If you’re in the market for some ace book recommendations, look no further. For this month’s instalment of ‘what we get up to when we’re not making magazines’, the frankie team share some of our favourite lockdown reads. With the team all based in Melbourne, there's been plenty of time to bury our heads in a page-turner or two. 

Without further ado, here are a few titles we’ve been devouring:

“I recently read Cherry Beach in one weekend. It's the debut novel from Melbourne author Laura McPhee-Browne, and honestly, if this is her first, I can’t wait to see what comes next. Easy to read, relatable, and intensely emotional, in the best kind of way.” – Sophie, frankie editor.

“Get that great work of well-reviewed 21st-century literature away from me! Right now I’m only into comfort reads about rich, society people with “drawing rooms” and “reticules”, and no problems except who they’re going to marry and whether there’s a ghost in the attic. Basically, I’ve been reading Emma, Jane Eyre and cosy gothic classic Rebecca.” – Kate, frankie branded content director.

“I’ve almost finished reading Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman. I love this narrative because it’s full of overwhelming emotion. It speaks to the deep unspoken effect of loneliness and showcases how a little kindness can make a huge difference in someone’s life. It makes me want to be kind to everyone, including those who aren’t my closest friends and family. I also love the underlying message of the book: that it’s never too late to find our happiness.” – Molly, frankie partnerships manager.

“The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett is a multi-generational family saga spanning the decades in America from the ’50s to the ’90s. It’s centred on the lives of light-skinned Black twin sisters, one of whom distances herself from her family and past by choosing to live as a white woman. The search for truth and family connections unearths tightly held secrets. This page turner is a thought-provoking exploration of race, identity, love and empathy.” – Gaye, frankie general manager.

“I’m just going to straight-up admit that I only read about one book a year during my pre-pandemic adult life. My first lockdown book was Severance by Ling Ma, a darkly funny and unputdownable dystopian novel from 2018 about – get this – A PANDEMIC, and I’m happy to report that I’ve gobbled up several heart-achingly goods reads since, including Alexander Chee's How to Write An Autobiography. It only takes one great book to break the reading drought. – Emma, frankie assistant editor and online editor.

“I'm currently reading The Hobbit, which may not resonate with everyone, but is such a nice mental break from everything going on. It's quite short and easy to read, not to mention a nice way to exercise the imagination. I've also read Trick Mirror by Jia Tolentino, which contains some really clever and insightful essays on her “self delusions” and contemporary feminism. It was such a refreshing, relevant and modern perspective, and feels like it was written for females of our generation.” – Casey, frankie junior designer.

“I’ve just finished Sally Rooney’s debut novel Conversations With Friends, which felt like a no-brainer after inhaling the heart-wrenching TV adaptation of the Irish author’s award-winning novel Normal People. I’m completely obsessed with Rooney’s writing as a result: deeply emotional, awkwardly funny and distinctly dark in the most unexpected places.” – Jess, frankie marketing manager.

We’d love to know what you’ve been reading, too! Feel free to share your own recommendations via email or tag us on Instagram using #frankiemagazine.