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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
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 302 reviews
May 17, 2026
3.5 stars. Almost amazing. Not sure what was missing, just something wasn’t quite there.
May 29, 2026
3.5
The Nocturnals are a group of five teenagers, an unlikely group of friends attending the same high school. It's the 90s.
Hunter, the golden boy, is the leader of the group.
Nina is the shy, good girl, with Polish-born parents.
Beatrice is beautiful and a rebel. She's in a relationship with Hunter.
Then there's Cosmo, tall, hyper intelligent.
Harriet is the last to join the gang.
The intensity of young relationships, the qualms of growing and moving into adulthood. Some relationships leave a mark more than others.
Fifteen years later, the adults, now in their thirties, are still affected by those formative years and those relationships.
There's a mystery of sorts that had three of them baffled, unsettled.
Overall, I enjoyed this novel, even though it's been done before and the mystery was slightly contrived.
I adore the cover.
The Nocturnals are a group of five teenagers, an unlikely group of friends attending the same high school. It's the 90s.
Hunter, the golden boy, is the leader of the group.
Nina is the shy, good girl, with Polish-born parents.
Beatrice is beautiful and a rebel. She's in a relationship with Hunter.
Then there's Cosmo, tall, hyper intelligent.
Harriet is the last to join the gang.
The intensity of young relationships, the qualms of growing and moving into adulthood. Some relationships leave a mark more than others.
Fifteen years later, the adults, now in their thirties, are still affected by those formative years and those relationships.
There's a mystery of sorts that had three of them baffled, unsettled.
Overall, I enjoyed this novel, even though it's been done before and the mystery was slightly contrived.
I adore the cover.
March 8, 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.
May 24, 2026
I ordered this book because it looked interesting.
Then it sat in my TBR pile for a time while I read some other books.
Then I read some reviews that made the book seem too good to be true, so it sat in my TBR pile a little longer, because I just didn't feel like reading 'the flavour of the week'.
This morning I grabbed The Nocturnals from the TBR pile, with a back up book (just in case), and settled down in my arm chair with it and a pot of tea.
Then I got totally and absolutely lost in the pages, the writing, and the stories of these people.
Each and every person in this book became so very real, so very quickly. Even the secondary characters appeared fully formed. Beautifully written, exquisitely presented. A pleasure to read, and a sorrow to put it down and leave when the book was finished.
Damn you Frances Whiting, you had me sobbing.
More than once.
Definitely a book I will recommend.
Then it sat in my TBR pile for a time while I read some other books.
Then I read some reviews that made the book seem too good to be true, so it sat in my TBR pile a little longer, because I just didn't feel like reading 'the flavour of the week'.
This morning I grabbed The Nocturnals from the TBR pile, with a back up book (just in case), and settled down in my arm chair with it and a pot of tea.
Then I got totally and absolutely lost in the pages, the writing, and the stories of these people.
Each and every person in this book became so very real, so very quickly. Even the secondary characters appeared fully formed. Beautifully written, exquisitely presented. A pleasure to read, and a sorrow to put it down and leave when the book was finished.
Damn you Frances Whiting, you had me sobbing.
More than once.
Definitely a book I will recommend.
May 11, 2026
Good story, well written, but EXCRUCIATINGLY badly narrated by Louise Giavas. Countless mispronunciations, and frequent stumbling over punctuation. At one stage she even says “viligence” instead of “vigilence”. Talk about crucifying a decently written book. I found myself wondering, often, how Louise came to read this book — whether Frances had a say in it, or whether she just had to accept this butchering.
August 3, 2026
I enjoyed this nostalgic nod to high school days, unlikely friendships and teenage angst. The Nocturnals is Frances Whiting's third novel published in April 2026 by Harper Collins Publishers. I ended up buying this book after requesting it from my library and the line was huge and I was a bit inpatient and I am glad I purchased it myself as it has now been added to my bookshelf as a much loved read.
