Broadcast: 5th May 2026 | AUDIO VERSION
What if you found the love of your life ... and then lost them? Join us for the fifth episode of Series 4 of Date with a Debut, as Nick sits down with Leearna Shaw, the debut author of contemporary rural romance, A Farm in Golden Clouds.
Broadcast: 12th May 2026 | AUDIO VERSION
A provocative novel about women’s bodies, sex, autonomy - and the power of the image. Join us for the sixth episode of Series 4 of Date with a Debut, as Nick sits down with Emily Lighezzolo, the author of the award-winning literary fiction debut, Life Drawing.
Broadcast: 19th May 2026 | AUDIO VERSION
An unflinching yet hopeful and humorous memoir about turning pain into purpose. Join us for the seventh episode of Series 4 of Date with a Debut, as Nick sits down with Melissa Sharman, the author of an incredible memoir, The Beauty of Broken Things.
Now, review time… 👇🏾
Romance comes in many forms in the 21st-century world of literature, from the fluffy romcoms that are pure escapism delight to the likes of full-blown fantasy that flourishes in the world of book recommendations and booktok.
Yet, of all the romance novels I’ve dived into, Leearna Shaw’s debut has gripped me more than most - her rural romance not only has a beautifully crafted love between Indi and Ben, but a deep dive into grief, and giving yourself permission to find love again.
Indi, the owner of Manna Gum Farm near the small town of Kestrel Creek has been widowed for two years, is a mother of two and is dealing with a crippling financial decision her late husband made. Ben is a widower who has not moved on from the loss of his wife, is an actor trying to raise his young son Will and restart his career with a film being shot in town.
This book is a romance, first and foremost. You root for these two badly. These two characters make this story, processing their grief and the challenges of parenting in different ways. The children really sell this, with each one processing their own grief at the loss of a parent.
Ben is filled with weight; he reminded me of many blokes who are just trying their best but are seemingly held down by the trauma they struggle to process. Indi comes at it from a different angle, not being given the chance to stop due to her career as an author, while also trying to keep the farm going.
Manna Gum Farm is also a major character, being the place that really brings these two together. While there are some tough moments in their journey, it makes the blossoming romance between the two all the sweeter.
Shaw has hit the ground running with this delightful and well-executed contemporary romance debut. With her second novel coming in hot pursuit, expect to hear a lot more from this exciting new voice in an already talented crop of new Australian romance writers.
RATING: 4/5 | BUY HERE
Body autonomy, power, gender, friendship, estrangement - and the woman’s body, especially - are at the core of this amazing debut from Emily Lighezzolo - and it might be one of my favourite books of the year.
Following two to-be lovers in Maisie and Charlie when they meet in a life drawing class, this novel catalogues the relationship between the two of them - how they meet in the days of university, experimentation and passion, then into domestic life and children.
It is a messy relationship with moments of serious moral questions… and I was completely wrapped up in it.
However, that is only one part of the story, with the other relationship being between Maisie and her body, with Lighezzolo interrogating how her body is perceived, admired, ridiculed, commodified and ultimately reclaimed. Her decision to cover it across three parts of the story - each named after the part of the female body affected by the events - is a genius creative decision.
This is at the core of this novel, and considering this is something most women struggle with across their lives, it makes this story so loaded and charged, with what is not said as important as what is.
Having Charlie, an outsider to this discourse is also particularly valuable for the reader - how he loves Maisie and her body for what it is is a major part of their relationship, but that isn’t to say he is an angel when it comes to how he perceives her, with several decisions he makes very questionable.
Men and women should read this book for the understanding it provides about body neutrality and how women’s bodies are perceived, even if lots of questions are left hanging about how we as a society tackle such difficult topics.
Lighezzolo has a lot to say, and she covers so much ground in terms of the thematic concept of this book, it stunned me when I turned the last page that this was a debut.
