A new month means new books! Here are some of the most anticipated Canadian fiction and nonfiction titles for October 2025.
Habs Nation by Brendan Kelly
Habs Nation is a book by Brendan Kelly. (Baraka Books, François Couture)
Habs Nation tells the history of the Montreal Canadiens while highlighting how the team is not just about hockey. The book explores the influence that the Habs have had on the province of Quebec, even bridging the linguistic divide in Montreal.
Brendan Kelly talks with some of the Canadiens’ greats as well as journalists, politicians and even filmmakers about the special bond that fans have with the team.
When you can read it: Oct. 1
Kelly is a sports and culture journalist for the Montreal Gazette. He was one of the founders of the now defunct Montreal Mirror weekly newspaper. Kelly is also a columnist on CBC Radio and Radio-Canada. He is based in Montreal.
The Unfinished World by Marilyn Bowering
The Unfinished World is a book by Marilyn Bowering. (Linda Leith Publishing, Xan Shian)
The Unfinished World follows Pearl after the death of her beloved grandmother, Nora. Still grieving, Pearl travels to Nora’s favourite places to spread her ashes and discovers handmade dolls that have been passed down in their family for generations.
In each doll is a tiny note from Nora to Pearl, which leads her down a path of reflection and understanding to find her own happiness.
When you can read it: Oct. 4
Marilyn Bowering is a novelist and poet based in Victoria. Her books include Visible Worlds, which won the Ethel Fiction Prize, and More Richly in Earth, which was longlisted for the Saltire Prize.
John Candy by Paul Myers
John Candy is a book by Paul Myers. (House of Anansi Press, Liza Algar)
John Candy offers an in-depth look at the life of the beloved Canadian comedian, tracing his journey from humble beginnings in Toronto to Hollywood stardom. For the first time since his tragic death, the full story of the man behind the laughs is told, featuring interviews with friends and colleagues like Tom Hanks and Catherine O’Hara.
The book reveals how Candy navigated the highs and lows of fame with warmth, generosity and an unmistakable charm.
When you can read it: Oct. 7
Paul Myers is a Canadian writer and musician who currently lives in Berkeley, Calif. Other titles by Myers include The Kids in the Hall: One Dumb Guy and Barenaked Ladies: Public Stunts, Private Stories.
Vanished Beyond the Map by Adam Shoalts
Vanished Beyond the Map is a book by Adam Shoalts. (Allen Lane, Penguin Canada)
In Vanished Beyond the Map, Adam Shoalts retraces the footsteps of explorer Hubert Darrell, who mysteriously disappeared in November 1910 in the remote wilds of the Northwest Territories.
Once considered the most capable and resilient explorer of his time, Darrell left behind a trail of letters, journals and hand-drawn maps. Using these clues, Shoalts sets out to uncover what really happened — and where Darrell may have gone.
When you can read it: Oct. 7
Shoalts is an explorer and a fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographic Society. He holds a PhD from McMaster University and is the author of Beyond the Trees, Where the Falcon Flies, Alone Against the North and A History of Canada in Ten Maps.
Enshittification by Cory Doctorow 
Enshittification is a book by Cory Doctorow. (Macmillan Publishers, Tor)
In Enshittification, Cory Doctorow explains why he coined the term and uses it to diagnose the current state of our digital world — revealing how it’s steadily worsening and negatively impacting all of our lives.
When you can read it: Oct. 7
Doctorow is a Toronto-born author, activist and journalist living in Burbank. His writing includes both nonfiction and fiction, and spans adult, YA and childhood audiences. His book Radicalized was a 2020 Canada Reads contender, defended by Akil Augustine.
LISTEN | Cory Doctorow on Bookends with Mattea Roach:
Bookends with Mattea Roach40:56We can still avoid a tech dystopia — here’s how
Shelter in Text by Myra Bloom and Kasia Van Schaik 
Shelter in Text is a book by Myra Bloom, left, and Kasia Van Schaik, right. (myrabloom.com, University of Alberta Press, McGill University)
Shelter in Text is a collection of academic essays and creative nonfiction that explores the relationship between shelter and narrative. It looks at issues of care, disability and housing inequality, and considers decolonial perspectives on land and space.