The book follows five high school students - Nina, the Good Girl, Beatrice, the Poetess, Harriet, the Ghost, Cosmo, the Professor and Hunter, the Golden Boy. In grade 12 the unlikely fivesome become close friends until their not and they scatter across the globe after graduation. Fifteen years later Hunter is in contact and wants to reconnect and no one is sure why.
It is a heartfelt read and I think we can all relate in some way to those teenage years which is why I enjoyed it so much. The book was told in multiple POV both in the past and the present for all the characters which helped build the storyline and I found it easy to follow. Frances writes beautifully and I will always be drawn to her books- highly recommend picking this one up.
The book follows five high school students - Nina, the Good Girl, Beatrice, the Poetess, Harriet, the Ghost, Cosmo, the Professor and Hunter, the Golden Boy. In grade 12 the unlikely fivesome become close friends until their not and they scatter across the globe after graduation. Fifteen years later Hunter is in contact and wants to reconnect and no one is sure why.
It is a heartfelt read and I think we can all relate in some way to those teenage years which is why I enjoyed it so much. The book was told in multiple POV both in the past and the present for all the characters which helped build the storyline and I found it easy to follow. Frances writes beautifully and I will always be drawn to her books- highly recommend picking this one up.
June 17, 2026
3.5 / The Nocturnals, a chance to relive the elusive dream scenario of high school friendships formed in the late 90s.
While this invoked some memories of the high school experience and similar 80/90s movies about an unlikely group coming together, ultimately it lacked that special something that made me bond with the characters and yearn for that nostalgia.
With some unnecessary repetition of the same facts or quotes from different characters as they reminisced, enough for me to question if the audiobook had skipped back a few chapters, which was annoying. I feel it was a missed chance to give additional character details and make it sharper and more cohesive.
This was my first Frances Whiting book and overall it was fairly good, and I think it would be a great holiday escape read.
3.5 ⭐️ Audiobook read by Louise Giavas
While this invoked some memories of the high school experience and similar 80/90s movies about an unlikely group coming together, ultimately it lacked that special something that made me bond with the characters and yearn for that nostalgia.
With some unnecessary repetition of the same facts or quotes from different characters as they reminisced, enough for me to question if the audiobook had skipped back a few chapters, which was annoying. I feel it was a missed chance to give additional character details and make it sharper and more cohesive.
This was my first Frances Whiting book and overall it was fairly good, and I think it would be a great holiday escape read.
3.5 ⭐️ Audiobook read by Louise Giavas
May 11, 2026
3.25 ⭐️
This book started off so well, and I was hopefully for another 5 star read! It really hit the sweet spot for me as I love my old college friends, and love the nostalgia of continuing friendships through all seasons of life really warms my soul. However, the second half dropped off so quickly, and the rogue element of a murder mystery / sudden death seemed really forced and a bit silly. I don’t think anyone would believe that a group of 17/18yo kids who found someone having a medical episode on a beach had secretly planned their death, and would interpret their ‘delays’ as anything but panic and being overwhelmed (again they were children!). I found it hard to recover from that, so the whole book dropped off to a decidedly average 3.25 stars from there. Such a strong start, such a silly finish.
This book started off so well, and I was hopefully for another 5 star read! It really hit the sweet spot for me as I love my old college friends, and love the nostalgia of continuing friendships through all seasons of life really warms my soul. However, the second half dropped off so quickly, and the rogue element of a murder mystery / sudden death seemed really forced and a bit silly. I don’t think anyone would believe that a group of 17/18yo kids who found someone having a medical episode on a beach had secretly planned their death, and would interpret their ‘delays’ as anything but panic and being overwhelmed (again they were children!). I found it hard to recover from that, so the whole book dropped off to a decidedly average 3.25 stars from there. Such a strong start, such a silly finish.
