Historical fiction books always teach me something or give me food for thought. This book did both. I found the story powerful and timely even 80-plus years later. As always with historical fiction novels, the research is impressive, and I appreciate all the details woven in. It has been a long time since I read an HF novel in Toronto. While the city has changed, the locations mentioned are places still around today.

Thank you to Netgalley & Simon & Schuster Canada for a free advanced readers’ copy of this title in exchange for an honest (albeit very overdue) review.

This author is problematic and I am no longer reading her works. Which is unfortunate because she is talented.
The groups she follows on social media channels, and who she garners likes from on Twitter are disturbing to say the least.
I will not support a racist homophobe who seems to be slipping through the cracks unnoticed

"Letters Across the Sea" was truly a wonderful read. Based on Canadian history, Genevieve Graham details a blend between fact-fiction, focusing upon anti-semitism within Toronto and the role Canada played during World War II, with a particular attention to Hong Kong. It was also enjoyable to follow the two central characters of the story, Molly and Max, and the bond the two shared. You can honestly tell the research and care Graham took throughout the entire story. A truly amazing read.

Thanks to the publisher for providing an eARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Genevieve Graham is the queen of historical fiction, and especially from a Canadian perspective. Letters Across the Sea was suggested to be great for fans of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and I was not disappointed. A powerful love story, these historical romances are truly full of heart, hope and resilience.

What an incredible work of histrocial fiction. To be a Canadian reading about this was fascinating. I couldnt flip through the pages fast enough. Why didnt we learn about this in school? An emotional read with a plot that will keep your attention. If you have been on the fence about picking up histrocial fiction, here is your chance.

This is another solid historical fiction (HF) story by Genevieve Graham. I love that she wrote about a part of WWII that seems to be overlooked so frequently in this particular sub-genre.

Genevieve's books are always like a mini history lesson and I appreciate her ability to bring to life parts of Canadian history that I had no idea existed. Her craftmanship as a writer makes her, in my opinion, one of best historical fiction authors. In fact, her book, At the Mountain's Edge, was the one that made me fall in love with HF.

I always eagerly anticipate her next novel.

The much awaited new book by Genevieve Graham!

As someone who has studied the Irish Community in the Toronto area, I couldn't wait to drive into this part of history. The Christie Pits Riots aren't discussed often and so to have someone have it focused on in a historical fiction is refreshing.

Max (a Jewish young man) and Molly (an Irish Protestant young woman) are neighbors and good friends growing up. Many blame the Jewish community for the Great Depression and Molly has to watch Max be harassed about it. He is involved with the Riots, and Molly sees how bad it can be.

Flash forward to adulthood - Max has enlisted to fight overseas in WWII and Molly is a reporter. They write letters back and forth to further their relationship, which has turned in to love. But Max stops writing. Molly, assuming he has been killed, moves on. Max returns home. They meet again and try and pick things up where they left off.

I read this in one sitting. I love the amount of research she puts into her book. I loved Molly and Max. I loved the fact that Genevieve doesn't sugar coat the bad parts of life. The PSTD that Max (and his fellow soldiers) has, from both the Riots and the War, is real and she doesn't hide it. She doesn't hide the anti-Semitism that the community has and how severe of an impact it can have.

Genevieve Graham consistently provides me with a history lesson wrapped up in a fictional account. And I am thrilled with that. Letters Across the Sea is no exception, and I was disappointed by how little I knew about this aspect of Canada's involvement in World War II.

Set in the months leading up to the start of the war, and following through the years of conflict, this story focuses on Molly and Max. Molly, the young Protestant girl with dreams of journalism and independence, forced to shift her goals to help her struggling family. Max, the young Jewish boy, training to be a doctor, and striving to stay true to his ideals and religion. Graham turns her lens on the powder keg of emotions and politics that were present in Canada during this time, and sets the young protagonists within the Christie Pit riots in Toronto. She does not pull punches when discussing the anti-Semitism and discrimination that was rampant in Canada during this time, and offers her readers a truth that is uncomfortable, and largely hidden away. Graham then takes her readers to the role that Canadian soldiers played in the Battle of Hong Kong, and walks them through the prison camps and brutality that broke so many souls.

I will admit to openly weeping at many points throughout this book, and to doing several internet searches for further information about the events described. Graham has written well-developed, strong characters, and has paced this novel well, keeping me interested and flipping pages without hesitation. I would absolutely recommend this to readers interested in lesser-known elements of WWII history, particularly Canadians who are not aware of this chapter of our military involvement.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Canada for an advance reading copy in exchange for my honest review.

