LOLA 2026 Reading Recommendations from our Patrons

As part of Love Our Local Authors Month, we asked our patrons for some NL book recommendations and WOW did you answer the call! Check out these amazing local books to add to your TBR. This list includes print, eBook, and audiobook copies of the titles where available.

These titles were also recommended and are available in the catalogue but aren't displaying in this list due to technical issues (search for them by title in the catalogue):

Blinders: A Crime Thriller
Chirp's Large Day
Bizzie Tizzie is gonna be Everything from A to Z
Newfoundland and Labrador Lullaby
The Best Christmas Ever
Joshua the G.O.A.T.

Updated April 30, 2026
Newfoundland & Labrador Public Libraries NLPL Local Reads
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The saltbox olive
Antle, Angela
Paper Book
Through the as-yet-untold story of Newfoundland soldiers in Italy during the Second World War, The Saltbox Olive is an evocative tale of the complex interactions between past and present, told through one woman's search for the truth of her family's mysterious past. Caroline Fisher sets...
Message in a bottle : ocean dispatches from a seabird biologist
Hogan, Holly (Biologist)
Paper Book
WINNER OF THE 2023 BMO WINTERSET AWARD * FINALIST FOR THE 2023 GOVERNOR GENERAL'S LITERARY AWARD FOR NONFICTION * SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2023 SCIENCE WRITERS AND COMMUNICATORS BOOK AWARD * SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2024 LANE ANDERSON AWARD From the heart of the Labrador...
Message in a bottle : ocean dispatches from a seabird biologist
Hogan, Holly (Biologist)
Paper Book
WINNER OF THE 2023 BMO WINTERSET AWARD * FINALIST FOR THE 2023 GOVERNOR GENERAL'S LITERARY AWARD FOR NONFICTION * SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2023 SCIENCE WRITERS AND COMMUNICATORS BOOK AWARD * SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2024 LANE ANDERSON AWARD From the heart of the Labrador...
Message in a bottle : ocean dispatches from a seabird biologist
Hogan, Holly (Biologist)
Paper Book
WINNER OF THE 2023 BMO WINTERSET AWARD * FINALIST FOR THE 2023 GOVERNOR GENERAL'S LITERARY AWARD FOR NONFICTION * SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2023 SCIENCE WRITERS AND COMMUNICATORS BOOK AWARD * SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2024 LANE ANDERSON AWARD From the heart of the Labrador...
Random passage
Morgan, Bernice
Paper Book
A new edition of Bernice Morgan's classic, best-selling family saga. Forced to flee England, the Andrews family books passage from Weymouth, England to unknown prospects, only to discover a barren, inhospitable land at the end of their crossing: a fresh start in a distant country, New Found Land....
Random passage
Morgan, Bernice
Paper Book
A new edition of Bernice Morgan's classic, best-selling family saga. Forced to flee England, the Andrews family books passage from Weymouth, England to unknown prospects, only to discover a barren, inhospitable land at the end of their crossing: a fresh start in a distant country, New Found Land....
Barry Squires, full tilt
Smith, Heather
Paper Book
It's 1995. Twelve-year-old Finbar (Barry) Squires wants desperately to join the Full Tilt dance troupe. Led by Father O'Flaherty, the Irish Step Dancers are the most sought-after act in St. John's, Newfoundland. Having watched Riverdance twice, Barry figures he'll nail the audition. With...
Barry Squires, full tilt
Smith, Heather
Paper Book
It's 1995. Twelve-year-old Finbar (Barry) Squires wants desperately to join the Full Tilt dance troupe. Led by Father O'Flaherty, the Irish Step Dancers are the most sought-after act in St. John's, Newfoundland. Having watched Riverdance twice, Barry figures he'll nail the audition. With...
Barry Squires, full tilt
Smith, Heather
Paper Book
It's 1995. Twelve-year-old Finbar (Barry) Squires wants desperately to join the Full Tilt dance troupe. Led by Father O'Flaherty, the Irish Step Dancers are the most sought-after act in St. John's, Newfoundland. Having watched Riverdance twice, Barry figures he'll nail the audition. With...