August 29, 2026
ugh this was so good! the interconnected storylines, the five main characters and their different POVs, the twist at the end - i’ve been thinking about this book for the last week
July 10, 2026
I hovered between 3.5 and 4 stars for this book. Once The Nocturnals got together again (last 1/4 of the book) it was an excellent page turner.
5 school friends. 5 excellent characters.
The story at times slow, but it all came together masterfully.
Lots of great quotes and one liners.
Unrelated to the book rating but the cover was also VERY pretty 💖
5 school friends. 5 excellent characters.
The story at times slow, but it all came together masterfully.
Lots of great quotes and one liners.
Unrelated to the book rating but the cover was also VERY pretty 💖
June 2, 2026
I really enjoyed it…my first book read on my new kindle!!!! Easy to read but she has a way of drawing you in to the characters…I wondered if having just watched Off Campus had me enjoying the younger characters and their relationships. Some vibes reminded me of Lessons in Chemistry…because there’s a sciencey character named Cosmo and he has a dog named Rudolph??!!!! It was many years ago I read Jumping on Trampolines but my memory is I thoroughly enjoyed it at the time. Would recommend!
July 8, 2026
Such a fun book! Some parts felt a little obvious/cliched but I enjoyed learning about the past and present of each character.
April 15, 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.
June 3, 2026
The Nocturnals by Frances Whiting @frankywhiting
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Why this has been on my bedside table for two weeks shuffled under other books is beyond me. I will never forgive myself.
This is a "one more chapter" but then get devoured by the content read another ten chapters type of book.
I absolutely loved Nina, Cosmo, Beatrice, Hunter and Harriet like they are multidimensional all encompassing real people. I feel like I knew them in high school and was one of them back in 1997. I loved how different and unique each character was and how their family was diverse and distinct, it gave so much substance and depth to the writing and story.
This is a book about flaws, grief, how diversity and different backgrounds can work together, forgiveness and how people can love each other through friendship across time zones ❤️
"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."
I want more so much more. I didn't want this book to end. It was so beautifully and respectfully written. I will read and devour everything written by Frances Whiting. Highly recommend
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Why this has been on my bedside table for two weeks shuffled under other books is beyond me. I will never forgive myself.
This is a "one more chapter" but then get devoured by the content read another ten chapters type of book.
I absolutely loved Nina, Cosmo, Beatrice, Hunter and Harriet like they are multidimensional all encompassing real people. I feel like I knew them in high school and was one of them back in 1997. I loved how different and unique each character was and how their family was diverse and distinct, it gave so much substance and depth to the writing and story.
This is a book about flaws, grief, how diversity and different backgrounds can work together, forgiveness and how people can love each other through friendship across time zones ❤️
"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."
I want more so much more. I didn't want this book to end. It was so beautifully and respectfully written. I will read and devour everything written by Frances Whiting. Highly recommend
June 18, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
The pacing was slow at times but the characters were very memorable - she writes beautifully! A bit heart wrenching...
The pacing was slow at times but the characters were very memorable - she writes beautifully! A bit heart wrenching...
June 29, 2026
3.5 🌟. The story of five Aussie teenagers in the late 90’s, in their last year of high school, who form an odd but very strong friendship. They are all completely different but it’s a tight group, naming themselves the Nocturnals as they sneak out and meet at night (but also hang during the day at school!) The story explores all their parents too, some doing a very poor job of that role. It then cuts to 15 years later, after they’ve all dispersed and lost contact, when one of the boys organises to reconnect. It’s a pretty good storyline and I rode along for the ride, but I can’t review this properly without mentioning the terribly painful narration. I feel bad as I’m sure the young Aussie actress chosen to narrate did her best, but the amount of mispronunciations and pauses and bumbling of words was really hard to listen to. It overtook the story- for me- and I had to wonder what Frances Whiting thought of the narration of her audiobook. It distracted me from the storyline. Shame. This is a good novel for a younger gen. Again, even though I quite enjoyed, I never learn, it was too young for me. For readers who enjoyed Heart the Lover I feel.
