Although reading tends to be a pretty solitary activity, it’s also the kind of hobby that naturally lends itself to building community. From book clubs to book launches to literary festivals, there are a lot of exciting bookish events coming up soon! We’ve pulled together a list of some of our most anticipated book-related events, festivals, and activities in and around Toronto in the coming months.
You can sign up for newsletters and emails from the following bookstores and festivals, or follow them on social media to learn more about their upcoming events, panels, workshops, launches, and more.
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Najwa Zebian’s The One Who Broke You Can’t Heal You (With Marlee Liss)
Celebrate the launch of Najwa Zebian’s latest book, in conversation with Marlee Liss. They discuss The One Who Broke You Can’t Heal You, a prescriptive and validating guide on how to break the bonds that tear you down, and create ones that build you up. More info.
When: August 24
Where: Another Story Bookshop
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Bookish Tote Bag Decorating Workshop With Wattpad
Celebrate 20 years of Wattpad with a cozy evening of community and creativity at Hopeless Romantic Books. More info.
When: August 25
Where: Hopeless Romantic Books
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Getting Away With Murder: An Evening With Shari Lapena
Join bestselling Canadian author Shari Lapena in conversation with Eva Jurczyk as they discuss Lapena’s latest thriller, Getting Away with Murder. More info.
When: August 25
Where: Book Bar
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Canadian Black Literary Festival
Featuring performances, interactive workshops, a book fair, and more, attend the inaugural Canadian Black Literary Festival this August. More info.
When: August 29
Where: McClean Community Centre & St. Francis Centre
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Launch Of Kai Cheng Thom’s The Shapeshifter’s Guide To Gym Class
One of my favourite Canadian authors, Kai Cheng Thom, launches her new middle-grade novel, The Shapeshifter’s Guide to Gym Class, a fantastical story about belonging, and shapeshifting, perfect for fans of Judy Blume and Lee Knox Ostertag. More info.
When: September 3
Where: Another Story Bookshop
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Book Bedazzling
Put a little sparkle into your evening with a cozy crafting evening at Hopeless Romantic Books, where you can turn your plain paperback into a bedazzled work of art. More info.
When: September 8
Where: Hopeless Romantic Books
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Jodi Picoult in Conversation with Margaret Atwood
Celebrate the release of Jodi Picoult’s new novel, Hollow Bones, at this conversation with Margaret Atwood, moderated by Carol Off. More info.
When: September 9
Where: TD Music Hall
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Eden Mills Writers’ Festival
Featuring 50+ Canadian and Indigenous writers, this beloved street festival is dedicated to supporting Canada’s literary community, through workshops, panels, and author talks. More info.
When: September 18-20
Where: Downtown Eden Mills
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The Love Hypothesis Trivia & Book Club Social
Chat all things from Ali Hazelwood’s The Love Hypothesis ahead of the film adaptation’s release on September 23, and meet other fans at this evening of bookish trivia. More info.
When: September 21
Where: Black Sheep (Liberty Village)
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TIFA Presents An Evening With R.F. Kuang
Bestselling author R.F. Kuang returns to Toronto to discuss her latest novel, Taipei Story, a coming-of-age story that explores grief, language, and culture shock, against the backdrop of a Summer in Taipei. More info.
When: September 22
Where: Winter Garden Theatre
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The Word On The Street Festival
The Word on the Street Festival celebrates Canada’s rich literary culture with an incredible array of authors and panels, as well as a marketplace featuring great books and magazines, for visitors of all ages – all for free. More info.
When: September 26-27
Where: David Pecaut Square
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The Book Drunkard Literary Festival
Presented by Blue Heron Books, The Book Drunkard festival features a lineup of incredible authors over the course of several weeks in Uxbridge, Ontario. More info.
When: October 1-November 10
Where: Uxbridge, various locations
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TIFA Presents Bonnie Garmus
Join bestselling author Bonnie Garmus to discuss her new book Peck & Peck, which follows a young poetry lover who gets a job at a prestigious (and dysfunctional) literary journal. More info.
When: October 15
Where: Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema
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In Person With Shen Tao
Meet bestselling Canadian author Shen Tao as she signs copies of her epic historical fantasy (and one of my favourite books of the year), The Poet Empress. More info.
When: October 17
Where: Chapters Newmarket
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TIFA Presents Emily St. John Mandel In Conversation With Mattea Roach
Bestselling Canadian author Emily St. John Mandel will be joined by CBC’s Mattea Roach to discuss her latest book, Exit Party, a futuristic story set in an America that has been torn apart by Civil War. More info.
When: October 20
Where: Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema
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Indigo’s ACOTAR 6 Midnight Release Party
Celebrate the release of Sarah J. Maas’ new ACOTAR book with midnight release parties at Indigo stores across the country. More info.
When: October 26
Where: Various Indigo locations
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Toronto International Festival Of Authors
Canada’s largest and longest-running literary festival brings together some of the world’s most compelling writers in over 100 events. The full festival programme will be announced on September 3rd, so keep an eye out to see which events strike your fancy. More info.
When: October 28-November 1
Where: Victoria University in the University of Toronto
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FOLD Kids Books Fest (The Festival Of Literary Diversity)
This festival features a diverse range of children’s literature through author visits, panels, and interactive activities for young readers and writers. More info.
When: November 3-8
Where: Virtual & various in-person locations in Brampton
More Bookish Communities With Upcoming Events:
Flying Books’ Book Clubs
Flying Books has a monthly fiction and nonfiction book club. You can find out about their upcoming picks and their next meetings here.
Wine About Books Book Club
Wine About Books hosts events for members and nonmembers alike, and you can check out their Instagram for information about how to join their community and to learn more about upcoming events.
The Book Girls Toronto
Join this community of Toronto-based book lovers, centered around bookish events, trivia, and community. You can check out their website for more information on their upcoming events and how to get involved.
Toronto Silent Book Club
Want to read more, perhaps in companionship with other readers? Consider joining a silent book club, like Toronto’s Silent Book Club, and check out their Instagram for details on how to participate and their next meetups.
Black Women Connect Book Club
Black Women Connect is a community for Black women who are looking to socialize and connect with new friends. They have a book club featuring great books by Black authors, with combined in-person and virtual meetings. Find out more information about their upcoming events on their website.
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Ameema Saeed (@ameemabackwards) is a storyteller, a Capricorn, an avid bookworm, and a curator of very specific playlists and customized book recommendations. She’s a book reviewer, a Sensitivity Reader, a book buyer at Indigo Books & Music, and the Books Editor for She Does the City, where she writes and curates bookish content, and book recommendations. She enjoys bad puns, good food, dancing, and talking about feelings. She writes about books, big feelings, unruly bodies, and her lived experiences, and hopes to write your next favourite book one day. When she’s not reading books, she likes to talk about books (especially diverse books, and books by diverse authors) on her bookstagram: @ReadWithMeemz
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