Well, here we are in 2026 – a milestone year. Looking back over Good Reading’s history, I still remember the day I quit my job as a bookseller. When my big boss at Collins Booksellers asked where I was going next, I kept quiet; we hadn’t even begun planning. He assumed I was heading to Borders, the big US chain newly arrived in Australia, and promptly stopped speaking to me, not even farewelling me on my last day. In its own way, as hurtful as that was after 20 years of great success together, it was flattering – he clearly didn’t want to lose me.

But I handed in my notice, said goodbye to a lifetime in retail, and cleared out the back room at home. That’s where we set up a handful of desks and a big whiteboard. My mum and dad joined in. With my dad’s experience in printing and newspapers and my mum’s drive and enthusiasm for children’s books, we had a lot going for us. I was joined by Kathy Mossop, who was working with me bookselling at the time and Caroline Baum who was also working with me doing author talks in the café attached to the bookstore I was managing. We found someone to sell advertising, hired a designer, a printer, a distributor – and got to work.

We buzzed around that room like excited bees, mapping out what each issue of the magazine could be. We were brave, eager, and blissfully unaware of whether any of it would succeed. I shake my head when I think back to being so oblivious to the risks involved. I remember thinking to myself, if it doesn’t work, it doesn’t matter. I can work back in retail.

We visited publishers to share our plans. Many were enthusiastic – after all, our mission has always been simple: we wanted to get the word out about publishers’ books. We would never judge what anyone read, we aim to give readers the confidence to buy or borrow a book to read, and help readers discover books, encouraging them to try new authors and genres. We wanted to foster this love of books. Some publishers weren’t convinced and chose not to support us. So, we pressed on alone, and I’m proud to say we have more than proved ourselves. Now, as we prepare to celebrate our 25th birthday, I can’t help but smile at having quietly thumbed my nose at the doubters.

Three months later 9/11 happened and it shook our world. Some publisher’s panicked, unsure about what would happen in the world. Was World War III imminent? Some stopped advertising, bringing much of what sustained us to a halt. But life went on and we all recovered.

And here we still are. Not many book-focused magazines can say the same. In July it will be a bigger moment, 25 years of the magazine in readers’ hands. I never call us a ‘literary magazine’ – it sounds way too serious for me, too narrow, and actually off-putting. We just love books. All books! We love reading. We love seeing you reading. We love helping to find the right books for you and being part of your global book tribe. We love highlighting Australian and New Zealand authors and their books. Look at how our authors punch above their weight on the world stage. We love libraries and how they level the playing field for those of us not as fortunate to be able to buy any book we would like for ourselves or our family. They must be funded, it’s simply imperative. We love seeing kids holding books instead of a phone. We love helping to find that book that flips a child into being a lover of reading. How powerful is that for them.

Our excitement hasn’t faded. We’re still just as passionate about sharing the brilliant new books coming out each year, and about offering independently written reviews you can trust. I have never been one to blow my own trumpet, which many say is to my detriment, but I’m deeply proud of what we’ve built – thanks to every person who has played a part in Good Reading: the wonderful staff, the interns, the many reviewers who care so much about their craft. So many people have been part of this project. I am the luckiest person to have had all of them around me then and now. My gratitude for all of this comes from deep in my heart.

But this journey has never really been about us. It has always been about you. About sharing our combined love of books and passing that love on to the next generation – because reading will change their lives, enrich them, and help them understand the world.

Here’s to the next chapter. •

Rowena

PS In this issue we share some exciting books coming up in 2026. But looking back to last year, what have been some of your favourites? I’d welcome hearing from you. Please drop me a line and I’ll share them with all our readers.

Here is one of mine to kick it off.