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The Nocturnals
From the bestselling author of The Best Kind of Beautiful, Frances Whiting, comes an endearing, wise and witty novel of love and friendship, which asks, how far would you go, to protect your friends?
In the summer of 1997, five high school students meet. Nina, the Good Girl. Beatrice, The Poetess. Harriet, the Ghost. Cosmo, the Professor. And Hunter, the Golden Boy. In their last year of school, they become inseparable, five sides of the same star, until a fault line cracks between them, scattering them to all corners of the globe.
Now, fifteen years later, Hunter has called them with his conch shell lips to return to the place where they lived and laughed and cried together, before secrets were whispered, and promises were broken. No-one knows why he has assembled them, but there is no question they will go. Because to outsiders, they might be, in turns, a little bit weird, a little bit glamorous, and a little bit dangerous. But to each other, they are, and always will be, The Nocturnals.
From bestselling author Frances Whiting comes an irresistible, witty, darkly delightful and utterly endearing novel of friendship - and the lengths we will go to protect those who we love.
PRAISE FOR The Nocturnals:
'An alluring novel of thwarted dreams and unrequited love' The Australian
'A new Frances Whiting novel is always a cause for celebration! Frances writes page-turning stories filled with warmth, wit, wisdom and charm. One of my favourite Australian writers.' Liane Moriarty, New York Times Bestselling author of Here One Moment
'Frances Whiting writes friendship with such warmth and precision it made my heart ache in the very best way. I fell in love with these characters - and when I finished the novel, I immediately wanted to ring every friend I adore. The Nocturnals glows with tenderness. It's a witty, soulful story about the families that shape us, the families we choose, and the version of ourselves that surface in the private hours after midnight.' Sally Hepworth, New York Times bestselling author of Mad Mabel
'The Nocturnals is witty, luminous and frankly, irresistible. Think The Breakfast Club meets The Great Gatsby - clever, funny, and impossible to put down. I'm calling it as one of the best reads of 2026.' - Rebecca Sparrow, Birds of a Feather Book Club
'From the first page, I knew I was in the hands of a master. Frances weaves the threads of her characters' stories together with such effortless clarity, that I found myself kicking my little feet in bed with anticipation of every next page. I'm bereft that the book is over, and nostalgic for friends that I wish were mine.' Astrid Astrid Jorgensen, Founding Director Pub Choir
In the summer of 1997, five high school students meet. Nina, the Good Girl. Beatrice, The Poetess. Harriet, the Ghost. Cosmo, the Professor. And Hunter, the Golden Boy. In their last year of school, they become inseparable, five sides of the same star, until a fault line cracks between them, scattering them to all corners of the globe.
Now, fifteen years later, Hunter has called them with his conch shell lips to return to the place where they lived and laughed and cried together, before secrets were whispered, and promises were broken. No-one knows why he has assembled them, but there is no question they will go. Because to outsiders, they might be, in turns, a little bit weird, a little bit glamorous, and a little bit dangerous. But to each other, they are, and always will be, The Nocturnals.
From bestselling author Frances Whiting comes an irresistible, witty, darkly delightful and utterly endearing novel of friendship - and the lengths we will go to protect those who we love.
PRAISE FOR The Nocturnals:
'An alluring novel of thwarted dreams and unrequited love' The Australian
'A new Frances Whiting novel is always a cause for celebration! Frances writes page-turning stories filled with warmth, wit, wisdom and charm. One of my favourite Australian writers.' Liane Moriarty, New York Times Bestselling author of Here One Moment
'Frances Whiting writes friendship with such warmth and precision it made my heart ache in the very best way. I fell in love with these characters - and when I finished the novel, I immediately wanted to ring every friend I adore. The Nocturnals glows with tenderness. It's a witty, soulful story about the families that shape us, the families we choose, and the version of ourselves that surface in the private hours after midnight.' Sally Hepworth, New York Times bestselling author of Mad Mabel
'The Nocturnals is witty, luminous and frankly, irresistible. Think The Breakfast Club meets The Great Gatsby - clever, funny, and impossible to put down. I'm calling it as one of the best reads of 2026.' - Rebecca Sparrow, Birds of a Feather Book Club
'From the first page, I knew I was in the hands of a master. Frances weaves the threads of her characters' stories together with such effortless clarity, that I found myself kicking my little feet in bed with anticipation of every next page. I'm bereft that the book is over, and nostalgic for friends that I wish were mine.' Astrid Astrid Jorgensen, Founding Director Pub Choir
333 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 1, 2026
447 people are currently reading
1911 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
March 24, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC
I thoroughly enjoyed this book despite a couple of early misgivings. The pace of the first third of the book was a bit slow and I always have an issue when authors use made up place names as I like to orient myself in a book for a full immersive experience. However, as the story progressed and the characters became more fleshed out, I really started to enjoy it.
These five teenagers (at the beginning) were very relatable and I even have a son named Hunter who was once likened to the Sun in his friendship group; the one everyone else just orbits around - just like Hunter in this book. And if Hunter is the Sun, then Cosmo is the Moon - the gentle, quiet and reliable one. The girls oscillating between them both. Together they are a cohesive bunch who call themselves The Nocturnals as they only meet under a blind, dark, sky - officially.
This is no “We’re young, let’s get drunk and do crazy stuff” kind of friendship group though. They take a vow to love each other wholly, and they do. Even when they make choices that hurt the others.
Told from a multi-character POV, and switching between their late 90s teen years and forward to when they are on the cusp of 30, then Hunter calls a reunion. The parents play important supporting characters in this book and they are portrayed as loving and supportive in some cases and deeply flawed in others. I highly recommend this book.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book despite a couple of early misgivings. The pace of the first third of the book was a bit slow and I always have an issue when authors use made up place names as I like to orient myself in a book for a full immersive experience. However, as the story progressed and the characters became more fleshed out, I really started to enjoy it.
These five teenagers (at the beginning) were very relatable and I even have a son named Hunter who was once likened to the Sun in his friendship group; the one everyone else just orbits around - just like Hunter in this book. And if Hunter is the Sun, then Cosmo is the Moon - the gentle, quiet and reliable one. The girls oscillating between them both. Together they are a cohesive bunch who call themselves The Nocturnals as they only meet under a blind, dark, sky - officially.
This is no “We’re young, let’s get drunk and do crazy stuff” kind of friendship group though. They take a vow to love each other wholly, and they do. Even when they make choices that hurt the others.
Told from a multi-character POV, and switching between their late 90s teen years and forward to when they are on the cusp of 30, then Hunter calls a reunion. The parents play important supporting characters in this book and they are portrayed as loving and supportive in some cases and deeply flawed in others. I highly recommend this book.
April 17, 2026
This was such a delightful read!! Excellent dialogue and observations and it was told through many povs which felt a little jarring at times but only because the chapters were occasionally very brief HOWEVER it was very fun because the characters were in conversation with each other in a way that felt really clever and authentic. Set largely at the end of high school where a group of friends get shaken up by a new arrival and all their grand plans for their future are put at risk. Felt very dead poets adjacent but in Australia which is fun. A deep amount of angst which I loved and believably eclectic characters who found each other because they didn't belong anywhere else. Some of Hunter's catchphrases felt a liiiiiitle heavy handed but that's probably because I was head over heels for Beatrice and her being a poet made everything make sense.
