“When I finished the last page and closed the book, I came away satisfied. And the ending? That, I really liked.” With that said, an author’s follow-up to a phenomenally successful debut is not quite as stellar. —Trish Bowering reviews The Caretaker, by Marcus Kliewer (Toronto: Atria/Emily Bestler Books/12:01 Books, 2026) $26.99 / 9781668228944
“User: @JerBear83,” an excerpt from Super Castle Fun Park, by Daniel Zomparelli (Vancouver: Arsenal Pulp Press, 2026) $24.95 / 9781834050263
An excerpt from Lindsay Wong’s Villain Hitting for Vicious Little Nobodies (Toronto: Penguin Canada, 2026) $27.95 / 9780735242418
YA horror set at a spiritual retreat that isn’t: “Structurally impressive, mythologically rich, and recurrently dark, Cheng has carefully infused just enough humour and hope in a novel where it’s easy to root for the good guys.” —Jessica Poon reviews Beautiful Brutal Bodies, by Linda Cheng (Toronto: Listening Library, 2025) $20.99 / 9781250865816
Atmospheric BC-set debut novel grows nearly hallucinatory with grotesque and supernatural elements. Teen investigators Alinta and Ruby ground a (somewhat overstuffed) story with their tight bond and quest to solve a mystery. —Brett Josef Grubisic reviews Woodbine Grove, by Ryan O’Dowd (Hamilton: Manor House Press, 2025) $29.95 / 9781998938193
Debut horror novelist conveys the “tingle and rattle of fear” but wears his influences on his sleeve. —Bill Paul reviews Arlya, by Jack Lowe-Carbell (Victoria: Tellwell Talent, 2024) $24.99 / 9781779410979