Welcome to the Leaf’s newest column at the intersection of literature and getting lit. Check back every month for book reviews and recommendations that pair perfectly with a stoney state of mind. Because, really, is there any cozier combo than a good sesh and a great story? Let’s get to burning and page turning …
I’m kicking things off with a heavy hitter that came very highly recommended: “Wild Dark Shore” by Charlotte McConaghy. This novel quickly landed on bestseller lists from The New York Times to The Washington Post and has made waves worldwide, being named the 2025 Dymocks Book of the Year in Australia and earning a spot on the Carnegie Medal longlist, among many other accolades.
Set on a remote island near Antarctica, “Wild Dark Shore” follows a solitary researcher and his three children living in isolation at the edge of the world to safeguard our largest seed bank. As a climate disaster looms and a mysterious woman washes ashore, their carefully contained existence begins to unravel. This eccentric family must now uncover buried truths and make impossible choices that could very well shape the future of global agriculture and humanity itself.
This novel truly has it all: romance, plot twists and thought-provoking themes of family, seed sovereignty and climate change. I was immediately immersed in the richly drawn, oddball crew of characters and a breathtaking landscape that became a character in its own right.
“Wild Dark Shore” pairs beautifully with a quiet night, a thoughtful high and nowhere else to be. Once I was a few chapters in, I genuinely couldn’t put it down. Some Sour OG rosin felt like the perfect companion for this read. Clear-headed and focus-forward, it provided a mental lift that is just expansive enough to let the emotional depth of the story fully wash over you. This is one of those books that is best enjoyed when the rest of the world fades out, and hash always helps get me there. Until next time, readers!