March 29, 2026
The Nocturnals is an engaging story about friendship, belonging, chasing dreams, and trying to find your place in the world. The narrative follows five central characters - Hunter, Nina, Bea, Cosmo, and Harriet -and moves between two timelines: their teenage years and their lives in their late twenties.
In the present-day storyline, the group has drifted apart, though the reasons for this aren’t immediately clear. As the story shifts back to their teenage years, we learn more about each character, their backgrounds, and how they came together to form The Nocturnals. Gradually, the novel builds towards an event that changes their lives forever.
I particularly enjoyed the dynamic between the characters when they were teenagers. Their friendships felt genuine, and the glimpses into their families and very different upbringings added depth to their personalities. The story is told through alternating viewpoints, which works well to give each character their own voice and perspective.
There are also a few secrets and twists along the way that keep the story interesting and add an extra layer of intrigue to the plot. Overall, it’s a thoughtful story about friendship, growing up, and the lasting impact of the choices we make.
In the present-day storyline, the group has drifted apart, though the reasons for this aren’t immediately clear. As the story shifts back to their teenage years, we learn more about each character, their backgrounds, and how they came together to form The Nocturnals. Gradually, the novel builds towards an event that changes their lives forever.
I particularly enjoyed the dynamic between the characters when they were teenagers. Their friendships felt genuine, and the glimpses into their families and very different upbringings added depth to their personalities. The story is told through alternating viewpoints, which works well to give each character their own voice and perspective.
There are also a few secrets and twists along the way that keep the story interesting and add an extra layer of intrigue to the plot. Overall, it’s a thoughtful story about friendship, growing up, and the lasting impact of the choices we make.
Read
April 15, 2026After struggling through a multiple month long reading slump, I picked up The Nocturnals and was instantly gripped!
This book hurts in the most beautiful of way. Whilst it follows a familiar premise; a group of high school oddballs who find themselves when they are with each other, only to have their friendship fall apart. But it just delivers on the premise of the book so well that it still manages to feel fresh!
It perfectly captures the immense teenage angst of longing to feel seen and understood for who you truly are, that kind of platonic yearning that borders upon obsession. The characters were all clearly defined and lovable, I particularly adored Cosmo, and definitely saw a lot of my teenage self in Nina.
An Australian coming of age story of fierce friendship that was so propulsive that I read majority of the book in a single sitting. Definitely going to be looking into other work by this author!
A massive thanks to Harper Collins for the copy in exchange for an honest review!
This book hurts in the most beautiful of way. Whilst it follows a familiar premise; a group of high school oddballs who find themselves when they are with each other, only to have their friendship fall apart. But it just delivers on the premise of the book so well that it still manages to feel fresh!
It perfectly captures the immense teenage angst of longing to feel seen and understood for who you truly are, that kind of platonic yearning that borders upon obsession. The characters were all clearly defined and lovable, I particularly adored Cosmo, and definitely saw a lot of my teenage self in Nina.
An Australian coming of age story of fierce friendship that was so propulsive that I read majority of the book in a single sitting. Definitely going to be looking into other work by this author!
A massive thanks to Harper Collins for the copy in exchange for an honest review!
February 4, 2026
I absolutely loved this book and had a very hard time putting it down! I loved the style and the flow, and I really loved each of the very flawed characters. The friendships were written beautifully and it was so nice following The Nocturnals into adulthood.
Only a couple of minor critiques:
1. I love the cover but I don’t feel like it particularly fits the book - I would have preferred a recreation of Beatrice’s final poetry book.
2. The reveal of Harriet’s death really excited me for a moment; I thought we were maybe going to get a supernatural/delusional element wherein Harriet had been dead for quite some time and was a ghost/figment of Hunter’s imagination. I’m not sure how necessary it was for her to die right before the reunion beyond tying up loose ends.
Regardless, I thought this was fantastic and my criticisms clearly didn’t stop it being a 5 star read!
Only a couple of minor critiques:
1. I love the cover but I don’t feel like it particularly fits the book - I would have preferred a recreation of Beatrice’s final poetry book.
2. The reveal of Harriet’s death really excited me for a moment; I thought we were maybe going to get a supernatural/delusional element wherein Harriet had been dead for quite some time and was a ghost/figment of Hunter’s imagination. I’m not sure how necessary it was for her to die right before the reunion beyond tying up loose ends.
Regardless, I thought this was fantastic and my criticisms clearly didn’t stop it being a 5 star read!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 28, 2026
Thank you so much to Harper Collins for sending me a copy.
This book was so good! I loved how we were able to follow the group of friends, The Nocturnals, through their timelines. From high school students, to adults and to right now. The story showed what life could be like for everybody and how everybody's story in life is different. It had a strong message about life choices, consequences of those actions, family matters, friendship and betrayal and heartbreak.
There was a little twist which I wasn't expecting at all but it was told so well that it fit into the story line. This part did in fact make me teary.
Overall, I enjoyed this one a lot and would absolutely recommend it.
This book was so good! I loved how we were able to follow the group of friends, The Nocturnals, through their timelines. From high school students, to adults and to right now. The story showed what life could be like for everybody and how everybody's story in life is different. It had a strong message about life choices, consequences of those actions, family matters, friendship and betrayal and heartbreak.
There was a little twist which I wasn't expecting at all but it was told so well that it fit into the story line. This part did in fact make me teary.
Overall, I enjoyed this one a lot and would absolutely recommend it.
April 26, 2026
loved this one. it’s a beautiful story of friendship, belonging and sacrifice. i found the beginning a bit slow to start but enjoyed frances’ writing so much! i finished this book in a weekend pretty much.
it’s set in sydney, where i lived for many years
but some story locations were made up while some were legit… wish that the author used real locations for everything.
the author states she loves the cover of the book but for me, it doesn’t work at all- as the story has no connection to 70s era/disco.
i feel like this book would be great for those who lost their reading mojo and want something go get them back into reading.
it’s set in sydney, where i lived for many years
but some story locations were made up while some were legit… wish that the author used real locations for everything.
the author states she loves the cover of the book but for me, it doesn’t work at all- as the story has no connection to 70s era/disco.
i feel like this book would be great for those who lost their reading mojo and want something go get them back into reading.
April 15, 2026
oh my god. tears. incredible. this is my type of book. the complexities of teenage friendship to then adulthood. it’s so perfect.
April 30, 2026
Simply beautiful.
May 4, 2026
totally lovely and so australian. I think australian fiction just always has such a distinct and vibrant narration (I’m probably biased) but I just love it. This was no exception. Theres something almost so jovial and joyous in the storytelling even when the plot errs on darkness. fab fab fab loved it
April 29, 2026
Well, I gave dragged this one out long enough, and I finally finished it 🥺
I adored everything about this novel.
The time period - late 90’s
The setting - The suburbs, and beaches of Sydney, Australia
The friend’s group.
Their banter - ( Nina was my spirit animal )
This whole coming of age story surrounding these four ( five including Harriet ) friends riveting.
You had the clever , brilliant, Nina and her loving family of Polish background, secretly ( not so secretly) in love with Hunter
Hunter, and his wealthy, high maintenance, appearances are everything, mother, and overbearing abusive father, who worships the ground Bea walks on..
Beatrice - the beautiful, artistic, ballsy, take no prisoners, object of Hunters affections. The girl who took Nina under her wing the moment they first met.
