Books+Publishing reviews gain support from Cultural Fund

In 2025 for the first time, Books+Publishing’s pre-publication reviews program is being supported by the Copyright Agency’s Cultural Fund. This is the ideal time to revisit the reviews, their purpose, and their impact. Books+Publishing reviews editor Jess Lomas spoke to book industry professionals who read and contribute to the reviews. 

As the reviews editor at Books+Publishing, my role involves working closely with publishers and reviewers to help showcase the latest book releases from Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. Our pre-publication reviews sit at the heart of what we do because they offer something invaluable: early, independent insights. Beyond summarising and critiquing a book, they are designed to help booksellers, librarians, and educators decide what’s worth reading, stocking, or recommending.

The support of the Cultural Fund ensures that our reviews continue to serve the industry. As Copyright Agency CEO Josephine Johnston explains, ‘The Cultural Fund’s aim is to ensure Australian authors are better supported and paid appropriately for their creative endeavours, so to be able to support multiple members of the industry – the writers paid by Books+Publishing to write the reviews, and the authors and publishers that benefit from the pre-publication buzz – is a triumph for us all. I look forward to reading more reviews (and pre-ordering more books) thanks to Books+Publishing’s efforts!’

The reviews are a ‘trusted resource’ for booksellers, according to BookPeople CEO Robbie Egan. ‘Our industry is adept on the supply side, flooding booksellers with a vast array of new releases. Anything that can help cut through the noise with clear, independent insights helps to support buying decisions and staff recommendations, making Books+Publishing’s reviews an invaluable industry resource.’

This is especially true for specialist booksellers, including Marina Sano, co-owner of Amplify Bookstore, which specialises in books by First Nations authors and authors of colour. ‘With Amplify’s catalogue, local books can be few and far between, so it’s a great way to see what’s coming ahead of time,’ Sano said. ‘Since Books+Publishing is one of the few publications that shares early reviews of upcoming Australian and Aotearoa New Zealand releases, it’s a really useful tool to get a quick snapshot of what’s coming soon and to read a bit about them.’

For Kate Dunphy, a bookseller at the State Library of Queensland, reviewing for Books+Publishing allows her to stay connected with upcoming releases while directly influencing the books she recommends. ‘As a bookseller with local author relationships, I see first-hand the impact that Books+Publishing has on the broader literary community,’ she said. ‘It’s often the first place authors see their books reviewed, which generates conversation and excitement around a new release within the industry.’

Bookseller Hannah Gardiner agrees, sharing how, ‘when I was a bookseller on the floor, I used the reviews to help recommend titles to customers. Later in my career, when working as a buyer, they became a quick and easy way to “check my work” – I could quickly read through and make sure to order any titles I felt like I’d missed the first time around.’

A key point of difference for our reviews is those who write them. Our reviewers include booksellers, librarians, educators, writers, journalists and professionals who have previously worked in publishing. Their varied experiences bring valuable perspectives, ensuring our reviews reflect the needs and insights of people working across the industry.

Ultimately, it’s this peer-to-peer connection that many booksellers find most valuable. According to Megan O’Brien, a bookseller from Brunswick Bound, ‘There is no doubt that reading a peer review about a forthcoming book enables you to make better decisions about whether it a book is for you and your customers. It’s always reassuring to get another opinion about something that you may have missed or dismissed.’

Librarians and educators also rely on Books+Publishing reviews to help them build meaningful collections, recommend the right books to children and young adults and stay connected to what’s new and noteworthy.

‘As much as some of us would like to, I don’t think anyone has time to read every single book out there,’ said school librarian Karys McEwen. ‘Our young people can be very discerning about what they read, and Books+Publishing helps me get the right books into the hands of my patrons.’

For secondary school librarian Alida Galati, it’s about having a trusted voice in an industry flooded with marketing messages: ‘Staying abreast with all that goes on in the publishing industry takes a lot of effort. Receiving (what feels like) a zillion emails from publishers, bookshops, niche book-related websites, Substacks and the like helps. But it is a lot, and often, there is a blurred line between the actual information and the marketing spiel. Everyone in the literary community benefits from having access to sharp, incisive reviews that they can trust from a reputable Australian trade publication.’

Our reviews also contribute to the broader literary community. As Anica Boulanger-Mashberg from The Hobart Bookshop explains, ‘Books+Publishing offers a platform that many authors, especially debut writers or those with smaller publishers, wouldn’t otherwise have. Its reviews are visible to peers and booksellers, carrying a level of respect and validity that’s often missing from unedited, independent platforms like blogs or NetGalley. I’ve seen first-time authors proudly share B+P reviews, grateful for thoughtful feedback. Beyond new releases, the archive of past reviews is a valuable resource for industry professionals, keeping context and insights accessible even outside the noise of commercial promotion.’

Gary Pengelly, owner of Books+Publishing, notes that support like the Copyright Agency’s Cultural Fund plays a key role in making this possible: ‘Funding like this ensures we can continue offering a broad scope of reviews, covering not just major releases but books from small and independent publishers as well. That breadth is important for everyone in the industry who relies on Books+Publishing to stay informed.’

At its core, Books+Publishing is all about connection – between books and readers, authors and industry professionals, and stories and the people who need them most. With the support of the industry and the Copyright Agency’s Cultural Fund, we look forward to continuing to deliver thoughtful, insightful reviews that help shape the local literary landscape.

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