10 Quebec Reads to Discover
Buy a Quebec Book Day is the perfect opportunity to celebrate local authors and discover the stories that make Quebec literature so unique. Inspired by the best-liked picks of the Elogia and Les Promenades du Parc book clubs, we’ve curated a selection of novels, memoirs and nonfiction that reflects the richness and diversity of our literary landscape. Whether you’re discovering a new author or revisiting a familiar favourite, these Quebec reads promise inspiring perspectives, memorable characters and stories that will stay with you long after you’ve turned the last page.
The Fat Woman Next Door Is Pregnant – Michel Tremblay (1978)
Genre: Novel
Country: Canada, Quebec
Summary: In working-class Montreal of the 1940s, the lives of the residents on one street become intertwined through everyday joys, hardships and small moments that shape their community. At the heart of this colourful cast of characters is a pregnant woman whose expected child stirs hopes, worries and no shortage of neighbourhood gossip.
If there were just one Michel Tremblay book to read, La Grosse Femme d’à côté est enceinte would be the one. The first novel in the Chroniques du Plateau-Mont-Royal series, it introduces a richly imagined world where women, working-class Montrealers and communities rarely represented in the literature of the time take centre stage. A true classic, it remains an essential work of Quebec literature.
Marie Laflamme, Volumes 1-3 – Chrystine Brouillet (1991)
Genre: Historical fiction
Country: Canada, Quebec
Summary: In the 17th century, Marie Laflamme’s life is turned upside down when her mother is sentenced to be burned at the stake and she is forced into a marriage she cannot accept. Refusing to surrender to her fate, she flees France and embarks on a perilous journey to New France, where danger, passion and the pursuit of freedom await.
With this trilogy – Marie Laflamme, Nouvelle-France, and La Renarde – Chrystine Brouillet transports readers through an epic historical saga spanning Europe and early Quebec. Blending adventure, romance and intrigue, she crafts a captivating story rich in detail that vividly brings another era to life.
Elles ont fait l’Amérique – Serge Bouchard and Marie-Christine Lévesque (2011)
Genre: Essay
Country: Canada, Quebec
Summary: Behind history’s greatest chapters are often the stories of remarkable women whose courage, influence and determination have been forgotten… or deliberately erased. This book introduces readers to fifteen extraordinary women whose lives helped shape North America. Pioneers, explorers and artists – including Marie Iowa Dorion and Shanawdithit – their contributions left a lasting mark, even if they didn’t always receive the recognition they deserved.
The first volume in a trilogy, this book offers a thoughtful and deeply human portrait of these remarkable lives. Elles ont fait l’Amérique restores these inspiring women to their rightful place in history and invites readers to rediscover the past through a more inclusive lens. It’s a compelling work that deserves a place on every Quebec reading list.
Sous le manteau du silence – Claire Bergeron (2011)
Genre: Novel
Country: Canada, Quebec
Summary: It’s fall, 1967. Nurse Rosalie Lambert’s life changes irrevocably when she becomes entangled in the suspicious death of a priest at the hospital where she works. The event forces her to confront a painful and troubled past connected to her years in Abitibi, where certain encounters left lasting scars…
Moving between the present and memories of the past, Claire Bergeron weaves a story filled with tension and emotion, exploring the hidden realities of an era shaped by social expectations and silence. Drawing on her experience as a nurse, the author delivers a captivating Quebec novel where long-buried secrets resurface with powerful impact.
As the Andes Disappeared – Caroline Dawson (2020)
Genre: Autobiographical novel
Country: Canada, Quebec
Summary: In 1986, a young girl flees Chile with her family to build a new life in Montreal. Through a child’s eyes, we discover the challenges of leaving one’s homeland, starting school and finding a place in a new society, caught between displacement and the desire to belong.
Caroline Dawson delivers a straightforward and heartfelt work, offering an honest portrayal of the immigrant experience. A finalist for several literary awards, As the Andes Disappeared has left its mark on Quebec’s literary landscape through its sincerity and its thoughtful exploration of difference and identity.
