Best Canadian fiction books of 2025 by genre (so far!)
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I don’t know about you, but 2025 is shaping up to be an incredible year for Canadian fiction. There’s such a mix of stories coming out—thrillers that keep you guessing, romances that make your heart race, imaginative fantasy worlds, and literary novels that linger long after the last page.
I wanted to organize some of the releases that have caught my eye by genre, so whether you’re in the mood for suspense, swoon, magic, or introspection, it’s easy to find something that fits your reading mood.
Thrillers and mysteries
If you love a good mystery, suspenseful plot twists, or a clever detective story, this section is for you. These Canadian mystery novels grab your attention from the first page and keep you on edge until the very last chapter. There’s something for fans of psychological suspense, cozy mysteries, and action-packed thrillers alike.
After Max vanishes, guilt-ridden podcaster Stella gets a radio challenge: play a deadly game. Win clues about Max, or people die.
From the #1 New York Timesbestselling author of The Maid and The Mystery Guest
Molly's life as a hotel maid is upended when her gran's trinket becomes a priceless treasure. After it's stolen, she uncovers a surprising family history and a familiar face connected to the theft.
Part of the Molly the Maid series
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Kausar returns to Toronto after her daughter Sana is accused of killing a landlord, uncovering a web of secrets, lies, and local crimes as she investigates to prove Sana’s innocence.
AMAZON
Casper Han returns to his hometown when his father goes missing, forcing him and his siblings to confront their family's painful past and the mystery surrounding the disappearance of his twin, Sam.
AMAZON
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Chief Inspector Armand Gamache novels
Chief Inspector Armand Gamache uncovers a deeper conspiracy after arresting the Black Wolf, realizing a more sinister plot is brewing, forcing him to navigate a treacherous web of hidden enemies.
Part of the Chief Inspector Gamache Mysteries series
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Couple Next Door
Bryden mysteriously disappears from her luxury condo. Her husband, Sam, finds all her belongings, suggesting she walked out. Was she abducted, or did the perfect wife simply vanish without a trace?
AMAZON
Fantasy and paranormal fiction
I’ve always had a soft spot for magic, mythical worlds, and supernatural romance. This year, Canadian authors are delivering some amazing fantasy and paranormal books, full of adventure, intrigue, and imaginative storytelling. From epic magical realms to stories where romance and danger collide, these books are perfect for readers who love to escape into worlds unlike our own.
Longlisted for the 2025 Giller Prize
Barbara and Kendrith, hyenas who speak, rescue a boy and catalyze a centuries-spanning upheaval, revealing a world where humans and animals coexist in wondrous, transformative ways.
At Sleepy Hollow Institute, Kat Van Tassel falls for her teacher Ichabod Crane—until vanished fiancé Brom Bones returns, violent and changed, as decapitations and rumors of the Headless Horseman spread.
In a world where memories are edited, shared and manipulated, a man inherits his mother's memories and races to expose her true war past before the current regime destroys them.
AMAZON
Lucy Poplasky battles an ammonia leak on the International Space Station as war erupts back on Earth in Ukraine . American and Russian astronauts must overcome deep mistrust and failing systems to survive their deadly isolation.
AMAZON
From #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Fate Inked in Blood
Freya, torn between destiny and desire, must choose between saving her people or succumbing to her divine blood's destructive power.
AMAZON
Part of the Saga of the Unfated series
Shunned by family and bound to the Dread Beast, Alma loses her mother and swears vengeance. With her god’s aid, she dares to defy House Avera.
Romance
Nothing beats curling up with a sweet, swoony story, and 2025 has some great Canadian contemporary romance novels. Whether it’s small-town charm, holiday cheer, or slow-burn enemies-to-lovers, these releases are packed with chemistry, humor, and heartwarming moments that make you fall for the characters all over again.
From the acclaimed author of Out of the Woods and Out on a Limb
Prue Welch balances poetry, her mother’s Alzheimer’s, and small-town duty—until Milo’s arrival sparks an intoxicating fling that forces her to choose between safety and daring love.
From the #1 New York Times author of Every Summer After
Alice, a photographer, revisits her childhood lake cottage with her grandmother, Nan, and encounters Charlie Florek, a charming man from her past.
AMAZON
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Chestnut Springs and Rose Hill series
Her wedding day is a nightmare, marrying the man who shattered her trust. But to protect her nephew, she'll wed her enemy, discovering behind his darkness lies a surprising protector.
AMAZON
Part of the Rose Hill series
Doctor Fionn Kane seeks solitude in Nebraska to heal after heartbreak but encounters motorcycle performer Rose Evans, whose dark past and injury disrupt his plans.
AMAZON
Part of the Ruinous Love Trilogy
Elias, a rookie hockey player under media pressure, teams up with aspiring ballerina Sage for a fake-dating scheme.
