Canada is home to a vibrant and diverse literary community, with authors whose voices resonate far beyond our borders. As a proud Canadian reader, I always get a little thrill when I see our homegrown talent making waves in the book world. In Must-Read Books by Canadian Authors Publishing In Spring 2025, I’m highlighting five exciting new releases that caught my attention for their compelling stories, fresh perspectives, and buzzworthy promise. Whether you’re reading from near or far, I hope you’ll find something here to add to your TBR list. Click on the book’s cover to add it to your Goodreads shelf.
The Paris Express by Emma Donoghue:
From Emma Donoghue, acclaimed author of Room, The Wonder, and The Pull of the Stars, comes The Paris Express—a gripping historical novel set during a single day in 1895, inspired by a real French railway disaster famously captured in haunting photographs. As a morning train travels from the Normandy coast to Paris, a diverse group of passengers—including an anarchist, a pregnant woman, a lone boy, and a wary medical student—find their fates intertwined. Taut, suspenseful, and richly atmospheric, this novel explores the social tensions, fears, and upheaval of late 19th-century France.
One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune
Alice never expected Charlie Florek to crash back into her life. Years ago, a single summer at Barry’s Bay with her Nan and a photo of three teenagers in a yellow speedboat changed everything for her. Now a photographer who prefers life behind the lens, Alice returns to the lake when Nan breaks her hip, hoping for another magical summer. But the past comes rushing back when Charlie—once the boy in her photo, now a charming and confident man—roars onto the water in that same yellow boat. As sun-drenched days and late-night conversations draw them closer, Alice finds herself seen in a way she never has before. And that, more than anything, makes her afraid of what comes next.
Detective Aunty by Uzma Jalaluddin:
In this twisty and entertaining whodunnit from the acclaimed author of Ayesha at Last, a spirited widow named Kausar Khan becomes an unlikely sleuth when her adult daughter is arrested for murder. Detective Aunty kicks off a cozy new detective series as Kausar returns to Toronto after nearly two decades to clear her daughter’s name. Faced with a suspicious crime scene, a wave of unsolved neighbourhood crimes, and a dagger from her daughter’s shop at the centre of it all, Kausar teams up with old friends and her sharp-witted granddaughter to uncover the truth—proving that no one is better at digging up secrets than a determined aunty with something to fight for.
Whistle by Linwood Barclay:
After a tragic year marked by her husband’s death in a hit-and-run and a scandal involving her children’s book, Annie Blunt moves with her son Charlie to a small town in upstate New York for a fresh start. Charlie discovers an old train set in a locked shed, and while Annie is relieved to see him happy, unsettling events soon follow—strange sounds of a train at night, odd neighbourhood happenings, and Annie’s compulsion to draw a disturbing figure. As the eerie occurrences escalate, Annie begins to fear that they’ve stumbled into something far more sinister than just bad luck.
The Book of Records by Madeleine Thien:
The Book of Records is a profound and imaginative novel that transcends time, following Lina and her father as they arrive at a mysterious enclave called The Sea—a liminal space where past and future converge. As Lina forms connections with historical figures like a 17th-century Jewish scholar, a German philosopher fleeing the Nazis, and a Tang Dynasty poet, she begins to explore themes of memory, guilt, and redemption. Through conversations that span centuries, Lina confronts her father’s troubling past and discovers how personal and political histories intertwine. Sweeping and thought-provoking, this novel is a powerful meditation on migration, identity, and the enduring human quest for meaning and belonging.
From historical fiction to cozy mysteries and thought-provoking literary tales, these spring releases by Canadian authors offer a rich variety of voices and stories to explore. Whether you’re drawn to suspense, philosophy, or heartwarming family dynamics, there’s something here to add to your reading list—and to remind us of the remarkable talent coming out of Canada this season. I’d love to hear what Canadian books you’re excited about—drop your favourites in the comments or let me know what’s on your spring TBR!
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Carla@CarlaLovesToRead
These are all authors that I have read before. I love Linwood Barclay and try to read all his books, although I do have a few backlist ones to go. Emma Donaghue is another that I love, and of course Carley Fortune is already on my TBR shelf. The other two sound interesting and will go on that wish list shelf, wish I had more time. Thanks for this list Jodie. I am always looking to read Canadian authors.