Calling all local bookworms! Four Points Books is encouraging readers to make the most of the season with an adult summer reading challenge that combines great books, outdoor adventures and support for Canadian authors.
The challenge is simple: complete five reading tasks before the end of summer.
Read a book set in Canada or written by a Canadian author.
Take your reading outside and enjoy a book beside a lake, river or in the mountains.
Choose a genre you do not usually read.
Select a book from the Four Points staff picks display.
Read something that makes you laugh, helps you escape or simply allows you to relax.
Once all five tasks are complete, visit the Four Points Books website and submit the online entry form for a chance to win a book-themed prize. Entries must be submitted by August 31.
Here are a few titles that may help you get started:
Our Perfect Storm by Carley Fortune
After Frankie is abandoned by her fiancé, her lifelong best friend, George, convinces her to take the planned honeymoon to Tofino anyway. Set against the dramatic beauty of Vancouver Island, this friends-to-lovers romance explores heartbreak, healing and what happens when a long-standing friendship begins to feel like something more.
The Poet Empress by Shen Tao
In the fading years of the Azalea Dynasty, famine has spread across the land and poetry magic is controlled by the powerful. Wei must rely on her intelligence and courage to survive in a world where women are forbidden from reading—and where the right words may become the most powerful magic of all.
The Infinite Sadness of Small Appliances by Glenn Dixon
In a near future where household appliances are sentient, a young Roomba named Scout sets out to protect her home and the humans who live there from a growing technological threat. Quirky, imaginative and heartfelt, the story offers an unusual look at grief, loyalty and what it means to care for others.
Liberty Street by Heather Marshall
Set in Toronto in 1961, the novel follows a journalist investigating a real-life women’s prison where young women could be confined without trial for being labelled “incorrigible.” Her search for the truth uncovers a troubling chapter of Canadian history and the stories of women whose voices were ignored.
The Caretaker by Marcus Kliewe
Macy Mullins accepts a weekend caretaking job at an isolated home on the Oregon coast, but the seemingly simple position comes with a strange set of rules she must follow. As her stay turns increasingly unsettling, she begins to suspect that something dangerous may be hiding on the property.
Wild People Quiet by Tara Gereaux
Florence is born into a Métis family in the early 1900s but discovers that her light skin allows her to pass as white. Faced with racism and pressure to hide her identity, she must choose between the family she loves and a society that will only accept her if she denies where she comes from.
Pick a Colour by Souvankham Thammavongsa
Set over the course of one summer day, the novel follows Ning, a former boxer who now owns and operates a nail salon. Through the conversations and quiet tensions between workers and customers, the story explores identity, immigrant labour, power and the complicated relationships formed through care and service.
Sorry, Not Sorry by Mark Critch
Known for his sharp observations and comedy on CBC’s This Hour Has 22 Minutes, Mark Critch takes a humorous and thoughtful look at what it means to be Canadian. Blending personal stories, cultural commentary and plenty of wit, the book explores Canadian identity at a time of renewed national pride.
Best of all, every title on this list is written by a Canadian author—meaning your first challenge could already be complete!
There may only be one month of summer left, but strategic readers can still make it to the finish line. Look for books that complete multiple tasks at once: take a Canadian novel outside or try a staff pick from a new genre.
Visit the Four Points Books website to do your research, or stop by the shop and ask the staff for a recommendation. With plenty of knowledge and no shortage of great titles to choose from, they will be happy to help you find your next summer read.
