Books

18 Canadian books you should be reading in June

A new month means new books! Here are some of the most anticipated Canadian titles for June 2025.

A new month means new books! Here are some of the most anticipated Canadian titles for June 2025.

In Too Deep by Matthew Bobkin and Adam Feibel

A composite image of a red book cover with a graphic of a man playing the guitar and on the right are two mean standing and smiling at the camera.
In Too Deep is a book by Matthew Bobkin and Adam Feibel. (House of Anansi Press, Chelsea Williams)

In Too Deep features exclusive interviews and personal stories from nine Canadian artists, looking at how Canada unexpectedly became the birthplace of a new wave of punk rock icons like Simple Plan, Marianas Trench, Avril Lavigne and Billy Talent, who went on to conquer the global music scene.

In Too Deep is available on June 3, 2025. 

Matthew Bobkin and Adam Feibel are Toronto-based music journalists. Their work has been featured in Exclaim!, Bandcamp, VICE, the National Post and the Toronto Star. In Too Deep is their debut book.

Steve, a Rare Egg by Kelly Collier

A composite image of an illustrated book cover featuring a white cartoon horse beside a portrait of a woman with blonde hair looking into the camera.
Steve, a Rare Egg is a graphic novel by Kelly Collier. (Kids Can Press, submitted by Kelly Collier)

In Steve, a Rare Egg, while snacking on leftover party cake, Steve stumbles upon a mysterious, smooth, oval-shaped object. He's convinced it's an egg—though no one has ever seen a red egg before. Clearly, it must be a super rare thingamabob egg! Determined to take care of it until its parents are found, Steve puts his egg-care knowledge to the test. What could possibly go wrong?

Steve, a Rare Egg is for ages 6-9. 

Steve, a Rare Egg is available on June 3, 2025. 

Kelly Collier is a Toronto artist and illustrator. She is the author-illustrator of A Horse Named Steve and Team Steve, and the illustrator of numerous books including Sloth and Squirrel in a Pickle, Izzy's Tail of Trouble and How to Party Like a Snail

My Friend May by Julie Flett

A picture book cover showing a girl and her cat.
My Friend May is a picture book by Julie Flett. (Courtney Molyneaux, Courtney Molyneaux)

A little girl and her cat are at the heart of Julie Flett's heartwarming new picture book, My Friend May. Margaux adores her cat May and is distraught when one day May doesn't return home. At the same time Margaux's nitôsis (the Cree word for auntie) is moving away to the city. While Margaux is missing both May and nitôsis, she doesn't realize that May has a surprise in store for her. My Friend May also includes a glossary of Cree words that are featured in the story and a pronunciation guide. 

My Friend May is for ages 4 to 8.

My Friend May  is available on June 3, 2025. 

Flett is a Cree–Métis author and illustrator. She has won two Governor General's Literary Awards, the American Indian Library Association Award and the TD Canadian Children's Literature Award. Her other books include We All Play, When We Were Alone and Let's Go.

Soul Machine by Jordana Globerman

A composite image of an illustrated book cover featuring a woman holding a flower beside a portrait of a woman with black hair smiling into the camera.
Soul Machine is a graphic novel by Jordana Globerman. (Annick Press, jordanagloberman.com)

Chloe and her sister craft souls by hand in an old countryside house, using a rare material called breth. But when their supply runs out, the powerful MCorp tries to force them into mass-producing synthetic souls. Determined to find a real breth source, Chloe ventures into the big city, hoping to modernize their business — despite her sister Lacey's resistance.

As Chloe searches for untainted breth, she uncovers buried family secrets and starts questioning everything she thought she knew about trust, reality and the nature of souls.

Soul Machine is for ages 12 and above. 

Soul Machine is available on June 3, 2025

Jordana Globerman is an illustrator and comic book writer based in Ottawa. Soul Machine is her debut novel.

Annapurna's Bounty by Veena Gokhale

A book cover that shows imagery from Indian legends.
Annapurna's Bounty is a book by Veena Gokhale. (Dundurn Press)

Delight your tastebuds and imagination in Annapurna's Bounty, a collection of Indian legends where food plays different roles in the lives of a diverse cast of characters — from kings and commoners to witches, goddesses, gurus, bandits, refugees and travelers. Each story is also paired with a vegetarian recipe from the four corners of India. 

