Foe by Iain Reid 1st book to be eliminated on Canada Reads 2026

hither ar the fin titles aiming to be the victor of this year's Canada Reads. Patch you don't need to read all the books before watching the show, it helps to know what they're about. Here's a summary of each.

A Minor Chorus by Billy-Ray Belcourt is an experimental novel about an unnamed queer, Indigenous academic who abandons his thesis and goes back to his hometown in northern Alberta. 

Searching for Terry Punchout by Tyler Hellard is a novel about Adam, a failing sports journalist who has one shot at a Sports Illustrated profile of a notorious hockey goon — his estranged and reclusive father. 

The Cure for Drowning by Loghan Paylor is a historical fiction novel about Kit McNair, who struggles to fit the expectations set out for them as an Ontario farm girl. When they meet Rebekah, everything falls into place, but a love triangle and the Second World War force them to go their separate ways. 

Foe by Iain Reid is a speculative thriller about Junior and his wife Henrietta, whose peaceful existence living in an isolated farmhouse is upended when a mysterious man shows up, claiming Junior has been randomly selected for a scientific program and will be leaving home for the indefinite future. 

It's Different This Time by Joss Richard is a romance novel about June Heyward, an actor who, in a twist of fate, finds herself back at the New York City brownstone she never thought she'd return to, with the one person she swore she'd never see again.

Steve Dangle said the sports novel Searching for Terry Punchout is a powerful example of building bridges within communities — especially reconnecting with people we may have lost touch with — and overcoming ego in the process.

“I loved the picture that it painted of Canada,” said Glynn.

Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers reflected on a personal connection to the genre-bending literary fiction A Minor Chorus, sharing the story of a community member featured in her documentary Kímmapiiyipitssini: The Meaning of Empathy. 

A residential school survivor who spent much of his life incarcerated and unhoused, she described him as “a beautifully profound, loving, generous and humorous person,” noting that knowing him helped her feel less alone.

“I feel like A Minor Chorus speaks to the people who are like [him] and their lives and why they matter.”

Despite reading 35 books so far in 2026, Morgann Book said the second-chance romance It’s Different This Time stands out as the best book she’s read this year. 

“It deals with a lot of real issues while also using romance as an escape for readers … with very real characters and relationships … you can’t help but root for them,” said Book.

The first day of debates delivered plenty of energy and momentum. Now, the remaining panellists will prepare for Day Two with four books still in contention.

Tegan Quin said the length of the historical fiction The Cure for Drowning is one of its strengths, calling it a “sprawling adventure” she was glad to go on.

“It’s full of story and character development — it’s gripping,” said Quin.

Take heart, eliminated authors — notable books from some of Canada’s best and most popular writers have been voted out on the first day! 

Take 2014 for example, when Margaret Atwood’s book The Year of the Flood was knocked out first. It was championed by the late Stephen Lewis, the influential activist and politician.  

Two years ago, Carley Fortune’s Meet Me at the Lake was the first to go. The romance novel has reached heights few books ever hit, instantly topping both the Canadian and New York Times bestsellers lists. It’s now set to become a Netflix TV series and Fortune’s books have sold millions of copies worldwide. 

Graphic novelist Jeff Lemire also knows what it’s like to be voted out early – and to make Netflix hits. You may recognize his book Sweet Tooth from its Netflix adaptation of the same name. His book Essex County — championed by Sara Quin of Tegan and Sara — was voted off first on Canada Reads 2011.

One moment that really stood out to me in today’s debates was Josh Dela Cruz’s comments about how the experience of reading Foe actually creates community. 

In responding to criticisms that people didn’t quite understand the ending and had to look stuff up after reading it, Dela Cruz said he had a similar experience, but that’s part of the allure for him. 

“After my third read, I was still finding new things,” he said. “It’s a book that sits with you and that you’re thinking about and that you have to talk to other people about. I think it’s wonderful that you had to go into Reddit, that you had to do all these things, that you just didn’t read it and move on with your day. You had to communicate with the community.”

Though Foe was eliminated, the other panellists were quick to share how much they appreciated the writing of the novel. 

“It was one of the more confusing experiences I had while reading, and I mean that complimentary,” said Steve (Dangle) Glynn. He said the parts where not much happened made the payoff of the final twist even greater. 

“It’s a page-turner. It was gripping in the sense that I really wanted to know what was going to happen,” said Tegan Quin, who read the first half of the book in one sitting.

“It left me with a lot of questions, which made me feel unsatisfied, but it’s also a positive of the book. It asks a lot of questions. I think it’s well-crafted.”

In a busy, technology-filled world, finding time to focus can be difficult — but Josh Dela Cruz says reading Foe pulled him in so completely that it “was the first time [he] felt like [he] was in one place in one time doing one thing,” sparking a renewed love of reading.

That experience, he added, has carried over to the rest of the Canada Reads titles as well, inspiring him to explore and connect with all of the other panellists’ books.

“I have nothing but gratitude for this experience,” said Dela Cruz.

Josh Dela Cruz had a message for Iain Reid, the author of Foe, thanking him for making him look deeply at his relationship with his wife. 

He said that the book made him want to “make sure that I am present with her, that I am being a partner, not just a husband, in every sense of the word, so I’m so thankful for that.”

Over the four days of the competition, the panellists dive into spirited debates about books that promise to be intense, strategic and, at times, deeply emotional. 

To give them a boost, we asked the people who know these stories best — the authors — to share a few words of encouragement before the debates begin.

Billy-Ray Belcourt told Elle-Maija Tailfeathers that he’s seen her films and how powerfully they speak to the heart, urging her to lean into that strength. 

He added that “all of Indigenous Canada” is behind her.

Joss Richard offered words of support to Morgann Book, cheering her on as she introduces readers to the joy of second-chance romance, and encouraging her to do what she does best: “talk about her love for books.”

Iain Reid praised Josh Dela Cruz for his ability to understand complex material and clearly communicate why it matters. 

“Thank you for your intelligence and sincerity,” Reid said.

Loghan Paylor told Tegan Quin that she’s always been “someone who is able to light up any stage.”

And Tyler Hellard thanked Steve (Dangle) Glynn for bringing him — and his novel — along for the ride. 

“I’ll always be grateful,” he said, encouraging him not to be afraid to let that passion shine.

---

---