Valentine in Montreal: A Novel

by Heather O'Neill, Arizona O'Neill (illustrator)

A Montreal adventure comes to life when a lonely girl at the metro station convenience store spots her mysterious doppelganger, in this playful and surprising novel by the inimitable Heather O’Neill, beautifully illustrated by Arizona O’Neill

In the tradition of the serialized novels of Charles Dickens, Heather O’Neill brings us Valentine in Montreal. Originally published in weekly instalments in the Montreal Gazette, this is the unforgettable story of Valentine, a lonely orphan working in a depanneur at a Montreal metro station, who spots her look-alike. As Valentine follows this seeming twin onto the subway and out into the city, her world is changed—she meets gangsters, composers, ballet dancers, and a cricket playing a mournful tune, and she experiences the city in all its teeming energy.

Valentine in Montreal is the playful, moving, and surprising story of a young woman who finds connection and the courage to break free of what has been holding her back. It’s also a celebration of Montreal and its artistry and vibrancy, both above and below ground. Illustrations by graphic artist Arizona O’Neill run throughout.

Genres: Fiction, Canada, Magical Realism, Contemporary, Fantasy, Literary Fiction, Short Stories

224 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 15, 2025

About the author

Heather O'Neill was born in Montreal and attended McGill University.

She published her debut novel, Lullabies for Little Criminals, in 2006. The novel won the Canada Reads competition (2007) and was awarded the Hugh Maclennan Award (2007). It was nominated for eight other awards included the Orange Prize, the Governor General's Award and the IMPAC Dublin Literary Prize. It was an international bestseller.

Her books The Girl Who Was Saturday Night (2014) and Daydreams of Angels (2015) were both shortlisted for the Giller Prize.

Her third novel The Lonely Hearts Hotel will be published in February 2017.

Her credits also include a screenplay, a book of poetry, and contributions to The New York Times Magazine, This American Life, The Globe and Mail, Elle Magazine, The Walrus and Rookie Magazine.

Reviews

[Julia Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book is a love letter to montreal and its diverse neighbourhoods. it features a quirky cast, hints of fantasy and playful imagery. the chapters feel a bit segmented, but only because they were initially published as weekly instalments in the gazette. i also found the illustrations by arizona o’neill really charming and thought they added a lot to the story.

[Lisa Closs · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wildly imaginative tale of an orphan who prefers the underground world of the subways.

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cool book representing Montreal in a new and different light. I love the chapter titles being metro stations and the concept of the book. I think it is such an amazing book to recommend to customers who want kind of an inside look to montreal from a point of view that is not often seen. The story is fictional but it just feels so real in more ways than I'm used too.

[Bonnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a whimsical, cozy little novel that captures Montreal’s unique charm with a touch of magical realism and just the right amount of city grit. Valentine’s perspective makes familiar places, like the metro and neighborhoods, feel enchanting and interesting. As a local, I loved recognizing so much of this city and sharing passages with friends. The chapters are short, the illustrations are delightful, and the cast of curious, lovable characters brings the story to life. It isn’t gripping or groundbreaking, but it’s a quirky, comforting read that feels like a love letter to Montreal.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Canada for advanced access to this book.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chef’s kiss

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Odd little book about a weird young woman obsessed with the metro. Very atmospheric about montreal # girlswithnichehobbies. very much enjoyed, the ending was slightly annoying/ rushed/ crap, but literally bar those 10 pages it was lovely

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you really love the Montreal Metro then this book is for you(me!).

[Pam Masters · Rating 3 out of 5]

Valentine in Montreal is a unique story told in an unconventional manner. It was initially published as a weekly story in the Montreal Gazette, in the same way as Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. As such, O’Neill worked to have each chapter function as a standalone, yet also as part of a story told in sequence. It was written in such a way that if someone missed the beginning chapters or was unable to finish the story, they still had read a story.

Each chapter of the story is titled after a metro stop in Montreal, as the metro system plays a significant role in the narrative. There are lovely descriptions of each stop in the book, enough that you can picture what these stops look like.

The story is told through the POV of Valentine, a young woman who was orphaned at a young age and grew up in and around the Montreal metro. As such, her life experiences are limited, and she thrives by using her imagination and observational skills.

As the story is Valentine’s to tell, there is a lot of telling what is happening and going on versus showing. If Valentine is feeling nervous or scared, she tells us that instead of expressing her body’s reaction to that emotion.

The events in the story are somewhat fantastical, though this is not a fantasy book. Sure, it’s easy to see people being mistaken for other people, but some of the things that happen in the story are just a bit too far-fetched for me.

Overall, Valentine in Montreal was an okay read. Some people may read it and find a connection with the characters, and truly enjoy the read.

[Abby Tait · Rating 3 out of 5]

A charming, whimsical read. The sketches and illustrations in the book really made it feel like it was a collection of stories that were in the newspaper. I loved that she grounded the story in metro stations. I struggled most with the voice and writing, it was very formal writing but a super childish and young voice. Honestly could’ve been written from the pov of a 12 year old, which really threw me off. In the end though, it felt like a lovely little ode to Montreal.

[Sarah Ferencz · Rating 3 out of 5]

What an absurd little book. It had some charming moments and I enjoyed the descriptions of the Montreal metro stations. It was originally written as a serial for the Montreal Gazette, maybe I would have enjoyed it more in that format.

