OurStory
Taking joy seriously.
Launched in 2025, Joie de livres is Montreal's first bilingual bookstore-café-bar specializing in romance and speculative fiction. Joie de livres is the project of Claire and Sylvie, two sisters with a shared passion for good books, good coffee, and good nachos. They have already been working together for years on different projects, from climate philanthropy to tax justice advocacy. But this time, they decided to fulfil their personal lifelong dream in a full-on carpe diem moment.
Through a series of truly serendipitous events, the sisters soon found two phenomenal leaders to co-construct Joie de livres with them: Mathieu (our bookstore director) and Carrie-Ann (our director of hospitality). The team of four spent many months in collaborative ideation and planning. Along the way, they worked with many other collaborators in order to develop everything from the drool-worthy food and drink menu, to the incredible stock of exciting books, to the jaw-dropping interior design.
Because our world often feels like we’re living in Mordor, we firmly believe in the importance of fighting for what brings us joy. Being true to who you are, claiming it in an unabashed way, and celebrating what you love with your community are all essential defenses against tyranny. At Joie de livres, we welcome everyone without prejudices: come as you are - that’s how we love it!
Our Values
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Joy
Joy is the energy that feeds us, and we take it very seriously. We're earnest about the importance of celebrating what you love, and doing it unapologetically!
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Integrity
Integrity is the compass that keeps us on what we hope is the right path. We believe it's essential to be honest about what we sell and what we promote - and their impact on what’s going on in the world.
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Curiosity
Curiosity is the engine that drives us forward. We're always looking to experiment, and we know that mistakes help us learn better. That’s why we encourage everyone to take a chance on a new genre, a new author, or a new late-night snack.
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Well being
Well being is the balance that makes our success possible. It is essential for us to take care of ourselves so that we can take care of others. We want everyone who comes to our space to feel welcomed, respected and respectful of others.
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Community
Community is the table around which we gather. It is all about building relationships through shared passions and celebrating our differences that make us stronger together.
We're proud to be a bilingual bookstore, where our books are shelved by genre and not by language. It is no accident that we are located right on the Main, at the historic intersection of the French and the English communities.
Our staff is just as bilingual as this city, and while some of us naturally default either more towards French or towards English, that's just one of the aspects of the diversity we celebrate!
We always strive to put our best foot forward, but if we ever make any mistakes in our written or spoken French or English, bear with us (and perhaps expect a visit from our grammar fairy)!
OurTeam
Claire Trottier
Co-owner
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Pronouns: She/her
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Favourite hot beverage: oat milk flat white
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Favourite genre: romance! Give me all the Happily Ever Afters!
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Favourite authors: Adriana Herrera, KJ Charles, Cat Sebastian, Jonny Garza Villa, Anita Kelly, Rachel Reid, Jenny Holiday, Sarah MacLean
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Sylvie Trottier
Co-owner
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Pronouns: She/her
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Favorite cocktail: Anything not too sweet, but I am partial to anything smoky or spicy!
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What brings you joy: Crafting with my girls (or by myself, while listening to audiobooks)
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Favorite trope: Chosen One (especially badass women) & Found Family
Carrie-Ann Kloda
Director, hospitality
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Pronouns: She/her
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Favourite trope: Forced Confinement, Enemies-To-Lovers
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What brings you joy: Watching my daughter play whilst sipping my coffee.
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Favourite authors: Jane Austen, Sarah J. Maas, Marian Keyes, Casey McQuiston
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Find me: Practicing yoga or solving someone else's problems.
Mathieu Lauzon Dicso
Director, bookstore
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Pronouns : He / him
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Favorite genre : Fantasy with rich worldbuilding !
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What brings you joy : Exploring the world with my husband
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When did you get into genre fiction : As a kid, when I realized that opening a book was exactly the same as opening a door to another world of possibilities
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Hot beverage of choice : Mulled wine !
FAQ
Can you order a book for me?
Absolutely! We can do customer orders for practically any book - from the latest werewolf romance to a klingon dictionary. We don’t yet take orders online or over the phone, but come by the store and one of our staff will happily order it for you. We ask for a 50% deposit and the book generally arrives in 5-7 days. And you are also welcome to call ahead and check if it's a book that we perhaps already have in stock.
I'm interested in applying for a job!
We love that you want to be part of our team, but we aren't currently hiring. We will post a notice here and on our socials if that changes.
I am a self published author! Would you be open to carrying my book?
We wish we could carry every wonderful book that is out there, especially those that fit within our specialized genres! But because of the size of our team (and of our shelves), we simply don’t have the capacity to review or take requests from independent authors currently.
How can I find out more about the events you host?
The best place to check is our Instagram account, and we also have our calendar of events up on our website here. We eventually will have a larger roster of events, including recurring book clubs, but for now they are generally one-off book launches, author panels, and special theme nights (like Sapphic Saturday, which happens monthly on the second Saturday!). If you are interested in hosting an event with us, please get in touch with us.
What book do you recommend?
Ooooh that is a tough one! There is no right or wrong book - only the right book for the right reader. We will be posting our staff picks and other recommendations on new releases and favorites on Instagram, but once we’re open, come by the store! One of our knowledgeable staff will be thrilled to act as your personal book sommelier.
Are you licensed to serve alcohol? And if so, are children welcome?
We have both a restaurant license and an accessory license, which means we do serve alcohol with or without our food (you can check out our amazing menu here) and kids are welcome anytime. (There may be exceptions - ex: a special 18+ event). We also carry some kids books, so come on by with your kiddos!
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