And Cosmo, the tall, super smart, curly haired serious sidekick.
The dynamics of the group are expanded with the arrival of the beautiful, petite, elfin, white haired,Harriet Halliday,
Daughter of Hunters new swim coach.
The quiet, almost invisible, Harriet quickly becomes the object of the conscientious Cosmo’s world.
The first girl he has ever paid attention too.
Drawing him away from his science and physics experiments
( a subject she too has an interest in )
They appear to be each others “ North Star “
Until….
The morning that the friends wake up to find Harriet and Hunter have both left Australia for America..
TOGETHER!!!
This development clearly throws the remaining friends group into a spiral.
Cosmo is stunned.
Bea is furious!!!
Nina is flummoxed !!! Why? Why? has this transpired?
Nobody was aware that they were even that close.
For Hunter, his feelings for Bea were also obvious amongst the group
( much to ire of Nina, who couldn’t help herself from pinning after him. Of which both Bea and Hunter were aware of )
And as for Harriet, her and Cosmo were each other’s soul mate.
So their sudden departure has everyone searching their heads.
This book traverses back and forth between their younger selves, and ten years later when they are all back in Australia,
Back to their old stomping grounds.
About to have a reunion of The Nocturnals the group they had formed while in high school.
Finally! They will be able to get to the bottom of what happened to them now they are all adults.
Shocking Secrets will come out,
Tragedy will be uncovered.
But will it be enough to stitch closed the open wounds the have festered for the past ten years?
These characters are still living rent free in my mind.
The banter, the relationships, the friendship was joyous!
But! Be prepared…
There is heart ache 🥲
I adored everything about this novel.
The time period - late 90’s
The setting - The suburbs, and beaches of Sydney, Australia
The friend’s group.
Their banter - ( Nina was my spirit animal )
This whole coming of age story surrounding these four ( five including Harriet ) friends riveting.
You had the clever , brilliant, Nina and her loving family of Polish background, secretly ( not so secretly) in love with Hunter
Hunter, and his wealthy, high maintenance, appearances are everything, mother, and overbearing abusive father, who worships the ground Bea walks on..
Beatrice - the beautiful, artistic, ballsy, take no prisoners, object of Hunters affections. The girl who took Nina under her wing the moment they first met.
And Cosmo, the tall, super smart, curly haired serious sidekick.
The dynamics of the group are expanded with the arrival of the beautiful, petite, elfin, white haired,Harriet Halliday,
Daughter of Hunters new swim coach.
The quiet, almost invisible, Harriet quickly becomes the object of the conscientious Cosmo’s world.
The first girl he has ever paid attention too.
Drawing him away from his science and physics experiments
( a subject she too has an interest in )
They appear to be each others “ North Star “
Until….
The morning that the friends wake up to find Harriet and Hunter have both left Australia for America..
TOGETHER!!!
This development clearly throws the remaining friends group into a spiral.
Cosmo is stunned.
Bea is furious!!!
Nina is flummoxed !!! Why? Why? has this transpired?
Nobody was aware that they were even that close.
For Hunter, his feelings for Bea were also obvious amongst the group
( much to ire of Nina, who couldn’t help herself from pinning after him. Of which both Bea and Hunter were aware of )
And as for Harriet, her and Cosmo were each other’s soul mate.
So their sudden departure has everyone searching their heads.
This book traverses back and forth between their younger selves, and ten years later when they are all back in Australia,
Back to their old stomping grounds.
About to have a reunion of The Nocturnals the group they had formed while in high school.
Finally! They will be able to get to the bottom of what happened to them now they are all adults.
Shocking Secrets will come out,
Tragedy will be uncovered.
But will it be enough to stitch closed the open wounds the have festered for the past ten years?
These characters are still living rent free in my mind.
The banter, the relationships, the friendship was joyous!
But! Be prepared…
There is heart ache 🥲
April 5, 2026
The Nocturnals by Frances Whiting
I requested this one because I'd seen a lot of Bookstagram buzz around it, a number of my favourite authors were hyping it, and I went in knowing I was going to either love it or be deeply disappointed... spoiler alert: I wasn't disappointed.
The Nocturnals follows five high school friends, misfits, almost like a 90s version of The Breakfast Club. The story is told through a weaving between their teenage years in the 1990s and their adult lives in the present day, and sometimes the same incident is told from a different point of view, which I enjoyed.
The writing is almost lyrical. Here's an example from the blurb: "Nina, the Good Girl. Beatrice, The Poetess. Harriet, the Ghost. Cosmo, the Professor. And Hunter, the Golden Boy. In their last year of school, they become inseparable, five sides of the same star, until a fault line cracks between them, scattering them to all corners of the globe."
*sigh*
I found these characters relatable, especially how they all gravitated towards Nina and her mum's kitchen table (and the Paczki/Polish doughnuts on it), and I found their friendship funny, frustrating and (mostly) brilliant.
The Nocturnals is the first book by Frances Whiting that I've read, and I absolutely loved it. If you enjoy Australian domestic mysteries, like The Grapevine by Kate Kemp, The Pool by Hannah Tunnicliffe or Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth, then you'll like this one.
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Australia for the eARC of The Nocturnals by Frances Whiting. It's out now.
Side note: The mirror balls on the cover really made me want to draw one, and I've added Paczki to my list of food drawings.
Warning: domestic violence themes.
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@frankywhiting #TheNocturnals #NetGalley @NetGalley
@harpercollinsaustralia #harpercollinsaustralia
I requested this one because I'd seen a lot of Bookstagram buzz around it, a number of my favourite authors were hyping it, and I went in knowing I was going to either love it or be deeply disappointed... spoiler alert: I wasn't disappointed.
The Nocturnals follows five high school friends, misfits, almost like a 90s version of The Breakfast Club. The story is told through a weaving between their teenage years in the 1990s and their adult lives in the present day, and sometimes the same incident is told from a different point of view, which I enjoyed.
The writing is almost lyrical. Here's an example from the blurb: "Nina, the Good Girl. Beatrice, The Poetess. Harriet, the Ghost. Cosmo, the Professor. And Hunter, the Golden Boy. In their last year of school, they become inseparable, five sides of the same star, until a fault line cracks between them, scattering them to all corners of the globe."
*sigh*
I found these characters relatable, especially how they all gravitated towards Nina and her mum's kitchen table (and the Paczki/Polish doughnuts on it), and I found their friendship funny, frustrating and (mostly) brilliant.
The Nocturnals is the first book by Frances Whiting that I've read, and I absolutely loved it. If you enjoy Australian domestic mysteries, like The Grapevine by Kate Kemp, The Pool by Hannah Tunnicliffe or Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth, then you'll like this one.
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Australia for the eARC of The Nocturnals by Frances Whiting. It's out now.
Side note: The mirror balls on the cover really made me want to draw one, and I've added Paczki to my list of food drawings.
Warning: domestic violence themes.
Thumbsup
#2026bookshelf #DesignNerd #booksdeevaareads
@frankywhiting #TheNocturnals #NetGalley @NetGalley
@harpercollinsaustralia #harpercollinsaustralia
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
With its gorgeous cover and intriguing blurb, I hoped *The Nocturnals* would provide a lively story that would feel sparkly and serreptitious. With its focus on enduring friendships, I hoped that would lend to deeply, enriching characters who felt honest and real. But, unfortunately, I never felt like *The Nocturnals* ever hit it's stride.