The woman in the attic
Hepditch, Emily
Paper Book
On the coast...
The woman in the attic
Hepditch, Emily
Paper Book
On the coast...
Away from my island : the true story of Eliza Gill
Collins, Gary
Paper Book
A true story of family, heroism, and ultimate sacrifice.   Born on Silver Fox Island in 1914, Eliza Gill was working "in service" before she was eight years...
Away from my island : the true story of Eliza Gill
Collins, Gary
Paper Book
A true story of family, heroism, and ultimate sacrifice.   Born on Silver Fox Island in 1914, Eliza Gill was working "in service" before she was eight years...
Hollow bamboo : a novel
Ping, William
Paper Book
AMAZON FIRST NOVEL AWARD SHORTLIST THOMAS RADDALL ATLANTIC FICTION AWARD SHORTLIST BMO WINTERSET AWARD SHORTLIST DUBLIN LITERARY AWARD LONGLIST NAMED A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR BY THE TELEGRAM AND WINNIPEG FREE PRESS The hilarious and heartbreaking story of two...
Hollow Bamboo : a novel
Ping, William
Paper Book
AMAZON FIRST NOVEL AWARD SHORTLIST THOMAS RADDALL ATLANTIC FICTION AWARD SHORTLIST BMO WINTERSET AWARD SHORTLIST DUBLIN LITERARY AWARD LONGLIST NAMED A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR BY THE TELEGRAM AND WINNIPEG FREE PRESS The hilarious and heartbreaking story of two...
The colony of unrequited dreams
Johnston, Wayne
Paper Book
Wayne Johnson's epic portrait of passion and ambition, set against the beautiful, brutal landscape of Newfoundland. A mystery and a love story spanning five decades. In this widely acclaimed novel--hailed as a modern classic--Johnston (award-winning author of Jenny's Boy...
The colony of unrequited dreams
Johnston, Wayne
Paper Book
Wayne Johnson's epic portrait of passion and ambition, set against the beautiful, brutal landscape of Newfoundland. A mystery and a love story spanning five decades. In this widely acclaimed novel--hailed as a modern classic--Johnston (award-winning author of Jenny's Boy...
The colony of unrequited dreams
Johnston, Wayne
Ebook
Wayne Johnson's epic portrait of passion and ambition, set against the beautiful, brutal landscape of Newfoundland. A mystery and a love story spanning five decades. In this widely acclaimed novel--hailed as a modern classic--Johnston (award-winning author of Jenny's Boy...
Mrs. Brown's kitchen : measure with your heart
Brown, Heather (TikTok creator)
Paper Book
Mrs. Brown's Kitchen began on TikTok in October 2021 without any intention and no concept of how big it would become. What started as sharing food images, with...
Mrs. Brown's kitchen : measure with your heart
Brown, Heather (TikTok creator)
Paper Book
Mrs. Brown's Kitchen began on TikTok in October 2021 without any intention and no concept of how big it would become. What started as sharing food images, with...
The good women of Safe Harbour
French, Bobbi
Ebook
Winner 2023 Newfoundland Reads  Longlisted for the 2023 Dublin Literary Award Longlisted for the 2023 Leacock Medal Award Finalist for the 2023 Dartmouth Book Award for Fiction Finalist for the 2023 Thomas Raddall Atlantic Fiction Award  An...
The good women of Safe Harbour
French, Bobbi
Ebook
Winner 2023 Newfoundland Reads  Longlisted for the 2023 Dublin Literary Award Longlisted for the 2023 Leacock Medal Award Finalist for the 2023 Dartmouth Book Award for Fiction Finalist for the 2023 Thomas Raddall Atlantic Fiction Award  An...
The good women of Safe Harbour
French, Bobbi
Audiobook
Ship moms : true tales of love and lust at sea
Winsor, Jen.
Lust, love, and pregnancy--hidden from the luxury and leisure of cruise ships, the lives of crew members play out below deck. Ship Moms is a collection of these beautiful, complicated, behind-the-scenes true stories of crew members and the babies they brought into the world. The...
