. An exquisitely original and feverishly fun fusion of genres and ideas, The Ministry of Time asks: What does it mean to defy history, when history is living in your house? Kaliane Bradley's answer is a blazing, unforgettable testament to what we owe each other in a changing world."
"From legendary storyteller and master of short fiction Stephen King comes an extraordinary new collection of twelve short stories, many never-before-published, and some of his best EVER.
"You like it darker? Fine, so do I," writes Stephen King in the afterword to this magnificent new collection of twelve stories that delve into the darker part of life--both metaphorical and literal. King has, for half a century, been a master of the form, and these stories, about fate, mortality, luck, and the folds in reality where anything can happen, are as rich and riveting as his novels, both weighty in theme and a huge pleasure to read. King writes to feel "the exhilaration of leaving ordinary day-to-day life behind," and in You Like It Darker, readers will feel that exhilaration too, again and again. "Two Talented Bastids" explores the long-hidden secret of how the eponymous gentlemen got their skills. In "Danny Coughlin's Bad Dream," a brief and unprecedented psychic flash upends dozens of lives, Danny's most catastrophically. In "Rattlesnakes," a sequel to Cujo, a grieving widower travels to Florida for respite and instead receives an unexpected inheritance--with major strings attached. In "The Dreamers," a taciturn Vietnam vet answers a job ad and learns that there are some corners of the universe best left unexplored. "The Answer Man" asks if prescience is good luck or bad and reminds us that a life marked by unbearable tragedy can still be meaningful. King's ability to surprise, amaze, and bring us both terror and solace remains unsurpassed. Each of these stories holds its own thrills, joys, and mysteries; each feels iconic. You like it darker? You got it."
"How to End a Love Story by Yulin Kuang is an emotional enemies-to-lovers romance that explores complex human relationships, grief, and healing. The story follows Helen Zhang, a successful author, and Grant Shepard, a screenwriter, who share a painful past due to a tragic accident that bound their lives together. Thirteen years after the accident, Helen hasn't seen Grant, but their paths cross again when Grant is hired as a lead screenwriter for the TV adaptation of Helen's book. Working together forces them to confront unresolved emotions, secrets, and the lingering impact of trauma. As they navigate their professional collaboration, they must also deal with their personal growth and the possibility of finding peace with their past. The novel delves into themes of grief, blame, forgiveness, and the intersection of professional identity and personal conflict. It's a compelling story about how two people can find healing and redemption by facing their shared history."
"Set over one sizzling summer, FUNNY STORY is a shimmering, joyful new novel about the happily-ever-after that wasn't and the exes determined to make the best of it from the #1 Sunday Times bestselling author of Happy Place and Book Lovers
Daphne always loved the way Peter told their story. That is until it became the prologue to his actual love story with his childhood bestie, Petra. Which is how Daphne ends up rooming with her total opposite and the only person who could possibly understand her predicament- Petra's ex, Miles. As expected, it's not a match made in heaven - that is until one night, while tossing back tequilas, they form a plan. And if it involves posting deliberately misleading photos of their adventures together, well, who could blame them?
But it's all just for show, of course, because there's no way Daphne would actually start her new chapter by falling in love with her ex-fiance's new fiancee's ex . . . right?"
"TORN APART BY WAR. REUNITED BY LOVE?
The epic conclusion to the intensely romantic and beautifully written story that started in Divine Rivals.
Two weeks have passed since Iris returned home bruised and heartbroken from the front, but the war is far from over. Roman is missing, lost behind enemy lines, with no memory of his past, or Iris. Hoping his memories return, he begins to write again – but this time for the enemy. When a strange letter arrives through his wardrobe door, he strikes up a correspondence with a penpal who seems at once mysterious… and strangely familiar. As their connection deepens, the two of them will risk their very hearts and futures to change the tides of the war."
"INSTANT NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER * NEW YORK TIMES AND SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR * FASTEST EVER SELLING GRAPHIC NOVEL * NOW ON NETFLIX *
Boy meets boy. Boys become friends. Boys fall in love. The bestselling LGBTQ+ graphic novel about life, love, and everything that happens in between: this is the fifth volume of the beloved HEARTSTOPPER series.
'Absolutely delightful. Sweet, romantic, kind. Beautifully paced. I loved this book.' RAINBOW ROWELL, author of Carry On
Nick and Charlie are very much in love. They've finally said those three little words, and Charlie has almost persuaded his mum to let him sleep over at Nick's house ... But with Nick going off to university next year, is everything about to change?