The pacing is incredibly slow to start, with a lot of time reserved for establishing our characters *then* and *now*, who they are as individuals and how they relate to each other. It was only 30% through the book that I really felt as though we had moved away from all introductions, and that the focus was finally turning to the true story at hand.
Despite the pacing picking up for the remainder of the book, I never felt like we truly knew anyone. Actions were rarely allowed to speak for themselves and internal motivations felt brushed over or skipped completely. I'm unsure if this was to reserve suspense for later revalations, but in any case I felt this led to each of the five characters being underwhelming and caricature-ish; they each fit a pre-defined role that suits the unveiling narrative, rather than being grounded in reality and developing naturally.
The story was ok, I guess, though my primary feeling was there wasn't really a story at all. There were threads that never felt adequately resolved, felt out of place or strangely concluded by book's end. I think the extremely limited (if any) character development lent to the story feeling underwhelming and detatched.
Ultimately I wished for more in story, characters and depth, but at least I did love the cover.
I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
The pacing is incredibly slow to start, with a lot of time reserved for establishing our characters *then* and *now*, who they are as individuals and how they relate to each other. It was only 30% through the book that I really felt as though we had moved away from all introductions, and that the focus was finally turning to the true story at hand.
Despite the pacing picking up for the remainder of the book, I never felt like we truly knew anyone. Actions were rarely allowed to speak for themselves and internal motivations felt brushed over or skipped completely. I'm unsure if this was to reserve suspense for later revalations, but in any case I felt this led to each of the five characters being underwhelming and caricature-ish; they each fit a pre-defined role that suits the unveiling narrative, rather than being grounded in reality and developing naturally.
The story was ok, I guess, though my primary feeling was there wasn't really a story at all. There were threads that never felt adequately resolved, felt out of place or strangely concluded by book's end. I think the extremely limited (if any) character development lent to the story feeling underwhelming and detatched.
Ultimately I wished for more in story, characters and depth, but at least I did love the cover.
I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I was immediately drawn to The Nocturnals by Frances Whiting because of the stunning cover it completely caught my attention and made me want to know more. Sometimes you really do judge a book by its cover… and this time it paid off.
The story follows a tight-knit group of friends Beatrice, Nina, Cosmo and Hunter who call themselves the “Nocturnals,” basically a Breakfast Club that meets at night (a description Harriet uses in the book, and it fits them perfectly). When Harriet, the new girl at school, joins their circle in 1997, you can feel the dynamic start to shift. It’s subtle at first, but there’s this underlying sense that something is going to change.
Years later, Hunter unexpectedly calls the group back together, and from the very beginning you’re left wondering: what actually happened back then? Why did their friendship fall apart? I loved that feeling of slowly trying to piece it all together.
One of my favourite parts was the shifting POV. Each character has such a distinct voice, and I really enjoyed seeing how their perspectives of the same events differed. The dual timeline moving between 1997 and the present flows so smoothly. With each chapter, you get a little more insight into the event that fractured them, and it definitely kept me turning the pages.
The character development is where this novel really shines. Watching who they were as teenagers compared to who they’ve become as adults adds so much emotional depth. Their growth and the lingering wounds they carry felt honest and relatable.
If you love stories about complicated friendships, nostalgia, layered timelines and that bittersweet feeling of looking back at who you used to be, I think you’ll really enjoy this one. A solid 4 stars from me. ✨
The story follows a tight-knit group of friends Beatrice, Nina, Cosmo and Hunter who call themselves the “Nocturnals,” basically a Breakfast Club that meets at night (a description Harriet uses in the book, and it fits them perfectly). When Harriet, the new girl at school, joins their circle in 1997, you can feel the dynamic start to shift. It’s subtle at first, but there’s this underlying sense that something is going to change.
Years later, Hunter unexpectedly calls the group back together, and from the very beginning you’re left wondering: what actually happened back then? Why did their friendship fall apart? I loved that feeling of slowly trying to piece it all together.
One of my favourite parts was the shifting POV. Each character has such a distinct voice, and I really enjoyed seeing how their perspectives of the same events differed. The dual timeline moving between 1997 and the present flows so smoothly. With each chapter, you get a little more insight into the event that fractured them, and it definitely kept me turning the pages.
The character development is where this novel really shines. Watching who they were as teenagers compared to who they’ve become as adults adds so much emotional depth. Their growth and the lingering wounds they carry felt honest and relatable.
If you love stories about complicated friendships, nostalgia, layered timelines and that bittersweet feeling of looking back at who you used to be, I think you’ll really enjoy this one. A solid 4 stars from me. ✨
April 19, 2026
Five very different teenagers are brought together and create a bond based around their shared trait - feeling like an outsider. It's a tale as old as time, and I love it!
Each of the characters in The Nocturnals is so well built and so flawed, which makes them terribly lovable. You can't help but feel for them and root for them, even when you want to yell at them to stop doing stupid things. But they're teens, and they're supposed to mess up. And that's what makes it so good.
They aren't shiny, but you can't help but love them. Even Hunter, who will put you under his spell even as you see the worst parts of him over and over.
But, this isn't YA. We spend most of our time in the Nocturnals' teen years, starting and ending with their adult lives, which still revolve around each other even as they're on all corners of the globe. I loved the exploration of youth outside of a YA lens. It felt gritty and real and honest in a way YA can't always touch (not to say I don't love YA - I DO - but this was a breath of fresh air). And I loved seeing how the people in our youth impact us so much, even decades later.
I adored how easy it was to fall into this story, to fall into this found family and each of their own struggles, including how their struggles impact their dynamics. I'm not often one for character-driven, literary fiction. I love strong plots. But here the story is so well-rounded that simply being in the presence of the characters for a moment at a time whisks you away.
I fell in love with this book, with the Nocturnals, and I can't wait to read more Frances Whiting.
Each of the characters in The Nocturnals is so well built and so flawed, which makes them terribly lovable. You can't help but feel for them and root for them, even when you want to yell at them to stop doing stupid things. But they're teens, and they're supposed to mess up. And that's what makes it so good.
They aren't shiny, but you can't help but love them. Even Hunter, who will put you under his spell even as you see the worst parts of him over and over.
But, this isn't YA. We spend most of our time in the Nocturnals' teen years, starting and ending with their adult lives, which still revolve around each other even as they're on all corners of the globe. I loved the exploration of youth outside of a YA lens. It felt gritty and real and honest in a way YA can't always touch (not to say I don't love YA - I DO - but this was a breath of fresh air). And I loved seeing how the people in our youth impact us so much, even decades later.
I adored how easy it was to fall into this story, to fall into this found family and each of their own struggles, including how their struggles impact their dynamics. I'm not often one for character-driven, literary fiction. I love strong plots. But here the story is so well-rounded that simply being in the presence of the characters for a moment at a time whisks you away.
I fell in love with this book, with the Nocturnals, and I can't wait to read more Frances Whiting.
April 19, 2026
This feels like the Australian version of The Breakfast Club, if it were set in the 90s.
With that, I feel like there's always one of those characters that everyone can relate to. And it's the same in this book too. Some of us are fortunate enough to form these emotionally charged relationships during our formative years. You're even more lucky if you get to hold on to them well after they usually burn out.
