By Sienna Vittoria Asselin
It’s the most wonderful time of the year: winter, the coziest of seasons for curling up by the fire with a new book. Whether you’re looking for a new read yourself, or a book to gift to that bookish someone on your list, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve combed the season’s new releases to find the best titles across genres, from rom-com to historical fiction to memoir—we’ve got something for everyone. Happy holidays and happy reading!
The Rewind
By Allison Winn Scotch
There’s just something about winter that lends itself to indulging in a feel-good and effortless rom-com. This new release from Allison Winn Scotch—dubbed one of Amazon’s best romances of November—is sure to do the trick if you’re looking for a fun literary escape for a chilly afternoon. It tells the story of two exes, who vowed never to speak to each other again, and then wake up next to each other 10 years later with wedding bands on their fingers and no idea how they got there.
Buy it here: Amazon | Indigo
Superfan: How Pop Culture Broke My Heart: A Memoir
By Jen Sookfong Lee
This new memoir from Vancouver-based podcaster, editor, and writer Jen Sookfong Lee is a sharp love letter-turned-critique on pop culture. It follows her early years turning to pop culture as an escape from personal troubles, to growing up and realizing that she couldn’t fit the mold that it idealized, as a child of Chinese immigrant parents. This vulnerable memoir is a moving personal testament and an intriguing social commentary. You’ll have to wait till January for this one, but it’s worth the wait so make sure to pre-order it now.
Buy it here: Amazon | Indigo
The Virgins of Venice: A Novel
By Gina Buonaguro
This new novel from Toronto-based author Gina Buonaguro brings readers back to sixteenth-century Venice and tells the story of a 16-year-old noblewoman who is separated from the man she wishes to marry, and instead sent to a convent. One of the most anticipated releases of the season, it is an engaging look at the ways that women found agency and made alliances in an oppressive society.
Buy it here: Amazon | Indigo
The Writing Retreat
By Julia Bartz
Warning: you’ll probably want to sleep with the lights on after reading this one. Julia Bartz’ debut novel is the suspenseful story of an aspiring author who is invited to an exclusive month-long writing retreat at the estate of a famous feminist horror writer, only to realize that it’s more of a nightmare than a dream come true. She is stuck racing against the clock to not only win the publishing deal that comes with writing the best draft of the group, but also to save herself as things take a dangerous turn and everything starts to go wrong. This is another one to add to your pre-orders, out this February.
Buy it here: Amazon | Indigo
The Personal Assistant
By Kimberly Belle
This suspenseful thriller turns the overnight-digital-success story of a mommy blogger-gone-viral on its head by asking what happens when your personal assistant disappears—along with all your family’s secrets. Add a mysterious murder and a broken marriage to the mix and you’ve got yourself a page-turner.
Buy it here: Amazon | Indigo
The Orphan’s Letters
By Glynis Peters
And last, but not least: the latest from Globe & Mail bestselling author Glynis Peters (author of The Secret Orphan and The Forgotten Orphan) tells the story of a WWII nurse whose work with the Red Cross has her on the move, separated from her family, friends, and the soldier whom she loves. Each day, as she eagerly awaits the mail, dreading the worst, she tries to focus on making the most of the time she does have with her loved ones.
Buy it here: Amazon | Indigo