May 24, 2026
I didn’t know anything about this book when I picked it up, but I ended up flying through it. The short chapters and timeline jumps made it hard to put down, and I really loved the writing style, characters, and watching all the relationships within the group unfold over time. Everyone felt flawed and human in a way that made it easy to get invested in their lives.
The only thing stopping this from being a 5 star read for me was the reasoning behind the ending, which felt a bit weak and fell a little flat personally. Overall though, I still really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it if you enjoy character-driven stories.
The only thing stopping this from being a 5 star read for me was the reasoning behind the ending, which felt a bit weak and fell a little flat personally. Overall though, I still really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it if you enjoy character-driven stories.
March 28, 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.
May 15, 2026
Easy, holiday read with a coming of age type plot line.
Read
June 28, 2026Will write review once book club finishes!
August 7, 2026
This reminded me of the 15 pages of ‘to the lighthouse’ I read it was a cool vibe
September 5, 2026
Fun, story about 5 teenagers all very different but bonded together for that very reason as 'The Nocturnals.' Witty teenage one-liners and friendship that feels so real. This was a delight to read and enjoyed the tiny little twist at the end. Very breakfast club-esk. Can't fault the cute cover either 😘
June 25, 2026
Oh the audio was just horrible!!
But I wanted to push through,
Invested in the characters enough to see what happened in the end. ☺️
But I wanted to push through,
Invested in the characters enough to see what happened in the end. ☺️
June 18, 2026
I can’t help it, I’m not someone who usually DNF’s books, but I really did not enjoy this one. I almost gave up within the first few pages because I immediately disliked Hunter. I can’t stand characters like him. I hated his attitude, his behaviour, and the way he seemed to move through everything without any real remorse. His whole “poor me, I’m so perfect, everyone loves me, everyone wants me, and I’m rich” thing was unbearable. You know people who are abused can still grow and be a decent human being. It's not hard.
I also kept wondering whether Hunter genuinely cared about his friendship group at all, or whether he was just performing the role of friend the same way he seemed to do with his sports friends and the higher-status women he cheated with. It is not difficult to avoid cheating on people you supposedly care about. Maybe he could have changed, but even in the future he still came across as a dickhead.
Poor Bea having an abortion after Hunter and Harriet fled the country together.
I also think I’ve reached my limit with high school settings, even when they are only shown through flashbacks. I just feel too old for it now.
I also did not fully believe in the friendships between the characters. Nina having feelings for Hunter while also being friends with Bea did not sit right with me, especially when her mother was so maternal towards Bea. And then Nina begging Hunter to kiss her...geez!! She really needed to let that crush go. It did not even seem as though Harriet truly liked Cosmo. There was far more evidence that he was completely devoted to her. I understand she had plenty of other things going on, but I still felt sorry for Cosmo. Overall, I honestly think this was a toxic friendship group.
If I had to place myself in the story, I would probably be a Nina. I’m always the Nina.
That said, there were two mother-daughter relationships that were honest, complex, and emotionally rich, and they stayed with me long after I finished the book. I'm hoping that I am that type of mother to my kids.
Among the five fathers, there was one who was almost overly protective, two who were cruel and abusive, one who shared quiet but important truths and came through when needed, and one who had been absent from the beginning. Each of them felt clearly drawn, no matter how large or small their role was. Rico, especially, seemed like such a good father to Nina, which made his death at the start feel even more heartbreaking.
The ending, which was the main plot twist of the story, seemed rushed.
I also kept wondering whether Hunter genuinely cared about his friendship group at all, or whether he was just performing the role of friend the same way he seemed to do with his sports friends and the higher-status women he cheated with. It is not difficult to avoid cheating on people you supposedly care about. Maybe he could have changed, but even in the future he still came across as a dickhead.
Poor Bea having an abortion after Hunter and Harriet fled the country together.
