What Canadian books are popular right now? Check out this week's bestsellers

Here are the bestselling Canadian fiction, nonfiction and children's books from Jan. 3-10.

Bestseller lists are compiled by Bookmanager using weekly sales stats from more than 260 Canadian independent stores.

Canadian fiction

Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid is the #1 Canadian fiction book this week.

Heated Rivalry, a romance novel, tells the story of Shane Hollander, representing team Canada and captain of the Montreal team, and Ilya Rozanov, representing Russia and captain of the Boston team.

They’re both at the top of their game and the centre of the hockey's biggest rivalry, but their secret romance, once casual, is starting to feel like something more. With the pressures of the public eye and the league — in a sport where there’s no gay male representation in the professional ranks — the two feel like they must choose between their love of the game and their love of each other. 

Heated Rivalry is also on the Canada Reads 2026 longlist.

See the full Canadian fiction list below:

1. Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid
2. Pick A Colour by Souvankham Thammavongsa
3. The Black Wolf by Louise Penny
4. Flesh by David Szalay
5. The Paris Express by Emma Donoghue
6. The Life Cycle of a Common Octopus by Emma Knight
7. Queen Esther by John Irving
8. Finding Flora by Elinor Florence
9. The Grey Wolf by Louise Penny
10. A Season for Spies by Iona Whishaw

Canadian nonfiction

Book of Lives by Margaret Atwood is the #1 Canadian nonfiction book this week.

In Book of Lives, Atwood recounts her early life with her entomologist father and dietitian mother — who spent most of the year in the forest in Northern Quebec — her rise to literary stardom and the defining cultural and political moments that shape her writing. Through her stories, readers will notice the connections between art and real life and get insight into the mind of one of Canada's most celebrated writers. 

• What surprised people about Margaret Atwood’s memoir

See the full Canadian nonfiction list below:

1. Book of Lives by Margaret Atwood
2. The Wealthy Barber by David Chilton
3. One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This by Omar El Akkad
4. Elbows Up! edited by Elamin Abdelmahmoud
5. Enshittification by Cory Doctorow
6. Vanished Beyond the Map by Adam Shoalts
7. John Candy by Paul Myers
8. Values by Mark Carney
9. Sorry, Not Sorry by Mark Critch
10. The Smiling Land by Alan Doyle

Canadian kids

The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch, illustrated by Michael Martchenko, is the #1 Canadian kids book this week.  

In The Paper Bag Princess, Princess Elizabeth is set to marry Prince Ronald. But when a dragon attacks the castle and kidnaps Ronald, Elizabeth must do what she can to save her prince. The delightful story proves you can be a princess and a hero — and shows you don't need a prince to be either. 

• 'The stories will be the last thing to go': Robert Munsch on his legacy as one of Canada's great storytellers

See the full kids list below:

1. The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch, illustrated Michael Martchenko
2. Love You Forever by Robert Munsch, illustrated by Sheila McGraw
3. Carson Crosses Canada by Linda Bailey, illustrated by Kass Reich
4. The New Girl by Cassandra Calin
5. The Barren Grounds by David A. Robertson
6. I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen
7. The Inquisitive Raven by Richard Wagamese, illustrated by Bridget George
8. Mallory and the Trouble with Twins by Arley Nopra
9. The Perfect Paper Airplane by Robert Munsch, illustrated Michael Martchenko
10. Hockey in the Wild by Nicholas Oldland