The Jam Queens

Equally heartwarming and heartbreaking, The Jam Queens tells of a woman coming to terms with the joys and sorrows of life under the azure skies of central Australia.

Stellar magazine

Another delicious read from Josephine Moon . . . The Jam Queens transported me away, with its vivid settings, including the Ghan, and the complex relationships between the characters. Once again, Moon has delivered a cast of likeable and relatable female characters who you feel like you know by the end of the novel, and who you miss as you close the cover for the final time. They bring their share of drama and secrets to the tale, but ultimately this really is a sweet and soulful story about women being there for each other through the stickiest situations. The Jam Queens celebrates the joys and sorrows of life, and reveals the essential ingredients of the true recipe for happiness. And of course, as she always does, Josephine adds food, this time weaving jam into the very tapestry of this delicious read.

Better Reading

When four generations of one family convene for a train ride through outback Australia to celebrate matriarch Valeria’s 70th birthday, they’re in for a tumultuous journey of self-discovery. Each woman brings her own issues to the trip, including Barossa Valley cafe owner Aggie, newly single and recovering from the heartbreak of failing to fall pregnant. Travelling from Darwin to Adelaide on the iconic train the Ghan, these well-drawn characters are forced to work through their inter-generational conflict and personal drama. Partly an ode to how food brings people together, The Jam Queens is a warm, layered novel about the high expectations surrounding work, love and family – and even includes the author’s own strawberry jam recipe.

Apple Books

Set on the luxury train the Ghan, this is an armchair traveller’s delight, weaving from Darwin, through Alice Springs, and on to Adelaide. On the trip are four generations of Hermann women – all with secrets, all hoping to reconcile past differences. The scene is set for an enthralling tale that includes complex female relationships and a good dose of romance. Perfect escapism.

Heather, bookseller at Dymocks Waurn Ponds