I saw a lot of myself in Beatrice, both her as a person and her relationship with Hunter. Likewise, Hunter reminded me of a composite of two of my own high school boyfriends, and I even had similar long-running, on/off relationships with them. There's a lot of myself in this book, I think everyone can find a bit of themselves in these pages.
The first third is a bit slow moving, but it gets much better and more interesting once you get 40% in. Nina wasn't my fave character, but I did like her growth the best.
There's a twist, and it's not one you would see coming. The book takes a dark turn.
Was also a bit disappointed that the author used made-up names for places, only for it to be revealed that the book takes place in Sydney. That took a bit of the realism away for me.
Loses a point because my copy was literally falling apart in my hands! I was only 20 pages in and pages were falling out, I had to glue the pages back in at least four times. Really, really unimpressed Harper Collins.
I love Frances Whiting, as a Brisbanite, I've been reading her columns for years and I knew I'd really like her writing. This is a lovely book and I will definitely be looking out for her other titles.
With that, I feel like there's always one of those characters that everyone can relate to. And it's the same in this book too. Some of us are fortunate enough to form these emotionally charged relationships during our formative years. You're even more lucky if you get to hold on to them well after they usually burn out.
I saw a lot of myself in Beatrice, both her as a person and her relationship with Hunter. Likewise, Hunter reminded me of a composite of two of my own high school boyfriends, and I even had similar long-running, on/off relationships with them. There's a lot of myself in this book, I think everyone can find a bit of themselves in these pages.
The first third is a bit slow moving, but it gets much better and more interesting once you get 40% in. Nina wasn't my fave character, but I did like her growth the best.
There's a twist, and it's not one you would see coming. The book takes a dark turn.
Was also a bit disappointed that the author used made-up names for places, only for it to be revealed that the book takes place in Sydney. That took a bit of the realism away for me.
Loses a point because my copy was literally falling apart in my hands! I was only 20 pages in and pages were falling out, I had to glue the pages back in at least four times. Really, really unimpressed Harper Collins.
I love Frances Whiting, as a Brisbanite, I've been reading her columns for years and I knew I'd really like her writing. This is a lovely book and I will definitely be looking out for her other titles.
April 22, 2026
The Nocturnals by Frankie Whiting
🪩🪩🪩🪩🪩
🔭 I gave this book to one of my best friends, Jane, for her birthday because it sounded so good. Then I ended up buying it on @audible_au because I loved the idea of a story about five very different teens in a small Aussie town who didn’t belong anywhere in particular except with each other.
🐚 There is so much to love about this beautifully written book. The mother-daughter relationships – two pairs in in particular – were so heartfelt, raw, and complex. They really lingered in my mind afterwards. Still do!
🏉 And the men! All five fathers: one overprotective and cautious, two abusive arseholes, one who speaks small but powerful truths and makes a big gesture when it matters most, and one who was entirely absent since rom birth. Again, each so well drawn, irrespective of how much time they spent on the page.
🎤 I loved multiple POVs, with just the right amount of flashbacks, but mostly just witnessing all our characters growing up together, apart, and everything in between. As with all good relationship-driven stories, there were a handful of huge secrets, and ultimately the joy of lifelong friendships.
💫 The ending was a bit rushed for me, I would have liked a bit more, but it was still satisfying.
A great book for anyone who loves getting under the skin of relationships and small-town shenanigans. Not everyone is who they seems. Most of all, SUPERB writing. And the audio was great too 🥰
@frankywhiting - you’re an incredible storyteller, thanks for writing this immersive book - I couldn’t wait to get in the car every day, so I could listen to the next scene!
🪩🪩🪩🪩🪩
🔭 I gave this book to one of my best friends, Jane, for her birthday because it sounded so good. Then I ended up buying it on @audible_au because I loved the idea of a story about five very different teens in a small Aussie town who didn’t belong anywhere in particular except with each other.
🐚 There is so much to love about this beautifully written book. The mother-daughter relationships – two pairs in in particular – were so heartfelt, raw, and complex. They really lingered in my mind afterwards. Still do!
🏉 And the men! All five fathers: one overprotective and cautious, two abusive arseholes, one who speaks small but powerful truths and makes a big gesture when it matters most, and one who was entirely absent since rom birth. Again, each so well drawn, irrespective of how much time they spent on the page.
🎤 I loved multiple POVs, with just the right amount of flashbacks, but mostly just witnessing all our characters growing up together, apart, and everything in between. As with all good relationship-driven stories, there were a handful of huge secrets, and ultimately the joy of lifelong friendships.
💫 The ending was a bit rushed for me, I would have liked a bit more, but it was still satisfying.
A great book for anyone who loves getting under the skin of relationships and small-town shenanigans. Not everyone is who they seems. Most of all, SUPERB writing. And the audio was great too 🥰
@frankywhiting - you’re an incredible storyteller, thanks for writing this immersive book - I couldn’t wait to get in the car every day, so I could listen to the next scene!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This novel gently and with a great degree of love tells the story of how five teenagers who are each quite unique, and somewhat quirky come together to create 'The Nocturnals' forming bonds that last beyond high school into their adult years. These bonds are tested and almost torn apart by circumstances and choices, yet at the end of the day they stand by their one rule, to love each other wholly. They chose each other in high school to be a family, and when Hunter reaches out fifteen years after graduation, they choose to honour that commitment to 'The Nocturnals'.
This was a story that I didn't know I needed - it drew me in and asked me to get to know each character quite intimately: Nina, Hunter, Harriet, Cosmo and Beatrice. I laughed with them, rolled my eyes, wondered if all could ever be okay again, cried when situations challenged them, and sighed when things went right.
Frances Whiting is a consummate storyteller weaving past and present together across the pages while sharing the moments of these five characters' lives thorough multiple viewpoints. You are constantly aware of everyone's feelings understanding how high the stakes are at times for them. This is a book for those who were ever a teenager trying to fit in and get by, for those adults who are still reconciling their teenage years with the grown up they've become, for those who want to read a story that is both empathetic and somewhat disturbing.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Australia for the chance to read this arc. It did not disappoint and was a highly engaging book.
This was a story that I didn't know I needed - it drew me in and asked me to get to know each character quite intimately: Nina, Hunter, Harriet, Cosmo and Beatrice. I laughed with them, rolled my eyes, wondered if all could ever be okay again, cried when situations challenged them, and sighed when things went right.
Frances Whiting is a consummate storyteller weaving past and present together across the pages while sharing the moments of these five characters' lives thorough multiple viewpoints. You are constantly aware of everyone's feelings understanding how high the stakes are at times for them. This is a book for those who were ever a teenager trying to fit in and get by, for those adults who are still reconciling their teenage years with the grown up they've become, for those who want to read a story that is both empathetic and somewhat disturbing.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Australia for the chance to read this arc. It did not disappoint and was a highly engaging book.
April 2, 2026
First, can we talk about the cover? Soft pink pastels and five mirror balls, one for each of them, it is genuinely stunning and feels like a perfect visual introduction to the world inside as they gravitate in each other’s glow and brilliance.
The Nocturnals by Frances Whiting follows five high school friends reunited fifteen years after a mysterious falling out, weaving between their teenage years in the 1990s and their adult lives in the present day. That dual timeline is one of the story's greatest strengths. There is something deeply satisfying about being slowly handed the pieces of who these people were, then watching how time and secrets have reshaped them.
