Atlantic Canadian booksellers offer homegrown picks for summer’s top reads

Heather Doran, assistant manager at Bookmark in Charlottetown, said readers are looking for affordable and emotionally resonant books this summer. Judith Mendiolea

(Story originally published by PNI Atlantic News on Jun 17, 2025)

Bookstores across the Maritimes are preparing for a familiar summer ritual as readers stock up on books for the beach, cottage or ferry ride. This year, local booksellers say readers are looking for affordable options, Canadian authors, and stories that reflect their mood rather than a specific genre.

“I think what people define as a beach read is pretty personal,” said Heather Doran, assistant manager at Bookmark in Charlottetown. “If you want to haul Anna Karenina to the beach, then you should. It’s really about whatever makes you happy.”

Although mysteries and romance remain popular, Doran said the store’s curated summer selection this year includes Canadian horror, science fiction, historical fiction and non-fiction. There is a particular emphasis on regional voices and books set in Atlantic Canada.

Bookmark, which has locations in P.E.I., N.S., and N.B., curates a seasonal summer reading list featuring titles from across Canada, with a spotlight on Atlantic writers.

“We’re really focusing on Canadian books this year,” she said. “There’s horror, historical fiction, sci-fi — all written here.”

Among the titles she recommended are Darwin’s Hornpipe by Deirdre Kessler, a historical adventure at sea inspired by the author’s grandfather; Sea of Spectres by Nancy Taber, a mystery rooted in Acadian folklore; and Bound by Theresa Redmond, a novel that blends historical fiction with speculative elements.

Amanda Peters’s novel The Berry Pickers, which follows the aftermath of a Mi’kmaw child’s disappearance in the 1960s, remains one of the most sought-after titles of the summer. The book, set in Maine and Nova Scotia, has received national recognition and continues to attract local readers.

“There are so many good local authors — you’d be surprised at how many books are set right here in the Maritimes,” she said.

Helen Huynh, owner of one of Charlottetown’s longest-standing bookstores, The Book Emporium, said readers come in asking for books that offer emotional connection.

“People want something they can relate to or pass on to a friend — books that make them feel something,” she said. “Local stories do that.”

Mood over genre and changing formats

Maritime readers aren’t immune to national and international trends. According to a 2024 report by BookNet Canada, fiction still dominates summer reading lists, with romance, thrillers and historical fiction leading the pack.

“Reading is very mood-based,” said Doran. “Sometimes you’re in the mood for mystery, sometimes for literary fiction.”

That flexibility is reflected in national reading trends. 

A 2023 report from BookNet Canada found that 59 per cent of Canadian readers still prefer print books, while 20 per cent read primarily e-books and 13 per cent prefer audiobooks — up from eight per cent in 2019.

Sometimes it’s the trip that defines the format.

“If you’re going to a noisy beach, maybe something lighter and easier to focus on,” she said.

At both Bookmark and The Book Emporium, customers also show strong interest in graphic novels and backlist titles.

Both Doran and Huynh have noticed growth in genre diversity. At The Book Emporium, fantasy novels and graphic novels — once seen as niche — now occupy prominent shelf space. Manga, comics and children’s series like Geronimo Stilton and Captain Underpants are top sellers every summer.

“Graphic novels are really great for kids — for vocabulary, for visual literacy,” Doran said. “And they come in all age ranges now.”

“Fantasy and graphic novels — those fly off the shelves every summer,” said Huynh. “Even some adults read them at the beach. They're fun.”

Doran points to a broader shift in genre blending. She noted that “romantasy” — romantic fantasy — is one of the fastest-growing categories among Canadian readers. That observation aligns with national data: BookNet Canada reported a 32 per cent increase in fantasy sales in 2023 and noted a marked rise in interest for crossover genres.

Social media is also changing the way readers discover books.

“We’re seeing more people come in asking for Dostoyevsky or Jane Austen because they saw it on Instagram,” said Doran. “Younger readers are going back to the classics.”

Second-hand value and sustainability

In a time of rising prices, second-hand bookshops like Huynh’s are playing a critical role.

“Our buy-two-get-two-free sale includes almost everything in the store,” she said. “We have over 100,000 books — most are in great shape. Why let them end up in the dumpster?”

The Book Emporium also runs a trade-in system. Readers can bring back finished books and earn credit toward their next visit.

“We keep the credit in our system — it never expires. We want people to come back.”

It’s a model rooted in both practicality and community.

“Sometimes someone comes in and says, ‘I don’t have money today.’ If they find a book they love, we’ll let them take it. That’s what books are for.”

Bookmark, meanwhile, offers a customer loyalty program and carries smaller paperback editions — easier on the wallet and on the beach bag.

“We call them book appetizers,” Doran said.

A BookNet Canada study on book buying behaviour found that 85 per cent of second-hand buyers compare prices, and many look for bundle deals or store credits.

Advice for summer readers

Asked how people should choose their summer reads, both booksellers said the same thing.

“Be open,” said Huynh. “Walk through a store, see what catches your eye. Don’t go in looking for something specific — sometimes the best book is the one you didn’t expect.”

Sidebar: Five Atlantic Canadian beach reads for 2025

1. The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters (N.S.) A child disappears from a Mi’kmaw berry-picking family in Maine. Told in dual timelines, it’s a haunting, emotionally rich story — perfect for a quiet read by the shore.

2. Sea of Spectres by Nancy Taber (P.E.I./N.B.) A dual-era mystery with ghost ships and Acadian history, blending police procedural with maritime legend.

3. Darwin’s Hornpipe by Deirdre Kessler (P.E.I.) Historical seafaring fiction with local roots — adventure, mutiny and a fight for justice across the Galapagos and beyond.

4. Death and Other Inconveniences by Lesley Crewe (N.S.) A quirky, heartfelt Cape Breton tale that blends family drama with laugh-out-loud moments. A perfect hammock read.

5. Bound by Teresa Redmond (P.E.I.) A historical romance with magical elements, set partly in the Maritimes. For readers who like time travel and strong women.