Jess Gately (she/her)

Dreaming of a minority government

All Systems Red by Martha Wells, audiobook

Completely and utterly devoured this over the past two nights.
I will never get tired of the sarcastic, indifferent humanoid androids with barely concealed contempt/exasperation for humans trope.

The Unworthy by Agustina Bazterrica

I loved reading Tender is the Flesh and then I saw a post over on Substack talking about Bazterrica’s new book The Unworthy and now I can’t wait to get my hands on it!

Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi, paperback

Finished this book the other day. It’s beautifully poignant and I love how uniquely it approaches the time travel trope.
I know it’s already a huge bestseller worldwide but definitely worth a read if you haven’t already taken the plunge.

I loved this issue! And love your section on the “year of community” 🥰

I think about this a lot and how much the world would change if guys thought of women as potential friends and not just lovers.

Every so often I still think about the person who said that for guys to get friend-zoned by girls, they first had to girlfriend-zone the girl.
And I think about how (hetero) guys don’t ever seem to want friendship with girls, at least not while they’re single.

There’s nothing like having overseas guests visiting to remind you of how beautiful your home is 🥰
It’s a great way to be reminded of all the small things I take for granted sometimes - beautiful beaches, kangaroos in the parks, blue skies, stunning sunsets…

How high we go in the dark audiobook

Finally, finally!!!!, getting to this fabulous book and it’s so good.
But my god that second chapter broke me. Sitting here in tears 😭

I love Book Buddy!!
It has stopped me buying doubles accidentally and I can now keep track of my books when I loan them out 🥰
I had to go through and scan every book individually though. Jealous of your csv spreadsheet

It’s a beautiful day to be outside 🥰

The fresh air and sunshine is a gentle balm to all the awful things happening in the world at the moment.

Had fun this morning recording the next episode of Tome and Tome Again podcast with @jemofthebrew.bsky.social

Looking forward to another fun year of literary rambling and love!

OpenAI ‘reviewing’ allegations that its AI models were used to make DeepSeek ChatGPT creator warns Chinese startups are ‘constantly’ using its technology to develop competing products

Ahahahahahahahahahahahaha

Artists and writers will get a good laugh out of this.
AI companies are upset that their work was stolen to help create competitor AI programs.
I wonder what that feels like
Suck it!

Woman’s Lore: 4000 years of sirens, serpents and succubi by Sarah Clegg, audiobook

Only half way through this fabulous book but absolutely fascinated by the ways monsters/demons meant to represent women’s fears - particularly around childbirth - were co-opted by men & used to reinforce women’s roles and the concept of the ideal woman, ie if you’re not ideal, you’re a monster

Orbital by Samantha Harvey

What an absolutely beautiful love letter to Earth this was.
Gentle, warm, nuanced and complex, this book is a reminder of the breadth of human experience, exploring our relationships with our planet and with each other as we inhabit this tiny pocket of space.

FAQ If you’d like to know more about how The Book Tour Project works, read below.

Found this fantastic idea over on Substack.
Each person gets a turn with the book, annotating it as they go, and then sends it on to the next to do the same.
It’s like book club without having to actually meet people - but perhaps even more intimate because of the line by line annotations 😍

Today is a great day to donate to the Indigenous Literacy Foundation, to read First Nations books, and to amplify Indigenous voices. We could do better than we have. We could be better than we are. #changethedate

We’re very excited. We’re already planning a second trip because there’s so much we want to see and do and we can’t fit it all into one trip 😂
The more we research, the more we find. It’s such an incredible country.

The Shortest History of China audiobook. By Linda Jaivin and narrated by Nancy Wu

Later this year, Fred and I are off to China so I decided to prepare by getting a crash course in Chinese history.
It’s been a good springboard to keep exploring more ideas.

Orbital by Samantha Harvey

Halfway through this book and totally in love with it.
I think it’s going to live by my bedside where I can read it constantly and remind myself of its beauty and the earth’s beauty and to have those little reminders of the beauty and goodness in the world more often.
Just stunning ❤️✨🌏

Going to attempt to crochet a book blanket this year. I’m new to crochet so I’ve only bought cheap yarn, but I’m excited to use this as an opportunity to both learn more crochet techniques and to encourage myself to read more!

A stack of books containing: Orbital by Samantha Harvey, The Rainfall Market by You Yeong-Gwang, Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi, The Last Gifts of the Universe by Riley August, A Psalm for the Wild-Built and A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers, and The Full Moon Coffee Shop by Mai Mochizuki

Embarking on this stack of books in coming weeks.
I don’t usually pre-pick my reading as I like to see what takes my fancy at any given time, but I’m so excited for novellas at the moment that these are all taking priority.
Feel free to recommend more spec fic novellas you think belong on this stack

The AU's Most Anticipated Books of 2025: January - March - The AU Review Discover the best new music, travel, film, gaming, arts, food, culture and book content on Australia's premier independent online publication. Since 2008.

Our team at the AU Review already have our eyes set on some awesome new releases coming up this year.
Here’s what’s caught our eye for the next couple of months 👀

#books #booksky

A group of people sit and stand around an outdoor lounge, smiling and with arms around each other.

Grateful for writing friends to share the journey with.
This fabulous group of people fill me with joy, inspiration, and courage. Incredibly lucky to have such wonderful people around me.

They weren’t criticising his batting, but they had decided that the behaviour they’d been laughing at and enjoying just the day before (his banter and chirpiness) was all of a sudden cocky and wrong.
I just think it’s hypocritical to have a go at him for his banter given the Aussie’s team’s history

The commentators on Fox this morning were pretty damning. The were saying that he was cocky and needed to pull his head in and just focus on what he’s there to do. The whole tone changed. The last two tests they’ve been laughing and admiring him - now they’re admonishing the exact same behaviour

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring by JRR Tolkien, audiobook narrated by Andy Serkis

Yet another book I’d hoped to have finished by the end of last year that has instead snuck in to the new year.
I revisited The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, this time via audiobook with Andy Serkis’s wonderful narration.

Absolutely wild listening to the Aussie commentators turn on Sam Konstas overnight.
He’s gone from the chirpy fun hero of the series to a cocky upstart who needs to learn his place.
Rich coming from ex-Aussie players who were known for their arrogance and over the top sledging #AUSvIND

While the pacing is slower and it isn’t always clear where the plot is leading, the complex ideas and themes along with the exquisitely expressed setting make it definitely worth a read.

Daughter of Calamity by Rosalie M Lin.

I had hoped to finish this book before the new year started, but I only finished yesterday.
The atmosphere is definitely its biggest strength. Lin has created a Shanghai that feels like a mix of steam & cyber punk with its neon lights, mechanical wonders, bathhouses, ballrooms, temples & alleyways.