Iluka: the brilliant 2026 debut for readers of Emily Maguire, Charlotte Wood and Anne Tyler by Cassie Stroud – Our Review

Our Review…

Iluka is an absolutely beautifully written debut. Cassie Stroud weaves a story that explores sibling dynamics, childhood memory, and the idea that home can be both a haven and a cage, depending on whose lens you see it through. All of this is set against the iconic backdrop of an Australian coastal town,

After their grandfather’s death, Helen, Sylvie and Brendan return to their childhood home in Beecham Point, NSW, to prepare it for sale. Stepping back into the small beach house stirs a tide of emotion and long-buried memories of being raised by their grandparents Iris and Paddy, after their troubled mother left them.

As they sort through the house, their world is upended when they discover a collection of letters from their late mother. Each sibling carries scars from their childhood and the letters reopen old wounds, bringing confusion and fresh pain as they begin to question everything they thought they understood about their past.

Iluka transports you into its pages, you can almost hear the ocean through the sunroom window and feel the emotions as each sibling reflects on their early years with their mother and later, their time growing up at Iluka with Iris and Paddy.

Review by Jess R @ Great Escape Books