Sweetland : a novel
Crummey, Michael
Paper Book
For twelve generations the inhabitants of a remote island in Newfoundland have lived and died together. Now, in the second decade of the 21st century, they are facing resettlement, and each has been offered a generous compensation package to leave. But the money is offered with a proviso: everyone...
Sweetland
Crummey, Michael
Ebook
From the award-winning, bestselling author of Galore comes another unforgettable novel. By turns darkly comic and heartbreakingly sad, Sweetland is a deeply suspenseful story about one man's struggles against the forces of nature and the ruins of memory. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp...
Sweetland
Crummey, Michael
Paper Book
For twelve generations the inhabitants of a remote island in Newfoundland have lived and died together. Now, in the second decade of the 21st century, they are facing resettlement, and each has been offered a generous compensation package to leave. But the money is offered with a proviso: everyone...
Sweetland
Crummey, Michael
Audiobook
From the award-winning, bestselling author of Galore comes another unforgettable novel. By turns darkly comic and heartbreakingly sad, Sweetland is a deeply suspenseful story about one man's struggles against the forces of nature and the ruins of memory. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp...
My Indian
Joe, Saqamaw Mi'sel
Paper Book
***2022 ATLANTIC BOOK AWARDS: APMA BEST ATLANTIC-PUBLISHED BOOK AWARD - SHORTLIST*** ***2022 BMO WINTERSET AWARD - LONGLIST*** ***2022-2023 HACKMATACK AWARD: ENGLISH FICTION - SHORTLIST*** ***2022 IPPY AWARDS: MULTICULTURAL FICTION: JUV/YA - SILVER***
My indian
Joe, Mi'sel
Paper Book
***2022 ATLANTIC BOOK AWARDS: APMA BEST ATLANTIC-PUBLISHED BOOK AWARD - SHORTLIST*** ***2022 BMO WINTERSET AWARD - LONGLIST*** ***2022-2023 HACKMATACK AWARD: ENGLISH FICTION - SHORTLIST*** ***2022 IPPY AWARDS: MULTICULTURAL FICTION: JUV/YA - SILVER***
My Indian
Joe, Saqamaw Mi'sel
Paper Book
***2022 ATLANTIC BOOK AWARDS: APMA BEST ATLANTIC-PUBLISHED BOOK AWARD - SHORTLIST*** ***2022 BMO WINTERSET AWARD - LONGLIST*** ***2022-2023 HACKMATACK AWARD: ENGLISH FICTION - SHORTLIST*** ***2022 IPPY AWARDS: MULTICULTURAL FICTION: JUV/YA - SILVER***
The luminous sea
Barbeau, Melissa
Paper Book
*LONGLISTED FOR THE 2020 INTERNATIONAL DUBLIN LITERARY AWARD *FINALIST - THE 2019 BMO WINTERSET AWARD *WINNER - 2019 IPPY AWARD FOR FICTION (CANADA EAST) *FINALIST - 2019 NEXT GENERATION INDIE BOOK AWARDS (BEST COVER DESIGN) ...
The luminous sea
Barbeau, Melissa
Paper Book
*LONGLISTED FOR THE 2020 INTERNATIONAL DUBLIN LITERARY AWARD *FINALIST - THE 2019 BMO WINTERSET AWARD *WINNER - 2019 IPPY AWARD FOR FICTION (CANADA EAST) *FINALIST - 2019 NEXT GENERATION INDIE BOOK AWARDS (BEST COVER DESIGN) ...
The wreckage
Crummey, Michael
Ebook
Having achieved considerable success with his first novel, River Thieves, Michael Crummey has written a book that is equally stunning and compelling. The Wreckage is a truly epic, yet twisted, romance that unfolds over decades and continents. It engages readers on the austere shores...
The wreckage
Crummey, Michael
Paper Book
From the award-winning author of River Thieves comes a sweeping novel of love crossed by the blindness of faith and fate.   In a remote Newfoundland outpost at the onset of the Second World War, the young Catholic Wish Furey meets the passionate, independent...