Lighezzolo is a star to watch, and Life Drawing is a life changer. Dive into this incredible book and the rich world it has to offer. It challenges and questions, but it is ultimately a stunningly rewarding reading experience.
RATING: 5/5 | BUY HERE
You can’t be whole without being broken is the message of this difficult, but ultimately uplifting memoir from Melissa Sharman, and it is a book that everyone should read at some point in their life.
Chronicling her journey through growing up in a religious household, suffering sexual abuse from the church, before suffering for years in a physically abusive marriage, Sharman turns her life around through surrogacy, being involved in helping deliver 23 kids for 14 families into the world, founding Egg Donation Australia, and changing laws in Queensland around domestic violence.
It is a true story about survival and the triumph of the human spirit, and it should be said, this is not a depressing book - but it does have very difficult subject matter in it. This book does come with trigger warnings, especially around domestic violence and fertility issues.
But, if you know this going in, it really helps hammer home how much Sharman has achieved. While her interactions with Brett Cowan - the man who would go on to be incarcerated for the murder of Daniel Morcombe - have drawn headlines, it is Sharman’s achievements despite adversity that should be the takeaway of this book.
She writes with tenderness, showing kindness and grace to her younger self who was trapped in that situation, and showing just how hard it is to leave those circumstances. It is not as simple as, “just leave him!” which I admit to saying several times reading the book.
Her stories with her surrogate families offer so much light when things can get dark, and for me, those are the best parts of this story - it shows how unkind women can be to themselves if they suffer from fertility issues, but also how common it can be and that it should be something we as a society should talk about more.
This is confronting, but ultimately extremely rewarding. The Beauty of Broken Things is a timely story about the true value of survival, the strength you gain, and how much light you can bring to the world. This book is a phenomenal achievement.
RATING: 5/5 | BUY HERE
Since launching the newsletter in December last year, I’ve loved the response I’ve gotten from listeners and readers about the podcast, and so I decided to allow VIP access for free since December 2025!
However, after July 2026’s newsletter (NEXT MONTH!), the paywall will be officially going up for VIP Bookies, meaning you will need to sign up for a paid subscription at $6 a month, or $50 for an annual subscription, to get early access to Date with a Debut episodes, and to Second Date episodes.
If you’re liking this, though, I’m excited to announce a special offer: if you sign up for a paid subscription, you can get access to all of VIP Bookies for 12 months at 50% off, starting from June 2026! That’s $3 a month!
Click below to redeem this special offer!
Now it’s time for a peek behind the curtain in June and July….👇🏼
While Date with a Debut is off for the next few weeks and will return in late June for the continuation of series four, to bridge the gap, please enjoy a sneak peek of my new newsletter show, Second Date, where Bridie Blake and Amanda Hewitt return for a second round of rapid-fire questions.👇🏼
Date with a Debut will return on June 30th with the resumption of the remainder of Series 4… and we’re going to have several special features!
Firstly, we’ll have our first-ever collaborative episode, where I sit down with the host of Talking Aussie Books, Claudine Tinellis, discussing our favourite books we’ve enjoyed in 2026, and what we think the future of the industry looks like for debut authors!
We’ll welcome Albert Jamae to discuss his nonfiction debut, Shaping Tomorrow’s Man, a deep dive into the challenges men face in the 21st century, and how men can develop clarity, purpose, and meaningful connection without shame, blame, or outdated stereotypes.
We’ll dive into the world of the Northern Territory in Christmas 1974, just before one of Australia’s greatest disasters. Jane R. Miles makes her debut with her new, bone-chilling psychological thriller, Stay Buried, filled with secrets, survival, and a legend that refuses to die.
All that (and much, much more) will be coming when Date with a Debut returns for the remainder of Series 4 in July 2026!
Now, the newsletter exclusives! It’s time for Second Date!
Alas, we have come to the end of this newsletter… but the fun doesn’t have to stop there!
Head to my full archive to check out my entire catalogue of work, plus more!
That’s it for this month’s newsletter. See you in July for even more new episodes!
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