The author’s writing style is rich and beautiful. That said, the pacing is genuinely slow, and I found it difficult at times to maintain momentum through the quieter stretches. The characters, while intriguing in their dynamic, didn't always pull me in as much as I'd hoped on an individual level. What kept me turning pages was the drama simmering beneath the surface of the reunion and the complicated intimacy woven through their relationships, romantic and otherwise.
By the end, the book left me with a quiet sense of melancholy and loss, that bittersweet ache of reminiscing on a time and closeness that can never quite be recaptured. It felt entirely fitting in that lingering memory.
The Nocturnals is out now, thank you to HarperCollins Australia for a copy of this book for review.
The Nocturnals by Frances Whiting follows five high school friends reunited fifteen years after a mysterious falling out, weaving between their teenage years in the 1990s and their adult lives in the present day. That dual timeline is one of the story's greatest strengths. There is something deeply satisfying about being slowly handed the pieces of who these people were, then watching how time and secrets have reshaped them.
The author’s writing style is rich and beautiful. That said, the pacing is genuinely slow, and I found it difficult at times to maintain momentum through the quieter stretches. The characters, while intriguing in their dynamic, didn't always pull me in as much as I'd hoped on an individual level. What kept me turning pages was the drama simmering beneath the surface of the reunion and the complicated intimacy woven through their relationships, romantic and otherwise.
By the end, the book left me with a quiet sense of melancholy and loss, that bittersweet ache of reminiscing on a time and closeness that can never quite be recaptured. It felt entirely fitting in that lingering memory.
The Nocturnals is out now, thank you to HarperCollins Australia for a copy of this book for review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I absolutely loved this book - one of the best I’ve read this year so far!
This story made me laugh, cry and feel everything in between. There’s so much joy in this book, but also so much sadness and that balance just makes it feel incredibly real. It’s full of life in the most honest and beautiful way.
One of my favourite tropes is following a group of friends who grow up, drift apart, and then come back together later in life and this book delivers that perfectly. Watching these characters navigate life, gain experience, and then reconnect was so moving and satisfying.
The character work is truly the standout here. I fell in love with all five of the Nocturnals. Every single one of them felt real, flawed, quirky, good-hearted and deeply human. I cared about them so much and genuinely just wanted them to be okay.
The writing itself is very accessible and easy to read, which made it so easy to get completely immersed. It’s told in dual timelines, moving between the past and present, and I thought this was done beautifully. Both timelines were equally compelling and complemented each other so well. I never found it confusing or distracting.
This is a story about love, friendship, and the messy, beautiful journey of life. And it’s told in such a heartfelt, engaging way that I couldn’t put it down.
I loved this book wholly and I think everybody should read it. 🥹🩷
This story made me laugh, cry and feel everything in between. There’s so much joy in this book, but also so much sadness and that balance just makes it feel incredibly real. It’s full of life in the most honest and beautiful way.
One of my favourite tropes is following a group of friends who grow up, drift apart, and then come back together later in life and this book delivers that perfectly. Watching these characters navigate life, gain experience, and then reconnect was so moving and satisfying.
The character work is truly the standout here. I fell in love with all five of the Nocturnals. Every single one of them felt real, flawed, quirky, good-hearted and deeply human. I cared about them so much and genuinely just wanted them to be okay.
The writing itself is very accessible and easy to read, which made it so easy to get completely immersed. It’s told in dual timelines, moving between the past and present, and I thought this was done beautifully. Both timelines were equally compelling and complemented each other so well. I never found it confusing or distracting.
This is a story about love, friendship, and the messy, beautiful journey of life. And it’s told in such a heartfelt, engaging way that I couldn’t put it down.
I loved this book wholly and I think everybody should read it. 🥹🩷
April 6, 2026
I absolutely adored this book!
From the minute I started reading I was absorbed into this story. It felt somewhat nostalgic being set in the 90’s, back to the high school years where new friends meet and they become inseparable.
Hunter, Beatrice, Nina, Cosmo and Harriet. The nocturnals. I loved their characters, how different they all were but still lovable in their unique ways.
The parents of each of these characters play a big part throughout the book. Some good and some not so good. This was a great insight into how these lovable characters grew up and their life at home.
Told in two time lines, in the 90’s when they were at school and where we really get to know them and 15 years later in their 30’s when Hunter calls a reunion and we can see what they’ve been up to.
My favourite part was their fun times together as high school students. It was the best, the young love, the crushes, being there for each other, ah so good! And Nina’s mum, she was the best!
Oh and there’s a twist! It crushed me. That’s all I’ll say. The sacrifices made broke my heart.
This book is about friendships, young love, toxic relationships, chasing dreams and finding where you belong.
I loved it all. It was fun and joyful, filled with warmth and love.
Thank you so much @harpercollinsaustralia for the early copy.
From the minute I started reading I was absorbed into this story. It felt somewhat nostalgic being set in the 90’s, back to the high school years where new friends meet and they become inseparable.
Hunter, Beatrice, Nina, Cosmo and Harriet. The nocturnals. I loved their characters, how different they all were but still lovable in their unique ways.
The parents of each of these characters play a big part throughout the book. Some good and some not so good. This was a great insight into how these lovable characters grew up and their life at home.
Told in two time lines, in the 90’s when they were at school and where we really get to know them and 15 years later in their 30’s when Hunter calls a reunion and we can see what they’ve been up to.
My favourite part was their fun times together as high school students. It was the best, the young love, the crushes, being there for each other, ah so good! And Nina’s mum, she was the best!
Oh and there’s a twist! It crushed me. That’s all I’ll say. The sacrifices made broke my heart.
This book is about friendships, young love, toxic relationships, chasing dreams and finding where you belong.
I loved it all. It was fun and joyful, filled with warmth and love.
Thank you so much @harpercollinsaustralia for the early copy.
April 4, 2026
“Sometimes figuring out Harriet was like trying to catch running water in your hands”
This book follows Hunter, Harriet, Cosmo, Nina and Beatrice in 1997 who become high school friends and coin themselves “The Nocturnals”. While it was definitely more character than plot driven, what it lacked for in plot it made up for in the writing. It was so… magnetic? witty? haunting? All of the above? I don’t know exactly, but I was hooked from the first chapter and the metaphors constantly had me in a chokehold. Each chapter was short and snappy in a way that kept you reading to see what happened next, alternating between the different characters’ POVs. The book also switches between past and present timelines, which I surprisingly found easy to follow. The background that they shared together as a group with different dynamics, as well as their eventual journey back to each other 15 years later following a rupture, was central.
In addition, each character was flawed and had their own inner turmoil to navigate. As much as charming golden boy Hunter was a player and at times made decisions that were frustrating, you also couldn’t help but feel sorry for him through understanding his home life and coping mechanisms, and proud of his efforts to protect those he cared about. The last third had me feeling so sad as the loose ends were tied up.
Toxic relationships, unrequited young love, cult like inductions, daddy issues and attachment wounds, secrets; this book had it all and I enjoyed every minute of it.
