The Reading List

Find and share the best in books – daily!

Thursday – 17th April 2025

Join Antjie Krog at The Book Lounge for the launch of her new autobiographical novel Blood’s Inner Rhyme (8 May)

Penguin Random House SA and The Book Lounge invite you to the launch of Blood’s Inner Rhyme by Antjie Krog.

Tuesday – 15th April 2025

Don’t miss the launch of Ted Botha’s new book Hollywood on the Veld: When Movie Mayhem Gripped the City of Gold (17 Apr)

Jonathan Ball Publishers and The Book Lounge invite you to the launch of Hollywood on the Veld: When Movie Mayhem Gripped the City of Gold by Ted Botha.

Monday – 14th April 2025

Don’t miss the launch of Follow Me to Africa by acclaimed author Penny Haw at Exclusive Books Constantia Village (16 Apr)

Penguin Random House and Exclusive Books invite you to the launch of Penny Haw’s new novel Follow Me to Africa!

Thursday – 10th April 2025

We Two From Heaven by James Whyle – a highly original and bitter-sweet memoir exploring war, loss, memory and belonging

James Whyle’s We Two From Heaven is a haunting memoir that unravels memory like music – out now from Jonathan Ball Publishers.

Wednesday – 9th April 2025

Cover reveal! Find out more about Richard Osman’s new Thursday Murder Club mystery

The Impossible Fortune – the unmissable new mystery in the Thursday Murder Club series from bestselling author Richard Osman – will be out in September!

Tuesday – 8th April 2025

[Listen] The new episode of Pagecast is out now! The Lions’ Den by Iris Mwanza – a moving story of corruption, injustice and courage

In this episode of Pagecast, the podcast from Jonathan Ball Publishers, Sewela Langeni is in conversation with Iris Mwanza about her gripping debut novel, The Lion’s Den.

Monday – 7th April 2025

Read an excerpt from Confessions by Catherine Airey – an essential immersive debut from an astonishing new voice

Penguin Random House SA has shared an excerpt from Confessions by Catherine Airey.

Thursday – 3rd April 2025

New book alert! Fading Footprints: In Search of South Africa’s First People by Jose Manuel de Prada-Samper

Fading Footprints: In Search of South Africa’s First People by José Manuel de Prada-Samper is out now from Jonathan Ball Publishers.

Wednesday – 2nd April 2025

New book alert! Find out more about Mothers and Sons – the highly anticipated new novel from Pulitzer finalist Adam Haslett

Mothers and Sons by Adam Haslett is out now from Penguin Random House SA!

Tuesday – 1st April 2025

Pacy and light – the perfect holiday read – find out more about Khaki Fever by Lindsay Norman!

Khaki Fever by Lindsay Norman is chick lit in khaki, offering pure escapism with the perfect combination of romance and drama, spiced with laugh-out-loud moments.

Monday – 31st March 2025

New anthology: South Africa’s New Nonfiction edited by Sean Christie and Hedley Twidle – coming this May!

The Interpreters: South Africa’s New Nonfiction edited by Sean Christie and Hedley Twidle from Soutie Press will be out in May 2025.

Join Onke Mazibuko for the launch of his new novel Canary at Book Circle Capital (5 Apr)

Penguin Random House SA and Book Circle Capital invite you to the launch of Onke Mazibuko’s nail-biting, paranoid new thriller Canary!

Friday – 28th March 2025

Don’t miss the launch of Jo Watson’s spicy new rom-com The Ex Effect in Joburg (8 Apr)

Jonathan Ball Publishers and Exclusive Books invite you to the launch of The Ex Effect by Jo Watson!

Monday – 24th March 2025

Find out more about Mary Watson’s new novel The Cleaner (Plus: Listen to an excerpt!)

Mary Watson’s addictive, page-turning new thriller The Cleaner is out now from Penguin Random House SA!

New book alert! The Black Atlantic’s Triple Burden: Slavery, Colonialism and Reparations

The Black Atlantic’s Triple Burden: Slavery, Colonialism and Reparations, edited by Adekeye Adebajo, is out now from Jacana Media.

‘Arrival in the Cape’ – Read an excerpt from John Stewart’s new book Sir Herbert Baker: A Biography

Jonathan Ball Publishers has shared an excerpt from Sir Herbert Baker: A Biography by John Stewart.

Tuesday – 18th March 2025

Don’t miss the launch of White Supremacy: A Brief History of Hatred by Gavin Evans at The Book Lounge (18 Mar)

Jonathan Ball Publishers and The Book Lounge invite you to an evening of insightful conversation with Gavin Evans, author of White Supremacy: A Brief History of Hatred, in conversation with Zackie Achmat.