Annapurna's Bounty, is available on June 3, 2025. 

Veena Gokhale is a Montreal-based author. Her previous works include the fiction books Bombay Wali and Other Stories and Land for Fatimah. She has also worked in journalism, teaching, literary curation and the non-profit sector.

Best of All Worlds by Kenneth Oppel

Best of All Worlds by Kenneth Oppel. Illustrated book cover of an upside down cabin and red sky. Author headshot of a white man in a black shirt.
Best of All Worlds is a YA novel by Kenneth Oppel. (Penguin Teen Canada, Mark Raynes Roberts)

In Best of All Worlds Xavier Oaks begrudgingly goes on a trip to the cabin in the woods with his dad and his pregnant stepmom, Nia. One morning they wake up to discover the cabin is not in the same place it was yesterday and they are trapped in some sort of dome. After three years of still being stuck, another family is also transported to the dome and the two groups must work together to find a way out and a way home.

Best of All Worlds is available on June 3, 2025. 

Kenneth Oppel is the bestselling author of many books for young readers. Among them is the Silverwing trilogy that has sold over a million copies worldwide and has been adapted into an animated TV series and stage play in addition to this new graphic novel. Some of his other works include Airborn, Skybreaker, The Nest, Half Brother and Ghostlight. He is currently based in Toronto.

Bob the Boo-Boo by Mélina Schoenborn, illustrated by Sandra Dumais

The cover of the picture book Bob the Boo-Boo, showing a large red boo-boo with a surprised face holding a band-aid in front of them. The book's creators are also featured.
Bob the Boo-Boo is a picture book by Mélina Schoenborn (left), illustrated by Sandra Dumais (right). (Chantale Lecours, Kids Can Press, Sylvain Dumais)

In the charming and humorous new picture book, Bob the Boo-Boo, we are introduced to Bob, a boo-boo who is looking for a new home. When he spots a boy with a scrape on his knee he knows he's found the perfect spot. Bob and the boy have a wonderful time together, but as the boy's knee begins to heal, Bob starts to get smaller. Bob and his new friend grapple with what this means and if they will ever be reunited again. 

Bob the Boo-Boo is for ages 3 to 7.

Bob the Boo-Boo is available on June 3, 2025

Mélina Schoenborn is a children's book author and a ceramic artist. Her previous book is Squirrels! This is Not a Book about Dinosaurs. Schoenborn lives in Montreal.

Sandra Dumais is a Montreal-based children's book author and illustrator. Her previous books include the Farm Crimes! series and illustrating Oliva Wrapped in Vines and The Fossil Whisperer

Meet Me on Love Street by Farah Heron

Meet Me on Love Street by Farah Heron. Author headshot of a South Asian woman with dark curly hair. Illustrated book cover of two young Desi teens walking down a street.
Meet Me on Love Street is a YA romance novel by Farah Heron. (Emily Ding Photography, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers)

Sana Merali believes in happily ever afters, she was basically raised to, having grown up on Love Street. Meet Me on Love Street centres a neighbourhood brimming with life. Warm, inviting homes and small businesses like that of Sana's mother, the florist, or the vintage shop where Sana works. 

When new developments that will gentrify the neighbourhood come knocking, Sana rallies everyone to create a festival and save Love Street. But when notorious anti-romantic Mile Desai joins the planning committee, Sana finds herself with two missions: save the street and matchmake Miles out of his cynical stance on love. 

Meet Me on Love Street is available on June 10, 2025. 

Farah Heron is a writer from Toronto. She is also the author of the romantic comedies The Chai Factor, Accidentally Engaged, Kamila Knows Best and the YA novel Tahira in Bloom.

More or Less by Alison Hughes, illustrated by Oge Mora

Book cover of the picture book More or Less, showing a child pulling a wagon full of toys for donations. The book's creators are also featured.
More or Less is a picture book by Alison Hughes (lower right), illustrated by Oge Mora (upper right). (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, Abigail Best, Barbara Heintzman )

In More or Less, a picture book that celebrates how less can be more — a young boy inspires his family and friends to donate items, to live sustainably and to get rid of their clutter. The community then comes together for a swap party. 

More or Less is for ages 4 to 8.

More or Less is available on June 10, 2025. 

