I have a bad habit of buying too many books. After buying one, I’ll usually add it to my “to-be-read” pile in the corner of my room. However, most of these books tend to just sit and collect dust on my shelf for a few months before I actually get a chance to pick one up. I always end up reading them, but it’s just a slow process.
If you have the same bad habit as I do, then it probably means that you’re also looking for new books to purchase. One of my New Year’s resolutions is to read more books that are written by Canadian authors. This goal has inspired me to compile a list of some of the most anticipated Canadian titles that will be released this year. While a few of these books are already in stores, most of them can only be preordered right now (which might give you something to look forward to during these cold, dark and lonely winter months). Happy reading!
Bad Cree by Jessica Johns
Jessica Johns’ debut novel Bad Cree takes place in a small town in Alberta and follows Mackenzie, a Cree millennial, who discovers that she can bring back objects from her dreams. However, she quickly learns that this strange talent has dangerous consequences. Advertised as a cross between a fairy tale and a horror fiction novel, Johns’ Bad Cree sounds like the perfect read for a night spent in a cozy cabin in the woods. It was released on Jan. 10, so you can pick up a copy at your local bookstore today.
The Story of Us by Catherine Hernandez
Catherine Hernandez, the author of the critically acclaimed 2017 novel Scarborough, will be releasing her next novel, The Story of Us, on Feb. 28. This story follows overseas Filipino worker Mary Grace Concepcion, who moves to Toronto and lands a job as a personal support worker in Scarborough, Ontario. When she begins taking care of Liz, an elderly patient who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, the pair quickly develops a close friendship that changes both of them in different ways. As an ode to sisterhood and the importance of found family, this novel sounds both heartwarming and heartbreaking.
Meet Me at the Lake by Carley Fortune
I read Carley Fortune’s Every Summer After a while ago, and I thought it was a fun summer read, so I’m looking forward to seeing what she does next. Meet Me at the Lake will be released on May 2 and is currently available for preorder. This romance follows the relationship between Fern Brookbanks and Will Baxter. After spending one magical day together in Toronto, the pair decides to meet up one year later but shockingly, Will doesn’t show up. Nine years later, Fern is back working at her mother’s lakeside resort in Muskoka when Will suddenly shows up, offering to help. If you’re a romance lover, this book might be your favourite beach read of 2023.
VenCo by Cherie Dimaline
This comedic yet exciting modern fantasy releases on Feb. 14 and is currently available for preorder. I read Dimaline’s The Marrow Thieves back in high school, which I thought was such a magical, heartbreaking and important book. VenCo follows the life of Lucky St. James, a girl who finds a spoon over letters that spell out the word “Salem” in her apartment basement. This discovery alerts Meena Good, one of the seven witches with seven spoons who have been called to help restore women’s powers. Since Lucky and her spoon are the sixth, Meena sends Lucky and her grandmother on an adventurous quest to find the seventh spoon.
Old Babes in the Wood: Stories by Margaret Atwood
The Canadian literary icon is back! Margaret Atwood’s Old Babes in the Wood: Stories is a short story collection of 15 tales that will be released on March 7. It is also currently available for preorder. Some of these stories have been featured in The New York Times and The New Yorker and are each described as unique, creative and thought-provoking. Atwood never disappoints.
The Fake by Zoe Whittall
This one sounds like it’ll be full of drama. Zoe Whittall’s novel The Fake, which will release on March 21 and is currently available for preorder, follows two separate relationships with a woman named Cammie. After losing her wife, Shelby meets Cammie at a grief support group. As they grow closer, Shelby learns that Cammie is recovering from cancer and various other issues. Gibson, a recently divorced and depressed forty-something-year-old man, also falls in love with Cammie. However, both Gibson and Shelby realize that Cammie’s stories don’t add up, and when they eventually meet each other, her lies become clear. If you enjoy reading novels about messy relationships, I would definitely check this one out.
Hold My Girl by Charlene Carr
This novel was released on Jan. 24 and is currently available for purchase. It follows the story of two women, Katherine and Tess, whose eggs are mistakenly switched during an IVF procedure. Carr’s novel tackles themes of grief, race, betrayal and family while also exploring the difficult and complex journey of being a mother.
Superfan: How Pop Culture Broke My Heart by Jen Sookfong Lee
Jen Sookfong Lee’s Superfan: How Pop Culture Broke My Heart was released on Jan. 17 and is currently available for purchase. In this memoir, she examines her rocky relationship with pop culture as an Asian woman by intertwining important cultural events with stories from her own life. As she explores how pop culture influences and shapes our lives, she also addresses themes of grief, family and identity through a unique lens.
On the Ravine by Vincent Lam
Vincent Lam’s On the Ravine, which releases on Feb. 28th, follows the complex relationship between Dr. Chen and drug-addicted violinist Claire. This novel is being described as a “soaring achievement” in Canadian fiction and is already being highly praised for its examination of addiction and doctor-patient relationships.
The Whispers by Ashley Audrain
If you’re a fan of Audrain’s other novel, The Push, then you might enjoy this one too. I personally love novels that examine the complexity of friendships (especially when there is some drama and mystery involved). The Whispers follows the events that ensue after a child falls from his bedroom window at a neighbourhood party. In order to uncover the truth, three women must address what exactly happened that seemingly “normal” summer night. While The Whispers won’t be released in bookstores until June 6, you can still preorder it online.
It looks like 2023 is off to a great start for Canadian readers. Enjoy!