Alka 

I picked The Good Immigrant after immigrating to Canada and reading an article that explored how immigrants, especially immigrants of colour, can be viewed through a narrow lens—the “good” versus “bad” immigrant—and are often expected to justify their presence and prove their worth. The essays, which explore race, identity, and belonging, are honest, funny, eye-opening, and most of all, human. Although the collection was written about life in Britain, the stories and struggles felt familiar, resonating far beyond those borders. It's a timely and necessary read, especially in today's world. 

Jaclyn 

Move: The Forces Uprooting Us by Parag Khanna is a compelling look at how climate change, demographics, and technology are reshaping where and how people live. I recommend it because it challenges static ideas of borders and belonging, offering a data-driven but deeply human take on the future of global mobility. Migration has been a key feature throughout human history, and this book is a thought-provoking read that sparks big questions about connection, adaptability, and the world we’re building. 

Tessa 

Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer is one of my favourite vacation reads. An expedition of four women – a biologist, a psychologist, an anthropologist, and a surveyor – explores Area X, the site of a mysterious disaster. Sent into this patch of wilderness by the Southern Reach, a secret government entity tasked with studying Area X, the women encounter increasingly strange anomalies. This book is part thriller, part eco-horror, part science fiction, and will keep you glued to the page wondering what the expedition will uncover next. 

Michelle 

I am recommending Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Perez as a lover of data, policy and gendered analysis. I was recently reminded of this title by a friend who had discovered that most of what we know about eating disorders was based on studies done with men. After having worked at a Women's Centre for the past two and a half years, I wasn't surprised and immediately recommended the read. Invisible Women examines the significance (and absence) of gender-disaggregated data in many realms and provides background for anybody interested in better understanding systemic gender bias. 

Lizzie 

Deep underground, 39 women live imprisoned in a cage and guarded by men. They don’t know how they got here, who they are or when they are. I Who Have Never Known Men hauntingly explores womanhood, friendship and death. Narrated by the only woman to have never known a different existence, she comes to realize that she will be alone on this desolate planet once her 38 companions die. She has no way to be sure, but considers that upon her death, humankind will cease to exist. The book encourages readers to consider questions of: how does community come to be? What privileges do we hold that would disappear without other people to share life with? What societal norms cease to exist, and which remain when the dominant group disappears? 

Noor 

Chain-Gang All Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah is set in a future where people serving prison sentences are made to participate in televised death sentences to earn back their freedom. Chain-Gang All Stars critiques the prison-industrial complex, systemic racism, and explores how human suffering is commodified for profit. Adjei-Brenyah weaves poetry, music, and humour throughout the novel as the reader explores the love, friendship, and connections that unfold. This book is an exploration of who we are and what we are capable of doing. 

Hafsah 

All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir is an unforgettable novel that follows Noor and Salahudin, two Pakistani American teens trying to make sense of loss, love, and the weight of the past in a small California town. As Salahudin struggles to save his family's motel and Noor dreams of escaping to college, both are carrying secrets that threaten to pull them apart. Sabaa Tahir delivers a powerful coming-of-age story that exposes the harsh realities of racism, substance abuse, and familial discord. A finalist for the Governor General’s Award and winner of multiple honours, All My Rage explores grief, forgiveness, friendship, and the strength it takes to survive when the odds feel stacked against you. Warning: may cause tears. 

Maya 

Co-creator of the “Sounds Like a Cult” podcast, Amanda Montell delves not only into well-known historical cults and their leaders but also explores modern-day examples in Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism. I’ve always been interested in linguistics and was hooked on the way Montell outlines the use of language in creating groups and branding, pulling people in, and both assimilating and alienating participants to keep them involved. Through cultural jargon, slogans, clichés, and redefined terms, Montell demonstrates how simple it can be to create a ‘cult-like’ appeal for anything, from a political group to fitness and self-help communities, a product, and even musical artists. Previously stereotyped as charismatic leaders with a group of ‘Kool-Aid drinking’ followers, cults have evolved to become larger, more common, and more impactful than we suspect. Language is now the Kool-Aid, and the book begs you to ask yourself if you, knowingly or not, are in one.