Volume by “a poet in full command of her powers” examines past selves and current (middle-aged) self. And neither does it shy from irreverence: “Funny, sexy, bawdy writing like this is all too rare in Canadian poetry. Bachinsky’s work is a breath of fresh air, sure, but more importantly, her willingness to discuss such topics in no way diminishes the seriousness of her overall project.” —Carellin Brooks reviews Real Grownup, by Elizabeth Bachinsky (Gibsons: Nightwood Editions, 2026) $19.95 / 9780889714960
Set in a postwar port city, a poignant novella captures the era and one woman’s place in it. Supported by elegant prose and an eye for period detail, the thoughtful book meditates on paths chosen and not chosen. —Brett Josef Grubisic reviews Break My Heart, Liverpool, by Pamela McGarry (Gibson’s: Great Hall Press, 2025) $19.95 / 9781777513412
In a wide-ranging and eclectic debut volume of poems, themes range from personal growth and transformation to motherhood and ancestry. —Mary Ann Moore reviews Soft Shelters, by Marie Metaphor Specht (Norfolk County, ON: Write Bloody North, 2023) $20.00 / 9781778162619