Thank you so much, Iona! Your gratitude for indie bookstores is truly heart-warming. 🥹♥️ We can’t wait for readers everywhere to follow Lane Winslow’s next mysterious case in A False and Fatal Claim, out now! @ionawhishawauthor

Spanning eras and geographies, The Typing Lady is an electrifying meditation on the stories we tell ourselves, the stories we abandon, and the stories we become. As a fan of Ruth Ozeki’s work herself, Megan from River Bookshop couldn’t help but rave about her newest book voted on as a TBL selection:

The acclaimed, prize-winning #1 New York Times bestselling writer Ann Patchett returns with a moving, luminous novel that reminds us of the sweetness and impermanence of life and the power of connection to defy time. Whistler is absolutely even better than the hype.

Stuck on what to read next? The Coffin of Honey is Close Encounters of the Third Kind meets Annihilation, a poetic space-age fable of proletarian internationalism. This novel will both challenge and charm you with Morrison’s unique writing style.

Happy New Release Tuesday! Today is stacked with amazing books, including three TBL Spring selections that will transport you to places around the world, from Ireland to New York. If you’ve been waiting for a heavy-hitter to captivate you with its prose, you’re in luck this week!

Ever wonder what makes the birds around us so unique? The Book of Birds is a must-have for nature lovers and those interested in learning more about a magnificent slice of the natural world. Eric Dalton from Huckle Berry Books sings its praises and shared why he recommends this book to any reader:

Thanks, Don for your message in support of indie bookstores! ♥️ There’s so much to love about Cherry Beach. This intricately plotted and brilliantly layered, Cherry Beach is a gripping literary crime novel that examines class, race, and corruption in Toronto is available now.

The Last Mandarin is a compelling international thriller from two prominent minds about the precarious balance of power across the world and within a family. Khira Borden, a bookseller from Daisy Chain Co., filled us in on what makes this an unputdownable story:

Happy book birthday to The Midnight Train! Fans of Matt Haig’s bestselling The Midnight Library are in for another magical adventure through time and space that asks questions about love and what you’re willing to do to keep it. The Midnight Train is available now at an indie bookstore near you. 🚆

In the mood for a heart-wrenching romance? We Burned So Bright is a powerful testament to the enduring power of love and family, captivating readers until the very end. Bookseller from @thespanielstale, Cole Davidson, read and shared his thoughts on what readers can expect from the novel:

Thanks for your note, Geoffrey! Books like yours are why we can’t keep a healthy sleep schedule. 📖 🤯 If you’re as obsessed with the premise of the novel as we are, be sure to grab a copy of The Coffin of Honey at your local indie bookstore. @geoffrey.d.morrison

Congratulations to our winners! We hope we get to see all the amazing goodies you collect soon.

We're thrilled that The Fall-Down Effect by @lizjohnston.bsky.social is an official selection for the Spring 2026 edition of The Booksellers' List!

Caileigh, a bookseller from @windowseatbooks, reminded us why we read in the first place—to transport ourselves into new lives and places. Read more about what excites her the most for readers to discover with John of John:

From Pulitzer Prize–winning, author Elizabeth Strout, her new novel tells the story of a chance incident that sparks a powerful realization in a beloved teacher’s life. Samantha Bolen, a bookseller and owner of Bolen Books, shared why she thinks this novel has everything a reader is looking for.

Disclaimer! The cat making biscuits in the background is in fact not a paid actor. 😂 We just really wanted to share this amazing message from Marcus Kliewer, whose novel The Caretaker was selected as the Top Pick for Spring. Thank you for your message, Marcus!

Strong female main characters ✅ Multiple POVs ✅ Climate activism ✅ Complex family relationships ✅ Adding to your TBR ✅ Bookseller Martha Sharpe from @flyingbooksto shared with us her thoughts after reading this book that had us running to our local indie to find it.

Not one…not two… but three Booksellers’ List Spring selections have found their new homes on indie bookshelves today across Canada. There are new thrillers, speculative fiction and gripping stories about power, family and a psychic who communicates with animals to enact revenge? 👀

Thank you so much, Jane! We know your novel, Inheritance, is going to enamor so many readers almost as much as we are with you. ♥️ Learn more about Inheritance and all the Booksellers’ List Spring selections at indiebookstores.ca/tbl or pop by your local bookseller to confirm availability.

A False and Fatal Claim is the perfect page-turner to escape this spring. The 14th installment to the Lane Winslow mystery series, bookseller Jessica Paul from Munro's Books, got us excited all over again to pick this one up. Read more of her thoughts here:

Nature lovers of all ages are in store for an electrifying look into birdlife and habitats from Jackie Morris and Robert Macfarlane, of the internationally bestselling, award-winning, multi-adapted phenomenon The Lost Words, their new book The Book of Birds is out now! @houseofanansi.bsky.social

Two new releases from the Booksellers’ List for Spring are out today and they sound far too good to miss this season! The Things We Never Say, from Pulitzer Prize–winning, author Elizabeth Strout, explores the life of a teacher grappling with isolation, loneliness, and what it means to love.

Thank you for sharing your knowledge and passion for birds in your new book, The Book of Birds, Jackie! We’re so delighted indie booksellers will get to put this dazzling celebration of birdlife into the hands of so many readers. 🐦 ♥️ Out May 7.

Set in St. John’s and infused with the rich culture and characters of the Rock, this novel tells a life-affirming and ultimately hopeful story about how women support each other and discover their true selves. Read more from bookseller Janet Broder on what she thought about this new release:

Still sitting on your receipt from last weekend? 😱 You have until 11:59pm PT TODAY to enter your purchases from April 25 into the Contest for Book Lovers! One winner will score the grand prize of a $1000 gift card to a CIBA-member indie bookstore of their choice.