When you can read it: Oct. 7
Myra Bloom is an associate professor of English at York University’s Glendon campus. Her work has been featured in a number of academic journals and magazines.
Kasia Van Schaik is an assistant professor of English and creative writing and co-director of the creative writing program at the University of New Brunswick. Her other books include We Have Never Lived on Earth, which was nominated for the 2023 Giller Prize, the Concordia University First Book Prize and the ReLit Prize for short fiction. It was also named one of the best books of 2023 by the Miramichi Reader.
Colin Gets Promoted and Dooms the World by Mark Waddell
Colin Gets Promoted and Dooms the World is a book by Mark Waddell. (Viking, Vivienne McMaster)
After years of working at Dark Enterprises, Colin is dying to climb the corporate ladder and move forward from his low-level job. When he meets a mysterious stranger who offers him the opportunity to make it happen in exchange for a small favour, he can’t resist. But that small favour unleashes an ancient evil. In Colin Gets Promoted and Dooms the World, Colin will have to do whatever it takes to save it.
When you can read it: Oct. 7
Mark Waddell is a writer and teacher living on Vancouver Island. He has a PhD from John Hopkins University in the history of science, medicine and technology. Colin Gets Promoted and Dooms the World is his debut novel.
Property by Kate Cayley
Property is a novel by Kate Cayley. (Coach House Books, Livia Ambros)
As neighbours grapple with their to-do lists, the challenges of parenthood and hosting a small dinner party, Property recounts the seemingly inconsequential events of one spring day in a gentrified neighbourhood. But by the end of the day, someone has died — a tragedy that marks the area forever.
When you can read it: Oct. 7
Kate Cayley is the author of the short story collections How You Were Born and Householders, three poetry collections and multiple plays. Her books have won the Trillium Book Award and the Mitchell Prize for Poetry and her work has been published in Best Canadian Poetry, Best Canadian Stories, Brick and The New Quarterly.
She lives in Toronto. Cayley made the longlist for the 2016 CBC Short Story Prize and the 2013 CBC Poetry Prize longlist.
Final Orbit by Chris Hadfield
Final Orbit is a book by Chris Hadfield. (Random House Canada, Max Rosenstein)
Final Orbit is a thriller set in 1975, following the launch of an Apollo space mission. Apollo is meant to dock with a Russian Soyuz craft, signalling a new era of Soviet-American co-operation. When a deadly accident occurs, everything changes for the crew and for flight controller Kaz Zemeckis. At the same time, a secret Chinese spacecraft launches and is set to collide with the crew on the Apollo. Kaz must try to save the remaining crew in the sky by figuring out what’s going on with the enemy on land.
When you can read it: Oct. 7
Hadfield was a military pilot and astronaut for 35 years. He was the first Canadian to walk in space and served as commander of the International Space Station. He received the NASA Exceptional Service Medal in 2002 and became a member of the Order of Canada in 2014. Hadfield is also the author of the thriller The Defector, the memoir An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth, the children’s book The Darkest Dark, which was illustrated by the Fan Brothers, and the photo book You Are Here: Around the World in 92 Minutes. He lives in Toronto.
The Marionette by Terry Fallis
The Marionette is a book by Terry Fallis. (McClelland & Stewart, Tim Fallis)
In The Marionette, successful thriller writer James Norval has always dreamed of living the life of the spies he writes about. He gets that opportunity when he ends up in a foreign prison after a string of bad luck, then is rescued by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service. As the favourite author of Mali’s president, he’s asked to help with a dangerous mission to remove 15 Canadians from Mali before their true intentions are revealed.