Loved this Canadian historical fiction based on true events set during the Great Depression and World War II! Genevieve Graham has a way of being inspired by real events and spinning them into a beautiful tale of love, family, and characters you cannot help but fall in love with.

Letters Across the Sea is Genevieve Graham's latest novel. It covers a twelve year period from 1933-1945, the lead up to WW2 up to the end of the war with the surrendering of Japan to the allies.

The Ryans, (Irish Catholics) and the Dreyfuses, (Jewish) have lived across the street from each other for years. The kids were more like siblings then friends, despite the cultural divide. Mr. Ryan was a police Seargent, and Mr. Dreyfus was in the schmata business. Molly Ryan and Hannah D. were best friends. Richie Ryan and Max Dreyfus, played together on the local baseball team. Molly has a sweet spot for Max, Hannah's big brother.

War was weeping across Europe, and, its tentacles reached across the ocean to "Toronto the good" .Torontonians, needed a scapegoat for the effects of the depression, and the Jews were blamed. The result trickled down dividing families who were always friends, like the Ryans and the Dreyfuses.

Max and Molly come close to being sweethearts but, they both know that neither family would ever accept a relationship between them. but a little slip, leads to a complete rift in the families.

Max leaves Toronto to pursue his medical degree, and then enlists. Molly's brothers also leave to fight. Molly is left in Toronto, broken hearted. The only thing to keep her going is her dream to be a journalist.

I do not want to give any more away but the chapters alternate between Molly and Max.

Letters Across the Sea is a gripping story. G.G. takes little known, but very IMPORTANT facts of Canadian history and puts them into a great story. Once you read about them in her books, (IMO) , you will not forget them. She writes about real events that SADLY, have slipped under the radar when they deserve to be recognized as crucial events in Canadian history. I highly recommend picking up Letters Across the Sea, (and any one of Genevieve Graham's other books as well). I give it #5stars.

Thank you #netgalley and @simonandschustercanada for an early copy of #lettersacrossthesea in return for my honest review.

What a touching book and what I love about Graham Genevieve is that Whenever I pick her book I learn something new about Canadian history. A chapter that has long been forgotten. This book was equally important as her previous books. Also I really enjoyed to read the book set in Toronto. The novel had many touchy scenes that gave me a lump in my throat. Highly recommended to all who love to read historical fiction!
Thank you Netgally and Simonschustercanada for my digital advanced readers copy.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishing house and the author for the opportunity to read an advance reader copy of this book in return for a review based upon my honest opinion.

Every single book I read by this author amazes me, leaves me feeling like I’ve not only witnessed a wonderful love story but learned something about my own history as a Canadian. Also I have not read one of her books where I have not needed a box of tissues, she sure can write.

This book ultimately tells the heartwarming love story of Molly and Max, two people from different ethnic backgrounds who love one another in spite of and because of those differences. Molly and Max And their siblings grew up together, they played baseball together cheered one another on we’re always there for one another; when racial division ends up tearing the families apart in ways we could not have guessed.. Molly ends up going back to school and becoming her dreamed of job a writer at the paper max after finishing medical school does what so many young men did and he enlists with military. The harrowing story that follows made me cry; with happiness, with sadness, with heartbreak for all of the atrocities that men put upon one another during wartime.

I have never heard of the battle of Hong Kong before this book. I cannot believe that it was not taught to us in our history books this is such an important story these men did not deserve to be forgotten and I for one will never forget what they’ve done for us after reading some of the stories what they endured. This book will stay with me, just just as all of this author’s books do Can’t wait to read her next novel.

This is one of very few 5 star reads this year. I just love Genevieve Graham’s Canadian stories, most of which are about history. I haven’t heard of or learned before. She is a fabulous storyteller whose vast knowledge is apparent.

I love Genevieve’s work, and Letters Across the Sea was no exception. I love that I get to learn about history while reading her books. Letters crushed me emotionally, I cried a couple of times while reading it!
It’s in the ‘read again’ category for me and a definite 5 star read!

Genevieve Graham does it again! She keeps teaching me Canadian history that I should have been taught in school!

This one is based during WWII and it focuses on two periods in Canadian history that I did not know about, the Christie Pits riots in Toronto and the Canadian involvement in the Battle of Hong Kong.

While she is writing about these two events we are also included in the lives of Molly (Protestant) and Max (Jewish) that are neighbours. They start off as children and grow up during the novel. I really enjoy how Genevieve Graham writes about her main characters. The detail has me feeling as if I am there with them watching them live their lives. The novel talks about the anti-semitism which was happening during this time period and how it affected the families involved in this story.

