Simcoe Reads

What is Simcoe Reads?

8 Libraries. 8 Books. 1 Winner.

Eight libraries are bringing their communities together with Simcoe Reads, a cover-to-cover conversation for adults.

Each library has selected a local champion and book they believe everyone in Simcoe County should read.

You can:

• BORROW all 8 books at each library.
• READ all 8 books and pick your favourite!
• ATTEND the grand finale conversation on October 23rd at The Gibson Centre for Community Arts and Culture to VOTE for your favourite to win.
• FOLLOW the libraries on social media for events and updates and visit simcoereads.ca for more information.

Simcoe Reads 2026 Cover-to-Cover Conversation

Tuesday, September 29
6:30 pm
John Hayter South Shore Community Centre
205 Lakeshore Dr, Barrie, ON

8 Libraries. 8 Books. 1 Winner. NTPL has joined forces with 7 other libraries to get their communities reading and talking.

Join us for the Grand Finale 2026 Cover-to-Cover Conversation! Watch all 8 library Champions defend their chosen titles and then vote for your favourite to win.

For more information, please contact Kim at [email protected].

Is This a Cry for Help? by Emily Austin

Darcy’s life turned out better than she could have ever imagined. She is a librarian at the local branch, while her wife Joy runs a book binding service. Between the two of them, there is no more room on their shelves with their ample book collections, various knickknacks and bobbles, and dried bouquets. Rounding out their ideal life is two cats and a sun-soaked house by the lake.

But when Darcy receives the news that her ex-boyfriend, Ben, has passed away, she spirals into a pit of guilt and regret, resulting in a mental breakdown and medical leave from the library. When she returns to work, she is met by unrest in her community, and protests surrounding intellectual freedom, resulting in a call for book bans and a second look at the branch’s upcoming DEI programs.

Through the support of her community, colleagues, and the personal growth that results from examining her previous relationships, Darcy comes into her own agency and the truest version of herself. Is This a Cry for Help? not only offers a moving portrait of queer life after coming of age but also powerfully explores questions about sexuality, community, and the importance of libraries.

EMILY AUSTIN (she/her) is a bestselling queer Canadian author of five books across fiction and poetry, including the instant bestsellers, “Is This a Cry for Help?” (2026) and “We Could Be Rats” (2025).

Her debut novel, “Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead“, was published by Atria Books and Simon & Schuster Canada in 2021. It was shortlisted for the 2022 Amazon.ca First Novel Award, longlisted for the 2022 Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour, and shortlisted for the 2022 Ottawa Book Award.

Her second novel, “Interesting Facts About Space” was nominated for the 2025 Forest of Reading Evergreen Award, long listed for The Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour, and named the #1 bestselling LGBTQIA+ book in Canada, and became the most circulated LGBTQIA+ book in Canadian libraries in 2024.​

Her debut poetry collection “Gay Girl Prayers” was released in 2024. It was a CBC Best Book of Poetry in 2024, and a finalist for the 2025 Archibald Lampman Award.

Her writing often centres lesbian and queer characters and explores themes of mental health and neurodivergence.

She was born in St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada. She earned her B.A. in English Literature and Religious Studies at King’s University College, and her master’s in Library and Information Science at Western University. She has a background in libraries, teaching, and working as an information architect. She currently resides in Ottawa in the territory of the Anishinaabe Algonquin Nation.

Champion: Cathleen (Cathy) Marengeur

Cathy has lived in New Tecumseth for 28 years.  Cathy has experienced a lot of grief, first as a widow in 2005 and then a bereaved Mom in 2011, and the way the people of New Tec embraced her after this loss has motivated her to find a way to give back.  Cathy developed her career around supporting those in need, first in bereavement at Matthews House and now as an outreach peer supporter with the Krasman Centre.  Krasman Centre is a nonprofit organization that supports all members of our community including but not limited to, people with mental health and addictions, housing challenges and low income.  Cathy is passionately involved with the Seasons Centre for Grieving Children (Barrie) as a volunteer; she was awarded the 2025 Ontario Volunteer Service Award.  She is one of the founder committee members for the Pride Celebration in Alliston and is a member of various social service committees in town. She loves nature walks, upcycling home décor, camping in her small trailer and travelling whenever she gets the opportunity

Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid

Pro hockey star Shane Hollander isn’t just crazy talented, he’s got a spotless reputation. Hockey is his life. Now that he’s captain of the Montreal Voyageurs, he won’t let anything jeopardize that, especially the sexy Russian whose hard body keeps him awake at night.

