Top of the literary pile

ArtsHub reviewers' stellar book picks for the year.

There’s been no lack of superlative books published in Australia this year. ArtsHub has taken a look back through 2021 to bring you ten of the very best books that garnered five big shiny stars from our reviewers. Here are some of the titles that provoked, entertained and offered solace and escapism throughout a difficult year.

The Shape of Sound by Fiona Murphy

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Thuy On is the Reviews and Literary Editor of ArtsHub and an arts journalist, critic and poet who’s written for a range of publications including The Guardian, The Saturday Paper, Sydney Review of Books, The Australian, The Age/SMH and Australian Book Review. She was the books editor of The Big issue for 8 years. Her debut, a collection of poetry called Turbulence, came out in 2020 and was released by University of Western Australia Publishing (UWAP). Her second collection, Decadence, was published in July 2022, also by UWAP. Her third book, Essence, will be published in 2025. Twitter: @thuy_on Instagram: poemsbythuy