You better stick with us then🌙 🌍 ☀️
This book follows Hunter, Harriet, Cosmo, Nina and Beatrice in 1997 who become high school friends and coin themselves “The Nocturnals”. While it was definitely more character than plot driven, what it lacked for in plot it made up for in the writing. It was so… magnetic? witty? haunting? All of the above? I don’t know exactly, but I was hooked from the first chapter and the metaphors constantly had me in a chokehold. Each chapter was short and snappy in a way that kept you reading to see what happened next, alternating between the different characters’ POVs. The book also switches between past and present timelines, which I surprisingly found easy to follow. The background that they shared together as a group with different dynamics, as well as their eventual journey back to each other 15 years later following a rupture, was central.
In addition, each character was flawed and had their own inner turmoil to navigate. As much as charming golden boy Hunter was a player and at times made decisions that were frustrating, you also couldn’t help but feel sorry for him through understanding his home life and coping mechanisms, and proud of his efforts to protect those he cared about. The last third had me feeling so sad as the loose ends were tied up.
Toxic relationships, unrequited young love, cult like inductions, daddy issues and attachment wounds, secrets; this book had it all and I enjoyed every minute of it.
You better stick with us then🌙 🌍 ☀️
April 21, 2026
The Nocturnals is a beautiful coming of age story exploring friendships. Told over a dual timeline and multiple points of view. We meet five school friends and learn that something happened to fracture their group in their late teens. The characters are now nearing 30 and golden boy Hunter has contacted them all to get together. The storyline alternates between the characters reacting to this summons and the summer of 1997 where friendships were made and lost.
I enjoyed getting to know each of five members of The Nocturnals as their characters developed over the novel and their place within the friendship group. I particularly enjoyed Nina’s story as I felt very connected with her and I loved seeing her grow and change after she seemed so stuck in life. Whilst Hunter was very likable I found what he got away now frustrating with his golden boy status! I loved Frances’ writing style, her observations and dialogue were fantastic and couldn’t wait to find out what happened back in 1997 and why Hunter wanted them all to meet. I enjoyed the themes of friendship, chasing your dreams and finding your place in the world. My first novel by Whiting and I’m keen to catch up on her backlist.
I enjoyed getting to know each of five members of The Nocturnals as their characters developed over the novel and their place within the friendship group. I particularly enjoyed Nina’s story as I felt very connected with her and I loved seeing her grow and change after she seemed so stuck in life. Whilst Hunter was very likable I found what he got away now frustrating with his golden boy status! I loved Frances’ writing style, her observations and dialogue were fantastic and couldn’t wait to find out what happened back in 1997 and why Hunter wanted them all to meet. I enjoyed the themes of friendship, chasing your dreams and finding your place in the world. My first novel by Whiting and I’m keen to catch up on her backlist.
May 7, 2026
You know when you finish a book and feel like the characters could easily be your friends? That’s The Nocturnals by Frances Whiting for me. Instantly added to my list of favourite authors and books. The nostalgia was thick; I graduated high school in 1998 too, so, technically, The Nocturnals ARE my friends. Whiting just went inside and wrote it down for me, personally and splendidly. My only gripe was that it had to end. The characters tousle with each other and their story was weaved into an absorbing finale. I cried these weird kind of graceful joyous tears, not just for their story but for living and feeling and storytelling in general. The sensitive parts were enough for you to feel it deeply, without any unnecessary shock-value. It was also a little momento that no matter how we age, and what we do in life, essentially we are who we are. Even if we do get a little wiser as we grow. It’s a story of essence and how that lasts even longer than memory. I soaked it all up, right down to every last acknowledgment. It’s not like I need to be reminded how much I love reading but it was a cup-filling, aide-memoire, nonetheless (omg, Beatrice!) Even the cover will go down as a favourite. An easy 5 stars. A book for all, but especially the Gen-X nocturnals out there… ✨🖤
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Favourite reads have been scarce for me this year but I’m happy to report that The Nocturnals was a slam dunk ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read for me!
Frances Whiting has delivered a coming-of-age story of friendship and love set at the end of school and she has knocked it out of the park. I got Breakfast Club vibes. I had nostalgia for my own school years. I loved it!
It’s 1997 and five very different high school students meet and become friends – the girls Nina, Beatrice and Harriet and the boys Cosmo and golden boy Hunter. In the last year of school, they are basically inseparable and coin themselves The Nocturnals meeting as a group late at night and promising to love each other wholly. But then the cracks appear, a dramatic event happens and their friendship group is broken. Three of them scatter across the world and they each move on. Fifteen years later Hunter is coming home and he calls a reunion. They all answer the call.
The story was beautifully written drifting between the teenage years and the present. It also switches between each of their POVs. It was warm, funny, endearing and so relatable in its exploration of first friendships and first loves. Who doesn’t remember being part of a tightknit group of friends hanging about late at night getting up to mischief and taking about anything and everything?
I loved how Whiting built each of the characters and wove their stories together to an emotional and unexpected conclusion. There was a bit of an angle to the storyline towards the end that didn’t 100% feel believable but this turned around for me pretty quickly.
Overall, The Nocturnals just really worked for me in the moment that I read it. So much so that I plan to get my own physical copy once it is released! This book is going on my favourites stack at the end of the year!
Thank you @netgalley and @harpercollinsaustralia for my #gifted copy.
Frances Whiting has delivered a coming-of-age story of friendship and love set at the end of school and she has knocked it out of the park. I got Breakfast Club vibes. I had nostalgia for my own school years. I loved it!
It’s 1997 and five very different high school students meet and become friends – the girls Nina, Beatrice and Harriet and the boys Cosmo and golden boy Hunter. In the last year of school, they are basically inseparable and coin themselves The Nocturnals meeting as a group late at night and promising to love each other wholly. But then the cracks appear, a dramatic event happens and their friendship group is broken. Three of them scatter across the world and they each move on. Fifteen years later Hunter is coming home and he calls a reunion. They all answer the call.
The story was beautifully written drifting between the teenage years and the present. It also switches between each of their POVs. It was warm, funny, endearing and so relatable in its exploration of first friendships and first loves. Who doesn’t remember being part of a tightknit group of friends hanging about late at night getting up to mischief and taking about anything and everything?
I loved how Whiting built each of the characters and wove their stories together to an emotional and unexpected conclusion. There was a bit of an angle to the storyline towards the end that didn’t 100% feel believable but this turned around for me pretty quickly.
Overall, The Nocturnals just really worked for me in the moment that I read it. So much so that I plan to get my own physical copy once it is released! This book is going on my favourites stack at the end of the year!
Thank you @netgalley and @harpercollinsaustralia for my #gifted copy.
March 31, 2026
The Nocturnals by Frances Whiting is a story of enduring friendship and the lengths we will go to protect those we love most.
This is the first book I’ve read from Whiting, and I was absolutely blown away. It’s beautiful, witty, and at times deeply heartbreaking.
Five high school students meet in the summer of 1997, and by their final year they are inseparable—until something happens that tears them apart.
Fifteen years later, they are brought back together, forcing them to confront the past and the secrets they’ve tried to leave behind. What unfolds is a powerful exploration of loyalty, guilt, and the unbreakable bonds of friendship.
If you love stories about friendship, secrets, and the ties that never truly break, The Nocturnals is one you won’t want to miss. It’s the kind of book that lingers long after the final page—thoughtful, emotional, and impossible to forget. 💛📚
This is the first book I’ve read from Whiting, and I was absolutely blown away. It’s beautiful, witty, and at times deeply heartbreaking.