By Alice Oseman, winner of the YA Book Prize, Heartstopper encompasses all the small moments of Nick and Charlie's lives that together make up something larger, which speaks to all of us.
Contains discussions around mental health and eating disorders, and sexual references."
"In The Anxious Generation, social psychologist Jonathan Haidt lays out the facts about the epidemic of teen mental illness that hit many countries at the same time. He then investigates the nature of childhood, including why children need play and independent exploration to mature into competent, thriving adults. Haidt shows how the play-based childhood began to decline in the 1980s, and how it was finally wiped out by the arrival of the phone-based childhood in the early 2010s. He presents more than a dozen mechanisms by which this great rewiring of childhood has interfered with children s social and neurological development, covering everything from sleep deprivation to attention fragmentation, addiction, loneliness, social contagion, social comparison, and perfectionism. He explains why social media damages girls more than boys and why boys have been withdrawing from the real world into the virtual world, with disastrous consequences for themselves, their families, and their societies.
Most important, Haidt issues a clear call to action. He diagnoses the collective action problems that trap us, and then proposes four simple rules that might set us free. He describes steps that parents, teachers, schools, tech companies, and governments can take to end the epidemic of mental illness and restore a more humane childhood. Haidt has spent his career speaking truth backed by data in the most difficult landscapes communities polarized by politics and religion, campuses battling culture wars, and now the public health emergency faced by Gen Z. We cannot afford to ignore his findings about protecting our children and ourselves from the psychological damage of a phone-based life."
"Finally sharing the long-awaited story of her fascinating career, Tony-Award winning actress Kelly Bishop takes us on her journey from starring on the stage to the silver screen to our most-streamed TV shows, sharing the wisdom she's learned along the way.
Perhaps most famous for playing Emily Gilmore, the sassy matriarch of Gilmore Girls, Kelly Bishop's impressive career began as a classically-trained ballet dancer. From there, she went on to win a Tony award for her role in the original cast of A Chorus Line - and that's just the beginning.Through each pivotal moment of her life, from her professional triumphs to the hardships of marrying young to a compulsive gambler and enduring her second husband's battle with cancer and death to marching for women's rights, Kelly Bishop reflects on the highs and lows she's faced as she reinvented herself throughout her life, moving across America to tour with plays, star in beloved films like Dirty Dancing, and become a household name on popular TV shows such as Law & Order, The Marvellous Mrs. Maisel, and of course, Gilmore Girls.
Sharing never-before-told stories from throughout her career and lessons from a rich and full life, this generous memoir is a warm unapologetic account of how Kelly Bishop's smart, fearless and versatile performances earned her enduring place in pop culture history."
"One of Time's 100 Must-Read Books of 2024
"A spirited defense of this important, odd and odds-defying American retail category." --The New York Times
"It is a delight to wander through the bookstores of American history in this warm, generous book." --Emma Straub, New York Times bestselling author and owner of Books Are Magic
An affectionate and engaging history of the American bookstore and its central place in American cultural life, from department stores to indies, from highbrow dealers trading in first editions to sidewalk vendors, and from chains to special-interest community destinations. Bookstores have always been unlike any other kind of store, shaping readers and writers, and influencing our tastes, thoughts, and politics. They nurture local communities while creating new ones of their own. Bookshops are powerful spaces, but they are also endangered ones. In The Bookshop, we see the stakes: what has been, and what might be lost."
Vic Books says:
Attention Bibliophiles! We’re excited to invite you to share your unique insights and expertise on our book blog. Whether you’re a seasoned writer or a passionate enthusiast, your contributions are highly valued. Join our thriving community and be part of something special. Reach out to explore writing opportunities and get involved today!
Debbie Marcroft says:
My favourite Agatha Christie book is Evil Under the Sun. Whilst it does not appear on the author’s own list of top 10 picks, this book had me guessing to the end, and I loved the richness of the characters which Agatha does so well to describe.
James says:
My favourite book is The Insider’s Guide to Making Money in Real Estate: Smart Steps to Building Your Wealth Through Property by Dr Dolf de Roos, a Kiwi property investor. I can honestly say this book made me a millionaire. No bullshit! Follow his advice and you can do it too.
Sophie says:
One of my favourite authors is Anthony Horowitz, he has also adapted many books for television/movies very successfully. Magpie Murders is very clever, he weaves a book within a book and the continuity is perfect, making it hard to put this novel down. The overlap between the story and the story within the story is expertly arranged for a great read.
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