I enjoyed this book and thank Net Galley and Simon and Schuster for giving me the opportunity to read it pre-publication. I especially appreciated the information about Canada’s involvement in WWII and the plight of the soldiers at the hands of the Japanese! I also had no idea that there was such Anti-Semitic feeling in Toronto. Of course I love a good love story and feel like that could have used more development. I found the ending a bit unbelievable given the fact that Max and Molly were not much more than close childhood friends. The title led me to think that there would be many letters passing back and forth instead of a very few! In spite of those reservations, I found it a very interesting account of tragedy, survival, family relationships, love, betrayal and forgiveness and would recommend it!

First I would like to acknowledge the copy I received of Letters Across the Sea in exchange for my honest review. Thank you.
I found this book to be a great history lesson about WW II and a story I had never heard. We all know there was a lot of Anti- Semitism at that time against the Jews, but there is a lot more to it. This book brought to light the suffering our military suffered in war and for many months or years afterwards and the brutality, horrible treatment as POWs, The author did her research and I thank you.

As a fan of WWII historical fiction, Genevieve Graham's Letters Across the Sea brings the Canadian experience to life although the title doesn't really fit the story as there are few letters, and these only play a minor role in the story.

Opening in Depression Era Toronto, tensions build as the community polarizes amid rampant frustration and desperation over lost jobs. Anti-Semitism and resentment of "foreigners" lead to formation of "Swastika Clubs" by white supremacists as union organizers demand better working conditions, all while Hitler rises in power in Germany, pulling his country out of the Great Depression. Best friends Irish Protestant Molly Ryan and Jewish Hannah Dreyfus, along with their families, get caught in the racial strife that boils over in a six-hour riot at The Christie Pits in 1933, tearing apart the two girls and their families.

Horrified by the role that the Toronto Telegram newspaper played encouraging racism and anti-Semitism, Molly becomes a reporter for the Toronto Daily Star, dedicating herself to impartial reporting that combines honesty with humanity. Meanwhile, her four brothers and Hannah's brother Max head off to war. Assigned to garrison duty in Hong Kong, Max and Molly's brother Richie are blindsided by the brutal Japanese attack in the days following the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The unknown (to me) story of the Canadian troops in the Pacific theatre, the horrific Battle of Hong Kong and the brutality of their internment in the Japanese POW camps are brought to life. Graham also eloquently shows the damage war wreaks on soldiers and their families, regardless of whether they fight for the winning or losing side. This book will stay with me for a long time.

Thank you Net Galley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an ARC of Letters Across the Sea. Four and half stars.

LETTERS ACROSS THE SEA, by Genevieve Graham, is the story of two families caught in the turmoil of the Depression, as well as World War II. The Ryan and The Dreyfus families have been neighbors and close friends for years. They both struggled through the depression, often depending on each other for emotional support. As Nazi clubs grow in the Toronto area, their families become divided. Ritchie Ryan becomes a member. One terrible night they go to a community meeting which became known as “the Christy Pitts Riots.” Mr. Ryan was hurt, blaming Max Dreyfus, who was in love with Helen Ryan. The families no longer spoke to each other. The horrors of WW II bring the boys of both families together at a Hong Kong base, where they face death and imprisonment.
This is a story about prejudice, hate, redemption, and most of all forgiveness, as seen through the eyes of both families. I enjoyed learning about the depression and rise of anti- Semitic groups in Canada during the 1930s. A love story between Molly and Max holds the reader’s interest. I was given an ARC, for my unbiased review.

What a wonderful story of brave Canadian men and their role in World War II! Fall in love with Molly and Hannah and the ways their different religions worked to drive them apart. Molly and Max, Hannah’s brother, find themselves falling for one another, but are then separated by war times. I loved this storyline and all of the characters!!!! I highly recommend reading this book!

This starts out as a story of racial strife in Canada and turns into one of the most eye opening accounts of life in a Japanese pow camp. Well told and we’ll written it holds your interest to the end. Through it all weaves the love story of Molly and Max. Has a lot of parallels to what is going in the world today. We could learn a lot from this book. A must read.

The best thing about this book is all of the little bits of historical facts and events that I did not know about being from the U.S. This book talks about the Canadian experience during the Great Depression and through the end of WW2. In 1933 Toronto the city is simmering with hate against Jewish people. Signs have started popping up "No Jews", businesses won't hire Jewish people, Swastika gangs are gaining momentum and enforcing on the streets, beaches, and boardwalk. One August night deemed The Christie Pits riot all of the antisemitism, the rise of Adolf Hitler, the Nazis, and the local Swastika Clubs comes to a head.