Alison Hughes is a writer from Edmonton. She has written over 20 books for children and young adults, including Fly, Life Expectancy, What Inspires and Hit the Ground Running, which was a finalist for the Governor General's Literary Award for young people's literature — text. Her writing has been shortlisted for the Writers' Union Short Prose Competition for Developing Writers, longlisted for the 2011 CBC Short Story Prize and shortlisted for the 2021 CBC Nonfiction Prize.

Oge Mora has written and illustrated numerous books for children. She lives in Providence, Rhode Island. 

Rag Pickers by Blaine Newton

A book cover that shows different items on a shelf; author photo.
Rag Pickers is a book by Blaine Newton. (University of Calgary Press, Blaine Newton)

Rag Pickers is a story collection that explores the nature of feeling lonely and isolated. The 18 stories feature themes of death, mystery and humour while offering insights into the human condition. 

Rag Pickers is available on June 15, 2025. 

Blaine Newton is an Edmonton-based award-winning playwright, comedy writer, short-fiction author, actor and occasional engineer. His plays have been produced across western Canada and his short fiction has been featured in magazines and anthologies, and on CBC and CKUA radio. Rag Pickers is his debut short story collection.

Born by Heather Birrell

A composite image of a a tie-dye coloured book cover that's blue, orange and red and on the right is a headshot photo of a woman with short brown hair.
Born is a book by Heather Birrell. (Coach House Books, Kristin Sjaarda)

In Born, a pregnant high school teacher is trapped in a classroom during a lockdown caused by a troubled student with a knife, while relying on her students for support as she unexpectedly goes into labour. The novel explores the complexities of the school system, motherhood and the student-teacher relationship. 

 Born is available on June 17, 2025. 

Heather Birrell is the author of the Gerald Lampert award-winning poetry collection Float and Scurry, and two story collections, Mad Hope and I know you are but what am I? She has also won the Journey Prize and been shortlisted for both the Western and National Magazine Awards. Her work has appeared in numerous Canadian literary journals. She lives in Toronto. In 2022, Birrell was longlisted for the CBC Poetry Prize.

Not the Same Road Out edited by K.J. Denny

A book cover that shows a watercolour painting of a road along the river.
Not the Same Road Out is a book edited by K.J. Denny. (Tidewater Press )

Not the Same Road Out is a story collection set along the many roads and byways of the Trans Canada Trail, stretching from the Atlantic to the Pacific to the Arctic oceans. The book features a story for every province and territory; the tales within include moments of mystery, horror and melodrama alongside themes of estrangement, engagement and isolation.

Not the Same Road Out is available on June 17, 2025.

K.J. Denny is a journalist and editor with more than 30 years of experience in Asia, North America and the United Kingdom. She is currently an independent creative consultant. Denny formerly worked in magazine and book publishing. 

The Road to Goderich by Linda McQuaig

A book cover that shows a young girl wearing a green dress and white head scarf.
The Road to Goderich is a book by Linda McQuaig. (Dundurn Press)

In 1830s rural Scotland, 15-year-old Callandra in The Road to Goderich is forced to marry a wealthy clergyman, Norbert Scott, only to find herself trapped in a cold and cruel marriage. As they move to the remote town of Goderich in Upper Canada, she finds some solace in the town's warmth but soon faces a web of lies and sparks of rebellion that threaten her fragile happiness. 

The Road to Goderich is available on June 17, 2025. 

Linda McQuaig is an award-winning journalist based in Toronto and the author of eight nonfiction books. The Road to Goderich is her debut novel. 

The Sensus Communis, Synesthesia, and the Soul by Eric McLuhan

A book cover that shows different hues of red, blue, and yellow with a galaxy aesthetic.
The Sensus Communis, Synesthesia, and the Soul is a book by Eric McLuhan. (Assembly Press, Michael McLuhan)

In The Sensus Communis, Synesthesia, and the Soul, the son of media theorist Marshall McLuhan explores faith as a form of knowing, contrasting the embodied experience of ancient poetry and drama with the disembodied nature of modern electronic communication. By examining synesthesia, sensus communis and the theological senses, Eric McLuhan explores how faith, perception and contemporary life intersect.

The Sensus Communis, Synesthesia, and the Soul is available on June 17, 2025. 