Part of the Off the Ice series
Vet student Cameron rescues a golden retriever and chronicles her recovery online—sparking viral fame, newfound friendship, and an autumn romance with her charming neighbor.
Literary fiction
For those who love thoughtful, moving stories, there’s plenty of Canadian literary fiction to dive into. These Canadian literary novels explore family, identity, relationships, and the messy, wonderful parts of life. They’re the kind of books that stick with you, making you think about the characters and the world long after you’ve finished reading.
JANUARY 2025 READ WITH JENNA BOOK CLUB PICK
Pen arrives at Edinburgh, suspecting her Canadian family’s hidden truth. Drawn to Lord Lennox and his captivating family, she uncovers the secret while experiencing first love and self-discovery on campus.
AMAZON
In Uganda, 18-year-old Aine's sister returns with a girlfriend, leading to emotional turmoil and family drama rooted in strict anti-gay laws. Aine's journey of self-discovery unfolds amidst difficult choices.
AMAZON
Denny Voss, a gentle man with developmental delays, is bewildered when charged with murder after a sled accident with guns, forcing him to untangle his misadventures.
In 1990s northern Uganda, schoolgirls Miriam and Helen are captured by the Lord’s Resistance Army. Now in their twenties, they navigate survival, trauma, and the path back to freedom.
Anju Ghoshal, ages four to twelve, witnesses Trinidad’s journey to independence through a child’s eyes, navigating family dramas and the adult world she’s only beginning to understand.
Monica Joseph reinvented herself as Ami Shah, beauty mogul. But a journalist’s probe threatens exposure, forcing her back to the hometown and secrets she swore never to face.
In a single summer day at a nail salon, Ning—once a boxer, now “Susan”—observes her coworkers’ secrets while reckoning with her own past and erased identity.
Highly anticipated follow up to the viral sensation Bunny
In this fever-dream prequel-sequel, Samantha is forced to hear the Bunnies’ side of the story—an intoxicating mix of slasher fairy tale, dark academia, and monstrous creation.
In 1990s South Carolina, Ophelia, a Black/Cherokee freedmen descendant, fights to claim her birthright. Can she truly belong to a nation that once enslaved her ancestors?
AMAZON
Historical fiction
Canadian historical fiction in 2025 brings the past to life with vivid detail and unforgettable characters. From wartime resilience to hidden Canadian histories, these new historical novels deliver sweeping sagas and emotional journeys through time.
From bestselling author John Irving, a powerful return to The Cider House Rules St. Cloud’s orphanage
Esther Nacht, an orphaned Jewish girl in 1905, is fostered by the Winslows in New England. Her lifelong devotion spans Vienna, America, and Jerusalem, as she protects the family who protected her.
From the bestselling author of Do Not Say We Have Nothing
Lina and her father arrive at The Sea, a mysterious enclave, where she befriends historical figures, learns from their stories, and confronts her father’s revelations about their family's tragic past.
AMAZON
After leaping from a train in 1905, Flora Craigie settles in Alberta among unlikely neighbors. When land agents and the husband she escaped close in, the women band together to defend their homes.
Based on Milena Jesenská’s torrid love affair with Franz Kafk
Milena Jesenská’s translation of Kafka ignites a forbidden passion; their secret letters and stolen meetings drive her to risk marriage, reputation, and freedom for a love that defies silence.
Fleeing a forced marriage in occupied 1924 Korea, Na-Young and Yeon-Soo violently clash with Japanese forces. Their lives are irrevocably altered, but in shockingly different ways.
Keizo Kan, a WWII physicist, races to understand a third atomic bomb captured by Japan, facing a dire suicide mission to save his wife.
AMAZON
Based on real events. From the bestselling author of Room, The Wonder, and The Pull of the Stars
A runaway train hurtles towards Paris in 1895. A diverse cast of passengers – politicians, lovers, and a dangerous anarchist – must confront fate and their own secrets as the catastrophic crash unfolds.
Read my book review
AMAZON
Inspired by the real-life daughter of Miguel de Cervantes, author of Don Quixote
In 1599 Madrid, Isabel, the illegitimate daughter of Miguel de Cervantes, author of Don Quixote, poses as a maid in her father’s home while awaiting his return.
AMAZON
From the bestselling author of The Jane Austen Society and Bloomsbury Girls
Two pairs of siblings, devotees of Jane Austen, find their lives transformed by a visit to England to visit Jane Austen’s brother.
AMAZON
Why I’m excited
Canadian authors are putting out such a diverse range of stories this year. Whatever your favorite genre—thriller, romance, fantasy, or literary fiction—2025 has something that will grab your attention and pull you in. I can’t wait to see which of these titles will end up on everyone’s must-read lists this year.
Looking for more book suggestions?
Julie Chan, a cashier with nothing to lose, assumes her deceased twin sister Chloe's glamorous influencer life, but as she navigates this new world, she uncovers dark secrets and potential danger.
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AMAZON