Boston Bears captain Ilya Rozanov is everything Shane’s not. The self-proclaimed king of the ice, he’s as cocky as he is talented. No one can beat him—except Shane. They’ve made a career on their legendary rivalry, but when the skates come off, the heat between them is undeniable. When Ilya realizes he wants more than a few secret hookups, he knows he must walk away. The risk is too great.

As their attraction intensifies, they struggle to keep their relationship out of the public eye. If the truth comes out, it could ruin them both. But when their need for each other rivals their ambition on the ice, secrecy is no longer an option…

RACHEL REID is the New York Times Bestselling author of the Game Changers hockey romance series, as well as the standalone hockey romance novels Time to Shine and The Shots You Take. She lives in Nova Scotia, Canada. She has always lived there, and it’s looking like she probably always will. She has two boring degrees and two interesting kids. She has been a hockey fan since childhood, but sadly never made it to the NHL herself.

Champion: Amanda Dyke

Amanda Dyke is the Culture Development Officer for the City of Barrie. She brings to the role over 16 years of public service experience, supporting artists, organizations and residents.  With a strong passion for bringing people together through the arts, Amanda has gained an appreciation for the importance of community development and relationship building that has fostered her interest in cultural development. In past lives, Amanda was a community events planner and the host of a punk radio show. She credits these experiences with building her large community network and keeping her connected to the things she loves. When she’s not out hosting or experiencing cultural events and attractions, you can find her at home with one or two cats on her lap and a good book from the Barrie Public Library in hand.

Julie Chan is Dead by Liann Zhang

Julie and her sister Chloe are identical twins who were separated at birth.  Chloe, a successful social media influencer, was adopted into a life of privilege and wealth that Julie could only dream of.  When Chloe is discovered dead, Julie assumes her twin’s identity and discovers that her perfect life was not all that it seems.

LIANN ZHANG is a second-generation Chinese-Canadian who splits her time between Vancouver, British Columbia and Toronto, Ontario. After a short stint as a skincare content creator, Zhang graduated from the University of Toronto with a degree in psychology and criminology. Zhang’s debut novel, Julie Chan Is Dead, was an instant bestseller, has been translated into multiple languages, and was long-listed for Canada Reads 2026. She lives with her two cats, Juice and Bean

Champion: Natasha Philpott

Natasha Philpott is a proud Bradford resident of, devoted boy mom, self-proclaimed Barbie girl, and avid reader.  In Natasha’s spare time she hosts the local Bradford Banter podcast and writes a column for BradfordToday.

Small Ceremonies by Kyle Edwards

A poignant and heart-wrenching coming-of-age story that follows the friendships, hopes, fears, and struggles of a group of Native high school students from Winnipeg, Manitoba’s North End, illuminating what it’s like to grow up in the heart of an Indigenous city.

KYLE EDWARDS grew up on the Lake Manitoba First Nation and is a member of the Ebb and Flow First Nation. A graduate of Ryerson University, he has worked as a journalist for Native News Online, ProPublica, and Maclean’s, and has held fellowships at Harvard and Stanford Universities. He has won two National Magazine Awards for his reporting and was named Emerging Indigenous Journalist by the Canadian Association of Journalists in 2019. He is currently a Provost Fellow at the University of Southern California.

Champion: Danielle Gibson

Danielle Gibson is a busy mom of four, an avid reader and a collector of crafty hobbies. A lifelong lover of books, she enjoys thrillers, classics, domestic dramas and believes in the power of celebrity memoirs.

Danielle enjoys the Simcoe Reads competition because it invites readers to experience new and established Canadian authors and perhaps read outside their favourite genres. She is excited to champion the remarkable debut novel Small Ceremonies by Kyle Edwards.

Finding Flora by Elinor Florence

A historical novel set in turn-of-the-century Alberta about a young woman on the run from her abusive husband who uses a legal loophole to claim a homestead in the Wild West.

ELINOR FLORENCE lives in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia and grew up on a prairie grain farm east of North Battleford. Her rural roots run deep, and she still owns farmland in Saskatchewan. She also has Indigenous ancestors and is a proud member of the Métis Nation of B.C.

After completing journalism school, Florence worked for daily newspapers in all four Western provinces. In 1996, she and her family left Vancouver for the mountain resort community of Invermere.

She later spent eight years writing for Reader’s Digest, covering topics ranging from lost loggers to liver transplants, before publishing her own local newspaper, the Columbia Valley Pioneer, which became a community staple.