My Forests – Hélène Dorion (2021)
Genre: Poetry
Country: Canada, Quebec
Summary: Discover a collection of nearly one hundred poems where memory, nature and the search for meaning intertwine in a thoughtful reflection on the passage of time and our place in the world. Each poem in this gentle collection offers a window into the intimate, while connecting us to something greater.
Recognized as a leading voice in Quebec poetry, Hélène Dorion offers a work that is both accessible and deeply contemplative. Acclaimed internationally, My Forests invites us to slow down and see the natural world through a new lens, embracing both its fragility and its beauty.
Entre Rose et le loup, Volume 1: Les ombres du quartier – Aline Charlebois (2023)
Genre: Novel
Country: Canada, Quebec
Summary: Montreal – 1920. In the heart of the Faubourg à m’lasse neighbourhood, a young boy named Lupin grows up surrounded by poverty and hardship. While each day brings its share of challenges and wounds, he eventually begins to glimpse a spark of hope emerging from his harsh and difficult reality. Will he find a way to escape this struggle?
Through this multi-volume saga, Aline Charlebois paints a genuine portrait of a neighbourhood and its residents. Balancing hardship and solidarity, the author brings to life deeply moving stories shaped by her fluid and engaging writing style. Begin with Volume 1 then immerse yourself in the three other books in this captivating series.
Rue Duplessis: Ma petite noirceur – Jean-Philippe Pleau (2024)
Genre: Autobiographical account
Country: Canada, Quebec
Summary: Born into a working-class family, Jean-Philippe Pleau recounts his childhood on Duplessis Street in Drummondville and the journey that led him to university studies and a different social reality. Blending childhood memories with moments of self-discovery, he reflects on the tension between two worlds.
This hybrid work, blending personal narrative and sociological reflection, sparked many conversations across Quebec. It sheds light on a rarely discussed reality: social class mobility and the challenges of navigating between worlds. Pleau combines personal insight with sociological analysis, offering a thoughtful and deeply human perspective on social divides.
Kabasa – Michel Jean (2025)
Genre: Novel
Country: Canada, Quebec
Summary: Sent to Sri Lanka to cover the aftermath of a tsunami, an Abenaki journalist tries to do his job while grappling with a grief that never leaves him. This journey, both outward and inward, leads him to encounter other realities shaped by loss, resilience and the search for meaning.
By connecting struggles experienced on the other side of the world with those of First Nations communities, Michel Jean once again delivers a powerful and thought-provoking novel. His writing, always infused with humanity, invites reflection on territory, identity and memory. This is one of those Quebec reads that stays with you long after you’ve turned the final page.
Le Bézoard – Pascale Montpetit (2025)
Genre: Autobiographical fiction
Country: Canada, Quebec
Summary: In this deeply intimate account, Pascale Montpetit embarks on an introspective journey to better understand the experiences that have shaped her life. Revisiting significant moments connected to her body and her past, she puts words to long-buried wounds and seeks to make sense of them.
“Everyone has a past. We never know what it has in store for us.” Through honest and unadorned writing, Le Bézoard explores the experiences that shape us, transform us and stay with us over time. The author’s first work, it stands out for its evocative power and for the way personal stories can speak to universal experiences, leaving a lasting impression long after the book is finished.
Quebec reads that reflect who we are
Reading is often a personal experience that takes on a whole new meaning when shared with others. Behind every recommendation lies an emotion, a memory or a moment we choose to pass along.
These Quebec reading recommendations would not have been possible without the invaluable contribution of residents at Elogia and Les Promenades du Parc. We would like to warmly thank everyone who took part and shared their favourites with us!
Want to continue discovering new literary gems? We invite you to browse our other themed reading selections, whether for summer, the holiday season or Halloween. Who knows – your next great read may already be waiting for you!