Welcome to The Canadian Book Club Awards!
Where storytelling takes centre stage and book lovers unite in celebration.
As Canada’s largest reader-driven book awards, we honour the books that captivate readers from coast to coast. But we’re more than just an award—we’re a passionate community dedicated to inclusivity, accessibility, and amplifying diverse voices in Canadian literature.
What Makes Us Different?
The Canadian Book Club Awards are entirely reader-driven. From the moment books are submitted to the final announcement of winners, real readers are the decision-makers. Every book is judged on one simple criterion: Did I love this book?
We welcome submissions from all publishing paths—traditional, hybrid, or self-published—because we believe every great story deserves a chance to shine. Readers don’t care how a book is published; they care if it’s a story worth reading.
What Kind of Books Do We Recognize?
From novels that spark conversation to poetry that moves the soul, from self-help that inspires change to children’s books that light up young imaginations—we celebrate great books in 13 diverse categories.
How It Works
📚 Author Submissions: Authors submit their books throughout the year across various genres.
📖 Avid Reader Selection (December–February): Passionate readers apply to become Avid Readers, our frontline judges. A minimum of three Avid Readers are assigned to each category.
🔍 Reading & Top 3 Selection (March–October): Avid Readers dive into the books, reading and selecting the top three finalists in their category.
🏆 Finalists Announced (November): The top three books in each category, as chosen by Avid Readers, are officially unveiled.
👥 Verified Readers Join the Process (November–January): Book clubs and individual readers across Canada sign up as Verified Readers to read and vote on the finalists.
✅ Final Voting & Winners Announced (February 2026): Verified Readers have three months to read the finalist books and cast their votes. The winners—chosen by real Canadian readers—are officially crowned.
What’s the Difference Between Avid Readers & Verified Readers?
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Avid Readers: The first round of judges who read all submitted books in their chosen category and select the top three finalists.
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Verified Readers: The final round of judges, made up of book clubs and readers across Canada, who read and vote on the top three finalists to determine the winners.
Both groups play a key role in Canada’s largest reader-driven book awards—because great books deserve to be judged by the people who love them most: real readers.
Join the Celebration!
It’s a journey of discovery, connection, and the pure joy of finding a damn good book. Whether you’re a reader, author, or book club, there’s a place for you in The Canadian Book Club Awards.
