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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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
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FAQ
When will you be open?
Spring of 2025. We will update our site and our socials once we have the exact date!
I'm interested in applying for a job!
Great! We are currently accepting applications until march 30 2025. Visit the Job Offers section of our website for more details.
Are you open to collaborations?
We hope to be a part of Montreal's broader literary and food scene, so in principle, yes! We are busy getting set up for our opening at the moment, but check back in with us later.
What types of events will you host?
We are building our catalogue of events, but we are always open to new ideas. You can get in touch with us below, and we’ll keep your amazing ideas in mind. Eventually we will have clear parameters about how to get in touch with us regarding organizing a specific event.
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.
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