Nancy Jo Cullen is no stranger queering the narrative in her stories. Cullen has made a name for herself in Canlit spaces with her poetry and fiction appearing in several Canadian literary journals and anthologies, including Journey: Celebrating the Journey Prize, published by Penguin Random House Canada as well as being a Winnipeg Free Press Best Fiction Book of 2024. She is also the 2010 recipient for the Dayne Ogilvie Prize for LGBTQ2S+ Emerging Writers. Her first novel, The Western Alienation Merit Badge, was shortlisted for the 2020 Amazon Canada First Novel Award.
Dish, Cullen’s second full length novel, follows a story of second chances in love and in life for its unique cast of characters. Our main character Frida moves back to her hometown in Lakeland, British Columbia upon selling her debt-ridden but popular Toronto restaurant. Now sober and navigating what it means to be back in her childhood bedroom, Frida’s mothers have invited their old friend (and Frida’s estranged sperm donor) to stay with them after he has been down on his luck and needs a chance at a new start as well. Did I mention Frida’s ex-fiance also works at her new kitchen job? Talk about being thrown into the deep end.
This story is one of self discovery, breaking normative boundaries and family structures, and second chances sprinkled with a delicious bit of spice. Nancy Jo Cullen paints a narrative of picturesque dreams and the crashing sobriety of reality duelling with each other. With a knack of mixing the profound with a quirky silliness, Dish is an easy yet thought-provoking read. Cullen is not afraid to get into the nitty gritty of it all. Her characters aren’t perfect and life comes at them fast and hard. But, at the end of the day, they can handle it. Not just because of their own abilities, but because of the support systems they’ve built around themselves. Whether that’s in the form of old bonds or newly forged alliances (I’m looking at you, Perry and Sharky), these characters always have someone in their corner.
With a knack of mixing the profound with a quirky silliness, Dish is an easy yet thought-provoking read. Cullen is not afraid to get into the nitty gritty of it all.
Told in alternating perspectives between Frida and Perry, the unknown sperm donor who she has never met up until this point in her life. Seeing these different people experiencing their lives overlap for the first time is a treat. The parallels between Perry and Frida are very clear and bridge the gap of estrangement more than time together ever could. Despite his absence from her life, there is something very inherently Perry-like in Frida, despite her best efforts to deny it. On the contrary, Perry can look to Frida as a beacon of hope and an example of how someone can bounce back from hardship and turn their life around with enough hard work and determination. Maybe that genetic stubbornness can work in their favour after all.
Overall, I quite enjoyed this story and all of its quirks. From the setting of a backyard chicken farm in Lakeland, BC, to the dogs that are as full of personality as any of the other side characters, Nancy Jo Cullen has a gift for creating a memorable and unique world for her readers to explore combined with her ability to paint a wonderfully refreshing perspective of what a family and success can look like.
Nancy Jo Cullen’s poetry and fiction have appeared in several Canadian literary journals and anthologies, including Journey: Celebrating the Journey Prize. She is the 2010 recipient for the Dayne Ogilvie Prize for LGBTQ2S+ Emerging Writers. Her first novel, The Western Alienation Merit Badge, was shortlisted for the 2020 Amazon Canada First Novel Award. Her second novel, Dish, is forthcoming in the fall of 2026 with Wolsak & Wynn. Nancy Jo Cullen has published a collection of short stories, Canary, with Biblioasis and four collections of poetry, the most recent of which, Nothing Will Save Your Life, was published by Wolsak & Wynn in 2022.
Publisher: Wolsak & Wynn Publishers (October 13, 2026)
Paperback: 5.5″ x 8.5″ | 292 pages
ISBN: 9781998408528
Like many readers, books have always been at the forefront of Marie-Rose's life, leading her to hold a BA in English and Indigenous Studies from the University of Toronto and a certificate in Publishing from Toronto Metropolitan University. In the past she has had the privilege to write for Talkies Network, a peer-run entertainment blog where she was able to review films and television shows, as well as interview industry professionals from some of her favourite shows (like Outlander and The Umbrella Academy's Neville Kidd). She is also currently an active member and Creative Director for Wine About Books, a Toronto-based book club and literary community and a Speaker Coordinator for the Toronto Indie Author Conference.
