Canada Day Special! Celebrate Canadian Stories with CBC's Bookends Reading List

There's never a bad day to read Canadian books, but Canada Day feels like an especially good excuse to fill your TBR with homegrown voices that are all writing all around Turtle Island!

Fortunately, there's no shortage of these mighty authors and their works. So, CBC Books has just rounded up all 43 Canadian authors who have appeared on Bookends with Mattea Roach this season, creating an impressive snapshot of the remarkable range of stories being written across the country today. From celebrated literary veterans to exciting debut novelists, poets, memoirists, and genre writers, it's a reading list that reflects the depth, diversity, and imagination of Canadian literature.

One of the pleasures of a list like this is seeing just how interconnected Canada's literary community really is. Many of the featured writers have appeared on Open Book over the years, sharing essays, interviews, writing advice, and behind-the-scenes looks at the creative process. Others are names readers first discovered through independent bookstores, festivals, awards, and the passionate booksellers who champion Canadian writing every day.

Whether you're looking for your next unforgettable novel, a thought-provoking memoir, or a collection of poems to spend the afternoon with, this season's Bookends lineup offers a wonderful place to start. Better yet, it's a reminder that Canadian literature continues to thrive because of readers who seek out local stories, recommend them to friends, borrow them from libraries, and support independent booksellers.

So if you're celebrating Canada Day with a little extra reading time, consider making it a Canadian one. Browse CBC Books' complete list of all 43 authors featured on Bookends with Mattea Roach this season, then see how many familiar Open Book favourites you can spot—and perhaps discover a few new voices along the way.

Happy reading, and happy Canada Day!