Trad-wives, mysterious deaths, intergalactic missions, and letters left unsent—these are just some of the stories that Canadian readers were stocking up on this week. Are any of the top 10 indie bestsellers on your radar too? 🔖

What do mysteries and Canadian novelists have in common? Both genres provide an enthralling experience that keeps readers guessing until the final page. Robyn York from Beach Reads Bookshop shared with us their thoughts on this latest addition to the crime fiction scene!

Thanks, Liz Johnston for your message! Indie booksellers are truly some of the best well-read people we know as well. 😉 For fans of riveting stories on climate change and fractured family relationships,The Fall-Down Effect is the read you should look to pick up next at your neighbourhood bookstore

Will you be joining Don and Rodney, an older queer couple embarking on an end-of-the-world road trip, or catching up with Lane Winslow cracking her next case in her idyllic British Columbia lake town of King's Cove? 🫆🛣️ 👀

A wild, beguiling novel about isolation, technology, and raising the dead by the co-editor of Queer Little Nightmares, Super Castle Fun Park is the witty, supernatural, and very human story about our deep, abiding need for connection that you need to pick up this season. 👻

What would you buy if you had $1,000 to spend at your neighbourhood indie bookstore? Well, one lucky grand prize winner will have the opportunity to not only think about it, but do it! Don’t forget to enter our Contest for Booklovers by submitting your receipts to indiebookstores.ca/cibd-contest/

There’s so many fab book finds available to collect exclusively for CIBD! 😎 Lucky readers can grab one of these limited edition bookplates illustrated by the incredible Sid Sharp at your neighbourhood bookstore today! Only available at participating stores, while supplies last.

Indie bookstores are truly one of every reader’s happy places! 🥰 Enjoy being transported to one of the best places on earth in this lovely love note from Uchechukwu Peter Umezurike, author of We Survived Until We Could Live.

The countdown is on — CIBD 2026 starts in 24 hours! 🎉 Have your wishlist ready for a day packed with giveaways, book signings, exclusive discounts, and more at your neighbourhood indie bookstore!

CIBD is this weekend! To help make your celebration plans run smoothly, we've rounded up a few commonly asked questions! Visit our website at indiebookstores.ca/cibd for full details and to bookmark the contest page so you can quickly refer to it after all of your book shopping is complete! 🥳

Our most amazing sponsors have once again put together some cool freebies for book lovers to collect as they hit their local indie bookstores. 😍 🔖 💃🕺 Scroll through to check out some of the exclusive stickers and activity books available only this CIBD weekend as supplies last!

Thank you Blair Palmer Yoxall and Daniel Zomparelli for shouting out our mighty Canadian indie bookselling community! We couldn’t agree more on how much of an anchor these stores are to any and every community.

We’re celebrating the book birthdays of three shiny new reads out today, one of them being the TBL Top Pick for Spring! These true gems in Canadian fiction will exceed the expectations of readers who love stories about complex women, the environment, or even an engrossing, suspenseful novel.

Your purchase this weekend at an indie bookstore goes a long way. By entering into our Contest for Book Lovers, you could be one of four lucky readers to win runner-up prizes of $200 each to the CIBA member bookstore of your choice.

Thank you to the @btlbooks.com team for shouting out the work of indie bookstores in the lead up to CIBD 2026 on April 25! You can read their blog post with a full list of blurbs about bookstores their community loves here: btlbooks.com/blog/view/ca...

Deepen your knowledge of the nature around us in this essential manifesto from award-winning Dene activist and writer Katłı̨̀ą. Based on Dene teachings, Mother Earth Is Our Elder is a pragmatic, and hopeful book on caring for our earth. Mcnally Robinson's Kathleen Friesen shared her thoughts with us:

On your mark, get set… Bingo! Plan your next book club, host a reading party, or take on the challenge solo: we’re challenging Canadian book lovers to read as many of the Spring Booksellers’ List as they can this season. Save or reboost this post, and let us know how many you plan to read!

These next set of love notes definitely warmed our winter fatigued hearts. 🥰 Authors Jay Odjick and Leslie Shimotakahara dropped such sweet messages to their favourite indie bookstores that will remind of you why local booksellers matter to communities all year, all the time.

Happy New Release Tuesday! We’re celebrating the book birthdays of Cherry Beach and Super Castle Fun Park. These unique Canadian reads are refreshing and innovative, making for a great pick to kickstart the season with. These books are available now at an indie bookstore near you. 🎉

Inheritance explores a Korean Canadian family's immigrant experience, the sacrifices made by both parents and children, and the impacts of intergenerational trauma. Here’s what Callie Trautman, a bookseller from @shelflifebooks, had to share:

With so much exclusive swag and new reads to discover, we won’t judge you for suiting up with your most colourful bag and hitting the books — at your local bookstore, for a day that feels like a party for readers like you.

Indie booksellers work hard to serve their customers and communities. That’s why CIBD is a fantastic opportunity to give back with every purchase. Not only does your purchase support the Canadian literary ecosystem, but there are so many aspects of shopping local that the algorithms can’t beat.

Authors Jarett Sitter, Chanel Sutherland, and Uchechukwu Peter Umezurike truly capture the best parts of indie bookstores that keep booklovers (like you!) coming back each day. These next set of love notes express it all. 💗 💌

Today, we have even more Author Love Notes to share! This set comes from authors Louise Bernice Halfe, Lynn Hutchinson Lee, and Dania Idriss. They have so much to say about the indie bookstores that they can’t help but visit again and again! 💛

For fans of Remarkably Bright Creatures, The Infinite Sadness of Small Appliances is a compelling, touching, and highly original novel that will make you care deeply about… a roomba. Available now at an indie bookstore near you.