Canadian Independent Bookstore Day is set for April 25, and indie booksellers across the country have plenty to celebrate. The debut of the Heated Rivalry TV series has sparked a renewed interest in reading, bringing customers back to bookstores who had not purchased a book in years.
A Romance Bookstore Success Story
Amy Pelletier opened Perfect Match, a romance-themed bookstore, in August 2025. Just two months later, Heated Rivalry debuted on Crave and HBO Max, becoming a cultural phenomenon. The six-part series is based on a series by Canadian author Rachel Reid. Pelletier noted, “We had people coming in who hadn’t bought or read books in years, and so they were coming to independent bookstores, buying their first book, or reading their first book, maybe since university or even high school.” She added, “That was so exciting, because then people are being reminded of how fun reading can be.”
Canadian Independent Bookstore Day Events
On the last Saturday of April, indie booksellers plan special events to help customers find their next read, meet local authors, join a book club, or win prizes. Perfect Match will offer double frequent buyer points, treats for the first 50 customers, exclusive tote bags with purchases over a certain amount, and a hidden golden ticket for 12 free audiobooks from Libro.fm.
Upstart & Crow, another Vancouver indie bookstore, will hold prize draws for a $300 gift card and a curated book and gift box. First arrivals will receive treats from Granville Island neighbour Laurelle’s Fine Foods. The store specializes in new fiction from small and independent presses, new translations, and disruptive non-fiction.
Brontë Mania and Other Trends
Upstart & Crow store manager Robyn Smith reported that “Wuthering Heights has been flying off the shelves” due to the recent movie adaptation by director Emerald Fennell. Another hot seller is Karen Powell’s Fifteen Wild Decembers, a 2023 novel about the Brontë sisters. “It makes Charlotte look like a real piece of work,” Smith said. Other staff favourites include Sara Stridsberg’s Beckomberga and Vincenzo Latronico’s Perfection, described as “a short, pitch-perfect satire of two millennial designers living the gentrification dream in Berlin.”
Andy Weir’s Impact
Andy Weir’s novels The Martian and Project Hail Mary have also boosted sales at Iron Dog Books, with movie adaptations driving interest. The popularity of these titles is having a spillover effect, encouraging readers to explore more books.
Canadian Independent Bookstore Day is a reminder of the joy of reading, with events at various locations. For more information, visit cibabooks.ca.
