Looking for something new to read? We have you covered. Not sure what to read next? There are lots of ways we can help!
Book Picks Just For You
Visit your local library branch and speak to our staff about your reading interests. They can make a quick recommendation in a few minutes, or get back to you in a few days with some titles they think you may enjoy. Alternatively, click on the "Book Picks" link below to complete our form about what you are looking for. Our staff will review your interests and email you a list of three titles we think you will enjoy. You can also choose to have holds placed on what we recommend and we will let you know when they are ready for pick up at you local library branch.
Book Picks
Visit our NEW ITEMS page for a listing of all our new materials.
The Kawartha Lakes Top 5 of 2024
Globe and Mail: Best Books of 2024
You will find many of the Globe's top 100 books for 2024 in our collection
CBC Books: Best Books of 2024
You will find many of the CBC's best Fiction and Non-fiction books in our collection
Award Winners
Checkout these book awards for more titles that you may be interested in. You can browse dozen of different book awards in our catalogue.
Canadian Awards |
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Canada ReadsThe CBC's annual battle of the books, Canada Reads, is a great source for new books and titles you may have missed the first time around.
2025 WinnerA Two-spirit Journey by Ma-Nee Chacaby 2024 WinnerThe Future by Catherine Leroux, translated by Susan Ouriou
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Giller PrizeThe Giller Prize was founded in 1994 by Jack Rabinovitch in honour of his late wife, literary journalist Doris Giller, who passed away from cancer the year before. The award recognized excellence in Canadian fiction. 2024 Winner2023 WinnerStudy for Obedience by Sarah Bernstein
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Governor General's Award for LiteratureThe Governor General's Literary Awards are given annually to the best English-language and the best French-language book in the seven categories. 2024 English Language WinnersFiction Non-Fiction Wînipêk: Visions of Canada From An Indigenous Centre by Nigaan Sinclair 2023 English Language WinnersFiction Non-Fiction
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Amazon.ca First Novel AwardThe Amazon.ca First Novel Award, formerly the Books in Canada First Novel Award, is a Canadian literary award, co-presented by Amazon.ca and The Walrus to the best first novel in English published the previous year by a citizen or resident of Canada. It has been awarded since 1976. 2024 WinnerAnd Then She Fell by Alicia Elliott 2023 WinnerThe Island of Forgetting by Jasmine Sealy
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Atwood Gibson Writers' Trust Fiction PrizeThe Atwood Gibson Writers' Trust Fiction Prize recognizes writers of exceptional talent for the best novel or short story collection of the year. 2024 Winner2003 WinnerIn the Upper Country by Kai Thomas
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Crime Writers of Canada Awards of ExcellenceFormerly the Arthur Ellis Awards. The Awards are for crime writing and are not restricted to mystery writing. Crime-writing encompasses far more than the traditional whodunit. The crime genre includes crime, detective, espionage, mystery, suspense, and thriller writing, as well as fictional or factual accounts of criminal doings and crime-themed literary works. The Arthur Ellis Awards honour the best in Canadian crime writing. 2024 Winners2023 Winners |
Hilary Weston Writers’ Trust Prize for NonfictionThe Hilary Weston Writers’ Trust Prize for Nonfiction is given annually for excellence in the category of literary nonfiction, which includes essays, history, biography, memoir, commentary, and criticism. The winning book demonstrates a distinctive voice, as well as a persuasive and compelling command of tone, narrative, style, and technique. The prize has been sponsored by The Hon. Hilary M. Weston since 2011 and is funded by the Weston Family Foundation. 2024 WinnerThere is no Blue by Martha Baillie 2023 WinnerOrdinary Notes by Christina Sharpe
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Indigenous Voices AwardsThe Indigenous Voices Awards were established in 2017 to support and nurture the work of Indigenous writers in lands claimed by Canada. The prizes are awarded annually. 2024 WinnerAnd Then She Fell by Alicia Elliott 2023 WinnerHalf-Bads in White Regalia by Cody Caetano
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Leacock Medal (Humour)The Board of Directors of the Stephen Leacock Associates works to preserve the literary legacy of Stephen Leacock, oversee the Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour award and encourage the growth of Canadian humour writing. 2025 WinnerI Hope This Finds You Well by Natalie Sue 2024 WinnerThe Librarianist by Patrick deWitt
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Speaker's AwardA program of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, the Speaker's Book Award recognizes a nonfiction books by Ontario authors. The winning book will be featured in the Legislative Assembly gift shop and the Legislative library and awarded a monetary prize. 2024 Winner1934: The Chatham Coloured All-Stars' Barrier-Breaking Year by Heidi Jacobs
