Lynda Tomalin
Glitter Ink Press
Genre: YA

Hollie is learning to live with depression.

She’s working hard to put the darkest days behind her. She’s got a job she loves, friends she cares about, and she’s coping. In fact, she’s doing pretty well.

Then a mysterious – and gorgeous – new boy shows up at school.

Jonathan is running away from his past.

Weighed down by a guilty secret, he’s fled to his aunt’s rural property under the guise of helping out on the farm.

As Hollie and Jonathan are unexpectedly thrown together, a growing mutual attraction scares and excites them.

But the past isn’t so easy to escape, and they both have to decide if it’s enough to keep hiding, from themselves and from each other.

Or can they risk hoping for more?

Selina Alesana Alefosio
Mila's Books
Genre: Junior

Hiva & Heartbeats follows Epi, a Tokelau girl growing up in the colourful chaos of family gatherings, legacy, and big dreams in the nineties.

Through it all, it's hiva-traditional Tokelau dance-that keeps her grounded. As crushes get complicated and teen life throws its usual mix of drama, doubts, and decisions, Epi learns that staying true to your roots is the real glow-up.

With her diary, her culture, and her sister-cousin Lia by her side, she dances through the highs and lows of teen life-one slow jam at a time.

Johanna Emeney
Massey University Press
Genre: illustrated non-fiction

The bond between human and horse is so special. Horses & Us brings together 23 true stories from across Aotearoa New Zealand which show the incredible things that are achieved when humans and horses come together.

With illustrations by award-winning artists as well as poems, artworks and photographs, Horses & Us is a big-hearted, moving and engaging celebration of the animals we love and the people who love them.

Aimed at young readers, it will delight grown-ups too!

Donovan Bixley
Upstart Press
Genre: Illustrated

Five beautifully illustrated dragon stories from around the world in the distinctive style of Donovan Bixley. Told through the eyes of Caterina, a serving girl in Belvedere Palace in Rome, where the excitement is that the great Leonardo da Vinci is visting, and he has a dragon!