This you can believe: The new series about conwoman Belle Gibson is terrific

WATCH / A fake’s progress

American actor Kaitlyn Dever nails Gibson’s accent – and thirst for attention – in Apple Cider Vinegar.Credit: Netflix

If ever there was a story ripe for the small screen, it’s that of the outrageous Melbourne con woman Belle Gibson who, in the mid-2010s, scammed millions with her claims that she had brain cancer (she didn’t), had donated hundreds of thousands to charity (she hadn’t) and that natural remedies can cure cancer (they can’t, because, um, science). Gibson’s downfall gets the Netflix treatment in the terrific six-part series Apple Cider Vinegar, which not only dismantles Gibson’s story but skewers the wellness industry and the early days of Instagram, when wannabe influencers chased clicks and built enormous followings with little scrutiny. Even better, the Australian series is based on the book The Woman Who Fooled the World: The True Story of Fake Wellness Guru Belle Gibson, by The Age journalists Nick Toscano and Beau Donelly, who revealed Gibson’s deception in a 2017 Good Weekend cover story. American actor Kaitlyn Dever nails both the accent and Gibson’s thirst for attention, while local talent Alycia Debnam-Carey, Tilda Cobham-Hervey and Aisha Dee, who play fictional characters connected to Gibson, provide powerful support. Streaming on Netflix now. Louise Rugendyke

READ / Future shock

Jordan Prosser’s futuristic debut novel envisages a divided Australia.

Melbourne’s Jordan Prosser spends his days writing, acting in and directing films. This makes a lot of sense when you dive into his electric debut novel, Big Time, which reads like the best indie feature never optioned. The ambitiously futuristic book follows the journey of a drug-addled bass player in the post-secession Federal Republic of East Australia who discovers an illicit drug that allows him to skip forward in time. His band is on the run, his girlfriend works for the resistance and the very fabric of life itself seems tenuous at best. Weaker writers would collapse under the weight of such complexity, but Prosser’s eye for detail and flair for creating memorable characters just about keeps the roller coaster on the tracks. You’d be hard-pressed to find a more mind-meltingly entertaining local book. Jonathan Seidler

LISTEN / Open secrets

The opposite of “discreet”: the fallout from the data breach of an infidelity website in 2015.

From its launch more than 20 years ago, the website Ashley Madison was very open about what it was for: married people seeking to have discreet affairs. Privacy was assured. In 2015, though, when the site had more than 30 million users, it was hacked and personal data – including names, addresses and sexual preferences – was leaked and published in an online searchable database. Audible Original podcast Exposed: The Ashley Madison Hack tells the whole story of how this happened and what happened next. Narrated by actor Sophie Nélisse (of Yellowjackets), this is a cautionary tale, but one that’s low on moralising; instead, it emphasises the impact the hack had on people’s lives and the implications for the future of internet privacy and the rise of public shaming. Barry Divola

WEAR / Singin’ the blue

The perfect cross-seasonal item: Country Road’s fluffy-knit top.

The days may be shortening again, but that doesn’t mean losing the right to bare arms. Enter this attention-grabbing, cornflower-blue, fluffy-knit tee ($159), which, offering both warmth and the opportunity to make the most of summer’s dying rays, is our latest trans-seasonal hero. Layer it over a crisp white collared shirt and it might even get you through winter too. Damien Woolnough

SHOP / Notes perfect

Blending an e-reader and notebook: the Kindle Scribe.

Ever underlined paragraphs in a book, scribbled in the margins – or wished desperately that you could? The Kindle Scribe (16GB, $649) allows you to do it guilt-free. With a 25-centimetre paper-like display and Premium Pen, you can now write directly onto the pages of your books using the innovative Active Canvas feature; your notes stay put, no matter how you adjust the layout. Perfect for reading, writing and everything in between, the Scribe combines the best features of a Kindle and a digital notebook. Frances Mocnik

DRINK / Golden ageing

This wine glass, designed by Melbourne-based studio Denver & Liely, is inspired by turbine engines.

Denver & Liely is shaking up the wine world with a glass that promises to age your wine by up to four years – instantly. Inspired by turbine engines, it features bespoke directional fins crafted to soften tannins, amplify flavour and accelerate aeration directly in the glass. “It’s a supercharged decanter,” says co-founder Denver Cramer, who spent eight years perfecting the design with input from top wine houses Château Pichon Baron and Penfolds. The glasses, which are said to be reshaping wine appreciation, are hand-blown from lead-free crystal ($200 for one, $380 for two). Frances Mocnik

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