With Canada Day just around the corner, the Champlain Library is celebrating by highlighting five recent novels by Canadian authors. Each one is rich with secrets—hidden pasts, buried truths, and unspoken feelings—and many are anchored by powerful stories of love in its many forms. Whether you are in the mood for mystery, romance, or emotional drama, these books are perfect long-weekend reads.
The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters
When a young Mi’kmaq girl from Nova Scotia vanishes while her family is working in Maine, the loss haunts her brother for decades. Norma grows up nearby, troubled by vivid dreams and a feeling that her family is keeping secrets. This moving debut weaves a story of love, loss, and the quiet pull of a hidden past.
The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus by Emma Knight
Pen arrives at university in Scotland determined to uncover the secret her divorced parents in Canada have been keeping from her. The answer seems to lie within a centuries-old estate owned by a famous writer known as Lord Lennox. As she unravels the truth, and falls in love, she’ll come to rely on herself for the first time.
Moon Road by Sarah Leipciger
Kathleen and Yannick have not spoken in nineteen years, ever since a tragedy involving their daughter drove them apart. Now, unexpected news forces them to reunite for a cross-country road trip neither of them wants to take. As old wounds resurface, so does the possibility of healing—and of rediscovering the connection they thought was lost forever.
The Treasure Hunters Club by Tom Ryan
In the seaside town of Maple Bay, a legendary pirate treasure has lured tourists for generations—but locals know the gold isn’t the only secret buried in the sand. When three strangers converge on the town, each drawn by a personal quest, they begin to uncover a mystery far bigger than they imagined. As they dig deeper, bodies start piling up and long-buried truths come violently to light.
The Cure for Drowning by Loghan Paylor
After falling through river ice and being revived by her mother’s Celtic magic, Kit McNair grows up restless and out of step with her rural Ontario farming life. Everything changes in 1939, when the elegant Rebekah Kromer arrives in town and forms a deep connection with both Kit and Kit’s brother, Landon—sparking a love triangle that will divide families and shape destinies. As war scatters them across the globe, the bond between the three endures, leading to a powerful reckoning when they return home.