Eric McLuhan was a communications and literary theorist and the author of 18 books. His previous works include Cynic Satire, The Human Equation series (co-authored with Wayne Constantineau) and Theories of Communication. He also co-authored a number of books and essays with his father, Marshall McLuhan, including Media and Formal Cause and Laws of Media: The New Science

Anne of the Island & Anne of Windy Poplars by Lucy Maud Montgomery 

A composite image of a book cover that shows blue graphic designs on a pale yellow cover on the left and on the right is black and white headshot photo of a woman.
Anne of the Island and Anne of Windy Poplars are books by Lucy Maud Montgomery. (Nimbus Publishing, CBC)

The third and fourth books in the beloved Anne of Green Gables series are now available in a single combined edition. 

In Anne of the Island, Anne attends Redmond College in the city, where she begins her writing career but is also met with an unwanted marriage proposal and the reappearance of Gilbert Blythe. 

In Anne of Windy Poplars, Anne embarks on a new career as the principal of Summerside High, but she faces opposition from a well-known family in the neighborhood — can she overcome their disdain towards her?

Anne of the Island & Anne of Windy Poplars is available on June 17, 2025. 

Born in Prince Edward Island in 1874, Lucy Maud Montgomery started writing poetry and keeping a journal from the age of nine. She wrote her first and most famous novel, Anne of Green Gables, in 1905. She is the author of 21 novels, more than five hundred stories and poems, numerous essays and articles and several volumes of journals and letters. 

Enjoy Your Stay at the Shamrock Motel by Andrew Kaufman

A composite image that shows a book cover that shows a green key tag hanging on the keyhole of a door on the left and on the right is a headshot photo of a man wearing a purple dress shirt.
Enjoy Your Stay at the Shamrock Motel is a book by Andrew Kaufman. (Coach House Books, CBC)

The Shamrock Motel can't be reached with directions — you can only get there if you're lost in your heart and soul. In Enjoy Your Stay at the Shamrock Motel, a collection of connected stories share how a stay at the mysterious motel leads to transformative, and wild experiences. 

Enjoy Your Stay at the Shamrock Motel is available on June 24, 2025. 

Andrew Kaufman is a writer from Ontario. His previous works include the novel All My Friends Are Superheroes which won the Relit Award, was nominated for the Leacock Medal for Humour and listed among the best books of the year by The Globe and Mail. 

The Devil Wears Rothko by Barry Avrich

A black and red book cover with white writing. An author photo of a man sitting on a couch with his hands clasped together.
The Devil Wears Rothko is a book by Barry Avrich. (Post Hill Press)

The Devil Wears Rothko is a nonfiction work that explores the real-life tale of the Knoedler Gallery, one of New York's oldest and most prestigious art galleries. The gallery served as the setting for a massive art fraud scandal around the turn of the century. The book casts a light on a $80 million forgery ring involving expertly crafted counterfeits claimed to be the works of Robert Motherwell, Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko and others.

The Devil Wears Rothko is available on June 24, 2025.

Barry Avrich is a Canadian documentary filmmaker and producer. His work includes producing and directing Made You LookBorn HungryProsecuting EvilBlurred Lines and David Foster: Off The Record. He is also the author of the book Moguls, Monsters and Madmen. 

A Treachery of Swans by A. B. Poranek

A Treachery of Swans by A. B. Poranek. Illustrated book cover of two young women, one in the shadows. Author headshot of a white woman with short brown hair.
A Treachery of Swans is a dark fantasy by A. B. Poranek. (Margaret K. McElderry Books, Monika Kaczmarczyk)

Inspired by the classic story of Swan Lake, A Treachery of Swans is a queer fantasy YA novel about two rivals who were once childhood friends. Hundreds of years ago, magic was taken away from Auréal and 17-year-old Odile is bent on restoring it. Sent by her sorcerer father to steal the king's crown, Odile must pretend to be a noblewoman as she assumes the identity of none other than the regal Marie d'Odette, her former friend, and turns Marie into a swan. In a twist of events, the king is killed and Odile must ally herself with the girl she cursed, ultimately torn between family loyalty and her feelings for Marie brimming to the surface.

A Treachery of Swans is available on June 24, 2025. 

A. B. Poranek is a Canadian Polish writer with a focus on YA fantasy. She also has a veterinary degree from the Warsaw University of Life Sciences. Her other works include Where the Dark Stands Still.

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