Hi everyone,

What a month it has been! By far my favourite experience of the year (and yours on Instagram for sure!) was my time in Hamilton Island recently. It was a total fairytale to sneak in a couple of days in Hamilton Island prior to the Whitsundays Writers Festival. I stayed at the Reef View Hotel in an ocean-view room as a PR partner and I am so ridiculously grateful for the experience. Here is my video round-up of the few days!

Highlights included the Explore Sunset Sail; the degustation menu and wine pairing at the Beach Club (might have got a little drunk), the margaritas at Romano’s (see last comment), and the massage at Spa Wumurdaylin (ask for Montanna, she was unbelievable). You can fly direct from Melbourne or Sydney, making it a perfect place to spend a weekend away. I’ve even booked another holiday there with the kids!

I also had an amazing time at the writers’ festival, where I got to sit in conversation with my friend Kirsty Manning for a high tea event, meet wonderful new author friends, and went home with another huge pile of books, of course. Here’s what else I have been loving this month…

Sally x

The In-Between by Christos Tsiolkas

Christos is a total darling of the Australian literary scene and also a proud Melburnian, who I finally got to meet at the Whitsundays festival when we were on a panel together about book-to-screen adaptations. Christos’ latest book The In-Between follows two men who find love again in their fifties, and it’s his best yet. Buy here.

The Glass House by Anne Buist and Graeme Simsion

Married author couple Anne and Graeme are just so lovely and I was lucky enough to be on a panel with Graeme at the Whitsundays too. I adored The Rosie Project series a few years ago, and their latest release together has been called ‘compelling, addictive, for lovers of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine’, which sounds right up my alley. Buy here.

Safe Haven by Shankari Chandran

Despite never actually meeting in real life before, Shankari and I rushed at each other at the festival and into a warm hug. She’s utterly delightful, as are her books (she is also soon to have released 3 books in the space of 18 months, which is utterly amazing for someone who has a full-time job as a lawyer, several children AND recently won the Miles Franklin. Shankari is my new hero.) Safe Haven is Shankari’s latest and it’s all about displacement, home, and the lengths we’ll go to find love and safety. Highly recommend. Buy here.

The Connie Collector

You might have seen me gushing about The Connie Collector on Instagram this week, who were lovely enough to dress me for my recent appearance on morning TV (with Clementine in tow!). Connie is a super cool boutique near me in Melbourne that sells pre-loved mid-high end clothing, accessories and homewares. It’s all about curating a conscious community of re-loving and re-using clothes. How often do we buy a gorgeous dress, only to wear it once?! Check out The Connie Collector, and I’ve also heard of some amazing other consignment-based stores online (not to mention dress-hiring, which is another great environmentally friendly way to look fab), so check out those options in your area too.

The Perfect Couple (Netflix)

Give me a dead body and Nicole Kidman any day, honestly. I’ve seen mixed reviews about this show but I for one am enjoying it! Feels like a cross between White Lotus and Nine Perfect Strangers, with a super rich family gathering in a gorgeous location for a wedding, when the vibe shifts… a dead body is found washed up on the beach. Gasp! Loving it.

Love Your Bookshop Day!

I am so utterly privileged to be the adult ambassador for Love Your Bookshop Day 2024! For as long as I can remember, bookshops and libraries have been places I could escape to – not just to buy or read books, but for comfort, familiarity and inspiration. Now as an author, bookshops continue to be a sacred space for me – as a reader, a writer and a storyteller. I’m grateful that Love Your Bookshop Day gives us the chance to show our appreciation for all our bookshops do for us.

The theme this year is ‘Giving the Gift of Imagination’ and Love Your Bookshop Day is an opportunity to show much-needed love to your favourite local bookshop… on 12 October but also every day!

My favourite local bookshop is Thesaurus Church at Brighton. Shout-out as well to Nice Stack in Meeniyan VIC, which is a cute little boutique bookstore run by my very own cousin.

I’m funny on Instagram.