When you can read it: Oct. 7
Terry Fallis is the author of several comedic novels including The High Road and Albatross. He won the Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour for his debut novel The Best Laid Plans as well as for No Relation, and has been a finalist five times. The Best Laid Plans won Canada Reads 2011, when it was defended by Ali Velshi. He lives in Toronto.
Princess Nai and Other Stories by Jamal Saeed
Princess Nai and Other Stories is a book by Jamal Saeed. (ECW Press, Rufaida al-Khabbaz)
The stories in Princess Nai and Other Stories are poetic, imaginative and explore the dreams of their characters. Written throughout writer Jamal Saeed’s life — but most during the 12 years when he was a prisoner of conscience in Syria — Princess Nai and Other Stories opens windows into love, beauty, despair and hope.
When you can read it: Oct. 7
Jamal Saeed is a writer from Syria now based in Kingston, Ont. He was shortlisted for the Hilary Weston Prize for his memoir My Road from Damascus.
Elbows Up! edited by Elamin Abdelmahmoud 
Elbows Up! is a book edited by Elamin Abdelmahmoud. (McClelland & Stewart, CBC)
Elbows Up! is a collection of stories that respond to the shocking annexation threats made by a U.S. president determined to make Canada the 51st state, and the wave of Canadian national unity that swelled in response.
When you can read it: Oct. 14
Elamin Abdelmahmoud is the host of CBC Radio’s Commotion, a former culture writer for BuzzFeed News and a regular contributor to The National’s At Issue panel. He previously hosted CBC’s pop culture show Pop Chat and was the founding co-host of the CBC politics podcast Party Lines. His writing has appeared in Rolling Stone and The Globe and Mail.
LISTEN | Elamin Abdelmahmoud talks Canada Reads 2025:
Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud25:00Canada Reads 2025 books reveal
John Horgan: In His Own Words by John Horgan, with Rod Mickleburgh
John Horgan: In His Own Words is a book by John Horgan, left, with Rod Mickleburgh, right. (Wikimedia Commons, Harbour Publishing, The Globe and Mail)
John Horgan is a memoir written by the late premier of British Columbia, and traces his journey from a self-proclaimed wayward jock to a career in Canadian politics. Told with candour and humour, the book reflects on key moments from his time in office, including his government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, efforts toward reconciliation with Indigenous peoples and his personal battle with cancer, which eventually ended his life.
When you can read it: Oct. 14
John Horgan was a Canadian politician and diplomat who served as the 36th premier of British Columbia. After retiring from politics in 2023, he was appointed Canada’s ambassador to Germany. He passed away in 2024 at the age of 65.
We Survived the Night by Julian Brave NoiseCat
We Survived the Night is a book by Julian Brave NoiseCat. (julianbravenoisecat.com, Random House of Canada)
In We Survived the Night, Julian Brave NoiseCat reflects on his upbringing as the son of a Sécwepemc father and a white Jewish-Irish mother. Though he became a competitive powwow dancer, he often felt like an outsider on his home reserve, having been raised mostly by his mother. In his 20s, NoiseCat’s pursuit of his father’s story became a path to uncovering and sharing the stories of other First Peoples across North America, challenging their erasure, invisibility and misrepresentation.
When you can read it: Oct. 14
NoiseCat is a writer, filmmaker and student of Salish art and history. He is a member of the Canim Lake Band Tsq’éscen in B.C. and a descendant of the Lil’Wat Nation of Mount Currie. His work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post and The New Yorker, among others. We Survived the Night is his debut book.
Future Boy by Michael J. Fox and Nelle Fortenberry
Future Boy is a book by Michael J. Fox and Nelle Fortenberry. (Macmillan Publishers, Sean Brocklehurst CBC)
In Future Boy, actor Michael J. Fox reflects on the intense early years of his career, juggling his breakout role on the hit sitcom Family Ties during the day while filming Back to the Future at night. The memoir offers an inside look at what it was like to play two iconic roles simultaneously, featuring behind-the-scenes stories and interviews with cast and crew from both projects.
