Ann Y K Choi recommends
Inheritance (2026)
Jane Park
"Inheritance provides a riveting and realistic glimpse into the complex struggles that newcomers face in the process of rebuilding their lives, communities, and sense of self. Jane Park gifts readers with an honest and nuanced protagonist, Anne, who discovers she can only move forward by going back - to her old home, childhood memories, and family secrets. Inheritance is an authentic and layered exploration of identity, sacrifice, and healing. Compelling with an emotional clarity, Park's debut novel balances heartbreak and hope in a poignant exploration of the realities that come with calling Canada our home."
Swimming Back to Trout River (2021)
Linda Rui Feng
"An impressive and thoroughly satisfying debut....This book offers profound insight into human longing: how lives become intertwined and complicated by desire, fear, and memory. Music and its riveting power connects Feng’s characters through space and time. The period details are seamlessly woven, resulting in a beautifully crafted work of art with a story that will linger long after the turning of the final page."
The Sister's Tale (2021)
Beth Powning
"In Beth Powning's newest novel, we enter a world where pauper auctions leave the most vulnerable for sale and women are non-persons in the eyes of the law. Set in Maritime Canada in the late 1880s, The Sister's Tale brilliantly balances storytelling with keen insight into the gender politics, society and culture of the time. For many, this novel will introduce new and disturbing aspects of Canadian history. Suspenseful and thought-provoking, The Sister's Tale resonates with relevance during our current times of political and societal challenges, and ultimately illuminates the timeless role of friendship and family. A highly recommended read."
