It’s hard to believe that 2021 is halfway over. How did that happen? Like seriously, wasn’t January just yesterday? Of course, if you see the weather around North America this week, you would know that’s not the case. Especially with the record-breaking highs in the Pacific Northwest. This week’s TTT list, from the link-up over at That Artsy Reader Girl, is asking for us to share our most anticipated books for the rest of 2021. And as this week is Canada Day, I decided to share some anticipated book releases from Canadian authors. I will admit, this did take some research, as not many book lists share Canadian authors. And I want to say that it is a shame as there are some amazing authors from Canada.
I have a diverse collection of books on my list. Some are non-fiction, some are kids’ books, and some are thrillers. All descriptions are taken from the book’s Goodreads page.
The Spirits Up by Todd Babiak
Expected Release Date: October 26, 2021
Genre: Ghost Story; Fantasy
A contemporary ghost story about a family in need of a Christmas miracle.
The Sprits Up is the story of a family haunted by the charmlessness of middle age and the cruelties of modern teenage life. Part social satire and part contemporary ghost story (with a hint of Dickens’s A Christmas Carol), it is an exploration of a timeless question: what happens when there’s nothing to believe?
The Vinyl Cafe Celebrates by Stuart McLean
Expected Release Date: October 12, 2021
Genre: Humor; Short Stories
From Canada’s much-missed, nationally bestselling storyteller, a must-have collection featuring ten never-before-published stories and ten classic favorites, perfect for old fans and Vinyl Cafe newcomers alike.
This collection is both timely and timeless, a rich celebration of Stuart McLean’s inimitable voice and the importance of love, community, kindness, and the healing power of laughter.
His charming, humane, and side-splitting stories brought the trials and triumphs of Dave, Morley, Sam, and Stephanie to life and made their memorable circle of friends, family, and neighbors as real as our own.
Operation Angus by Terry Fallis
Expected Release Date: August 31, 2021
Genre: Humor; Spy/Thriller
From bestselling author Terry Fallis comes the long-awaited follow-up to The Best Laid Plans and The High Road–a comic spy story that heralds the return of Angus McLintock.
This is a madcap cloak-and-dagger adventure with humor and heart that will delight and entertain readers until the very last page.
Anne’s School Days by Kallie George and Abigail Halpin
Expected Release Date: July 6, 2021
Genre: Early Reader; Chapter Book
The third book in an early-reader series inspired by Anne of Green Gables, starring the spirited Anne Shirley as she navigates her first days of school and the incorrigible Gilbert Blythe.
Lovingly adapted by Kallie George with beautiful nostalgic illustrations by Abigail Halpin, this series is perfect for fans of Anne, new and old.
Hunting by Stars by Cherie Dimaline
Expected Release Date: October 19, 2021
Genre: YA; Science Fiction; Dystopian
The thrilling follow-up to the bestselling, award-winning novel The Marrow Thieves, about a dystopian world where the Indigenous people of North America are being hunted for their bone marrow and ability to dream.
For years after the collapse of society, French was on the run in the bush, avoiding the Recruiters and making a home with a group of fellow Indigenous survivors who have become family. But then he finds himself on his own, in a pitch-black room, with no memory of how he got there. Meanwhile, out in the world, his found family searches for him and dodges new dangers south of the border. When their paths finally collide, French must decide how far he is willing to go — and how many loved ones is he willing to betray — in order to survive.
Permanent Astonishment: A Memoir by Tomson Highway
Expected Release Date: September 28, 2021
Genre: Non-Fiction; Memoir
Capricious, big-hearted, joyful: an epic memoir from one of Canada’s most acclaimed Indigenous writers and performers.
Infused with joy and outrageous humor, Permanent Astonishment offers insights, both hilarious and profound, into the Cree experience of culture, conquest and survival.
The Strangers by Katherena Vermette
Expected Release Date: September 28, 2021
Genres: Contemporary
From the bestselling author of The Break comes a staggering intergenerational saga that explores how connected we are, even when we’re no longer together–even when we’re forced apart.
A breathtaking companion to her bestselling debut The Break, Vermette’s The Strangers brings readers into the dynamic world of the Stranger family, the strength of their bond, the shared pain in their past, and the light that beckons from the horizon. This is a searing exploration of race, class, inherited trauma, and matrilineal bonds that–despite everything–refuse to be broken.
The Holiday Swap by Maggie Knox
Expected Release Date: October 5, 2021
Genre: Contemporary; Romance
A feel-good, holiday-themed romantic comedy about identical twins who switch lives in the days leading up to Christmas–perfect for fans of Christina Lauren’s In a Holidaze and Josie Silver’s One Day in December.
All they want for Christmas is a different life.
With only days until Christmas, a desperate Charlie asks Cass to do something they haven’t done since they were kids: switch places. Looking for her own escape from reality, Cass agrees. But temporarily trading lives proves more complicated than they imagined, especially when rugged firefighter Jake Greenman and gorgeous physician’s assistant Miguel Rodriguez are thrown into the mix. Will the twins’ identity swap be a recipe for disaster, or does it have all the right ingredients for getting their lives back on track?
