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Chinese President Xi Jinping has made no secret of his ambition to "reunite" Taiwan with China, a move that could spark a full-scale war with the United States and its allies. Franz-Stefan Gady, a senior adjunct fellow at Washington think-tank the Center for a New American Security, analyses how the US might engage China across land, sea, air, space, cyberspace and the electromagnetic spectrum. He also examines the risk of such a conflict crossing the nuclear threshold, particularly if the US pursues its preferred "rapid decisive warfare" approach. Gady argues that US strategic defeat is a real possibility.

Melissa Browne. Allen & Unwin. $34.99.

In her "unapologetic guide for women to build wealth on your terms", Melissa Browne promises "no jargon, no shame, no cookie-cutter plans, just smart strategies, real stories and a powerful mindset shift that will take you from "I don't know" to "I've got this". A former accountant, Browne has spent 20 years growing businesses, becoming a multi-millionaire along the way - and she did it after divorce in her early 30s left her with nothing. The financial educator's new book speaks plainly about the financial realities women face and offers advice on how to build - or rebuild - independence with practical tips for managing spending, debt and investing.

Chris Hammer. MUP. $36.99.

Originally published in 2012 and now re-issued with a new foreword, The Coast is the second of Chris Hammer's two non-fiction books. It follows on from The River (released in 2010, reissued in 2025) and recounts his travels down Australia's east coast - from the Torres Strait to Bass Strait - in 2011 and the places he visited and people he met. He meanders through topics such as climate change and the environment, indigenous history and the significance of the beach in Australian society and culture. Fans of the former journalist's crime novels may recognise some of the locations and themes that shaped his second Scrublands mystery, Silver.

Dr Matt Agnew. A&U Children. $26.99.

Astrophysicist Matt Agnew is perhaps best known for starring in TV dating show The Bachelor in 2019. After Dr Matt's Guide to Life in Space in 2022, he delved into the facts of AI for parents and children in his 2024 book Is My Phone Reading My Mind? His new book aims to sharpen the thinking and debating skills of young readers by explaining how people end up with different ideas and opinions and how we can discuss them even when we disagree. Choosing the right words, taking deep breaths and listening with care are the key to speaking your mind without losing your cool, he says.

Tim Ayliffe. Echo. $34.99.

Former ABC journalist Tim Ayliffe switches from John Bailey, the reporter hero of his five political thrillers, to a new protagonist for this standalone crime novel. Senior Constable Kit McCarthy hasn't seen her identical twin sister in more than a decade - not surprising considering Billie followed their violent father into a life of crime. With the effects of years working in child protection wearing her down, Kit is shocked to learn Billie has a son, is married to a former US Marine and has been living with a group of sovereign citizens in a drought-stricken corner of the NSW Riverina. And she's gone missing.

Amy DuBois Barnett. Simon & Schuster. $34.99.

In her debut novel where The Devil Wears Prada meets Empire, 20-something Nikki Rose has spent years working her way up the chain at StyleList magazine, and as the only black editor on staff, Nikki hasn't had it easy. As she hustles her way into a job offer as editor-in-chief at Sugar, a floundering hip-hop music and lifestyle publication, she's faced with a difficult decision: leave her prestigious job behind, or bet on herself. But will she sacrifice everything in order to win it all?

Cassie Stroud. HQ Fiction. $32.99.

This family drama, the debut novel of Sydney-based Cassie Stroud, is set in a fictional town on the south coast of NSW - but it could be anywhere. Siblings Helen, Sylvie and Brendan have returned to the fibro shack - named Iluka - at beautiful Beecham Point where they were raised by their grandfather. Gathering after his death to clean up the old place for sale, memories of being raised by their grandparents lead to uncomfortable questions about their family history. Like, what happened to their mother? They were told she'd died, but a hidden bundle of letters from her suggest they were not told the truth.

Olivier Norek, translated by Nick Caistor. Scribe. $35.00.

In 1939 Finland had been independent for only 22 years. It was small, poorly armed and unprepared for war, so when the Soviet Union launched an invasion of its neutral neighbour, the conclusion seemed foregone. Norek's novel is based on the true story of the hellish Winter War, a time when Finnish farmers and workers went up against the largest army in the world and preserved their independence. Central to the story is the legendary Simo Hayha, a diminutive farm boy whose extraordinary marksmanship helped him become one of the deadliest snipers in history, with the nickname "The White Death".

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