When you can read it: Oct. 14
Fox is an actor, author and philanthropist. Born in Edmonton, he rose to fame as Alex P. Keaton on the hit sitcom Family Ties and became a global star with his role as Marty McFly in Back to the Future. His previous books include Lucky Man, Always Looking Up, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Future, and No Time Like the Future. He has received an honorary Academy Award, the Presidential Medal of Freedom and was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada. In 2000, he founded the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.
Nelle Fortenberry has worked with Fox for more than three decades, beginning as president of his production company, Lottery Hill Entertainment. In 2024, she received both an Emmy Award and the National Board of Review Award as executive producer of the Apple TV+ documentary Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie.
Against the Grain by Terry O’Reilly
Against the Grain is a book by Terry O’Reilly. (HarperCollins, Submitted by Terry O’Reilly)
In Against the Grain, Terry O’Reilly shares the stories of individuals who challenged the status quo, defied convention and pushed for change — often at great personal cost. Some were celebrated for their efforts, while others had to fight every step of the way to make their mark.
When you can read it: Oct.14
O’Reilly has been the host of CBC Radio’s Under the Influence since 2005. He is also the author of The Age of Persuasion, This I Know, and My Best Mistake, which was a finalist for the National Business Book Award.
LISTEN | Terry O’Reilly on The Next Chapter:
The Next Chapter22:16Find out what books have held Terry O’Reilly ‘under their influence’
Leave Our Bones Where They Lay by Aviaq Johnston
Leave Our Bones Where They Lay is a book by Aviaq Johnston. (Inhabit Media)
In Leave Our Bones Where They Lay, Jupi must travel every solstice to the base of a cliff to light a lamp and tell a story to appease an ancient being named Kipik — otherwise, there will be hell to pay. As Jupi nears the end of his life, he’ll have to pass on this burden to future generations, just as was done to him. But his children are not up to the task, so he must ask his granddaughter, who he barely knows, and see if she’ll be willing to carry their family’s weight.
When you can read it: Oct. 14
Aviaq Johnston is an Inuk author from Igloolik, Nunavut, currently living in Iqaluit. Her books include Those Who Run in the Sky, which won an Indigenous Voices Award, Those Who Dwell Below and What’s My Superpower?, which was illustrated by Tim Mack.
A Fast Horse Never Brings Good News by Cary Fagan
A Fast Horse Never Brings Good News is a book by Cary Fagan. (Book*hug Press)
A Fast Horse Never Brings Good News is a collection of five witty stories with compelling characters and sharp dialogue. From a love affair in 1970s London to musicians crossing into Saskatchewan to escape a deadly threat, the stories, while vastly different, are all fuelled by imagination.
When you can read it: Oct. 14
Cary Fagan has written eight novels and six short story collections, earning him awards such as the Toronto Book Award the Canadian Jewish Literary Award for fiction. His books include A Bird’s Eye, Valentine’s Fall, The Student and The Animals. He lives in Toronto.
The Haunting of Paynes Hollow by Kelley Armstrong
The Haunting of Paynes Hollow is a book by Kelley Armstrong. (St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur)
Samantha Paynes is more than surprised when she learns that she was left the family’s valuable lake house property in her estranged grandfather’s will. They hadn’t spoken in 18 years, since her father died by suicide after he was accused of murdering a child at that very property. While Sam saw him burying the body, covered in blood, her grandfather always took his side. In The Haunting of Paynes Hollow, she must go back and stay at the house for a week to claim the property and, according to her grandfather, face the fact that she was wrong. Returning there brings up lots of old memories. She’s plagued by nightmares, paranoia and begins seeing things she never could have imagined.
When you can read it: Oct. 14
Kelley Armstrong is the New York Times bestselling author of the Darkest Powers, Darkness Rising and Age of Legends trilogies for teens. She is also the author of numerous thriller and fantasy series for adults, three YA thrillers and the Royal Guide to Monster Slaying series. She lives in Ontario.
