Queereads YYC: 'The Safekeep'
Queereads YYC's 72nd event will be held November 9th, 2026 @ 7pm! We’ll be discussing 'The Safekeep' by Yael van der Wouden.
Attend this book club in-person at Owl's Nest Books or send us a message to attend via Zoom!
Whether you read the book, didn't finish the book, or didn't start the book, this event is open to anyone interested in a relaxed discussion about the themes and topics explored in the book. We will discuss opinions and/or personal experiences related to the book in a relaxed setting. We try our best to create a comfortable, safe space for the queer community, and if you have any questions or comments we would love to hear from you. Hope to see you there!
*About the book*
"An exhilarating, twisted tale of desire, suspicion, and obsession between two women staying in the same house in the Dutch countryside during the summer of 1961—a powerful exploration of the legacy of WWII and the darker parts of our collective past.
A house is a precious thing...
It is 1961 and the rural Dutch province of Overijssel is quiet. Bomb craters have been filled, buildings reconstructed, and the war is truly over. Living alone in her late mother’s country home, Isabel knows her life is as it should be—led by routine and discipline. But all is upended when her brother Louis brings his graceless new girlfriend Eva, leaving her at Isabel’s doorstep as a guest, to stay for the season.
Eva is Isabel’s antithesis: she sleeps late, walks loudly through the house, and touches things she shouldn’t. In response, Isabel develops a fury-fueled obsession, and when things start disappearing around the house—a spoon, a knife, a bowl—Isabel’s suspicions begin to spiral. In the sweltering peak of summer, Isabel’s paranoia gives way to infatuation—leading to a discovery that unravels all Isabel has ever known. The war might not be well and truly over after all, and neither Eva—nor the house in which they live—are what they seem.
Mysterious, sophisticated, sensual, and infused with intrigue, atmosphere, and sex, The Safekeep is a brilliantly plotted and provocative debut novel you won’t soon forget."
Genres (taken from Goodreads): “Historical Fiction, Fiction, Queer, Romance, LGBT, Historical, Literary Fiction"
*Accessibility*
Attend this book club in-person at Owl's Nest Books or send us a message to attend via Zoom. This event is held in spoken English, the meeting will be held after store hours so the space will be quiet.
IN-PERSON: There are no steps to get into Owl's Nest Books. There is a single occupancy washroom that is accessible to rolling. Armless folding chairs will be used during the meeting - feel free to bring a sitting cushion if you would prefer the ground. Masking if not enforced but welcome.
In the spirit of reconciliation, we acknowledge that we live, work and play on the traditional territories of the Blackfoot Confederacy (Siksika, Kainai, Piikani), the Tsuut’ina, the îethka Nakoda Nations (Chiniki, Bearspaw, Goodstoney), the Otipemisiwak Métis Government (Districts 5 and 6), and all people who make their homes in the Treaty 7 region of Southern Alberta.
.
ID: The book cover. Two yellow green pears sit side by side on a grey surface with a grey wall behind them, one pear has a drop of water running down it. The author and title are written in white overtop.
Attend this book club in-person at Owl's Nest Books or send us a message to attend via Zoom!
Whether you read the book, didn't finish the book, or didn't start the book, this event is open to anyone interested in a relaxed discussion about the themes and topics explored in the book. We will discuss opinions and/or personal experiences related to the book in a relaxed setting. We try our best to create a comfortable, safe space for the queer community, and if you have any questions or comments we would love to hear from you. Hope to see you there!
*About the book*
"An exhilarating, twisted tale of desire, suspicion, and obsession between two women staying in the same house in the Dutch countryside during the summer of 1961—a powerful exploration of the legacy of WWII and the darker parts of our collective past.
A house is a precious thing...
It is 1961 and the rural Dutch province of Overijssel is quiet. Bomb craters have been filled, buildings reconstructed, and the war is truly over. Living alone in her late mother’s country home, Isabel knows her life is as it should be—led by routine and discipline. But all is upended when her brother Louis brings his graceless new girlfriend Eva, leaving her at Isabel’s doorstep as a guest, to stay for the season.
Eva is Isabel’s antithesis: she sleeps late, walks loudly through the house, and touches things she shouldn’t. In response, Isabel develops a fury-fueled obsession, and when things start disappearing around the house—a spoon, a knife, a bowl—Isabel’s suspicions begin to spiral. In the sweltering peak of summer, Isabel’s paranoia gives way to infatuation—leading to a discovery that unravels all Isabel has ever known. The war might not be well and truly over after all, and neither Eva—nor the house in which they live—are what they seem.
Mysterious, sophisticated, sensual, and infused with intrigue, atmosphere, and sex, The Safekeep is a brilliantly plotted and provocative debut novel you won’t soon forget."
Genres (taken from Goodreads): “Historical Fiction, Fiction, Queer, Romance, LGBT, Historical, Literary Fiction"
*Accessibility*
Attend this book club in-person at Owl's Nest Books or send us a message to attend via Zoom. This event is held in spoken English, the meeting will be held after store hours so the space will be quiet.
IN-PERSON: There are no steps to get into Owl's Nest Books. There is a single occupancy washroom that is accessible to rolling. Armless folding chairs will be used during the meeting - feel free to bring a sitting cushion if you would prefer the ground. Masking if not enforced but welcome.
In the spirit of reconciliation, we acknowledge that we live, work and play on the traditional territories of the Blackfoot Confederacy (Siksika, Kainai, Piikani), the Tsuut’ina, the îethka Nakoda Nations (Chiniki, Bearspaw, Goodstoney), the Otipemisiwak Métis Government (Districts 5 and 6), and all people who make their homes in the Treaty 7 region of Southern Alberta.
.
ID: The book cover. Two yellow green pears sit side by side on a grey surface with a grey wall behind them, one pear has a drop of water running down it. The author and title are written in white overtop.
Where is it happening?
Owl's Nest Books, 813 49 Ave SW, Calgary, AB T2S 1G8, Canada
Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.
Host or PublisherQueereads YYC
