April is finally here, but this frigid winter is having a hard time letting us go. As we wait for Spring to fully commit, and for the weather to turn for the better and allow us to indulge in activities that are no longer hindered by snow, ice, the cold air and the nasty salt taste in the air, we are sticking to our favourite indoor activity for now, reading!
A new month means new adventures, and this selection is a fun bag of dual-timeline mysteries, women who love to read and get a little too caught up in their favourite hobby and important personal introspective works that offer new perspectives and thought-provoking discussion.
Without further ado, let’s dive into our most anticipated book releases of April 2026.
The Book Witch by Meg Shaffer
She can hop into any novel, but she just can’t stay there.
Come along with the Book Witch in this magical and inspiring love letter to reading from the USA Today bestselling author of The Wishing Game. –Penguin Random House
The Book Witch has it all for a bookworm that loves all quirky and vibrant heroines, fantasy, magic and of course, romance. We follow Rainy March, a book with “sworn to defend works of fiction from all foes, real and imaginary.” Now that is one hell of a hook! She has the power to dive into the worlds of any books and work like a magical Nancy Drew, all is well until that dreaded forbidden romance trope strikes. Who does Rainy fancy? Well, the detective of her favourite mystery series, but as the forbidden trope goes, circumstances force her hand, and she turns to him to help her on an important adventure.
Published by: Penguin Random House Canada
Imprint Publisher: Ballantine Books
Publication date: April 7, 2026
Cat’s People by Tanya Guerrero
An uplifting tale of friendship, kindness, and connection . . . This joyful story of the unlikely friendship between five strangers and one remarkable cat is a must-read for cat lovers. –Marianne Cronin, author of The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot
I have to be very honest. The cover sold me on this book. An adorable black cat, deservingly loved and cared for on the cover of a book, is enough to get me to add it to my most anticipated list. It will be in my hands soon enough!
Published by: Penguin Random House Canada
Imprint Publisher: Dell
Publication date: April 7, 2026
Arab American Blues by Paul Aziz Zarou
A thoughtful and wonderfully written coming-of-age story set during one of the most tumultuous and divisive periods in US history. –Simon & Schuster Canada
At this time, it is crucial to seek out diverse voices and experiences at work. Literature is the bridge between cultures, communities and worlds. As I cultivate my reading for the year, I am being more mindful of the voices I want to centre, including those of Palestinian artists. Paul Aziz Zarou’s Arab American Blues caught my attention with its title and premise, which promise a thoughtful coming-of-age story set in 1960s America.
Published by: Simon & Schuster Canada
Imprint: Interlink Books
Publication date: April 7, 2026
Stay for a Spell by Amy Coombe
A cursed princess must discover what her heart truly longs for in this charmingly cozy romantic fantasy for everyone who’s ever lost – or found – themselves in a bookshop. –Penguin Random House
Who doesn’t love books about books and reading? Now add a dash of fantasy, and you’ve got something fun cooking. In Amy Coombe’s upcoming fairytale, we have a princess who enjoys her reading time but also longs for companionship, and, of course, she unexpectedly gets more than she bargains for when she finds herself cursed to remain in a bookshop… oh no, that is so t e r r i b l e! Shenanigans ensue as Tandy finds herself immersed in the pages of plentiful books, forced to face princes sent to woo her and break the curse and an irritating pirate who wants to steal more than just her book stock.
Published by: Penguin Random House
Imprint Publisher: Ace
Publication date: April 14, 2026
Japanese Gothic by Kylie Lee Baker
In this lyrical, wildly inventive horror novel interwoven with Japanese mythology, two people living centuries apart discover a door between their worlds. –HarperCollins Canada
I must confess, horror is not a genre I often turn to in literature; however, this book got me hooked by its title and the intriguing premise of a dual timeline featuring a college student who killed his roommate for unknown reasons and, with no memory of the event, flees to Japan. Then something strange happens as he finds refuge in his father’s new house, a woman with a sword appears in the yard at night. This college student from 2026 and a samurai in exile in 1877 are bound together for unknown reasons, one of them is a ghost, and one of their stories is a lie. Japanese mythology takes centre stage in this new approach to the iconic haunted house.