Five high school students meet in the summer of 1997, and by their final year they are inseparable—until something happens that tears them apart.
Fifteen years later, they are brought back together, forcing them to confront the past and the secrets they’ve tried to leave behind. What unfolds is a powerful exploration of loyalty, guilt, and the unbreakable bonds of friendship.
If you love stories about friendship, secrets, and the ties that never truly break, The Nocturnals is one you won’t want to miss. It’s the kind of book that lingers long after the final page—thoughtful, emotional, and impossible to forget. 💛📚
April 5, 2026
I’ll be honest here: I absolutely DO judge a book by its cover, and this cover does nothing for me. And it has nothing to do with the story. There is no 1970s disco.
However, I do adore Frances Whiting AND her writing, so it was an easy yes for me to request an advance copy of this when it popped up on Netgalley.
I adored this book – the joy, the sorrow, the grief, the pain, the laughter.
I flawed elements of each of the five Nocturnals brought them to life for me. And while I didn’t love how the book slipped from present to past to present, I did appreciate how this allowed for a deeper understanding of each of the characters and how they related to each other, and, importantly, their mothers.
The Nocturnals is a book for those looking for a read that will be completely captivating.
4.5 stars
Thank you @netgalley and @harpercollinsaustralia for sending me an advance copy.
However, I do adore Frances Whiting AND her writing, so it was an easy yes for me to request an advance copy of this when it popped up on Netgalley.
I adored this book – the joy, the sorrow, the grief, the pain, the laughter.
I flawed elements of each of the five Nocturnals brought them to life for me. And while I didn’t love how the book slipped from present to past to present, I did appreciate how this allowed for a deeper understanding of each of the characters and how they related to each other, and, importantly, their mothers.
The Nocturnals is a book for those looking for a read that will be completely captivating.
4.5 stars
Thank you @netgalley and @harpercollinsaustralia for sending me an advance copy.
April 14, 2026
𝙾𝙼𝙶 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚊 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔!!! 𝙰𝚋𝚜𝚘𝚕𝚞𝚝𝚎𝚕𝚢 𝚛𝚎𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚕𝚒𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚊𝚛𝚢 𝚐𝚘𝚘𝚍𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚜 𝙸 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍 - 𝙵𝚛𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎𝚜 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚋𝚜𝚘𝚕𝚞𝚝𝚎 𝚕𝚒𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚊𝚛𝚢 𝚚𝚞𝚎𝚎𝚗; 𝚜𝚘 𝚜𝚘 𝚐𝚘𝚘𝚍!!
’𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙽𝚘𝚌𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚗𝚊𝚕𝚜’ 𝙷𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚛, 𝙽𝚒𝚗𝚊, 𝙲𝚘𝚜𝚖𝚘, 𝙱𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚛𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙷𝚊𝚛𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚝 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚜𝚝 𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚏𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚕𝚢 𝚠𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚗 𝚐𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚙 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚜𝚘 𝚠𝚘𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚛𝚏𝚞𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝚍𝚒𝚏𝚏𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚒𝚛 𝚘𝚠�� 𝚠𝚊𝚢 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚝𝚘𝚐𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚏𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚍𝚜.
𝚂𝚑𝚘𝚛𝚝 𝚜𝚗𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚢 𝚊𝚍𝚍𝚒𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚜, 𝚖𝚞𝚕𝚝𝚒𝚙𝚕𝚎 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝙿𝙾𝚅’𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚙𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚙𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚎𝚜 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚛𝚘𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚍 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚘 𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚖𝚊𝚍𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚏𝚎𝚌𝚝 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚢𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚎.
𝙸 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚜𝚙𝚎𝚎𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚊𝚐𝚎𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚜𝚕𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚍 𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚊𝚜 𝙸 𝚌𝚊𝚖𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚊𝚍 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚕𝚒𝚜𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝙸 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗'𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚒𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚎𝚗𝚍!
𝙿𝚑𝚎𝚗𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚊𝚕 𝚝𝚛𝚞𝚕𝚢 𝚙𝚑𝚎𝚗𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚊𝚕 𝚌𝚞𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛!
“𝑻𝒐 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉 𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒚“ - 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐬
𝐏𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄 𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄: 𝐈 𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐬 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 ’𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞’ 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐬 𝐀𝐋𝐖𝐀𝐘𝐒 𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐈 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐭)
’𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙽𝚘𝚌𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚗𝚊𝚕𝚜’ 𝙷𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚛, 𝙽𝚒𝚗𝚊, 𝙲𝚘𝚜𝚖𝚘, 𝙱𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚛𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙷𝚊𝚛𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚝 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚜𝚝 𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚏𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚕𝚢 𝚠𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚗 𝚐𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚙 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚜𝚘 𝚠𝚘𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚛𝚏𝚞𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝚍𝚒𝚏𝚏𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚒𝚛 𝚘𝚠�� 𝚠𝚊𝚢 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚝𝚘𝚐𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚏𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚍𝚜.
𝚂𝚑𝚘𝚛𝚝 𝚜𝚗𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚢 𝚊𝚍𝚍𝚒𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚜, 𝚖𝚞𝚕𝚝𝚒𝚙𝚕𝚎 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝙿𝙾𝚅’𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚙𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚙𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚎𝚜 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚛𝚘𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚍 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚘 𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚖𝚊𝚍𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚏𝚎𝚌𝚝 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚢𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚎.
𝙸 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚜𝚙𝚎𝚎𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚊𝚐𝚎𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚜𝚕𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚍 𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚊𝚜 𝙸 𝚌𝚊𝚖𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚊𝚍 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚕𝚒𝚜𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝙸 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗'𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚒𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚎𝚗𝚍!
𝙿𝚑𝚎𝚗𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚊𝚕 𝚝𝚛𝚞𝚕𝚢 𝚙𝚑𝚎𝚗𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚊𝚕 𝚌𝚞𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛!
“𝑻𝒐 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉 𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒚“ - 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐬
𝐏𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄 𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄: 𝐈 𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐬 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 ’𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞’ 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐬 𝐀𝐋𝐖𝐀𝐘𝐒 𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐈 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐭)
April 11, 2026
I was so glad that I dived into The Nocturnals blindly as every page I read was a surprise. I didn't know what I was getting so this book truly exceeded my expectations.
The writing itself was alluring, I fell into the rabbit hole that Frances Whiting had created. The friendship and the love were so realistic that I could feel myself living with the characters. I could feel their every emotion and understand their every action. The ending put a smile on my face as everyone finally found their closure.
4 stars, a book that I could say that I couldn't put it down. Books about friendship and love wasn't new but Frances Whiting mesmerised me with her words. She's an author that I would surely look out for.
The writing itself was alluring, I fell into the rabbit hole that Frances Whiting had created. The friendship and the love were so realistic that I could feel myself living with the characters. I could feel their every emotion and understand their every action. The ending put a smile on my face as everyone finally found their closure.
4 stars, a book that I could say that I couldn't put it down. Books about friendship and love wasn't new but Frances Whiting mesmerised me with her words. She's an author that I would surely look out for.
May 5, 2026
Notes for book club. I found this a pleasant read. My biggest issue was it felt like there was a big part of the story missing or underdeveloped. I'm very interested to talk about this book with book club to see whether the members of that generation connected with it more fully. Harriet just felt like an afterthought which considering she was a major plot point attributed to the feeling of underdevelopment. There was no complex characters. Every single character behaved in exactly the way a caricature of that person would behave. This is another author that likes to dot the i's and cross the t's with everyone's story given a resolution. The addition of the man in the green van turning up to blackmail Hunter's mother had me shaking my head rather than adding to the story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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