There are a ton of historical facts and events that are unknown to me. For instance, Canada's involvement in WW2 in Europe and in Japan. The failed mission left them overwhelmed, many dead, and many more who spent years in horrific conditions in a Japanese POW camp.

I appreciate the education of the lesser-known Depression-era Toronto and WW2 events. However, the story itself leaves much to be desired. This book would have been better if they leaned in more on either side. Either they go non-fiction and give us the facts and details or they lean in more on the story. A lot of words were given toward explaining the historical events and not as much care was given toward building the story, the romance, or these Letters. I mean Max and Molly shared a kiss, a single kiss 12 years ago - and they hadn't spoken or seen each other in all that time. Come on, let's get real!

This novel is also called Letters Across the Sea it kind of makes you think that Letters themselves are going to play a pretty significant role in this book but honestly they don't. There are like 3 letters in total and then a few partial letters where the narrator recounts a few lines here or there. This big reveal at the end of the book is contained in a final letter...after 12 years...so much death...and war...It's just not believable to me. It seems to me like the author had this story they wanted to write with a list of historical events to cover. She covered all those events and then went and put in a "love story". Then built the family around it. Then "resolved" and issue and created an"obstacle" with a pretty specific letter.

It was just ok for me. What I really got out of it was many historical events that I did not know about and I'm glad that I do know about them now.

This is a feel good story with depth. I found it eye opening to read about the antisemitism in pre WWII Toronto and the tragedy and horror thousands of Canadian troops suffered in Hong Kong. And in between the learning I enjoyed the plot and characters.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an early release in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Letters Across the Sea is a Canadian historical novel that describes the hardships in Toronto during the Great Depression prior to the start of WWII. This story is about family, friendship, and love and how war effects everyone. It saddens me to know there was so much hatred in the world. This is the first novel I have read about Canada during WWII era. This was a very interesting book. Thanks to the author Genevieve Graham, publisher Simon & Schuster, and NetGalley for providing a copy of this book for a honest review.

I first want to thank Simon & Schuster Canada and NetGalley for allowing me to read and give an honest review of this book. I was intrigued by the summary and thought that I would give it a chance. I can not state enough how much I loved this book. This book starts off with Molly, a young girl in Canada during the depression. She had to drop out of school to help her family survive. She originally has a job at the grocers who would give her near rotten vegetables to help her family survive. Molly's best friend is Hannah. Hannah is Jewish. At the time of the start of the book, Hitler was just ascending into power and many people in Canada were starting to treat the Jews as they were being treated in Germany. Hannah's older brother, Max, was in college and getting ready for medical school. He comes home and sees Molly again. To say that they have a connection is putting it mildly. It was almost electric. An event after a baseball game changes everyones lives immediately. I don't want to spoil what happens and the changes but the story takes us forward through World War II and then after war. There is love and loss and a whole lot more love. I so highly recommend this book!

I have a read a lot of WW2 books and sometimes, I grow a bit tired of them. But this one was so different. The setting was in Canada, and truthfully, I knew nothing of our northern neighbors' role in WW2. That part alone was fascinating. Plus the story was very enjoyable. I really liked the main character. I loved seeing how the war changed the young men. Also interesting, especially in this day and age, was the influence of the press. Well written book and I would definitely read more from this author. I give it 4 stars! Thank you NetGalley, for the opportunity to read this book.

NOTE: I received early access to LETTERS ACROSS THE SEA through netgalley in exchange for writing an impartial review. Thank you Simon Schuster. Scheduled publication date: April 27, 2021.

This World War II historical novel starts off as so-so but becomes riveting by the end. The story begins in 1933, (as Hitler is coming to power in Germany) with a little known riot in Toronto during the depths of the Depression. Canadians are struggling to find jobs and sufficient food and their desperation is fueling anti-semitism. Against this backdrop is the story of a friendship between two families -- one Irish, one Jewish -- and a doomed Romeo-and-Juliet-type romance that is budding between Molly Ryan and her best friend's brother, Max Dreyfus.

This first third of the novel struck me as more predictable, even bordering at times on stereotyping and the trite. But when the novel then jumps to 1939, and begins to follow the unfolding war, it becomes a much more compelling story of how war impacts families, loyalties, and the individual soldiers themselves.

