Cherrywood

Jock Serong's Cherrywood is a beautifully constructed Australian literary novel that moves between 1916 Melbourne — where a Scottish industrialist oversees the building of a paddle steamer from mysteriously sourced cherrywood — and 1993 Fitzroy, where a lonely lawyer stumbles into a strange pub and begins unraveling its secrets. The two narratives are braided together through themes of love, legacy, and the quiet uncanny, drawing comparisons to David Mitchell and Italo Calvino that feel earned rather than promotional. The book was shortlisted for both the ABIA Literary Fiction Book of the Year 2025 and the Indie Book Awards for Fiction, which reflects the strength of its critical reception. The honest caveat is that the magical realism will not suit every literary reader, and the Australian historical setting may require some context for international audiences. For adult readers who love intricately plotted, emotionally resonant literary fiction, this is a standout.