As the Earth Dreams edited by Terese Mason Pierre
As The Earth Dreams is a collection edited by Terese Mason Pierre. (House of Anansi Press, Coach House Books)
As the Earth Dreams is a short story anthology of speculative fiction by Black Canadian authors. From teenagers flying on a magic carpet to a masseuse attending her mother’s fourth funeral, the stories span time, space and our understanding of the world, while envisioning stunning Black futures.
When you can read it: Oct. 14
Terese Mason Pierre is a Toronto writer and editor at Augur magazine. Her work has appeared in The Walrus, Room, Brick, Quill & Quire, Uncanny Magazine and Fantasy Magazine. She won the Writers’ Trust Journey Prize and was named a Writers’ Trust Writing Star in 2023. Her debut poetry collection, Myth, was published in spring 2025.
The Works of Vermin by Hiron Ennes
The Works of Vermin is a book by Hiron Ennes. (Tor Books)
The Works of Vermin is set in the fantastical city of Tiliard, carved into the stump of a tree that’s been around for years. Guy Moulène is determined to keep his sister out of debt so he takes on a dangerous job as an exterminator, hunting the terrifying creatures that crawl up from the river. He’s tasked with his most horrifying mark yet: a giant centipede with venom that can kill and a taste for art. But in order to keep his sister afloat, he has no choice but to pursue it.
When you can read it: Oct. 14
Hiron Ennes is the writer of the novel Leech, which won the British Fantasy Award and was nominated for the World Fantasy Award. They are based in the Pacific Northwest region of British Columbia.
Six for Saint-Pierre by Kevin Major
Six For Saint-Pierre is a book by Kevin Major. (Breakwater Books, Anne Crawford Major)
The sixth book in the Sebastian Synard mystery series, Six for Saint-Pierre, takes Sebastian to the island of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon to visit his son, Nick, who is studying there for a semester. Nick’s new love, Zach, mysteriously disappears, and then turns up dead on a deserted shoreline. Sebastian finds himself trying to figure out what happened, while caught between the different strategies of the local gendarmerie, the RCMP and the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary.
When you can read it: Oct 14
Kevin Major is the Newfoundland writer of 23 books of fiction, non-fiction, poetry and theatre. His debut novel, Hold Fast, won the Governor General’s Award for children’s literature and was adapted into a feature film. His other crime novels in the Sebastian Synard series are One for the Rock, Two for the Tablelands, Three for Trinity, Four for Fogo Island and Five for Forteau.
Cruising the Downtown edited by Kristopher Wells
Cruising the Downtown is a book edited by Kristopher Wells. (NeWest Press, MacEwan University)
Edmonton has a vibrant and thriving 2SLGBTQ+ community, and Cruising the Downtown shares its often unknown history. Building on the work of the Edmonton Queer History Project, the book celebrates the people, places and events that have shaped — and continue to shape — the city’s queer past and present.
When you can read it: Oct.15
Kristopher Wells is a Canadian educator, academic and senator representing Alberta. A lifelong advocate for 2SLGBTQ+ rights, he has been widely recognized for his contributions, receiving numerous awards including the Alberta Award for the Study of Canadian Human Rights and Multiculturalism, the Alberta Teachers’ Association’s Public Education Award and the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal, among others.
In The Field by Sadiqa de Meijer
In The Field is a book by Sadiqa de Meijer. (Palimpsest Press)
In The Field is a collection of essays that explores profound questions: What meaning does a birthplace hold? What draws us to connect with a work of art? How do we honour the remains of the dead?
When you can read it: Oct. 15
Sadiqa de Meijer is a writer who was born in Amsterdam and is currently living in Kingston, Ont. Her other books include the poetry collections Leaving Howe Island and The Outer Wards. She won the 2012 CBC Poetry Prize for Great Aunt Unmarried and has since won the 2021 Governor General’s Literary Award for nonfiction with her memoir alfabet/alphabet: a memoir of first language.