By this time, Molly is working hard to establish her journalism career in a male-dominated newsroom while her brothers and Max are among the millions of young men fighting overseas. The details of what these soldiers witnessed, what they suffered, and what they were forced to do is graphic, dramatic and not for the faint of heart. In fact, as someone who has read many novels about World War II, this one is among the most powerful in its descriptions of battle and prisoner-of-war atrocities.

As the author explains in the book's Afterword, Genevieve Graham began the novel aiming to tell a story about the Toronto Christie Pits Riot of 1933. But, during her research, decided to extend that story to World War II. The connection between the two seemed a bit clunky to me. But not so much that it kept this from being an interesting read. By the end, I didn't want to put the book down, even though I sometimes did because I needed a break from the horror of it.

Well worth your investment of time.

A beautiful piece of historical fiction telling the story of two families of Canadians dealing with the challenges of WWII. It’s a story of familial relationship, friendships, mistakes, hardship and of course Love. It’s a different view of WWII from many novels out there. Thanks to NetGalley for the early read.

Genevieve Graham wrote a powerful story about Canadian history and World War II. Not being from Canada, I knew very little about their history and this horrible war. The author highlights the Christie Pits riots and far reaching effects of Hitler on the mindset of the country. Through impeccable research she brings history back to life. A love story at the heart of the novel showcases friendship, love, loss, redemption and forgiveness. Journalism and truth are important to the telling of the story and told by a rare female reporter! Well researched and not to be missed by historical fiction fans especially those seeking a new aspect of the war. #LettersAcrosstheSea #GenevieveGraham #NetGalley

I’m giving this book all the stars! A fascinating look at Toronto during WW2. I fell in love with the characters and find myself missing them, hope there will be a sequel. I reviewed this book on Goodreads. I will be recommending it to my friends.

LETTERS ACROSS THE SEA by Genevieve Graham is a beautifully-written work of historical fiction inspired by true events in Canadian history from the early 1930s during the Great Depression up to the end of World War II. Molly Ryan is an Irish Protestant teen in Toronto who is working hard to help her family through the difficult times of the Great Depression. Her best friends are her Jewish neighbors, Hannah Dreyfus and her older brother, Max. The Ryan and Dreyfus families have always been close, but as the anti-Semitic sentiment grows in the city, Molly’s parents discourage her from spending time with her friends. The wave of growing unrest culminates in a deadly riot at the Christie Pits. When Molly is attacked by a Nazi sympathizer, Max comes to her rescue, but his actions are misunderstood. What follows is a tumultuous and heartbreaking series of events that not only pull Molly and Max apart, but also destroy the friendship their families have shared for decades. As the war rages on in Europe and Asia, Max and his friends, along with Molly’s brothers, all enlist and are shipped overseas. Max ends up with other Canadian soldiers sent to defend Hong Kong from the Japanese. Unprepared for combat and lacking the equipment and manpower of the invading Japanese, thousands of brave Canadian soldiers lost their lives in the Battle of Hong Kong. Of those who survived, many spent years in Japanese prisoner of war camps facing unthinkable atrocities. Many years later, Molly has never forgotten Max, but there has never been word of his fate. Molly understands that Max is likely dead and she must move on with her life. But as the soldiers begin returning from war, Molly learns things that will change her life forever. While this is a powerful story of religious differences and war, there is, at its heart, a touching story of the power of love and the endurance of the human spirit. The characters were wonderfully-portrayed. I learned things I never knew about this time period both from the book and the author’s notes at the end. I thoroughly enjoyed this compelling and moving book and highly recommend it. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read and review an early copy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the advanced reader copy of this book. LETTERS ACROSS THE SEA might be the best historical fiction I've read that takes place around the World War II era.

I cannot recommend this book enough! The author did a brilliant job of writing a story so engaging and so educational that I didn't want to put it down. The story, told back and forth between Molly Ryan and Max Dreyfus, explained so many aspects of World War II that I was not aware of even taking place. The descriptions of the emotions of the characters made my heart ache, but also made me admire them for their courage and their strength.

Molly is a young woman of Irish descent with dreams of having a career as a journalist but has to postpone her plans, dropping out of school at the age of 14 to get a job to help feed her family during the Great Depression. As times started to get better, she was determined to finish school at night after working a long day job in a factory. She continues on with journalism classes and finally landing a job at one of the local papers.

