Australian Literary Highlights for February 2026: A Curated Selection
Each month, the editorial team and critics at Guardian Australia meticulously select upcoming titles they have thoroughly enjoyed or eagerly anticipate. For February 2026, a diverse array of books from prominent publishers like Allen & Unwin, Bloomsbury, Text, Hachette, Upswell, and HarperCollins is featured, offering readers a glimpse into compelling narratives across genres.
Duty to Warn by Charlotte Grieve
In this nonfiction work from Hachette, priced at $34.99, Charlotte Grieve delves into a landmark legal battle. In 2022, Grieve was among three journalists sued by renowned surgeon Dr Munjed al Muderis over an investigation into osseointegration, a controversial orthopaedic procedure. The ensuing $20 million defamation case, the third longest in Australian history, involved testimony from numerous patients and whistleblowers, marking the first successful use of the public interest defence. Grieve, whose father was a patient, reflects on the personal stories behind the case, advocating for reforms in media, healthcare, and legal systems. – Dee Jefferson
Bugger by Michael Mohammed Ahmad
Priced at $34.99 from Hachette, this fiction novel presents a confronting tale of Hamoodi, a ten-year-old boy grappling with his father's disappearance. When violence shatters his fragile sense of safety, the story explores themes of race, class, and gender through a naive perspective. Ahmad, known for works like The Lebs, examines the power of language and the tragic end of childhood in this emotionally charged narrative. – Seren Heyman-Griffiths
How to Dress for Old Age by David Carlin and Peta Murray
This nonfiction title from Upswell, costing $32.99, reimagines ageing through the lens of two academics who reconnected while their parents were in aged care. Carlin's mother aged gracefully, while Murray's father served as a cautionary tale. The book humorously and insightfully addresses how to maintain fulfilling lives in later years, offering solace and darkly funny observations for caregivers. – Jenny Valentish
How Will I Ever Get Through This? by Dr Lucy Hone
Available from Allen & Unwin for $34.99, this nonfiction work by grief researcher Dr Lucy Hone provides compassionate guidance on navigating loss. Drawing from personal tragedy, including the death of her daughter, Hone helps readers cope with bereavement, betrayal, job loss, and other challenges. The book offers practical advice and perspective, encouraging a step back from overwhelming emotions. – Lucy Clark
My Cursed Vagina by Lally Katz
Priced at $34.99 from Allen & Unwin, this memoir by playwright Lally Katz recounts a humorous and candid story of visiting a psychic who declared her vagina cursed. Katz pays to remove the curse and shares her experiences with love, sex, health, and life's mishaps in an open and entertaining manner, making it a standout title for the year. – Steph Harmon
Bird Deity by John Morrissey
This fiction novel from Text, costing $34.99, is a debut by Kalkadoon writer John Morrissey that uses science fiction tropes to critique colonialism and cultural loss. Set on a frontier world, scout David's search for artefacts leads to an encounter with an alien entity, transforming his understanding of life and highlighting the human costs of empire in an unsettling narrative. – Seren Heyman-Griffiths
The Sisterhood Rules by Kathy Lette
Priced at $31.49 from Bloomsbury, this fiction work by Kathy Lette follows estranged twins Isabel and Verity, reunited by their mother's disappearance. After Verity stole Isabel's husband, their disdainful dynamic drives the story, told from Isabel's perspective. With sharp wit and familial tension, it offers a delightful read reminiscent of a romcom without the romance. – Alyx Gorman
Meltdown by Lauren Novak
This nonfiction book from HarperCollins, priced at $19.99, explores the taboo of 'mum rage' through memoir, research, and interviews with over 200 mothers and experts. Journalist Lauren Novak examines postpartum rage's physiological and psychological aspects, societal factors like gendered expectations and childcare shortages, and provides coping strategies and self-compassion advice for parents. – Dee Jefferson
