When your bestie is marrying a guy she barely knows, can you save her from the cult before it's too late? Natalie is living proof that love is a scam. She's traumatised by her parents' failed marriage and overwhelmed by her grandmother's expectations of good Lebanese girls — marriage, motherhood and exceptional tabouli-making skills. When her best friend decides to get hitched to a guy in the motherland, Nat's not exactly thrilled by the mammoth task before her: juggling cultural traditions, extra bridesmaid dresses and super-judgemental relatives. And to top it off there's the annoyingly good-looking best man and his constant need to mansplain all of the things. Natalie is in for the trip of her life. But can she save her friend from the cult of romance, without falling in love herself?PRAISE FOR THE CULT OF ROMANCE'The Cult of Romance is a vividly realised, dazzling...

In the vein of DOES MY HEAD LOOK BIG IN THIS and LOOKING FOR ALIBRANDI, HATE IS SUCH A STRONG WORD is the story of a seventeen-year-old girl caught between two cultures, Lebanese and Anglo Australian. Seventeen-year-old Sophie hates Monday mornings, socks worn with sandals, and having to strategise like she's a battle sergeant every time she asks her parents if she can go out. But she especially hates being stereotyped because she's Lebanese. When New Guy, Shehadie Goldsmith, is alienated at her Lebanese school because his dad's Australian, she hates the way it makes her feel. Like she's just as prejudiced as everyone else. Like she could make a difference if she stopped pretending she's invisible. Like the attraction between them might be too strong to fight... But hate is such a strong word... Can Sophie find the strength to speak out - even if it means going against everything she's been brought up to believe? A brilliant debut novel about identity, love, culture and finding...

Five teenagers. Five lives. One final year. The school captain: Ryan has it all ... or at least he did. But when the one thing that his future hinged on is snatched away from him, how will he start to rebuild his life and who will he decide to be? The newcomer: Charlie's just moved to Sydney from Melbourne, and she's determined not to fit in. She's just biding her time till Year 12 is over and she can head back to her real life and her real friends ... The loner: Nobody really notices Matty. He's just another guy in a hoodie. But at home Matty is everything: he's been holding things together ever since he can remember, and since his mum's latest breakdown, he's never been so alone. The popular girl: Well, the popular girl's best friend ... cool by association. Tammi has always done what's expected of her, but when her boyfriend pressures her to do something she's really not ready for, will she finally stand up for herself? The politician's daughter: Gillian's the good girl. She's...