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Toronto Book AwardsEstablished by Toronto City Council in 1974, the Toronto Book Awards honour authors of books of literary or artistic merit that are evocative of Toronto. The annual awards offer $15,000 in prize money: finalists receive $1,000 and the winning author is awarded $10,000. 2024 WinnerI'm So Glad We Had This Time Together: A Memoir by Maurice Vellekoop (coming soon)
2023 WinnerMoving the Museum by Wanda Nanibush
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Trillium Book AwardThe Ontario government established the Trillium Book Award in 1987 to recognize excellence, support marketing and foster increased public awareness of the quality and diversity of Ontario writers and writing. 2024 Winner
2023 WinnerThe Book of Grief and Hamburgers by Stuart Ross
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International Awards |
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Booker PrizesThe Booker Prizes are the leading literary awards in the English speaking world, rewarding the finest in fiction, highlighting great books to readers. International Booker Prize is awarded annually for a single book, translated into English and published in the UK. 2025 International Book Prize WinnerHeart Lamp by Banu Mushtaq (coming soon)
2024 Booker Prize Winner
2024 International Booker Prize Winner
2023 Booker Prize Winner
2023 International Booker Prize WinnerTime Shelter by Georgi Gospodinov
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Carol Shields Prize for FictionThe Carol Shields Prize for Fiction is a major new English-language literary award to celebrate creativity and excellence in fiction by women and non-binary writers in the United States and Canada. 2025 Winner2024 WinnerBrotherless Night by V. V. Ganeshananthan
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Cundhill History PrizeThe Cundill History Prize recognizes and rewards the best history writing in English. A prize of US$75,000 is awarded annually to the book that embodies historical scholarship, originality, literary quality and broad appeal. Administered by McGill University and awarded by a distinguished jury, the Cundill History Prize honours the abiding passion for history of its founder, F. Peter Cundill. 2025 LonglistYou can find the 2025 longlist of books here. The shortlist to be announced April 3 and the winner announced May 1. 2024 WinnerNative Nations by Kathleen DuVal
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Dublin Literary AwardThe Dublin Literary Award is presented annually for a novel written in English or translated into English. The Award promotes excellence in world literature and is solely sponsored by Dublin City Council, and administered by Dublin City Libraries. Nominations are submitted by libraries in major cities throughout the world. 2025 WinnerThe Adversary by Michael Crummey (Canadian author) 2024 Winner
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Pulitzer PrizeThe Pulitzer Prize for Fiction is awarded annually to an American author. 2024 WinnerNight Watch by Jayne Anne Phillips
2023 WinnerDemon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
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Women's Prize for WritingThe inspiration for the Women's Prize for Fiction and Non-Fiction was the Booker Prize of 1991 when none of the six shortlisted books was by a woman, despite some 60% of novels published that year being by female authors. The first prize was awarded in 1996. 2020 marks the 25 year of the award. 2025 Fiction WinnerThe Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden 2025 Non-Fiction WinnerThe Story of a Heart by Rachel Clarke 2024 Fiction WinnerBrotherless Night by V. V. Ganeshananthan
2024 Non-Fiction Winner
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Lists!
Who doesn't like a good Top 100 list? You will find most of these books in our collection.
BBC Top 100 Books You Need To Read
Pengiun 100 Must-Read Classics
Top 100 Best Books of the 21st Century, so far
Oprah's Book Club (Oprah Winfrey)
Read With Jenna - Jenna Bush Hager's Picks (host of The Today Show)
Reese's Book Club (Reese Witherspoon)
Other Websites
Check out the websites below to help you find new authors and different books to read. Also, sign up for our NextReads Newsletters and receive monthly emails highlighting new books in our collection.
BookBrowse
Access BookBrowse to discover read-a-likes and similar authors to your favourites. Make use of the book club resources for you next book club meeting.
NextReads Newsletters
Sign-up for a NextReads newsletter and receive email notifications with book suggestions in our catalogue. Each title links back to the catalogue where you can place holds on the titles that interest you most.
NoveList
Access NoveList Plus to discover new books to read. You'll find read-alikes and authors suggestions. Browse genres and award winning books.
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