The Note by Alafair Burke. Three friends with complicated histories and very different personalities decide to have a getaway catch up in the Hamptons and are looking forward to a weekend of drinking, eating and good times as an antidote to the pressures of their regular lives. They’re headed out for dinner but when a beautiful looking couple in another car steals the parking space they were patiently waiting for, they get riled up and after a night enjoying far too much alcohol one of them plays a prank on the occupants of that car. Turns out it’s not so funny – it all goes horribly wrong and when the police turn up, their pasts come back to haunt them.

The Wedding Party by Rebecca Heath.  A group of old friends. A grieving mother. A lying bride. Adele and Jason are childhood sweethearts and their wedding day on the sunny Australian coast is a chance to reunite and celebrate with friends and family. But Adele isn't telling the truth about her relationship, and some of the wedding party – still reeling from a tragic death in the group a decade before – hold secrets of their own. What happened on the jetty all those years ago was an accident, everyone agrees. Or do they? This is told from various points of view, all of which make it clear – there’s trouble in paradise. 

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A new year brings new opportunities to travel and experience the world - and one expert's curated a list of locations to check out in 2025. 

Thailand's Koh Samui, the Italian city of Florence and Mexico's Los Cabos are among the destinations BloggerAtLarge.com's Megan Singleton recommends for the new year.

Read more about Megan's recommendations here. 

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This week on the Sunday Panel, commentator, journalist and producer Irene Gardiner and partner at Freebairn and Hehir Lawyers, Liam Hehir, joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the week - and more!

Prime Minister Chris Luxon's announced a surprise Cabinet reshuffle for this afternoon - and speculation indicates Shane Reti will lose his health portfolio. Are we surprised by this?

With Donald Trump's inauguration day taking place next week, we're looking back on Joe Biden's political legacy. How will he be remembered as a President? What were his best moments - and low points?  

Sail GP is taking place in Auckland this weekend - what do we make of this?

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The beginning of a new year is an optimal time for rethinking old habits and establishing new ones - so how can we get ahead in 2025?

Making big new changes can be a daunting process, so experts recommend setting smaller goals to improve your lifestyle and drop harmful habits.

Naturopath and wellness expert Erin O'Hara explains how we can make positive changes in the new year.

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Ever been caught in the rain and wondered how your vision stays relatively clear? You can thank your eyelashes for that! Recent research published in Science Advances reveals that our lashes do more than just keep out dust - they’re also masters of water management. 

The researchers found that eyelashes are equipped with a special microstructure made up of tiny overlapping scales. These scales act like a 'micro-ratchet', allowing water to flow smoothly from the base to the tip while preventing it from reversing direction. 

Eyelashes are also naturally hydrophobic, meaning they repel water. When water lands on your lashes, it forms tiny droplets that bead up and roll away. This clever mechanism ensures your eyes stay dry and your vision remains unobstructed. 

The magic of eyelashes doesn’t stop at their hydrophobic properties. Their curved shape is called a brachistochrone, a design that minimises the time it takes for water to move under the force of gravity. This natural curve helps lashes efficiently direct water away from your eyes. 

Unfortunately, common beauty practices can strip away these natural benefits: 

Mascara coated lashes are hydrophilic, meaning they attract water instead of repelling it. This can make them less effective at keeping your eyes dry. 

Curling lashes disrupts their natural brachistochrone shape, reducing their ability to efficiently expel water. 

Beyond their protective role, the unique structure of eyelashes has inspired engineers to think about new ways to manage liquids. Here are a few ideas sparked by this research: 

Advanced Drainage Systems: Eyelash-inspired designs could improve waterproofing for outdoor devices, drones, and wearable electronics. 

Self-Cleaning Materials: Mimicking the hydrophobic scales of eyelashes could lead to better anti-fogging glasses and self-cleaning surfaces. 

Efficient Liquid Management: Protective coatings for screens and other electronics could benefit from the same principles that keep your lashes dry. 

So next time it rains, take a moment to appreciate the remarkable engineering of your lashes - they’re doing more for you than you might think! 

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Nearly three years after its initial release, Apple TV+ hit series Severance is back for a second season.

Starring Parks and Recreation's Adam Scott and Medium's Patricia Arquette, among others, the series offers a darkly comedic look at workplace culture as a set of employees have their memories of work and home separated.

Flicks.co.nz editor Steve Newall opens up about the plot threads and fan theories the first season introduced - and what viewers can expect for season two. 

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Cook time: 35 minutes 

Prep time: 25 minutes 

Serves: 6

1 1/2 cups flour

3 tablespoons caster sugar

Pinch of salt

150gm unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla paste or essence

1 teaspoon almond extract

1/4 cup water

12 plums  

1 cup cranberries  

3 tbsp brandy  

4 tbsp brown sugar  

1 tsp cinnamon powder  

1 tbsp icing sugar 

Place the flour, sugar and salt into a bowl and mix until well combined; slowly add in the butter and rub in your hands until the butter becomes pea-like in size. Slowly add the vanilla and almond extracts and water until the dough becomes moistened and comes together. Set aside.

Make up the spiced plum mix. Soak cranberries in brandy and a touch of warm water for 10 minutes. Cut the plums in half and remove the stone. Mix with brown sugar and cinnamon. Drain the cranberries well, toss into the plums. Preheat the oven 180 degrees. Roll out the crostata dough out to the size a small plate and approx 5mm thick. Lay onto greaseproof paper lined tray.  

Spoon the well-drained plum mixture into the centre, leaving a 5cm border. Fold up the sides of the dough. Brush water around the outside and sprinkle with icing sugar. Place into a oven and cook for 35 minutes, if golden. Remove and allow to cool.  

Serve with soft vanilla cream.

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On the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast for Sunday 19th January 2025, author and master of suspense David Baldacci reveals he's had death threats due to the subjects in this books.

Knowing our values might just be the key to living a meaningful, purposeful life. Resilience expert Bradley Hook tells us how to identify our values and live by them.

Urban planning expert Bruce Weir talks about where our building industry is going wrong after news tens of thousands of Auckland homes are overheating.

Our eyelashes might be being compromised by our beauty regimes - Dr Michelle Dickinson has the latest in science news.

And the panel discuss Christopher Luxon's upcoming cabinet reshuffle.

Get the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast every Sunday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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A new year is a prime opportunity for self-discovery - and one Australian author has written a book designed to get that process started.

Start with Values: How to Build a Life with Meaning and Purpose encourages readers to identify their core values and utilise them to build a fulfilling life.

Bradley Hook says identifying - and being clear - about your values is the first step towards reducing anxiety and stress about life's challenges.

"When we're clear about our values, we can weave a web of habits and we can align our behaviours with what matters most to us. And in my experience and in my research, that brings us a sense of fulfilment." 

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American novelist David Baldacci is well-regarded as a prolific writer, having sold over 150 million books worldwide  and inspired film and TV adaptations afterwards.

He's best known for writing legal thrillers and suspense novels - and he's no stranger to tapping into controversial topics, having been subject to death threats in recent years.

He explained limiting himself to safe topics would have negatively impacted his writing output.

"Books can inspire people in many different ways - both for the good and for the bad. I've always felt that if people were angry enough at something I wrote and would threaten to take my life, I'd gotten to them a little bit."

Baldacci is set to speak at the Auckland Writers Festival on January 30th in his first-ever public event in New Zealand.

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