The Loneliness in Lydia Erneman’s Life is gentle and sombre and beautiful. At once lyrical and acute, each short chapter offers a glimpse into the protagonist’s quiet life, almost like a meditation. Perhaps this is how the author intended this book to be read? A sip at a time, chapter by chapter, letting each portion slowly warm you from the inside out.

Wow. Let me say again—WOW! Alyssa York is a powerful writer. Her latest book, Far Cry, published by Random House Canada, is nothing short of exquisite. The prose is dense, the characters flawed and fierce, while the plot gently intoxicates, drawing the reader ever deeper. Weeks later, after reading the final chapter, I still can’t shake the ending. Be prepared for these characters to stay with you.

We Measure the Earth with our Bodies is Tsering Yangzom Lama’s debut novel—and what a debut it is! The author invites the reader into a multi-generational migration experience, exploring the interconnectedness of family over space and time while considering the meaning of home when one is physically separated from the land of their ancestors.

Lesser Known Monsters of the 21st Century by Kim Fu is … weird. But in the very best sense. As a matter of personal preference, I don’t tend to gravitate toward speculative fiction, unless it’s exceptionally well done. But Fu is no slouch and may have finally converted me. The stories included in this collection are literary gems, each one phenomenally well-crafted. They blend realism with a slight turn toward the strange, the creepy, and at times, the grotesque.

The Sleeping Car Porter is lovely and heartbreaking and emotional … but most of all it, it delivers so much warmth and humanity. This meticulously researched historical novel explores the lived experience of Baxter, a young train porter with aspirations of becoming a dentist. A phenomenal read. It’s clear why it was selected for the Giller shortlist; this will be a hard one to beat!