I also think I’ve reached my limit with high school settings, even when they are only shown through flashbacks. I just feel too old for it now.
I also did not fully believe in the friendships between the characters. Nina having feelings for Hunter while also being friends with Bea did not sit right with me, especially when her mother was so maternal towards Bea. And then Nina begging Hunter to kiss her...geez!! She really needed to let that crush go. It did not even seem as though Harriet truly liked Cosmo. There was far more evidence that he was completely devoted to her. I understand she had plenty of other things going on, but I still felt sorry for Cosmo. Overall, I honestly think this was a toxic friendship group.
If I had to place myself in the story, I would probably be a Nina. I’m always the Nina.
That said, there were two mother-daughter relationships that were honest, complex, and emotionally rich, and they stayed with me long after I finished the book. I'm hoping that I am that type of mother to my kids.
Among the five fathers, there was one who was almost overly protective, two who were cruel and abusive, one who shared quiet but important truths and came through when needed, and one who had been absent from the beginning. Each of them felt clearly drawn, no matter how large or small their role was. Rico, especially, seemed like such a good father to Nina, which made his death at the start feel even more heartbreaking.
The ending, which was the main plot twist of the story, seemed rushed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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.
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.
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
September 11, 2026
This is another book we found at K-Mart the other night. I was intrigued by the synopsis, so I got stuck into it right away.
In 1997, five tight-knit high school friends enjoy a wonderful Australian summer together, but after graduation, everything falls apart. Fifteen years later, one of them reaches out to arrange a meeting with The Nocturnals...
Engrossing. Interesting. Addictive. Sad.
As soon as I started reading this book, I knew it would hook me in. And I wasn't wrong because I couldn't put it down!
At its core, this is a story about the deep bonds of young friendship rippling into adulthood. It's about flawed people finding comfort, and a sense of belonging, while complementing each other in the most unexpected ways. It's also about how life and circumstance can get in the way of the closest friend group and destroy their connection in a split second.
Told in the shared POV of the main characters, Nina, Beatrice, Hunter, Cosmo, and Harriet, there are also other perspectives thrown in that help balance out this interesting story. The chapters are short and snappy, which keeps the momentum going at the perfect pace and alternate to cover what happened in the past, as well as what's going on in the present.
I seriously loved everything about this book. It's hard to summarise exactly what makes The Nocturnals such a special book because it's not one thing, it's everything. The characters are real and amazing, the locations vivid, the problems totally relatable but at the same time, so foreign. But what brings all of this together is the writing, and the melancholy but hopeful and raw way it unfolds.
This is a story I will remember for years to come, and that final chapter is beautiful.
In 1997, five tight-knit high school friends enjoy a wonderful Australian summer together, but after graduation, everything falls apart. Fifteen years later, one of them reaches out to arrange a meeting with The Nocturnals...
Engrossing. Interesting. Addictive. Sad.
As soon as I started reading this book, I knew it would hook me in. And I wasn't wrong because I couldn't put it down!
At its core, this is a story about the deep bonds of young friendship rippling into adulthood. It's about flawed people finding comfort, and a sense of belonging, while complementing each other in the most unexpected ways. It's also about how life and circumstance can get in the way of the closest friend group and destroy their connection in a split second.
Told in the shared POV of the main characters, Nina, Beatrice, Hunter, Cosmo, and Harriet, there are also other perspectives thrown in that help balance out this interesting story. The chapters are short and snappy, which keeps the momentum going at the perfect pace and alternate to cover what happened in the past, as well as what's going on in the present.
I seriously loved everything about this book. It's hard to summarise exactly what makes The Nocturnals such a special book because it's not one thing, it's everything. The characters are real and amazing, the locations vivid, the problems totally relatable but at the same time, so foreign. But what brings all of this together is the writing, and the melancholy but hopeful and raw way it unfolds.
This is a story I will remember for years to come, and that final chapter is beautiful.
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