Linked by Gordon Korman
Expected Release Date: July 20, 2021
Genre: Middle Grade
Link, Michael, and Dana live in a quiet town. But it’s woken up very quickly when someone sneaks into school and vandalizes it with a swastika.
With Linked, Gordon Korman, the author of the acclaimed novel Restart, poses a mystery for all readers where the who did it? isn’t nearly as important as the why?
Denial: A Novel by Beverley McLachlin
Expected Release Date: September 14, 2021
Genre: Thriller; Crime
From the former Chief Justice of Canada and #1 bestselling author of Full Disclosure comes a taut new thriller starring tough-as-nails defense attorney Jilly Truitt in a murder case that makes her question her own truths.
When everyone is in denial, how do you find the truth?
Jilly Truitt has made a name for herself as one of the top criminal defense lawyers in the city. Where once she had to take just about any case to keep her firm afloat, now she has her pick—and she picks winners.
Thrumming with tension, Denial is a riveting thriller about the lengths we will go to for the ones we love and the truths we hold dear.
These 10 books are some of the most anticipated Canadian books being released before the end of 2021. Many others are coming out before the end of 2021 that have caught my eye. But I felt that I had to share some from my adopted home of Canada. Happy Canada Day!
Looking for some more ideas to read? Check out my monthly reading wrap-ups.
I love your twist on this week’s prompt. Happy early Canada Day!
My post: https://lydiaschoch.com/top-ten-tuesday-most-anticipated-books-of-the-second-half-of-2021/
Happy Canada Day to you as well!
I love this! I haven’t heard of most of these books and authors, so I appreciate the heads-up. HUNTING BY STARS sounds like a book I need to check out NOW. I hope you enjoy all these.
Happy TTT!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
Great (Canadian!) list. 🍁 I’d like to check out Linked by Gordon Korman when it’s out. I’m sure it’s an important story for the middle grade crowd.
Here’s my Top Ten Tuesday list this week.
The Holiday Swap sounds like a fun Christmassy read! Hope you’ll enjoy all of these!
I love it when bloggers personalize their posts to fit their circumstances. I haven’t heard of any of these books, but I am not one to look out for new releases usually.
Wow, I haven’t heard of these, but they sound really intriguing!
I love that you made this a but more specific. Great looking choices!
Thanks!
What a great list! It’s nice to see Canadian authors getting attention! The Spirits Up looks adorable. 🙂
They need love! I was surprised to find some that I knew about but didn’t realize they were Canadian, like Gordon Korman.
An early-reader version of Anne of Green Gables sounds adorable. Love that it will introduce young readers to Anne Shirley. Hope you enjoy these titles!
So many great covers here! I also really want to read The Holiday Swap. Great list!
I didn’t know Gordon Korman was a Canadian author! Thanks for sharing!
Me either, until I was researching for this post. Turns out he’s from Montreal.
This is a great idea, focusing on Canadian authors. I wish I was more familiar with them, but I hope you get the chance to read all of these:-)
I actually had to do quite a bit of research to find out which authors were Canadian.
Great post. I do enjoy Terry Fallis’ books, so will definitely add that one to my TBR. I have been reading the Early Reader Anne books with my grandchildren and we liked this one. I am not familiar with some of the others, but will be checking them out for sure.
I love the theme! How did I not realize Korman is Canadian? I went ahead and added Spirits Up, Permanent Astonishment and The Strangers to my TBR. I have a Christmas CD that ends with a story from the Vinyl Cafe, which then prompted me to track down the author and his works. So charming!
I love Stuart McLean, especially his audiobooks, as he’s the narrator. I miss hearing him on the radio telling his stories.
I love your twist on this week’s prompt! It’s such a cool way to spread awareness!
Thank you!
The Holiday Swap sounds like such a fun read! 🙂
Ohhh The Holiday Swap sounds really cute! It actually sort of reminds me of the movie The Holiday which is one of my fave holiday movies to watch every year!
I am so glad I read this post because I didn’t know about most of these authors and books. The Spirits Up and The Vinyl Cafe Celebrates sound incredible. And I loved your take on the prompt.
Love the look of Anne’s school Days!
Great idea with the Canadian books. I’m waiting for Mary Lawson’s “A Town Called Solace” which will be published next February in pb.
But I might find a few more among your books.
Thanks for visiting my TTT earlier.
I love that you concentrated on just Canadian authors! The Holiday Swap sounds like fun 😀
What a great list! I hope you’ll enjoy these when you read them!
‘Linked’ looks interesting. I didn’t know that Gordon Korman was Canadian! 🙂
I haven’t heard of any of these, but they all sound so interesting! Hunting By Stars especially. Great list!
This is an awesome twist on the list, I love it! Hunting By Stars is on my list, I have a review copy actually, and am quite excited! Thanks for putting the rest of them on my radar, too!
I hope you enjoy these!
Thanks for sharing Pam! I’ve added The Holiday Swap onto my TBR, it sounds so light hearted and fun. Great list.