[Sagar · Rating 4 out of 5]

So imaginative

[Terra · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars! What an odd yet delightful read

[Breanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

So creative & imaginative.
What a joy!
Low key want to visit Montreal to ride the metro now.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

O’Neill’s writing is whimsical, clever, and precise. I loved reading about Valentine’s tiny and tremendous adventures in Montreal. Her character rejects conventional thinking in a way that feels natural and at the same time magical. If I still lived in Montreal I think I’d notice every tile in every metro station after reading this book.

[Allison ༻hikes the bookwoods༺ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, this is one delightful little book. It’s light-hearted and fun but also artistic and meaningful. I really enjoyed it!

[Pier Long · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a compilation of serialized weekly instalments from the author in The Gazette, which gives it a super interesting backbone, and I loved the way the author titled and set each instalment in a specific Montreal metro. The story, however, has too many loose threads in my opinion. Still enjoyed the read for the special type of story/publication this is!

[VanessaMarie83 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A magical tour of beautiful Montreal with a Dickensian spirit? Yes, please!

[Prizzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes you need some magic in your reality to make it bearable.

[Louis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short novel about reinventing yourself, and a love letter to the city and its métro. A pure, whimsical delight.

[Megan Williamson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the concept, the Montreal metro rep, and Arizona’s illustrations. Brilliant as always!

[io preda · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The universe is alive. You have to learn to speak it. But you need poetry and art to do it.”

Lire ce livre dans le métro de Montréal pour une immersion totale!

[ella · Rating 3 out of 5]

thank you HarperCollins for providing me with an arc via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!

I love the concept, but the execution didn’t fully land for me. I would recommend this for people who like a mix of magical realism and literary fiction. Also for my twentysomething girlies who have no idea what they are doing with their life!

[✨mia✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.5⭐️) the amount of times i said WHAT out loud …

[Robin Rashcovsky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute but weird

[Siena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whimsical and fantastical! Innocent Valentine works at the dépanneur of Berri-Uqam metro station, and lives for the underground city of Montreal! We follow her along her adventure of meeting her doppelganger

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read Lullabies for Little Criminals when it was released, and enjoyed Heather O'Neill's writing quite a lot.

Her writing is magical, and such a pleasure to read, even when things aren't going so easily for her characters. She gives her characters these tiny, thoughtful observations about life, and her writing is just filled with magic. It feels so nice to read her writing on a journey through Montreal in this story.

I regret skipping out on a bunch of books in between what I have been able to read, and Heather O'Neill is such a gift! I also loved the illustrations throughout this book. Super cute and quirky.

Solid 4/5 stars✨

[Alexia · Rating 2 out of 5]

i really didn't enjoy this one! I wanted to. But it reads like a kids chapter book

[Laurie Burns · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a Heather O'Neill fan girl, I always read everything she puts out! I loved that this one has sweet little illustrations by her daughter Arizona. Way to go @oneillreads ! Quirky, lovely and a little bit magical is "Valentine in Montreal". If you like lonely girls who don't know anything (one of my favourite genres- a la- "Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine", "She's Come Undone", "My Year of Rest and Relaxation" "Convenience Store Woman" and "Strange Sally Diamond" come to mind).
In this magical adventure, we meet Valentine, a lonely orphan working in a depanneur at a Montreal metro station, who almost never goes outside. Hidden away in an apartment that connects to the Metro by her grandmother, Valentine hardly ever goes above ground. But after her grandmother dies, and she spots her doppelganger, Valentine sets off on events to enlarge her world.
It also reads like a love story to Montreal. I was there in April visiting my brother in-law and family and we took the Metro a lot. I love Metros and I loved the character of Valentine. A sweet and enchanting read. I love this line- "It has been my general observation in life that people who don't care what others think are a constant delight." ( p.184)

[etherealacademia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think the structure of this novel fundamentally works against it- it was originally published in a serialized format (à la Dickens), which may contribute to it being overly action-driven and expository as a result. While the pacing didn't always work for me, I found the reading experience to be fun and whimsical. O'Neill does what Haruki Murakami has been trying to do for years, and she does it effortlessly.

[ahn mur · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Valentine in Montreal” by Heather O’Neill is, quite certainly, my new favourite book!!!!! This was originally published as a serial (like Sherlock Holmes) in the Montreal Gazette, and it’s delightful to imagine Montreal readers picking up each new chapter as it appeared, each installment named after a different subway station, a station that a reader might very well be reading that chapter in! This back story greatly appeals to my inner urbanist.

O’Neill has crafted something that feels both nostalgic and timeless, weaving whimsy with the more serious themes of grief and stepping out of your comfort zone. It reminds me of my favourite movie, Amélie, but set in Montreal, a city I hold dear as a Canadian. And the illustrations by Arizona O’Neill (the author’s daughter!!!) are so so charming… I might even get a tattoo of one of them!

I’ve already purchased multiple copies for friends and family, hoping they receive even a fraction of the joy I felt reading this. Valentine in Montreal makes me feel optimistic, like the world is magical place, and that there might be delight behind any mundane corner. I’m so grateful to live in the world where this exists, and so grateful to have found it. I will be looking up the rest of O’Neill‘s work!