Inspired by her mother’s wartime stories, Florence went on to write her historical novel, Bird’s Eye View, about a farm girl who joins the air force during the Second World War. The novel became a Canadian bestseller.

Champion: Paula Murphy

Paula is a retired educator who enjoys travel, outdoor pursuits, volunteering and working out at the YMCA in her lovely spare time!

She greatly appreciates the Innisfil IdeaLAB and Library staff for the wonderful book clubs, author talks and the endless supply of engaging books for her to enjoy.

21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act by Bob Joseph

Since its creation in 1876, the Indian Act has dictated and constrained the lives and opportunities of Indigenous Peoples, and is at the root of many enduring stereotypes. Joseph examines how Indigenous Peoples can return to self-government, self-determination, and self-reliance—and why doing so would result in a better country for every Canadian.

BOB JOSEPH, the founder of Indigenous Corporate Training Inc., has provided training on Indigenous and Aboriginal relations since 1994. He also manages a blog called “Working Effectively with Indigenous Peoples”®, which is a resource that supports people in their Indigenous relations endeavours. Bob is a member of the Gwawaenuk Nation. The Gwawaenuk is one of the many Kwakwaka’wakw tribes located between Comox and Port Hardy on Vancouver Island and the adjacent mainland of British Columbia. He comes from a proud potlatch family, is an initiated member of the Hamatsa Society, and a Hereditary Chief.

Champion: Nahanni Born

Bringing a wealth of culture, history, and passion for storytelling to Simcoe Reads, Nahanni Born has dedicated the last 20 years to preserving and sharing local heritage as the Executive Director of the Huronia Museum.
An alumnus of the University of Vienna, she currently calls Port McNicoll home, where she can often be found enjoying the area with her two beloved dogs. She has a knack for marshalling corvids and is an authority on all things Gojira. She’s a proud member of Wasauksing First Nation, bringing a deep connection to community and history to this year’s panel.

The Spirit of Scatarie by Lesley Crewe

Part ghost story, part romance, part history, and a stirring tribute to young soldiers and their brave war brides, The Spirit of Scatarie is an epic tale with whispering island winds at its heart.

LESLEY CREW: They are too often lost in the race for something grand. I hold dear our humdrum routines. These accumulating hours make up our lifetimes and when we remember, it is always the simplest of pleasures that make us  happy. These are the memories I create in my books.

Hubby and I were raised in Montreal, but have lived in the same house in rural Cape Breton for forty-five years. It remains a sanctuary for our children and pets, both living and remembered. My writing began as an exercise in trying to understand my world and quickly became something that brought me joy. I dearly love my family, my little granddaughters Gia Elizabeth and Anna Moon, all creatures great and small, children’s books, and breathing in the wild ocean air.

Also, raisin tea biscuits.

Champion: Jo-Helen Berner

Jo-Hellen, a newly retired Ramara Library employee of over 30  years, enjoys reading, travelling, cooking and spending time with her family – including 5 grandsons – and dogs.

Liberty Street by Heather Marshall

A riveting novel about one journalist’s harrowing journey into an infamous real-life 1960s women’s prison—and the detective who uncovers her story decades later.

HEATHER MARSHALL lives near Toronto with her family and their giant golden retriever. She worked in politics and communications before finally turning her attention to her true passion: storytelling. Heather’s debut novel Looking for Jane was an instant #1 bestseller and dominated the Toronto Star and Globe and Mail bestseller charts for half a year, including 5 weeks at #1.Selected as one of Indigo’s Top 10 Best Books of 2022, the Globe and Mail‘s Top 100 Books of 2022, and CBC’s Best Canadian Fiction of 2022, Looking for Jane was also chosen as STYLE Canada’s Book of the Month, a CityLine Book Club pick, an Indie Next pick, and was a finalist for the 2023 Goodreads Choice Awards in both the debut and historical fiction categories. It has been published in 17 languages in 21 territories around the world, and was optioned for development into a television series. It continued to appear on the bestseller charts 4 years after its initial release.Heather’s second novel, The Secret History of Audrey James, also debuted as an instant #1 bestseller in Canada, and spent more than two months on the charts. It has been translated into multiple languages.Her third novel, Liberty Street, was an instant #1 bestseller in Canada, and is coming to the US on June 16th. 

Champion: Rosemary Hartley

Rosemary Hartley is a retired school teacher from Washago. Life long reader, promoter of books and lover of libraries.