Published by: HarperCollins Canada
Imprint Publisher: Hanover Square Press
Publication date: April 14, 2026
Big Girl Blitz by Danielle Allen
Nothing is hotter and more fun than Danielle Allen’s writing. –Ali Hazelwood
As per usual, we need to have a little romance on our list, and what better way to showcase the genre then with Danielle Allen’s Big Girl Blitz. The moment she graduated high school, Jazmyn fled her hometown in the hopes of leaving the fatphobic bullies behind. Dating is far from her mind, until Lamar shows up at the local sports bar. Sparks fly, but with real life intruding on their potential love story, Jazmyn has to decide if she can leave the past behidn for a love that she deserves.
Published by: Tor Publishing Group
Imprint: Bramble
Publication date: April 14, 2026
City of the Muse by Kate Hilton
For fans of The Lost Apothecary, a gripping dual-timeline novel about the mysterious death of an indomitable female papyrologist during an archaeological dig in the early 1900s and an aspiring young female researcher’s present-day quest to find out who killed her. –Simon & Schuster Canada
We got another dual-timeline mystery, and not the last one on this list. This book makes our anticipated list for its totally enthralling premise, for all those who relate to Evelyn O’Connell from The Mummy. So we have a female papyrologist in Egypt in 1903, up against mostly male archaeologists who have their own agendas and secrets that could kill. Cut to Toronto 2019, and an archivist who stumbles upon a mystery about papyrologists vanishing from the cursed City of Callioplis. One mystery, two timelines, two strong women in academia separated by a century. Fascinating read for those who love history.
Published by: Simon & Schuster Canada
Publication date: April 14, 2026
The Tempest Blade by Danielle L. Jensen
In the searing finale to the Bridge Kingdom series, love and war collide in a perilous battle to save Ithicana—from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Fate Inked in Blood. –Penguin Random House
The Bridge Kingdom series is coming to an end with the 6th and final entry, The Tempest Blade. Danielle L. Jensen’s series has been consistent from beginning to end, with its daring main characters, immersive world-building, dynamic storytelling and searing-hot romance. Those who are deep in the fantasy genre, and who aren’t in the mood to start something and then wait for the next henry can pick up The Bridge Kingdom right now, and burn through the series till the epic finale out this month. Bonus: Danielle L. Jensen is Canadian!
Published by: Penguin Random House Canada
Imprint: Del Rey
Publication date: April 14, 2026
The Killing Spell by Shay Kauwe
In this spellbinding fantasy debut set in a future where language magic reigns, a young Hawaiian woman must solve a murder to clear her name. –Simon & Schuster Canada
Recently, a teaser for Disney’s upcoming live-action adaptation of Moana left many feeling sour, as the film, which follows the recent adaptation of Lilo & Stitch, is a lazy rehash of pivotal works that centred Pacific Islanders in larger-than-life fantastical stories. Could we not tread a new path in the realm of fantasy…oh, look, Shay Kauwe is answering the call with Hawaiian-set futuristic fantasy, The Killing Spell. Kauwe hits us with a lot. Our protagonist is a young woman and clan leader living in a new world where the Hawaiian islands were lost to a flood, and magic has emerged. A treaty that established a new Hawaiian homeland is about to expire, and Kea is struggling to keep her clan going, pay her rent and get by. Well, things get complicated when a Hawaiian magical spell is used to kill someone, and Kea is racing against another clock.
Sounds much better than a rehash of Moana, eh.
Published by: Simon & Schuster Canada
Imprint Publisher: S&S/Saga Press
Publication date: April 14, 2026
Leave Your Mess at Home by Tolani Akinola
Powerful… There are multiple messes in Leave Your Mess At Home; I loved reading about every one of them. –Rachel Khong, New York Times bestselling author of Real Americans
Leave Your Mess At Home intrigued me with this opening line in the synopsis: “The Longe siblings are really botching their parents’ American Dream.” As a first-gen Canadian, I always feel this way. Tolani Akinola’s debut novel promises to be a poignant, funny and moving exploration of family, love, self-discovery and self-acceptance. Leave Your Mess At Home examines myriad relevant issues that aren’t plaguing just Nigerian-American families, and so many of us will find something to relate to and latch onto for our own journeys.