Max is Jewish and in love with Molly. He and Molly's families have been friends for years-- until the Christi Pit Riots. Max and Molly were just starting to develop romantic feelings, despite knowing that they could never be together because of their different religions. A terrible accident occurs and the two go their separate ways. Max goes on to finish his degree in medicine and then, not wanting to face the hurt of running into Molly, enlists to fight overseas.

The story discusses so many issues but Graham has taken those issues and humanized them. From hungry families to working children during the Great Depression, from homeless vets to PTSD after both World Wars, from equal pay to cultural unrest in Toronto in the 1930s, and the bias of the media reporting on anti-semitism and Hitler.

If you read this book, and you should, make sure to read the Author's Note at the end.

With meticulous historical detail and exquisite writing, author Genevieve Graham has brought forth an epic saga of steadfast love, compassion, endurance and heroism. From the anti-Semitic Christie Pits riot of 1933 to the Christmas Battle of Hong Kong of 1941 and VJ Day of1945, Ms. Graham evokes richly detailed events of Canadian history and has rescued them from obscurity. The story is on the one hand a tale of horrific events, yet also one of tender caring and tremendous loyalty. Her characters are well developed, thought provoking and highly relatable.

This was my first foray into the writing of Genevieve Graham and I assure you that it won't be my last. I learned a bit more history of our nice neighbors to the north in Toronto and their engagement at the little-known Battle of Hong Kong during WWII, gaining a whole new respect for them. This was a beautiful and at times heart-wrenching tale which was highly satisfying when all was said and done. Can't wait to read more by this gifted author and storyteller.

Publication Date: April 27, 2021
Pages: 384
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 9781982156640

I am grateful to author Genevieve Graham and her publisher, Simon and Schuster, for having provided a complimentary advance uncorrected reader's proof of this book through NetGalley. Their generosity, however, has not influenced this review - the words of which are mine alone.

n Times of Rain and War by Camron Wright is a fictionalized World War II historical fiction novel that looks at British Bomb Disposal Unit and is based in part upon diaries written by volunteers. It describes the devastation and destruction of England, particularly London, during the Blitz. It is fast-paced, yet poignant and compelling with lovely imaging and prose. The heroine, Audrey Stocking is a German Jew masquerading as British to escape Hitler. The hero, Lieutenant Wesley Bowers is an American in training with the Bomb Squad.

The novel also looks at PTSD and how people can survive a war but never leave it fully behind. While something of a romance, there is a twist at the end that carries In Times of Rain and War beyond the usual sappy war romance. It is fast-paced, yet poignant and compelling with lovely imaging and prose. Author Camron Wright makes good use of literary sequels to highlight some of the most important scenes.

4.5/5 Genevieve Graham took me on a brand new journey through history in Letters Across the Sea. While this is a WWII novel, it covers many different aspects of the war that aren’t frequently written about.

The novel starts by introducing Max, Hannah and Molly - all good friends surviving through the Great Depression. Molly is a young Protestant woman, and Max and his sister, Hannah, are Jewish.

On August 16, 1933, the Christie Pits riot occurred in Toronto, where “Swastika clubs” began rioting after a baseball game, and several people were injured. Molly’s dad, a policeman, suffers a head injury when someone throws a brick at his head, and Max’s dad was blamed. This is the launch of anti-semitism in Canada. Jews begin to be banned from shops and restaurants, all while Hitler is rising to power in Germany. Because of these events, Max and Molly’s family ties become strained, and Max leaves for medical school without a word to Molly, cutting off hope for their friendship and budding romance.

Time passes, the war continues, and Max, along with Molly’s brothers, decides to enlist and serve in Hong Kong. Many Canadian soldiers served there during the war, another part of history that comes to light here. While they’re away, Molly propels her career at The Star as a young journalist. She catches the eye of assistant editor, Ian, and after Molly acknowledges that her brothers and Max might never come home, she decides to give Ian a chance, and they being to date. Ian and Molly attend a press event to interview newly returned vets, and in walks Max. Molly and Ian start interviewing him for a series of articles, and Molly starts feeling confused about her feeling for Max.

What I loved about this novel is the blend between real life and fiction. So many of these events really happened, and Graham artfully ties these characters into the fold while keeping much of history in tact. The focus is history, but I was rooting for the characters the whole time. I loved it.

Huge thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced reading edition in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, thank you!