Private Number by David Homel
Private Number is a book by David Homel. (Vehicule Press, Marina Vulicevic)
Mikhail is a documentary filmmaker reeling from his latest project, which garnered attacks and attention from all sides after its screening. To get away from the commotion, he accepts an artist residency in the small mining city of Lepuy, France. The more time he spends in the town, the more he gets wrapped up in its business, from his fascination with a miner’s strike to an affair with Caroline, a married judge. As things get out of control, Mikhail wants to warn Caroline of the fallout but can’t because of her Private Number.
When you can read it: Oct. 16
David Homel is the writer of 10 novels including Electrical Storms, The Speaking Cure and The Teardown. He has also co-authored a series of books for children with Marie-Louise Gay. He lives in Montreal.
Just Call Me “Andi” by Andria Petrillo
Just Call Me “Andi” is a book by Andria Petrillo. (CBC, ECW Press)
In Just Call Me “Andi,” Andria Petrillo shares the challenges she faced as a trailblazer in sports broadcasting at a time when a woman offering opinions on sports was still a novelty. She reflects on the lessons learned and obstacles overcome on her path to making history — from being the first woman to win a Canadian Screen Award for Best Sports Host, to the first to join the Hockey Night in Canada in-studio broadcast team.
When you can read it: Oct. 21
Petrillo is a Canadian sports broadcaster and the weekend host of CBC Sports. She lives in Toronto.
Hidden Flowers by Keiko Honda
Hidden Flowers is a book by Keiko Honda. (Heritage House, Anton Fernando)
Hidden Flowers is a memoir by Keiko Honda in which she reflects on the many facets of her identity as an aging Japanese-Canadian woman. With honesty and vulnerability, she navigates the emotional landscape of this new chapter in her life — becoming an empty nester, embracing her creativity as an artist and finding purpose as a community organizer.
When you can read it: Oct. 21
Honda is a Vancouver-based scientist, writer, community organizer and painter. She holds a PhD in international community health from New York University and is the founder of the Vancouver Arts Colloquium Society. Honda teaches the aesthetics of co-creation in the Liberal Arts and 55+ Program at Simon Fraser University. Her previous book is Accidental Blooms.
The Cheese Cure by Michael Finnerty
The Cheese Cure is a book by Michael Finnerty. (University of Toronto Press, Michael Finnerty)
The Cheese Cure is a memoir by Michael Finnerty that explores themes such as following your passion and taking risks in life. Finnerty had a successful career in broadcasting but made a fateful decision to change his life path after training as an apprentice cheesemonger in London. But when a devastating attack sent people fleeing London’s Borough Market, Finnerty realized that in cheese he had found something even more important – his community.
When you can read it: Oct. 21
Michael Finnerty is a cheesemonger, journalist, and writer. He has been a broadcaster with the BBC and the Guardian and is the former broadcast host of CBC Montreal’s Daybreak.
Maple Syrup by Peter Kuitenbrouwer
Maple Syrup is a book by Peter Kuitenbrouwer. (Doubleday Canada, peterkuitenbrouwer.com)
Maple Syrup explores the rich history and cultural significance of one of Canada’s most cherished traditions. It delves into the Indigenous heritage of maple syrup, its enduring place in Canadian identity and the complex industry that supports its production today.
When you can read it: Oct. 21
Peter Kuitenbrouwer is a journalist, a forester and educator specializing in forest management. He serves as the editor of Our Forest, the magazine of Forests Ontario and has written for publications like Maclean’s, The Walrus, The Globe and Mail and Canadian Geographic, among others. He is also the author of the children’s book Our Song: The Story of O Canada.
When Water Became Blue by Anaïs Barbeau-Lavalette, translated by Rhonda Mullins
When Water Became Blue is a novel by Anaïs Barbeau-Lavalette, pictured, translated by Rhonda Mullins. (Coach House Books, Lawrence Fafard)
In When Water Became Blue, a woman embarks on an artist retreat on an island in the St. Lawrence Seaway, away from her partner and her daughter. While there, she encounters an artist who plants himself with an easel in front of the water every day, trying to capture the blue of the water. The two find themselves unable to look away from each other and tumble into a fleeting extramarital affair.
