ZM's #BookTok winter reads

ZM Exclusive: New Zealand's best #BookTok winter reads

We asked some of Aotearoa's favourite #booktok creators, including our very own producer Carwen, to share the books they've been loving lately, and their recommendations did not disappoint.

From addictive fantasy romances and dark academia favourites to page-turning thrillers and moving historical fiction, these are the books they think deserve a place on your TBR.

1. The Shadow Weaver by Ivy Cliffwater (Romantasy)
Reviewed by Carwen Jones (@carwenreads)

If you’re looking for a novel that features a fierce female main character who can wield a sword, look no further. The Shadow Weaver delivers everything romantasy fans love: slow-burn tension, a compelling curse, and a young woman fighting to change her fate.

2. The Crimson Moth by Kristen Ciccarelli (Fantasy Romance)
Reviewed by Lily Evans (@lilyevansnz)

The Crimson Moth is a YA fantasy romance filled with danger, secrets, and impossible yearning. If you love morally grey characters, enemies-to-lovers romance, and stories that stay with you long after you finish them, this is a must-read.

3. These Shattered Spires by Cassidy Ellis Salter (Queer YA Fantasy)
Reviewed by Kate Loves Books (@katelovesbooks_)

These Shattered Spires is a criminally good YA gothic fantasy debut. With messy queer characters and vivid, atmospheric writing, it’s perfect for fantasy lovers. The audiobook is fantastic too.

4. Weirds by Jenny Slate (Memoir/Essay)
Reviewed by Brea Simone (@breas.library)

Jenny Slate’s writing feels like the inner monologue of someone who can perfectly express the hardest emotions. Equal parts haunting and hopeful, Little Weirds explores sadness, humanity, and finding meaning through Slate’s uniquely beautiful use of language.

5. The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley (Thriller)
Reviewed by Mitch Kinney (@mitchreadsnz)

The Hunting Party is a gripping thriller that kept me hooked from start to finish. Its multi-POV style makes every character suspicious, and just when you think you've solved it, another twist appears.

6. Seascraper by Benjamin Wood (Historical Fiction)
Reviewed by Timothy Blewden (@tim.blewden)

Quietly unassuming yet deeply moving, Seascraper explores drudgery, dreams, and the desire for more. Benjamin Wood’s atmospheric writing captures both loneliness and longing with remarkable skill.

7. The Last Living Cannibal by Airana Ngarewa (Historical Fiction)
Reviewed by Greg's Bookshelf (@gregs.bookshelf)

The Last Living Cannibal is a powerful novel that brings Taranaki Māori history and culture to life. Airana Ngarewa balances themes of colonisation and intergenerational trauma with warmth, humanity, and sharp wit, creating a story that is both confronting and hopeful.

8. Collide by Alannah Roberts (Contemporary Romance)
Reviewed by Nicola Edger (@books_by_cola)

Collide is Alannah Roberts’ impressive debut, filled with lovable characters, steamy tension, plenty of drama, and emotional highs that keep the pages turning.

9. Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé (Dark Academia)
Reviewed by Adriana Vickers (@adrianaslibrary)

Ace of Spades is the perfect winter weekend binge-read. With Pretty Little Liars vibes and much deeper social themes, this dark academia novel will leave you thinking long after the final page.

10. Chasing the Wild by Elliott Rose (Small Town Cowboy Romance)
Reviewed by Paige Skye (@paigeskyereads)

Chasing the Wild completely took over my life. Packed with tension, chemistry, forced proximity, and a broody older cowboy, it has everything I want in a romance.

Pick a book, grab a blanket and a hot drink, and curl up with one of these BookTok-approved reads this winter!

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Brb having a rat girl winter.