Our Story

Publishing reviews, essays, interviews, and features throughout the year, the Hamilton Review of Books is an independent online literary journal founded in 2016 and based in the thriving literary community of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Our staff writer group is comprised of writers, editors, reviewers, and academics from the Hamilton area and beyond.

Anyone who is active in literary discussions knows there’s a sea change happening in the literary world today. Writers with unique voices, diverse backgrounds, and intriguing points of view are bringing out books we would not have seen ten years ago, as the publishing world slowly shifts to be more open and inclusive. Here at the Hamilton Review of Books we want to celebrate this change. Hamilton is an incredibly diverse city.  With steel mills on one side, the Royal Botanical Gardens on the other and the third most languages spoken in a Canadian city, we know what it’s like to live in a captivating, multi-faceted environment. We are committed to making the Hamilton Review of Books just as captivating and just as multi-faceted. You will find books and authors from all backgrounds, ethnicities, genders, and orientations covered here.

While our mandate is to review books published by professional presses – especially smaller, independent presses – we will consider reviewing self-published works if the author in question is a member in good standing of The Writers’ Union of Canada. If you are a publisher or self-published writer and would like to inquire about having a book reviewed or wish to send us a digital copy of an ARC, email us at hamiltonreviewofbooks@gmail.com.

Should you have any questions, feel free to contact the EIC, Dana Hansen, at editor-in-chief@hamiltonreviewofbooks.com.