When you can read it: Oct. 21
Anaïs Barbeau-Lavalette a Montreal-based novelist, screenwriter and director. Her bestselling novel La femme qui fuit — inspired by her own grandmother’s life as an artist — was later translated into English and titled Suzanne. It won the Prix des libraires du Québec and was defended by Yanic Truesdale on Canada Reads 2019. Her other books include Je Voudrais Qu’on M’efface and Embrasser Yasser Arafat.
Rhonda Mullins is an award-winning translator based in Montreal. Her previous works include And Miles To Go Before I Sleep, The Laws of the Skies and Suzanne. A seven-time finalist for the Governor General’s Literary Award for Translation, Mullins won in 2015 for her translation of Jocelyne Saucier’s Twenty-One Cardinals. Her translation And the Birds Rained Down by Saucier was a Canada Reads selection for 2015.
A Little Holiday Fling by Farah Heron
A Little Holiday Fling is a book by Farah Heron. (Grand Central Publishing, James Heron)
Ruby Dhanji loves Christmas and everything to do with the United Kingdom. In A Little Holiday Fling, she’s on the verge of realizing her and her late mother’s dream of owning a small inn in England. She just needs hotel experience to make it happen. When she meets Rashid, the son of luxury hotel chain owners who hates the holiday season, she offers to give his nieces a Christmas they’ll never forget — if he’ll introduce her to his parents. But the more time they spend together, she starts to fall for him, even though she’s planning a move across the Atlantic.
When you can read it: Oct. 21
Farah Heron is a writer from Toronto. She is also the author of the romantic comedies Just Playing House, Jana Goes Wild, The Chai Factor, Accidentally Engaged, Kamila Knows Best and the YA novels Meet Me on Love Street and Tahira in Bloom.
A Season for Spies by Iona Whishaw
A Seasons for Spies is a book by Iona Whishaw. (TouchWood Editions, Anick Violette)
A prequel to the Lane Winslow mystery series, A Season of Spies follows Lane in wartime England while on hiatus from her studies at Oxford. She’s working in a war office when she’s sent on a mission to escort an important agent to the north, where her family lives. As danger lurks throughout her journey, she’ll have to use everything she has to make it out safely and prove herself as a woman in a male-dominated world.
When you can read it: Oct. 21
Iona Whishaw is a Vancouver-based author, former teacher and social worker. She has published works of short fiction, poetry, the children’s book Henry and the Cow Problem and the Lane Winslow Mystery series.
6:40 to Montreal by Eva Jurczyk
6:40 to Montreal is a book by Eva Jurczyk. (Raincoast, Alice Xue)
In desperate need to work on her new book, Agatha’s husband buys her a first class ticket on the 6:40 to Montreal, the scenic, six-hour train ride from Toronto to Montreal. The day is supposed to serve as a one-day writing retreat, with no Wi-Fi or distractions, but Agatha has plans of her own. When a passenger suddenly dies and the train breaks down in the middle of the snowy woods, things get sinister, and what was meant to be a peaceful train ride turns into a fight for survival.
When you can read it: Oct. 28
Eva Jurczyk is a writer and librarian from Toronto. Her books include The Department of Rare Books and Special Collections and That Night in the Library.
The Black Wolf by Louise Penny
The Black Wolf is a book by Louise Penny. (Minotaur Books, Benjamin McAuley)
The Black Wolf is the 20th mystery in the Inspector Gamache series, which follows the investigations of the head of the homicide department of the Sûreté du Québec. In this latest adventure, Gamache and his team uncover and prevent a domestic terrorist attack in Montreal, arresting a man known as the Black Wolf. But the arrest only uncovers a deeper conspiracy, most notably a sinister plot to make Canada the 51st state of the United States.