The wreckage : a novel
Crummey, Michael
Paper Book
From the award-winning author of River Thieves comes a sweeping novel of love crossed by the blindness of faith and fate.   In a remote Newfoundland outpost at the onset of the Second World War, the young Catholic Wish Furey meets the passionate, independent...
The agony of Bun O'Keefe
Smith, Heather
Paper Book
Little Miss Sunshine meets Room in this quirky, heartwarming story of friendship, loyalty and discovery. It's Newfoundland, 1986. Fourteen-year-old Bun O'Keefe has lived a solitary life in an unsafe, unsanitary house. Her mother is a compulsive hoarder, and Bun has...
The agony of Bun O'Keefe
Smith, Heather
Paper Book
Little Miss Sunshine meets Room in this quirky, heartwarming story of friendship, loyalty and discovery. It's Newfoundland, 1986. Fourteen-year-old Bun O'Keefe has lived a solitary life in an unsafe, unsanitary house. Her mother is a compulsive hoarder, and Bun has...
The agony of Bun O'Keefe
Smith, Heather
Paper Book
Little Miss Sunshine meets Room in this quirky, heartwarming story of friendship, loyalty and discovery. It's Newfoundland, 1986. Fourteen-year-old Bun O'Keefe has lived a solitary life in an unsafe, unsanitary house. Her mother is a compulsive hoarder, and Bun has...
Land of many shores : perspectives from a diverse Newfoundland and Labrador
Paper Book
Seeing through the eyes of others brings new perspective on the place we call home. In Land of Many Shores, writers share their perspectives about life in Newfoundland and Labrador from often- neglected viewpoints. In this collection, Indigenous people, cultural...
The greatest hits of Wanda Jaynes
Canning, Bridget
Paper Book
Wanda Jaynes is about to lose her job amidst a mountain of bills, and she suspects her musician boyfriend might be romantically interested in his friend, Trish. But Wanda's life changes radically on a routine trip to the grocery store when a gunman enters the supermarket and opens fire.The Greatest...
The greatest hits of Wanda Jaynes
Canning, Bridget
Paper Book
Wanda Jaynes is about to lose her job amidst a mountain of bills, and she suspects her musician boyfriend might be romantically interested in his friend, Trish. But Wanda's life changes radically on a routine trip to the grocery store when a gunman enters the supermarket and opens fire.The Greatest...
Kit's law
Morrissey, Donna
Paper Book
It is the Fifties in an isolated outport in Newfoundland. Nothing penetrates this antiquated existence, as television, telephones, cars, even roads, elude the villagers and the only visitors are fog-bound fishermen. Here, outside of Haire's Hollow, lives 14-year old Kit Pitman with her mentally...
Kit's law
Morrissey, Donna
Paper Book
It is the Fifties in an isolated outport in Newfoundland. Nothing penetrates this antiquated existence, as television, telephones, cars, even roads, elude the villagers and the only visitors are fog-bound fishermen. Here, outside of Haire's Hollow, lives 14-year old Kit Pitman with her mentally...
February
Moore, Lisa
Paper Book
Winner of Canada Reads 2013 and longlisted for the Man Booker Prize In 1982, the oil rig Ocean Ranger sank off the coast of Newfoundland during a Valentine's Day storm. All eighty-four men aboard died. February is the story of Helen O'Mara, one of those left behind when her husband, Cal,...
February
Moore, Lisa
Paper Book
Winner of Canada Reads 2013 and longlisted for the Man Booker Prize In 1982, the oil rig Ocean Ranger sank off the coast of Newfoundland during a Valentine's Day storm. All eighty-four men aboard died. February is the story of Helen O'Mara, one of those left behind when her husband, Cal,...
February
Moore, Lisa
Paper Book
Winner of Canada Reads 2013 and longlisted for the Man Booker Prize In 1982, the oil rig Ocean Ranger sank off the coast of Newfoundland during a Valentine's Day storm. All eighty-four men aboard died. February is the story of Helen O'Mara, one of those left behind when her husband, Cal,...

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