Published by: Penguin Random House Canada
Imprint: Pamela Dorman Books
Publication date: April 14, 2026
The Chambermaid’s Key by Genevieve Graham
From #1 bestselling author Genevieve Graham, “the reigning queen of Canadian historical fiction” (Kristen Harmel, #1 New York Times bestselling author) comes a dazzling novel set at an elegant hotel in Toronto in 1929 about a young chambermaid, a handsome waiter, and a murder that will reverberate for a century. –Simon & Schuster
For this next title, we are sticking to home with a Canadian-set murder mystery so intriguing it needs two timelines to unfold. Set in the alluring Dominion Hotel in Toronto, Genevieve Graham, dubbed the queen of Canadian historical fiction, takes us through a mystery that involves a chambermaid wooed by a charming waiter who stumbles into a situation riddled with lies and secrets. The premise is a nice hook, but the real lure is engaging with the work from local authors.
Published by: Simon & Schuster Canada
Publication date: April 21, 2026
The Witch and the Huntress by Luna McNamara
Two of Greek mythology’s most complex and powerful women—Medea and Atalanta—join forces on Jason’s quest for the Golden Fleece in this suspenseful, sapphic reimagining from the acclaimed author of Psyche and Eros. –HarperCollins Canada
Mythology is a goldmine for literature because of the endless ways to interpret or understand the stories that built civilization. What’s most exciting these days is the number of women diving into mythology to bring forth stories of women who eclipse the famous mythical men people are always harping about. In Greek mythology, we all know Zeus, Hercules, Achilles, Orpheus, Odysseus, and Jason, etc. But there are other names that really intrigue and are now taking centre stage. We have Madeline Miller’s novels on Circe and Galatea, Jennifer Saint’s novels on Elektra and Atalanta, and Natalie Haynes’ novels on Medusa and Pandora. If you are a fan of those, buckle up for the author of Psyche and Eros follow-up, The Witch and the Huntress, the reimagining of Medea and Atlanta, who join Jason on his quest for the Golden Fleece.
Published by: HarperCollins Canada
Imprint: William Morrow
Publication date: April 21, 2026
Witch Queen Rising by Savannah Stephens
A reclusive witch who fled the burden of her bloodline rises to be the greatest among them in this lush and haunting fantasy debut. –Penguin Random House Canada
I have been living in my vampire era, with Sinners taking over my personality last year, patiently waiting for Interview With A Vampire to return, jamming out to Enhyphen’s vampiric-inspired music, and tapping into the anime series Dark Moon. I got to thinking about another supernatural being that makes for compelling stories and imagery-the witch. Well, just in time to spark my witchy era, Savannah Stephen’s contemporary paranormal fantasy novel Witch Queen Rising is screaming my name. The perfect bridge: the novel promises a witchy mess, werewolves, and vampires!
Published by: Penguin Random House Canada
Imprint Publisher: Ace
Publication date: April 21, 2026
How to Fake It in Society by KJ Charles
Bridgerton meets The Goldfinch in How to Fake It in Society, a stunning queer romance by rising genre star KJ Charles. –Tor Publishing Group
Bridgerton meets The Goldfinch? Okay, I am listening. With the latest season of Bridgerton igniting interest in anachronistic period romances, How To Fake It In Society is the perfect thing to look forward to after watching Benedict Bridgerton settle down. For those who wished Shondaland took the plunge and had Benedict find a gentleman suitor (absolutely no shade to Sophie and the lovely Yerin Ha), this book will scratch that itch. A game of lies and deceit is afoot in KJ Charles’ queer romance that we anticipate will delight period romance fans.
Published by: Tor Publishing Group
Imprint Publisher: Bramble
Publication date: April 28, 2026
A River From the Sky by Ai Jiang
From the Nebula and Bram Stoker Award®-winning author comes the lyrical and moving science-fantasy follow-up to A Palace Near the Wind, as Lufeng and her sister Sangshu fight to protect their culture and their world. For readers of Nghi Vo, Amal El-Mohtar and Kritika H. Rao. –Penguin Random House Canada
When science fiction and fantasy meet, expect to feel something that lies between electric and magical. Ai Jiang brings us the follow-up to A Place Near the Wind, which was lauded for its ingenuity and creativity. The story follows a non-human princess bound by tradition who is to marry a human king, whom she intends to kill to end the struggle of her people and culture. A concept not unfamiliar, Jiang challenges readers to expand their horizons with a science-fantasy that blends the best of each genre. Genre-blending at its finest. Pick up A Palace Near the Wind before A River From The Sky reaches your local bookshop or library!
Published by: Penguin Random House Canada
Imprint: Titan Books
Publication date: April 28, 2026
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