One eRead Canada 2026: What I Know About You by Éric Chacour

E-book available April 1-30 with no holds, no waitlists!

This April, Canadians are invited to join people from across the country in reading What I Know About You by Éric Chacour, originally published in French as «Ce que je sais de toi» and translated by Pablo Strauss.

A heartbreaking tale of a family and an impossible love, torn apart by secrets and traditions in late-twentieth-century Cairo.

As a boy in 1960s Cairo, Tarek knows that his entire life is written in advance. He’ll be a doctor like his father, marry, and have children. Under the watchful eyes of his mother and his sister, he starts to do just that – until Ali enters his life and turns it upside down. The two men, from very different worlds, embark on an unsayable relationship that threatens to tear apart Tarek’s family. Years later, as Tarek is living a solitary life in Montreal, someone starts writing about him and to him, piecing together a past he wants only to forget. But who is the writer of this tale? And will he figure it out in time?

A bestseller in its original Quebec edition, and the recipient of several awards, including the Prix Femina des Lycéens, What I Know About You is poised to be an international sensation.

Éric Chacour shares his life between France and Quebec. He graduated with a bachelor’s from Université Paris Dauphine-PSL then completed a master’s in international relations from Université de Montréal. What I Know About You is his first novel and was originally published in French as Ce que je sais de toi. Born in Montreal to Egyptian parents, Chacour now works in the financial sector. 

While reading the book, people are encouraged to join the online discussion happening with readers from across the country on the One eRead Canada Facebook page.

There will also be two live streamed events:

Thursday, April 30 | 7:00pm In English: Antonio Michael Downing, host of The Next Chapter will be in conversation with Éric Chacour and Pablo Strauss.

Wednesday, April 29 | 7:00pm En français: Éric will be in conversation with Caroline Moon.

You will have an opportunity to submit your questions beforehand through the One eRead Canada social media channels or during the show.

Launched in 2019, One eRead Canada is an annual initiative by the Canadian Urban Libraries Council to promote digital reading through public libraries, while also raising awareness about issues that libraries face in providing access to e-books and audiobooks.

One eRead / Un livrel highlights the benefit of open access to digital books. CULC reports that restrictive costs, licensing, and availability of content prevent public libraries from providing adequate access to the volume and variety of digital titles Canadians want to read. The high cost of digital content alone prevents libraries from diversifying their collections, meaning many authors and books are underrepresented and underexposed to Canadian readers. One eRead / Un livrel demonstrates that when restrictions on access are reduced, readership goes up.

Read more: Canada’s Public Libraries Call for Fair Digital Pricing with a National eBook Club