Toronto Star bestsellers: Mark Critch tells us why Canada is worth fighting for in 'Sorry, Not Sorry'

Critch is known for his sense of humour. Besides being a writer and cast member on long-running sketch comedy series “This Hour Has 22 Minutes,” he created and stars in “Son of a Critch,” the popular CBC sitcom based on Critch’s memoir of the same name about growing up in Newfoundland. 

Publisher Penguin Random House says that in “Sorry, Not Sorry,” Critch “delves into the heart of what it means to be Canadian at a time when national pride is on the rise. Examining everything from the historical decision of Newfoundland to join Canada, to the modern-day implications of the Freedom Convoy, and the evolving symbolism of the Canadian flag, he reminds us of where we came from, and of the many reasons Canada is worth fighting for.” 

It won’t surprise anyone that Critch uses humour to make his points, although the book is “more than just a comedic take on Canadian life; it’s a deeply personal and insightful look at the free country Critch has spent decades satirizing,” the synopsis says.

As it happens, another book that deals with Canadians’ reactions to U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats of annexation has returned to the Canadian non-fiction list at No. 10.

“Elbows Up!” — edited by CBC Radio host Elamin Abdelmahmoud — gathers essays by cultural luminaries such as Margaret Atwood, Jay Baruchel, Omar El Akkad and Canisia Lubrin, reflecting on Canadian identity and our relationship with the U.S.

Atwood, meanwhile, is on both the non-fiction and fiction lists this week. Her memoir “Book of Lives” is at No. 2 in both the original and Canadian rankings, while a 40th-anniversary edition of “The Handmaid’s Tale” is back on the Canadian fiction list at No. 9.

The new deluxe edition features the original cover art and an unpublished essay written by Atwood in 1986, Penguin Random House says.

ORIGINAL FICTION

1. Alchemised, SenLinYu, Del Ray (9)*

2. The Widow, John Grisham, Doubleday (6)

3. The Secret of Secrets, Dan Brown, Doubleday (12)

4. The Black Wolf, Louise Penny, Minotaur (6)

5. Brimstone, Callie Hart, Forever (2)

6. Project Hail Mary, Andy Weir, Ballantine (3)

7. Final Orbit, Chris Hadfield, Random House Canada (6)

8. Always Remember, Charlie Mackesy, Penguin (7)

9. Twice, Mitch Albom, Harper (5)

10. Circle of Days, Ken Follett, Grand Central (4)

ORIGINAL NON-FICTION

1. The Wealthy Barber, David Chilton, Financial Awareness (2)

2. Book of Lives, Margaret Atwood, McClelland & Stewart (4)

3. Guinness World Records 2026, Craig Glenday, Guinness World Records (10)

4. The Smiling Land, Alan Doyle, Doubleday Canada (4)

5. 107 Days, Kamala Harris, Simon & Schuster (6)

6. Nobody’s Girl, Virginia Roberts Giuffre, Knopf (6)

7. The Old Farmer’s Almanac 2026 Canadian Edition, Old Farmer’s Almanac

8. Vanished Beyond the Map, Adam Shoalts, Allen Lane (8)

9. Sorry, Not Sorry, Mark Critch, Viking (1)

10. Certified Beauties, James Duthie, Collins (6)

CANADIAN FICTION

1. The Black Wolf, Louise Penny, Minotaur

2. Final Orbit, Chris Hadfield, Random House Canada

3. The Bond That Burns (deluxe limited edition), Briar Boleyn, Mira

4. On Wings of Blood (deluxe limited edition), Briar Boleyn, Mira

5. Queen Esther, John Irving, Knopf Canada

6. Pick a Colour, Souvankham Thammavongsa, Knopf Canada

7. Finding Flora, Elinor Florence, Simon & Schuster

8. Heated Rivalry, Rachel Reid, Carina

9. The Handmaid’s Tale 40th Anniversary Edition, Margaret Atwood, McClelland & Stewart

10. The Spirit of Scatarie, Lesley Crewe, Vagrant

CANADIAN NON-FICTION

1. The Wealthy Barber, David Chilton, Financial Awareness

2. Book of Lives, Margaret Atwood, McClelland & Stewart

3. The Smiling Land, Alan Doyle, Doubleday Canada

4. Vanished Beyond the Map, Adam Shoalts, Allen Lane

5. Sorry, Not Sorry, Mark Critch, Viking

6. Certified Beauties, James Duthie, Collins

7. We Breed Lions, Rick Westhead, Random House Canada

8. Future Boy, Michael J. Fox, Nelle Fortenberry, Flatiron

9. Rock Star, Jennifer Jones, Collins

10. Elbows Up!, edited by Elamin Abdelmahmoud, McClelland & Stewart

CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULT

1. Big Jim Believes (Dog Man #14), Dav Pilkey, Graphix

2. Partypooper (Diary of a Wimpy Kid #20), Jeff Kinney, Amulet

3. Sunrise on the Reaping, Suzanne Collins, Scholastic

4. The Humble Pie, Jory John, Pete Oswald, HarperCollins

5. The Never Girls Collection #1, Kiki Thorpe, RH Disney, RH/Disney

6. Darkstalker (Wings of Fire: Legends), Tui T. Sutherland, Jake Parker, Graphix

7. Little Blue Truck’s Christmas, Alice Schertle, Jill McElmurry, Clarion

8. A Heart for Christmas, Sophie Jomain, Manon Bucciarelli, Éditions et Diffusions Auzou

9. Jessi Ramsey, Pet-Sitter (Baby-sitters Club #18), Ellen T. Crenshaw, Ann M. Martin, Graphix

10. How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (full colour edition), Dr. Seuss, Random House Books for Young Readers

MYSTERY

1. The Housemaid, Freida McFadden, Grand Central

2. The Impossible Fortune, Richard Osman, Pamela Dorman

3. The Intruder, Freida McFadden, Poisoned Pen

4. Return of the Spider, James Patterson, Little, Brown

5. The Housemaid Is Watching, Freida McFadden, Poisoned Pen

6. The Housemaid’s Secret, Freida McFadden, Quercus

7. The Proving Ground, Michael Connelly, Little, Brown

8. Never Lie, Freida McFadden, Poisoned Pen

9. The Tenant, Freida McFadden, Poisoned Pen

10. The Waiting, Michael Connelly, Little, Brown 

*Weeks on list

The bestseller lists are compiled by Toronto Star Newspapers Limited from information provided by BookNet Canada’s national sales tracking service, BNC SalesData.