When you can read it: Oct. 28
Louise Penny is a celebrated writer best known for her mystery series following Chief Inspector Armand Gamache. The book series includes The Grey Wolf, Still Life, Bury Your Dead, A Trick of the Light and A World of Curiosities. It has sold more than four million copies worldwide. In 2022, the series was adapted into an Amazon Original eight-episode series called Three Pines. Penny won the 2020 Agatha Award for best contemporary novel for the 16th book in the series, All the Devils Are Here. In 2013, she was named to the Order of Canada.
Better This Year edited by JJ Lee
Better This Year is a short story collection edited by JJ Lee. (Tidewater Press)
Better This Year is a collection of true holiday mishap stories that are both laugh-out-loud funny and unexpectedly heartfelt. It is the final volume in the Better Next Year series, featuring reflections from Canadian writers who share their memories of surviving Christmases past. The previous book in the series was Better Next Year.
When you can read it: Oct. 28
JJ Lee is a Canadian writer best known for his book The Measure of a Man, which traces the author’s journey altering his father’s old suit as an act of remembrance. The Measure of a Man was shortlisted for the 2011 Governor General’s Literary Award for English non-fiction, the 2012 Charles Taylor Prize, and the 2012 Hilary Weston Writers’ Trust Prize for Nonfiction.
The Last Hart Beating by Nattie Neidhart
The Last Hart Beating is a memoir by Nattie Neidhart. (Simon & Schuster)
In The Last Hart Beating, WWE superstar Natalya “Nattie” Neidhart reflects on growing up in a legendary pro wrestling family, with her grandfather Stu Hart, father Jim Neidhart, and uncles Bret and Owen Hart. She also shares her journey to become the first and only woman in the family to enter the ring and carve out her own legacy at the highest level.
When you can read it: Oct. 28
Neidhart is a professional wrestler originally from Calgary. She became a world champion when she won the WWE’s Smackdown women’s championship in 2017. She now lives in Tampa, FL.
LISTEN | Nattie Neidhart on Calgary Eyeopener:
Calgary Eyeopener8:45Nattie Neidhart on SummerSlam
Carthaginian Peace & Other Stories by Evie Christie 
Carthaginian Peace & Other Stories is a short story collection by Evie Christie. (ECW Press, Anvil Press)
Carthaginian Peace & Other Stories is a short story collection examining everyday domestic life. The stories feature new lovers, friends hanging out in a park, mothers laying on the guilt, and couples trying to find a cure for loneliness.
When you can read it: Oct. 30
Evie Christie is an Ontario writer. Her books include Gutted, The Bourgeois Empire and Mere Extinction. She has adapted plays for Luminato, Necessary Angel Theatre Company and the National Theatre School of Canada.
A Ladder of Bones by Bunmi Oyinsan
A Ladder of Bones is a book by Bunmi Oyinsan. (Guernica)
A Ladder of Bones is a collection of intertwined stories that are set in West Africa, Canada, the United States and the Caribbean. The lives of five people, Siaka, Melvin, Timothy, Iona and Enilolobo — all who have lived terrifying childhoods — become interwoven when they return to West Africa as young adults. There they are forced to reckon with their pasts, while one of the characters tries to hunt them in a fit of rage.
When you can read it: Oct. 31
Bunmi Oyinsan is a Nigerian Canadian writer of novels, radio, television and theatre. Her YA novel Fabulous Four won the Matatu Prize and her novel Three Women was nominated for the Flora Nwapa Prize for women’s literature. Oyinsan writes, produces and presents the Sankofa Pan African Series on YouTube. She lives in Bowmanville, Ont.
If you’re interested in writing fiction, the 2026 CBC Short Story Prize will be accepting submissions between Sept. 1 and Nov. 1. You can submit your original, unpublished short fiction for a chance to win $6,000 from the Canada Council for the Arts, a two-week writing residency at Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity and have your story published on CBC Books.