If you enjoy historical fiction you need to add this one to your TBR list for this year. If you have not read any novels by Genevieve Graham, I would suggest looking into them. You are taught a history lesson each time as she takes her time researching all the information before she writes her novels.

“Inspired by a little-known chapter of World War II history, a young Protestant girl and her Jewish neighbour are caught up in the terrible wave of hate sweeping the globe on the eve of war in this powerful love story.”

I’ve developed a bit of a love affair with historical fiction over the last year or so and oh this book has only helped cement that love as it was just beautiful.

We follow Molly and Max, the elder brother of Molly’s childhood best friend Hannah, as they and their families navigate pre and post war life in Toronto. Both the main characters, and the supporting characters were all just wonderful. I adored them all and so my heart inevitably broke for them at various points throughout this story.

This book taught me so much about a period of Canadian history that I had no idea about, including the Christie Pit Riots, the anti-semitism that existed in Toronto during the Great Depression and the Canadian troops role in the Battle of Hong Kong during WWII, but it did so in a way in which I never felt like I was being taught until the end when I realised how much knowledge I’d gained by reading this book. Those developing Canadian high school curriculums should seriously take note of Genevieve’s books.

This was my first book by Genevieve but I have another two of her books on my shelf that I cannot wait to get to ASAP. If you’re a fan of historical fiction I urge you to pick this one up!

I have been reading Genevieve Graham's books since 2015 and I have loved every book she has published. I have given all her books 5 out of 5 stars so of course, I couldn't wait to get my hand on Letters Across the Sea.

I started reading this book one night and I just couldn't stop reading. I love the story and the characters so much.

Genevieve Graham is such an excellent story writer and you can tell she does a lot of research for each book.

If you are into Historical Fiction/Historical Romance then I do highly recommend this book. If you like Canadian Historical Fiction I do recommend this book.

I am giving this 5 out of 5 stars.

Letters Across the Sea is my second book by Genevieve Graham and you better believe I'm running to collect the rest of her work immediately. Both this book and The Forgotten Home Child taught me more about Canadian history than any class ever has, things that Canadians really should know about their history. Yet I still feel like what I've learned barely scratches the surface of the things I should have learned about my countries history.

Letters Across the Sea takes place in Toronto in the 1930's, right as Hitler creates hatred towards the Jewish population, which the residents of Toronto take out on the Jewish community around them. The story follows the young men of Toronto joining the WWII battle, being deployed to Hong Kong, where they became prisoners in a POW camp there and in Japan. It also tells the tale of Germans in Canadian POW camps, which I had no idea existed here.

If that is not enough to make you want to pick this book up to learn about our history, the connecting forbidden love story spoiled by war, among so many other things, is an incredible and beautiful story. Molly was an extremely strong, independant female main character who would stop at nothing to save her family, her friends and her dreams. She was inspiring. As was Max, our Jewish male main character counterpart, who really opens your eyes to resiliency, fighting against everything to achieve your dreams, and never letting go of what you love. This historical love story is going to sit in my heart for a long time, while also leaving me desperate to learn more about the stories told throughout this story. Bravo, Genevieve for another absolutely incredible novel.

Genevieve really educated me on some of the Canadian history in Toronto between the Orange men and the Jews. I had no idea about this and was hooked! She has a way of adding in a love story and does it with taste and elegance. Something I really appreciate. Well done Genevieve and congratulations on a beautiful book.

Letters Across the Sea is an absolutely stunning book. Every time I think I've reached the limit on unknown Canadian history I pick up a book and realize I still have a long way to go.

This book starts in the 1930's in Toronto when Hitler's theories about the Jewish population infiltrated the city. People began refusing to hire or serve Jewish citizens and while I knew that certain poisonous ideologies don't adhere to borders, I didn't realize the scale of anti-semitism and in fact, acceptance of Hitler's ideas that existed in a city I know well. The history doesn't stop there though. We are also introduced to another piece of information I had never known about. Canadian POW's in Hong Kong and then Japan. The horrors of that time period seem well documented until you find out how little we learn about certain things.

Genevieve managed to weave incredible research into what was ultimately a love story at its very core. The love story gave me hope, it gave me something to hold onto when things seemed super dark. Both Molly and Max were strong narrators that bookended the story perfectly. Both fought systems that set out to hold them back only to prove what the human spirit and love are capable of. They also had to navigate wartime and post-war life and both parts of the story were equally fascinating.

From page 1 this book had me in it's clutches and I'll be honest, still does even though I finished it. Heartbreaking, endearing, powerful and poignant, Letters Across the Sea is everything I want in my historical fiction!


TW
Anti-semitism, forced confinement, war, murder, violence, Nazi's, death of siblings, PTSD, death of spouse